Black Ra1n's Grow Journal

[Core]

mmmh these things happen...pitty it woz a close friend of your that got caught....your the smart 1 in this story ..
maybe in the future ey :wink:

 

[Black Ra1n]

Hey Core, yeah I'm glad that everything is good now.... and you never know I may have to break a few 1000's out of storage later

Well I found two male PPP's last night, they'll be travelling with me to the country to finish out there life I'm down to one PPP, which I pray is a lady. Bubblicious and Canadian Mist are growing nicely, they'll need a transplanting this week. Built my carbon filter last night, and the smell is gone. Cost me 30 bucks, and looks pretty pro.

Zeus I had you in mind while I was at home depot yesterday. I was travelling by the CFL's and stop to check them out. I found a nice bulb that's rated for 150watts. Three of those would go nice in a garbage can grow. Think my next grow will be hydro, probably DWC ....

Well hope everyone has a great week-end.

B/R

 

[kooki]

Zeus I had you in mind while I was at home depot yesterday. I was travelling by the CFL's and stop to check them out. I found a nice bulb that's rated for 150watts. Three of those would go nice in a garbage can grow. Think my next grow will be hydro, probably DWC ....

Well hope everyone has a great week-end.

B/R

hya BR the rating of bulb was it equivelent to 150watt incandescent bulb? Or did it actually use 150watts? i ask cos my 20watt cfl rate to 100w incandescent and the 30w to 150watt incandescent and the 125watt envirolite rates to 500watt incandescent or more
Well having used them for quite a while i find that the 30w bulbs are a lot better than the 20watts in small grows, doesnt seem like a lot more watt but just gives u that bit more range n growability and ive grown a plant under 80 to 120 watts of bulbs before now, and agree 3 of those if they are 30watt equivelent to 150w incandescent would do a good job It is pretty similar amount to what i had my recent top44 under, the K2 was under the 125watt envirolite.. now i really like that bulb , u can keep close just like other cfls and it has some good power and a bit more range than the smaller bulbs again . i have seen versions of the enviro that are 200watt, i think that would be great bulb for cfl grows too, also i think there are ones called ecolite?not sure of name but same as enviro come in i think 90watt version and bigger ... If it was 150watt actual watts used cfl then it shld be really great for cfl growin and 3 that would be quite a good amount of light i think.. sorry rambling now will shush

 

[Black Ra1n]

Hey Kooki, yeah they were 30 watt cfl's. I didnt' see any of those envirolights, are those the long ones? Do you know where I can get one and how much they are? I would rather use 1 bulb than 3. That 125 watt enviro light could be just what I'm looking for. How is the heat from it? I may just have to turn my mom/clone room over to an evirolite instead of the 4 t8's I'm running. I'm not sure if I have a ventilation problem in there or if it's the bulbs, but the heat is getting crazy. I may have to get a bigger exhaust fan or put more holes in the top to vent out the heat. As a temp fix I took 2 bulbs out, and the temp has gone down to 85. The heat hasn't seemed to be a problem for the vegging plants though. I could take out the t8's and put one envirolite in. I have seen a CFL bulb at the lighting store that was rated for 150 or 200 watt, (can't remember) but the bulb was 58 bucks. I'm not sure of the manufacturer, but I'm going back to check it out.

Here's a site I found with some high wattage CFL's and some really good info on them.

http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/HWCFL/abstract.asp

Well Kooki you've got my interest peaked on that light lol. Take care man....

B/R

 

[kooki]

@ BR
yeah the much longer n fatter bulb is envirolite one here is pic of K2 under it.. It fits in same socket as a hps bulb , screw in is it E40 ? they call them.. anyhow a reflector that takes hps takes one of these n then u just need plug into socket no ballast cos contained on bulb.. it stays cool , i would say its just as easy to cool as smaller cfls.. what i do is have afan positioned to blow down middle of bulb n that is it apart from my cabs exhaust fans n intake holes etc..and u can keep nice n close..

Dunno about prices in usa or canada.. i was gifted mine, but have seen em on the web (aution sites u know) for around 20 pound mark.. not sure of equivelent in dollars.. the 200 watters somewhere up to 30 pounds mark ,but u look around n try to find best buys dont ya hehe well i do. For me the 20w bulbs cost me between 1 pound and 2.50 dependin where i go shop, the 30w i got off web for about 4 pound each cos of postage etc.. so prices are all reasonable really i felt.

again to ramble some more i find with the heat thing that the cool whites (6500k colour temp)20 and 30w bulbs are cooler to touch than the (2700K CT) bulbs of same wattage.. i imagine the same would be with the larger 95w 125 200w types of them too, a good veggin light of 6500k would be a little cooler than the equivelent flower 2700k bulb. But i only have the 1 large bulb n its a flower one 2700k so cant say 100% certain on that tho.
Hope some of the ramble helps

 

[BonsaiGrower]

Hey BR....I can't remember and I just skimmed back and can't see if you have the ballasts for those tubes in the top chamber or if they are in the veg area...either way I think what's happening is you are getting radient heat problems. Up the cooling on your ballasts...the tubes themselves should not be hot at all..a little warm maybe but that's it. Some ballasts get hooter than others...of the same brand...at least mine do anyway...2 of mine get too hot to touch kinda, while others are warm. Things that make ya go hmmm eh?

I have heard mixed reviews on those 150w enviro lights...some say they get crazy hot and others say not...no experience myself...but my 40w cfls (100w equi.) get pretty hot and the 23w don't...however the 40w CFL glass is the same temp as the 23w CFL glass (spiral that is) both will burn leaf in no time if touching. A tube won't burn a leaf it will just dry it out....hope that helped.

Maybe try lifting the ballasts onto a "floating" shelf in the top chamber, that way the ballasts aren't touching the wood for the veg chamber ceiling...

my .02
Peace Bro

 

[ZeusOGrefugee]

Hey BR, lookin good bro...Im glad to hear ur gonna try out the CFL's finally!!!LOL Im really lovin them as I get more along in this grow...My last grows, I was usin a 400 w hps in a 2x2x4 closet and the heat was a BIG problem... I got nice buds, but most all of my girls went hermi on me due to heat stress!!! Now, I got nice tight nugs...not as big, but very nice and frosty, and I have not had one heat issue...Im in the process of designing a new closet almost like yours...Im gonna have a clone/Mom chamber with 4 23w cfls, and then a scrog flowering chamber with 8 43w CFL's, that should give me enuf lumens to pull some really nice crops...we'll see. Oh, also check out this site....
1000bulbs.com....It has every kind of CFL u can imagine at wholesale prices!!!!Ill catch ya later all, gotta busy day.Peace.

- Zeus

 

[kooki]

hehe i too notice that even with cool tube temps run hotter with 400watt in my space.. same as yours 2 by 2 (well its rectangle but works out square as 2by2) at moment manageable but when it gets summer i think i be back to using cfl power i know i can cool till the summer temps leave me alone

 

[TML16]

mmmm....nothing like the smell of fried psu in the morning I always keep an extra psu handy. Always the first thing to go on any PC. You know they say you should change them annually anyways
At least in one of the more inexpensive components

Great update! Plants are looking mighty healthy and happy. Great roots shot
Free worm castings too I agree...they make a huge difference in the speed and green of the growth :smile:

Thanks for thinking about me with the Champagne :friends: I know I can't wait to one day have my own cross made. I will be more than happy to produce some beans for my friends too.

I've never grown commercially, but I find personal hobby growing to be very rewarding. Maybe a sense of giving back to Earth and society.
We spend so much tax money trying to nab these big grows. At least i can save them the trouble of having to grab a couple extra ounces every now and then :wink:

Awesome stuff BR

 

[Black Ra1n]

Hey thanks for the kind words guys.

Kooki, thanks for the info man.

BG, my ballasts are in the utility chamber, although that's where my cool tube exhausts then it goes out the back of the cab. I think I may need to get a bigger main exhaust fan to get the heat out of there. I am going to float the ballasts like you suggested, I have them on a piece of sheet metal right now. I found a nice inline fan at home hardware the other day. It's used for your heating ducts to increase the air flow for second floor duct work. They come in 4,5 and 6" applications ... the 4 is rated 80 cfm's which is just what I need.
Here's the utility room, nicely crowded as you can see.



Hey Zeus, thanks for the kind words, can't wait to see you're new cab. I know you'll love the scrog.

TML, thanks for stopping by. Comp is back up and running ....

Okay well I have a few pics for you's. I forgot to update on the bubs and CM's so here they are, they grew quite a bit just over the week-end.


Here's the filter I built, seems to work pretty good.


Here's the male PPP's.......



Thanks for stopping in guys, and for the advice.

B/R

 

[Black Ra1n]

Bub and CM update .... Week 4 veg

Bub and CM update .... Week 4 veg

Hey all I've been so busy with all my other plants that I forgot to update the Bub and CM. I transplanted them today in a mix of half organic soil and half promix. To that I added lime, calcium, bone meal and blood meal. I also gave them a little feed of liquid bone meal.

Here's the Bub, happily transplanted.


Here's a close up of the bub, love the genetics with these.The branching on these are awesome! By far a great buy at Nirvana, not sure of the smoke yet lol but I've grown their bubblegum before and it was top notch.


Here's the Canada Mist, I've never heard of this strain, but a buddy says it's amazing ....the beans were free so I had to try it lol.


Here's a close up, for bagseed they're pretty impressive genetics wise.



Found another M x A female in the flower room, I already have one female for a mom so I'm going to let her flower and see what she's like. I may take a few clones off her, she's a bit too big right now. I think I found an Ak 48 male, so I'm going to take him to the country to finish out and keep some pollen for one of those Bubs. I'm hoping the rest show some signs soon, I'm really praying that the last PPP I have is a female. I'm thinking of running a dripper on my scrog, another thing on my list. Going to use a 2 liter bottle with a dripper line, filled with my flowering solution. Hoping to install it on week 4 of flowering to beef up the bud. I've wanted to try this outdoors, but never had the time.

Well that's it for now .... thanks for stopping in.
I'll update the rest on Thursday, scrog is filling in nicely.

B/R

 

[TML16]

Canada Mist eh? Just the name alone fills me with pride

Good and healthy looking young'uns there

Best of luck with the dripper project

 

[ZeusOGrefugee]

Hey BR, whats the haps???Plants are lookin great. Ive always wanted to try that Bub from Nirvana, maybe ina few months!!! Sorry about the AK male, I was hopin u got a few femmes from that batch so we can compare...How many femmes of the AK does that make??? Anyhow, glad to see ya, and Ill catch ya later....LOL, funny about BG, huh???!!

Later man.Peace

- Z

 

[Dr Dog]

yeah I would like to see some details on your dripper project when you get 'er done. I am always looking for ways to make life easier.

I like the thick fan leaves you are sporting there, healthy looking

 

[Core]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Black Ra1n again.

 

[Budless]

Looking quite nice! I hope my AK-48 lives up to the other's I've seen on here. This summer she'll get sun baths in the windows so she will be partially greenhouse grown Hopefully she'll bulk up real nice!

Have you ever grown Sweet Tooth? I'm looking to grow that soon, but I haven't heard too much beyond a few posts on Sweet Tooth #3. Just looking for advice.

I envy all the folks on here that are able to 'freely' grow several strains. I get to take it one at a time - which isn't always as bad thing. I'm loving growing more and more. Despite the added danger of having plants around they provide me with a soothing feeling of having a personal garden. Much like a bonsai tree does, it provides something for me to care for and that's why I love it. How about you?

 

[Black Ra1n]

Hey TML, yeah I've never heard of it, but I'll take his word for it lol. I'm' not sure if I'll be running it, but I know he wants too. Those bubs and cm's are his, I'm just getting them ready for may 24 weekend so he can put them outside. I'll probably have to take a few cuttings though ... take care man.

Zeus, I'd go with the bub, it's definitely a good buy. So far there are no female ak's that I've seen. I have one that may be, if not I'll have to pop some more beans and just do them outside. Hope you found a photo program, looking forward to some pics soon. Later man.

Hey Dog, yeah I have the design in my head. Just have to go get a few parts and put the idea to the test. I'll a DIY when I get it done. Thanks for checking up.

Core, I'm just about to check out your grow. Take care!

Budless, thanks for stopping by. I've never grown sweet tooth before, but the name sounds tasty. I'm growing a bunch of strains because I like variety, but I've been smoking the same ole M39 for 3 years now so a change is needed. This way I can pick what I feel like ... take care man.

Well I feed the flowering/sexing plants a nice dose of molasses today. My scrog is shooting pistils, and I have to start tying her down. The one M x A I've decided to let flower smells so sweet, I keep going to give her a smell I haven't checked on my males in the country, I'll take some pics on the week-end. This week-end is suppose to be nice, so I'll be finishing my plots for the outdoor grow.

 

[Black Ra1n]

Flowering week 2

Flowering week 2

Hey everyone, well I'm pretty upset. Seems all my Ak's are males, so I just put a few more seeds in cubes to see if I can get a female to clone for my outdoor grow. Good news.... all my M x A's are females, still don't know about the one PPP I have left, it's taking a while for it to show so I'm thinking it's a female.

Here's the ak's ... tell me what you think ... I know they're males but my head won't accept it hahaha.

Ak #1

Ak #2

Ak #3


Here's the MxA's


This is one I'm letting flower.....


The scrog is filling in nicely, have a bunch of bud sites popping.


Lastly here's the overcrowded mother/clone room ....


I'm pretty pleased with everything so far, can't wait to start the outdoor grow, counting the weeks

Take care all .... thanks for stopping by.

B/R

 

[Widow Maker]

Yea dude, I'd have to say you've got all male AK's. Always sucks for that to happen but hey not much you can do. They look very healthy. Nice looking MxA's too. Keep em green bro. GL!

~WM

 

[kooki]

Yeah its a shame to get all males on the one strain, hope u get a female on those soon .. but everything looks nice n healthy, and your screen is fillin too cant wait to see those lady MxA bud ..