Critical Mass Vert: 6 site RDWC in 4x4 tent
- Thread starter MyGreenToe
- Start date
CyrilSneer
Member
rabid lurker satiated 
looking great
ASTOUNDING GROW man, that nuggets promise really good in prevision of fattening stage that are next to the door, continius like this man you do nice and efficient job with this screen also very interesting strain critical mass , i'll be watching fo su tha progress!!!
gonna be a huge grow!!!
gonna be a huge grow!!!
Wheel O' weed.. lovin it..girls are lookin good man..
MyGreenToe
Member
I can fully access the front, and right hand side of the tent. This makes it pretty easy to work on all but the ones in the left rear corner. I made sure those two were thoroughly pruned on the backside before the screen went in, since the screen makes it ten times harder to work on those 2. I can still manage to get at all the plants inside the screen, by leaning down over the top and doin my thang. Probably helps that I'm over 6' tall and have long apelike arms. It's a challenge, but I wasnt about to let that shit stop me from doin my thang. Small spaces are challenging.
Check out what Marlo is doin with small spaces, that man is a master of keeping a small space managed! His Scrog system with one screen per plant makes it really easy to pull things out of the flowering space and work on them in comfort. If I wasnt in a glued up hydro setup I'd be doing somethin more like him!
Sorry I didnt noticew this Q at first bro. Hope that helps.
Keep it Green
MGT
MyGreenToe
Member
Just a little update.
Had my first flood with the system today. Here's what happened...
I have been unhappy with my feed manifold since I built it. I was broke, and had the half inch pvc on hand, so I used it. I knew it would never deliver the full output of my pump to 6 sites but I thought it would be enough. It was, if only by a small margin. It's always bugged me, and in light of some recent plumbing discussions, I decided to build a new feed manifold. The largest output fitting for my pump corresponded very well to 3/4" pvc, so that's what I used. There is a Tee right after the pump, with a 3/4" pvc ball valve to divert flow for my waterfall in the main res, and the other side runs to feed the plants. The feed manifold reduces from 3/4" PVC to 1/2" hose output for each site, and this works great. Even with different hose lengths running to the sites, the feed rate is even across all sites. This is true even with the Ball valve in the main res wide open for waterfall effect.
So great, I got it in and turned the ball valve off to test my maximum flow. WOW! What a difference from before. I won't ever half ass plumbing again just cause I have parts on hand that I can rig it with! I knew better all along and wish I had just done it right the first time. But wait, whats that sound? Like water dripping to the floor...? Oh FUCK! The back site is overflowing!! Turn off the pump, and check that site, to find that it has clogged it's drain with rootmass. Got that sorted, and turn it back on, with the PVC ball valve wide open this time(how it's staying). So far no more problems but it has me tweaked so I'm stayin close, and monitoring things. Blimey I really didn't think I'd see that problem with plants this small(relatively). Any future systems I build will have at least 2 drains per site, and I might just go crazy like Billy and use 3 each!
Interesting to me is that it's the runt that clogged the drain with roots. It's being a bit shaded by it's brethren and is much smaller, yet it had the rootmass to clog things. I'm going to have to give that one a monocrop run and see what it does when it's not fightin for light! I always try and take note of the best root growth when considering selection for DWC, so that's why I feel like this runt may be worth giving a shot on it's own, even if it requires longer veg than these other cuts I'm runnin...
So the motivation for this manifold upgrade besides fixing a problem was to make sure I have adequate flow at the end of flower. No problems, since I think my flow is about 2 or 3 times what it was before. Now I'm sure my girls will have what they need through the end. They sure are starting to smell rotten. I may have to replace my filter before harvest!
Keep it Green
MGT
Had my first flood with the system today. Here's what happened...
I have been unhappy with my feed manifold since I built it. I was broke, and had the half inch pvc on hand, so I used it. I knew it would never deliver the full output of my pump to 6 sites but I thought it would be enough. It was, if only by a small margin. It's always bugged me, and in light of some recent plumbing discussions, I decided to build a new feed manifold. The largest output fitting for my pump corresponded very well to 3/4" pvc, so that's what I used. There is a Tee right after the pump, with a 3/4" pvc ball valve to divert flow for my waterfall in the main res, and the other side runs to feed the plants. The feed manifold reduces from 3/4" PVC to 1/2" hose output for each site, and this works great. Even with different hose lengths running to the sites, the feed rate is even across all sites. This is true even with the Ball valve in the main res wide open for waterfall effect.
So great, I got it in and turned the ball valve off to test my maximum flow. WOW! What a difference from before. I won't ever half ass plumbing again just cause I have parts on hand that I can rig it with! I knew better all along and wish I had just done it right the first time. But wait, whats that sound? Like water dripping to the floor...? Oh FUCK! The back site is overflowing!! Turn off the pump, and check that site, to find that it has clogged it's drain with rootmass. Got that sorted, and turn it back on, with the PVC ball valve wide open this time(how it's staying). So far no more problems but it has me tweaked so I'm stayin close, and monitoring things. Blimey I really didn't think I'd see that problem with plants this small(relatively). Any future systems I build will have at least 2 drains per site, and I might just go crazy like Billy and use 3 each!
Interesting to me is that it's the runt that clogged the drain with roots. It's being a bit shaded by it's brethren and is much smaller, yet it had the rootmass to clog things. I'm going to have to give that one a monocrop run and see what it does when it's not fightin for light! I always try and take note of the best root growth when considering selection for DWC, so that's why I feel like this runt may be worth giving a shot on it's own, even if it requires longer veg than these other cuts I'm runnin...
So the motivation for this manifold upgrade besides fixing a problem was to make sure I have adequate flow at the end of flower. No problems, since I think my flow is about 2 or 3 times what it was before. Now I'm sure my girls will have what they need through the end. They sure are starting to smell rotten. I may have to replace my filter before harvest!
Keep it Green
MGT
your leaves look kinda toasty, what happened? heat or nutes? Looking good otherwise. Sucks about the clog man. I've been thinking about trying RDWC, and that's one thing I've been thinking about.
MyGreenToe
Member
I think it's mostly heat. I ran out of silica blast just as two 60F days hit and warmed my room up more than I was ready for. I think it went over 100 in the tent before I got my attic ventilation circuit goin properly to control things. No new toasty bits since then. I hadn't planned on dealing with any temps that high this run, shows ya what I know!
MyGreenToe
Member
Next time I do pics I'll be sure to show it. Should be in the next few days.
Good plumbing and nice roots!
MyGreenToe
Member
I had a power outtage this morning right before leaving for work(during lights off). It was off most of the day but was on by the time I got home. I fixed the light timer and said a little prayer to the ganja gods. It has me tweaked out. I have no backups. Had this happened during lights on I would have a fucked up light schedule with the possibility of slime. I got lucky.
I've been mulling over dropping RDWC until such time as I have proper backups, and today has decided it. After this run, I'm going to retire this system until such time as I have a generator to run it when needed. So the next run from me will be with coco/airpots/blumats, a'la Lazyman...
Just thought I'd share my decision. I love love love RDWC. I HATE the risks involved in running it with no power backups.
Look for pics in the next couple days.
Keep it Green
MGT
I've been mulling over dropping RDWC until such time as I have proper backups, and today has decided it. After this run, I'm going to retire this system until such time as I have a generator to run it when needed. So the next run from me will be with coco/airpots/blumats, a'la Lazyman...
Just thought I'd share my decision. I love love love RDWC. I HATE the risks involved in running it with no power backups.
Look for pics in the next couple days.
Keep it Green
MGT
Ravi Singh
Member
I just ordered a 540W UPS for my HP aero system, which is enough power to run it for a few days (although if power is out that long I've got bigger problems that that) - was $100.
That would easily power your airpump (and probably your mag drive pump) for an hour or two; just get a larger one for more security - however, I'd just have it powering my air pump, which is the most important part of that system.
EDIT: and drop that manual timer you use - grab a digital one from Home Depot for $15 which maintains the correct time for a few days without power - you don't need to reset the timer after an outage
That would easily power your airpump (and probably your mag drive pump) for an hour or two; just get a larger one for more security - however, I'd just have it powering my air pump, which is the most important part of that system.
EDIT: and drop that manual timer you use - grab a digital one from Home Depot for $15 which maintains the correct time for a few days without power - you don't need to reset the timer after an outage
Billy Liar
Member
Hope you cheer up, from these little probs MGT..
I'm not 100% how your drains run?? Are they from the bottom..?
If so a simple fix to the root clog issues is to use a Bypass drain.. from the opposite side of the container.. so when the first drain clogs, the water is forced to use the bypass drain.. I think of it as water following the path of least restriction, then once that path is blocked the other path is used.. Its how heath used to plumb his waterfarms..
peace
BL
I'm not 100% how your drains run?? Are they from the bottom..?
If so a simple fix to the root clog issues is to use a Bypass drain.. from the opposite side of the container.. so when the first drain clogs, the water is forced to use the bypass drain.. I think of it as water following the path of least restriction, then once that path is blocked the other path is used.. Its how heath used to plumb his waterfarms..
peace
BL
D
DHF
Hey Bro..........Power outages harshin yer mellow ?...........It`ll be ok MGT.....You can`t expect comparable yields with coco and blumats from your setup , but you can increase plant numbers or offset with longer veg for the same results push comesta shove since it`s pretty much a bulletproof setup once sensors are dialed in......and...
Yeah.....Billy`s triple drain setup`s money , and Heath`s was I think 1 lower , 1 higher right ?.......
Pore `ol head can`t remember.......I feel your pain my buddy.........First time I had power go out with krusty buckets , I immediately had a Generac 7000 watt propane/natural gas generator installed......best 2 grand I ever spent...
Growbro of mine uses Honda 7.5 KW gas generators with pre-made 10 gauge wire and dryer plugs on 1 end , then a twistlock plug for the generator......
Turns his main breaker off to the house and backfeeds through the dryer plug to run his grow area , refrigerator , tv`s , and space heaters , etc......but...
Gas generators gotta be outside while runnin , but they`re hella cheaper and way more portable than on demand propane/natural gas units....
Good luck Bro......One of those cheapass bait aerators I usedta use would most certainly stop crop failure during power outages since they`re made ta run off 12 volt batteries.......Getchas a 12 volt RV water pump ta keep juice circulating , and Bam.....life support till power`s restored.......
Just tryinta help MGT........
Peace......DHF.......
.....
Yeah.....Billy`s triple drain setup`s money , and Heath`s was I think 1 lower , 1 higher right ?.......
Pore `ol head can`t remember.......I feel your pain my buddy.........First time I had power go out with krusty buckets , I immediately had a Generac 7000 watt propane/natural gas generator installed......best 2 grand I ever spent...
Growbro of mine uses Honda 7.5 KW gas generators with pre-made 10 gauge wire and dryer plugs on 1 end , then a twistlock plug for the generator......
Turns his main breaker off to the house and backfeeds through the dryer plug to run his grow area , refrigerator , tv`s , and space heaters , etc......but...
Gas generators gotta be outside while runnin , but they`re hella cheaper and way more portable than on demand propane/natural gas units....
Good luck Bro......One of those cheapass bait aerators I usedta use would most certainly stop crop failure during power outages since they`re made ta run off 12 volt batteries.......Getchas a 12 volt RV water pump ta keep juice circulating , and Bam.....life support till power`s restored.......
Just tryinta help MGT........
Peace......DHF.......
.....
MyGreenToe
Member
Thanks for the moral support guys. It's a constant worry to me, and I don't consider the UPS backups adequate. My main pump is almost 100 watts, so it alone would burn through any decent sized UPS within hours. I also have real issues with not considering lights in a backup scheme. I'm way too neurotic to ever let myself do it half way, even if it makes some kind of sense. It's a proper genny or nothing. The other unfortunate fact is that my situation right now is really not great financially. No money for a UPS that won't last. No money for a genny, or anywhere to put it without neighbors raising an eyebrow and causing trouble. I just need to keep my head down and get through a few harvest to enable me to get the hell out of my f'ed up situation.
To make matters worse, I get alot of 12 hour+ outages in springtime where I'm at. Something weird about the wiring on my block has us going out a lot in spring(maybe some overzealous grower is running too many lights haha!). Once I get the hell out of the city and set up in a new place, generator/s will be one of the first things on my list to ensure my peace of mind.
For now I'm going to finish this run. After that I'm tearing the tent down and opening up the bedroom it's in for just flowering(right now it holds my veg tent too). I am tired of fighting this 4x4 footprint when there's no good reason I should have to. Time to open things up and try to do as big a run as I can manage before my big move. Wish me luck!
Thanks again for the moral support guys, it means alot! I'm not down or out, just got fairly tweaked by the facts of my life right now. Time to march on, I have many plants to kill on my road to being a master like some of you guys!
Keep it Green
MGT
To make matters worse, I get alot of 12 hour+ outages in springtime where I'm at. Something weird about the wiring on my block has us going out a lot in spring(maybe some overzealous grower is running too many lights haha!). Once I get the hell out of the city and set up in a new place, generator/s will be one of the first things on my list to ensure my peace of mind.
For now I'm going to finish this run. After that I'm tearing the tent down and opening up the bedroom it's in for just flowering(right now it holds my veg tent too). I am tired of fighting this 4x4 footprint when there's no good reason I should have to. Time to open things up and try to do as big a run as I can manage before my big move. Wish me luck!
Thanks again for the moral support guys, it means alot! I'm not down or out, just got fairly tweaked by the facts of my life right now. Time to march on, I have many plants to kill on my road to being a master like some of you guys!
Keep it Green
MGT
MyGreenToe
Member
Critical Macros
Critical Macros
On a lighter note, macros! so I don't have any canopy shots, been bein lazy about it, and busy chasin shit in there. This morning I decided to snip a wee nug and take some close up shots of it.
I'll try and get some canopy shots on soon. For more of my macros check out my macro thread.
Keep it Green
MGT
Critical Macros
On a lighter note, macros! so I don't have any canopy shots, been bein lazy about it, and busy chasin shit in there. This morning I decided to snip a wee nug and take some close up shots of it.
I'll try and get some canopy shots on soon. For more of my macros check out my macro thread.
Keep it Green
MGT
YOU SCARE ME MAN, INSANE SHOT CONFIRMED!!! high class dude,i'll be watching forward for more crazy shot!!
