out of the closet..

[bubba D. farmer]

thats right im coming out of the closet...have a new 2x4x5 growmedics tent...put it together and hung my 4 foot fluorescent light. it sure looks brighter than in a white closet. trying out a few hydro systems to see which i like the best. first is a small dwc half gallon size walmart tote with a 2 foot flxible air stone and 5 dollar air pump. plants are from a flower garden in the neighborhood. my way of practicing my cloning, got roots hanging out the bottom of the net pots so i guess it worked. i'm working on an aeroponics system now and ill come back and update....i want to get the techniques and skills down before i go and kill some valuable plants, or waste some expensive seeds.

 

[bubba D. farmer]

update...

update...

im back with an update.got my aeroponics system finished, take a look, and tell me what you think. any suggestions or tips? im hoping to fill it with rockwool rooted clones some day soon.

 

[bendoslendo]

Keep an eye on your sprayers for clogging. I wouldn't use a thick nutrient like Pure Blend Pro or FloraNova. Maybe look into Dutch Master line.

Maybe look for a product that prevents buildup on the sprayers.

I've never used a system like this. I wonder if there is a danger of the root masses encasing the sprayers?

IMHO you'll do as well or better with DWC, with a few less concerns as well. But since you already built it and it looks great, good luck!

 

[HempAlchemist]

nice looking tent and hydro setups. one thing in your pics that needs fixing is the location of your power strip. that needs to be off the floor, esp if you are doing hydro. water + electricity = bad time. figure out some way to mount that on the side, duct tape is your friend
I tend to agree with bendsolendso about DWC > aero. there is just less to go wrong, but since you built it give it a go. aero is the fast hydro system out there. but that can go both ways so be aware. keep the water temps in check and your good to go.
good luck

 

[bubba D. farmer]

Well its been a while but im still here, and learning more every day. took part in the beer cup challenge and had a great time. didn't realize that growing under a cfl was so easy, until i went and bought a 600 watt mh/hps system. boy did that lead to a whole list of other troubles. So now it looks like heat is my enemy, and with summer here in the south my enemy is hard to beat. The first time i fired up that big ole 600 watt mh bulb the temp in my tent hit 126 f within 10 min. So next i ordered me a 6in inline fan and a 6in cool tube reflector. Well now it looks like i've got the temp down to about 85f. this has been a constant battle, i didn't know i was gonna have to become an engineer and a rocket surgeon, just to grow a plant under a light.

 

[bubba D. farmer]

 

[DTFuqua]

Unless your cooling your reservoir, 85 is still too hot.

 

[bubba D. farmer]

got a 12 in oscillating fan today. I think it's the missing link. now my 6 in inline is pulling cool air through the cool tube and straight out of the tent.. a 180 cfm duct fan is pushing cool air into growspace and passive vents are open. when i put the thermometer on top of the resevior it reads 85f , thats with no air circulation. So i hope that this 12in fan solves the problem. i just have to figure out where to mount it, think i'm gonna have to remove the 4ft floros. too much stuff already in there.

 

[St3ve]

You're holding back that new fan of yours. You are putting a reducer before the fan and after the light. I would say between that, and all the hard turns of all that ducting you are probably getting 30-50% of the air flowing through it as you could. They make that fan and hood 6" for a reason..

1) Go to the store and buy 25' of the 6" ducting and some 6" duct clamps. Rip out all of the 4" ducting and reducers. Then when you set it all up again with the 6".. make the SHORTEST runs possible with as FEW bends in the duct as you can possibly get.

2)Move your 180cfm fresh air fan to the top of the tent so it PULLS air out of the tent. Then use the passive vents on the bottom as your passive fresh air intakes.

the 12" fan you got is good to circulate the air, but it will not bring down temps. Do these things and you'll be golden.