TAG - Landing (Resource for True Aero Growing)

[Guest]

No AC? How do you manage that? Yikes!
You don't have to use your res, though you are incorrect in your assumption that it would heat your res...it would chill it still (that is how the ocean and lakes are cooled...hot air rushing over the surface evaporating the surface water), but you could just rig a separate rig. You just need a evap filter (like $10) and put a little dripper line on it so it gets a trickle of water every once in a while. I think I posted and demonstrated to you already about the 15 to 20 degree drop you can get using that method? If not, just say so and I'll dig it up.

My problem is I want to rig one of those controllers to do my Ph and TDS but can't figure how to match that 1,400 dollar system I know I could make for about $200.

http://www.bghydro.com/BGH/itemdesc.asp?iC=TEMDOC

I guess I'll just have to stick with the continuous read outs for now. Bummer.

JAT - post me a diagram, if you could, of your room...I'll see what I can come up with if you want?

I get how the PLCs work, but what method for dosing can we use? I need like a drip line to the res for the Ph and something for the Nute's line. The LOGO ain't got that covered, just the brains of the outfit. I can't toss $1,400 right now on a toy like that, wish I could though..lol

I have found a PH controller for about $80 but I don't know how I should rig the contraption at the end of the plug. Do they make a doser for PH? Besides a CO2 or Ca reactor?

This is what I've got so far:

Parts list...lol

Complete Mini-Doser System (EC & pH)
EC Mini-Doser System
pH Mini-Doser System
Complete Mini-Doser Systems come pre-assembled and include:
Monitor/Controller(s), probes, AC adapter, solenoids, pH & EC calibration solutions, sample pot & complete pre-cut and pre-drilled plumbing.

EC Mini-Doser Unit & Probe
pH Mini-Doser Unit & Probe
Includes Monitor/Controller, probe & AC Adapter only.

Complete Doser Tank Kit
Includes two (2) opaque black 5 gallon containers & one (1) pH container all with pre-drilled holes, evaporative cooler hose bib, float valve, 1/4" tubing. This kit is used to complete the EC & pH Mini-Doser system.

Stock Tank Kit
Stock tanks for EC & pH doser systems. Includes two (2) opaque black 5 gallon containers & one (1) pH container all with pre-drilled holes.

Plumbing Kit for Float Valve
Kit to connect float valve to water supply to automatically replenish make-up water. Includes evaporative cooler hose bib & 1/4" tubing.

Layout...

 

[JustATry]

Wouldn't that be awesome to have the grow totally automated! Just walk in, drop the clones, then switch the lights to 12/12, and come back and trim. What the life.

I haven't ever run A/C. I had a small 24K BTU unit but it wasn't working that well. It's sitting in the pile with my old tubes.

I did some reading on evap coolers and they are pretty interesting. I could make one easily with parts I already have laying around.

Right now I have a 500 cfm cage fan pulling cool air in from outside and pushing it through all of the lights. On the opposite side I have a 550 cfm inline fan pulling the hot air from the lights and pushing it outside.

Are you saying I route my hot air exiting the lights through the evap versus outside and dump this back into my room? I would think the benefits would be greater on the opposite side - cooler air to start with. But, I don't know if I would want to risk my lights exploding because of some accumulated condensation inside the ducting.



The first two pics are of an example I found of a guy who built this to cool his nutes. Apparently this is in a greenhouse and the nutrients were getting too hot, like we all battle. So he built this little rig and it dropped his temps near 15 degrees. Not too shaby!

The third pic is DIY diagram for an evap cooler.

 

[chosen]

Hey, Pod.... I'm kind of new here. Nice grow... Lots of good info and designs..

 

[JustATry]

chosen - what's up man? Decided to venture over finally.

 

[Guest]

i made this to cool my room, nute res, and humidify the air for small plants that were under lights. works great, believe it or not. I used it this summer for my first hydro gro.

Since this isn't aero specific i'll delete it in a couple of days; i just wanted to show you the thing since you're talking about them. Homemade evaps are a hassle, because the little res has to be outboard of it, and because the damned things tend to leak and splatter water if you dont have outstanding seals and water management. The air has to BLOW thru, not PULL thru, or you'll soak the fan motor;

Also, getting the evap pad to remain vertical yet be sealed tightly to the fan body can require some innovative thought. i used plastic gutter downspout with one wall cut out to make slots to drop my pad/with frame down into and it worked well enough, no doubt.

a real evap cooler would be the real bag; but i didnt have the 150 to throw down so i spent 30 for some parts and built this one. Next one will definately be a professionally made one tho, altered by me cause the homemade ones are the most unGODly of rigs lol.

You need low humidity for one to really pay you back; this last summer, the way i got he idea was like this; i went out to check on the evap cooler for the house; and when i pulled one of the side pads off there was this smell, JUST LIKE a refrigerator, inside; and when i put my hand in the water, MAN was it cold feeling; so i got my thermometer and dropped it in.

With an outdoor temperature of 98 degrees, the water in the bottom of the evap cooler was 58. The air coming out of the cooler was 68.

When the temperature was 100, the water temp was 59, but the air out was about 72 or so.

and at night i don't know what temp the water would have dropped to, but i ran my homemade one 24/7, the pump part at least, and even with the fan off, the water just dribbling down over the pad would still be cold.(at night)

And so basically, you have a phase change chiller, using the evaporative function rather than compression to get the heat exchange.

 

[Guest]

Excellent! This is why I share!

Exactly the idea I had for JAT there viable - thanks , the difference with my EvapPod is the hot air just goes directly into the res (where the water is freezing to me). It gets rid of the fan and the external pumping rig.

JAT - No, I don't suggest bring your air into the room and pumping it there. Your circuit through the room is fine, but I'd still use a small evap unit with the res like viable has posted or my own E-pod design.

It takes a lot of water so you do need to keep up with or add a RO drip line, but it works so well for chilling the water and cooling the room. Like my own I'd just create a loop with your new res so that air is taken from the top of the room where it is the hottest and recir it through your res with a filter or like this:



Welcome Chosen. Glad 2 C U


Viable - Don't delete a thing!

It isn't off topic, these things all relate to defining the ideal TAE. So please leave it as it is valuable information and a valuable contribution which is what I'd like to see more of. Love 2 C people thinking and creating and sharing 'their' ideas.

 

[Guest]

U actually just gave me a brill idea...be back soon.

JAT to give you an idea, I just turned my lights on and checked my temps:

Room 65.6, Res temp 66.4, RH 68% Very chilly, my AC is set to 71F and outside it is 87F RH 70%. All from just a fan blowing across my res all night in the dark. Its sort of worth the effort IMO.

My brill idea is that I can get one of those evap filters and just mount it on the top of my EvaPod and have my RO on a dripper, like .5 gph and just hook my RO to it and then any excess will drip into the res (as cold RO water) rather than leeching my res of available H2O and throwing my ppms off.



Later... Room temps are 72.3F Root temps 71.6F RH 46% On the money.

 

[chosen]

Yep.... I like what's going on over here.

 

[Guest]

Well bend me over and then call me a cab...

I suppose it does help to read things thoroughly.

JAT - OUR LOGO, duh...lol

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=NS1151

The accessory you are looking for:

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=NS3371

Cha, Right?

And my own personal fav...

http://www.amhydro.com/shop/controllers.html

An actual PH solenoid...no shit! Yeah..you could give a little ass kissing for this one.

Not only can we fully automate, we can simulate any season as well. Lalalalalallllalalalalalaaalaalalllala hehehehe I'm just giggling with ideas.

JAT - They even have one with a power failure alarm! Just 4 U. Just kidding, hope I didn't hit a sore spot.

 

[Guest]

For those seeking the DM mix...this is their recommendation:
It would appear that 'Guardian' is DM's LK...that might fix the gunk in the res problem. They've probably got a more 'aero' friendly version as it is designed specifically for hydroponics. Lovin' this product....plants still look awesome.

 

[Purpleseed]

The formula does'nt change from week 3 till the end!
What a simple mix!....I'm tempted...Will I..??!

 

[Guest]

Yeah...its a pretty straight forward solution (yes, punn intended).

That is what is so genius about it and even though my Ph meter is now fucked, I can see that the ph hasn't moved much or at all. Frow what I've been able to figure out on my messed up meter its still about 5.8 today. Much easier than the 15 things you have to add to keep Botanicare in balance, what a difference. whew! lol

I'm actually kind of bored today... lol

 

[guineapig]

so DM is working out well......hope so.....i hope you get a new pH meter soon.....you know even though that automatic meter adds pH up or pH down to your resevoir the whole solution still needs to be stirred around otherwise you will not get an accurate pH reading.....have you seen magnetic stirrers in lab equipment supply stores? maybe a magnetic stirrer would do good things for your reservoir....-gp science

 

[Guest]

Well, actually I have a rio pump moving my res water around quite vigorously now. The idea I think is to just have it drip fed into the water over a period of time, so the Ph adjusts slowly over a couple hours if need be. But it should work by just adding a small amount of P or K every so often as the Ph drifts up or down, then another trigger would be for the ppms so they stay at a set amount as well.

The entire grow could be managed electronically so you never loose your levels. That is a nice feature, not to mention a power failure alert. lol

I'd avoid anything 'magnetic' in your res as it will cause your Fe to drop out and cause an imbalance. If you run a magnetic fountain pump you'll have to add additional Fe to compensate for that.

The basic concept runs like this:

 

[Guest]

Still flying blind on the Ph but the ONE is strokin' me kindly. I'm very very happy with this product and so far have to say, I recommend it strongly.

Two days, topped off with RO (somewhere around 7.0 ph) and now at like 1580 ppms ...still lookin' like a million bucks.

So it starts to thicken... ...even an old mom has come back to life. I think this is a Hog on the right. The left is my lovely 2B signature Cinnamon and RhinoxBlues..yummie!



Next are
the RhinoxBlue we've been watching...looking great for not caring about the ratios, eh?



By the way, plenty of clone material here now. Like I said, doing a Pet grow this is my fav time to take the replacement killers...lol

This is my little bubble girl and a topped Cindie with her little cola arms to be...I can't wait. I'm so excited.



Is is too smug for me to say I think my plants always look great?
I just love them. They are doing so well.

 

[Guest]

Let's see a few days comparison...if there is one.

 

[guineapig]

oh the stirbar is encased in plastic to prevent reaction......sometimes used scientific equipment is available for a real bargain.....ya see all these biology lab people have huge amounts of grant money usually from NIH (nat'l institutes of health) and if they have not spent it all by the time the grant expires the grant people assume that they have over-endowed and give them lesser amounts of money next year.....so they go crazy and buy all sorts of expensive equipment that they don't really need and wind up selling later down the road for real cheap.....-gp science rant

yes i did say "over-endowed" (wink wink nudge nudge) -gp say no more

 

[Guest]

Well I enjoy anyone that is 'over-endowed' and likes to share their good fortune. However the only thing I know that I need now is a doser. I went ahead and purchased a Milwalkee Ph Controller, so I at least have my Ph back...soon.

It also has a plug for running a device for the Ph so I can hook it to a doser of some sort, but they all seem to be about $80 which is just crazy.

See one of those, let me know. I found some big chuncky ones on ebay for about $40 but I'd like to keep my rig trick with some new shit. lol

 

[Guest]

Still flying blind on the Ph, but the girls are just blowing me away as usual.

2 weeks into flower, we haven't really even done a stretch yet, and I've already got flowers setting up.





Looks like 1080 ppms is a nice spot for the young at this point. They are hovering about 1200 on average, but I keep adding RO to comp for the Evap...which, despite the 84F room temps at some points (when I close the door) the Root temps remain under 75F...a good thing.

I still have 6 weeks to go.

 

[Guest]

Lookin good... Do you veg at all or flower from a nicely rooted clone?