The CannaBunker Begins

[CannaBunkerMan]

I had everything running fairly well with 4000k, but as soon as I added two more lights, it seemed that everything needed upgrading. The dehuey, the AC, the main breaker in the house all needed upgrading. More plants need more places in the mother veg stage, more places in the flower room. I've built everything in the interior at least twice, and it's now at least twice as nice, so that's okay with me.

 

[CannaBunkerMan]

Vapor pressure differential (VPD), it is kinda important to understand the stomata and how humidity affect the plant.

Automation is the key to a stress free growing, once set up and running it'll give you the freedom to go away for a bit. 14 days is a long time to not "check in" and your reservoirs would be the biggest concern but, if you had PLC(programmable logic control) experience it wouldn't be any problem at all. I love having electrical training! I'm sure you've worked out most of the trouble spots.

Good luck, peace

I'm going to shoot for a week long vacation first. Two weeks may be expecting too much without pH and nutrient level automation. That's a little ways into the future, but I've already looked into dosing pumps, and logic control for them.

Is the VPD kind of like MVTR? Moisture Vapor Transfer Rate? I learned about this when researching what container was best for weed. Glass has a lower MVTR than plastic, that's why canning jars are so nice for weed.

 

[CannaBunkerMan]

Ive always wanted to do something like this but I dont posses the skills, the next best thing is to see one of our fellow growers do it. Brilliant job. How many people is it taking to build the bunker?

I didn't posses the skills either. I'm a software engineer. Or was, at least. All it takes is a strong back and determination, not skill. Miking concrete is all about brute force. Other than some summer construction jobs during college, I don't have any training or experience.

Well, I guess I do now, but I didn't when I started.

 

[Loosey]

Amazing, this is something ive dreamed to do a long time but i don't have my own house . Low risk level for gettin caught and you can go big and still make it stealth and with proper setup this will yield very nicely. Without much of experience from building my thumbs are all up for you man.

All the luck for you and the CannaBunker!

 

[Rednick]

Two weeks may be expecting too much without pH and nutrient level automation. That's a little ways into the future, but I've already looked into dosing pumps, and logic control for them.

Is the VPD kind of like MVTR? Moisture Vapor Transfer Rate?

Kinda. VPD just states that at certain temps there is an ideal RH or vice versa. At the ideal states the stomata 'breathe' at maximum capacity, thus helping all the plants metabolic processes.
Personally I think the scale leans to heavily on higher RH than I am comfortable with, but I grow in an Arid environment.

If you are interesed in some DIY automation shoot me a PM and I can tell you another site to find it on.

 

[krest]

Awesome underground build!

Here is a VPD chart for ya:

And here is a VPD thread for your reading pleasure: https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=195058

 

[CannaBunkerMan]

Awesome underground build!

Here is a VPD chart for ya:

Oh, that's a great chart. Now I understand. That's really helpful. I can't believe that I never took something like this into consideration. Actually, this is the first I've heard of this, but it makes sense.

I've been running a little dryer than the chart suggests, at 45% and 72 degrees, well in the blue for a VPD of 14.5.

When I left for my trip those 10 days, the AC failed, and temps rose. The dehuey couldn't keep up, and RH rose to 85%. Temps also rose to about 90 degrees. That put me smack dab in the middle of the green area for a VPD of 7.5. That would explain the MONSTOROUS veg growth while I was away. Really? I mean 3' in 10 days is 3.6" in a day. You could have almost watched them grow.

I'd assume that this is mainly for optimal vegitative growth. How does this chart apply for a plant already finished with the post flower stretch? I know the water requirements mid-late flower lower considerably, so respiration has to have slowed down.

The whole "raining in the bunker" thing went away completely at about 60% RH. I was worried about mold, so I brought it down to 30%, and primed the ceiling with a latex sealer.

BTW, the 5 gallon bucket of Kiltz sealer is one of those uninvisioned costs that seem to constantly percolate. This one was $92. Plus the cost of the paint rollers and tray liners.

 

[CannaBunkerMan]

Kinda. VPD just states that at certain temps there is an ideal RH or vice versa. At the ideal states the stomata 'breathe' at maximum capacity, thus helping all the plants metabolic processes.
Personally I think the scale leans to heavily on higher RH than I am comfortable with, but I grow in an Arid environment.

If you are interesed in some DIY automation shoot me a PM and I can tell you another site to find it on.

That's defintely cool. I think 65% humidity might be a little to close to the mold motel than I'm comfortable traveling. However, what this chart tells me is that I can let the throttle off of both my AC and my dehuey, while at the same time being of benefit to the plants. That means lower power bills, wihch is the main financial drain on the setup.

I'm going to shoot for 55% and 76 degrees next time to see if that helps at all.

I've finally broken the 1lb per light barrier, it's not much, but it's a start. Some people on here blabber something about 3lbs per light, and I have to call BS. I wouldn't know what to do with 3lb/light.

Exaggerators don't do anyone any good. They also skew the boards for those of us who don't. Eh, that's like arguing that chivalry and honor should make a comeback. Different times, different people.

 

[Tuhder]

Use photoubucket canna!

 

[B. Self Reliant]

I've finally broken the 1lb per light barrier, it's not much, but it's a start. Some people on here blabber something about 3lbs per light, and I have to call BS. I wouldn't know what to do with 3lb/light.

What a great story. . . loved reading start to finish in one sitting. Seeing one lb per light must have been very satisfying.

Are you growing one kind of genetics or do you rotate through different kinds? What strain?

Thanks for sharing this with the all us dreamers. . .

 

[Rednick]

I've finally broken the 1lb per light barrier, it's not much, but it's a start. Some people on here blabber something about 3lbs per light, and I have to call BS. I wouldn't know what to do with 3lb/light.

Those ppl are usually only running 1K-3K, vertical column style. Utilizing 360 degrees of lumens, and lots of plants.
It is possible, but dependent on too many factors. Apples to oranges.
Not horizontal with reflectors, which is my guess of your current set up.
Plus don't underestimate genetics that some people have. Some are headie, some are producers, some are both.

 

[jakeh]

CannaBunkerMan,
This is amazing. On the 3rd or 4rth page you said you would not do cement blocks again and that you would go with forms. Did you mean insulated concrete forms? I've heard you can add fiberglass fibers to the concrete mix and skip the steel rebar altogether. I'm just curious about how you would do it differently.

 

[CannaBunkerMan]

Those ppl are usually only running 1K-3K, vertical column style. Utilizing 360 degrees of lumens, and lots of plants.
It is possible, but dependent on too many factors. Apples to oranges.
Not horizontal with reflectors, which is my guess of your current set up.
Plus don't underestimate genetics that some people have. Some are headie, some are producers, some are both.

Okay, I'll keep an open mind. I've been growing for 15 years with quite a few different strains, always in hydro, and never got anywhere near that. I sat inside of a 1500 pound pumpkin, so anything is possible.

Always horizontal air-cooled reflectors.

Green Crack is my clone only of choice. Actually, it's my only clone only of choice. I just ran out a variety pack of GH feminized. Very solid lineup. Church, El Nino, Lemon Skunk, Cheese, and Train Wreck. Church was a high yielder, LS smelled like lemons, cheese smelled like gross cheese. All offered something, but none really held a candle to the Green Crack. I don't think I'll be keeping anything this time around.

I've grown some DJ Short genetics, but didn't find any keepers.

You guys out in Cali have it so easy man. You might not have a guaranteed sales channel, but the getetics that you have available in terms of clone only strains make my panties wet. Some of you may turn your noses up to last weeks strain, but I could become fucking Santa Clause with something as simple as GPD. I was BEYOND lucky to come across a cutting of Green Crack. I can go a year without seeing any type of kind bud on the market, much less something with a name. Getting known high quality GC in my area would be impossible. I went a year with nothing but brick mexican seeded before I started building.

 

[CannaBunkerMan]

CannaBunkerMan,
This is amazing. On the 3rd or 4rth page you said you would not do cement blocks again and that you would go with forms. Did you mean insulated concrete forms? I've heard you can add fiberglass fibers to the concrete mix and skip the steel rebar altogether. I'm just curious about how you would do it differently.

I'd truck concrete in, I wouldn't mix it myself again. Anything approaching 5 yards is more than a person should do, with machines around to do it for you. One of the main reasons that I decided to mix myself is that I would have needed a concrete pump and crane to get the mix to the forms. That's another $1000 right there. With hindsight, $1000 is well worth the expense.

Will the concrete company add the fiberglass to the mix for you? If they will, and it isn't more than a few hundred dollars (cost of rebar), that would be worth it too. I didn't end up laying any horizontal rebar, and after 2 years, I have a hairline verticle crack in the far wall below the main support beam.

Is ICF when you use snap ties to hold 2 pieces of plywood together, and pour inbetween? Pro forms are too expensive, the prebuilt metal things. I looked into renting them, but I didn't find anything near where I live.

Actually, I remember reading in a Cannabis Culture that you can use hemp fibers as the concrete aggregate. I'm not sure I'd use that underground though.

 

[Rowdy420]

Looks like these boys got you started in the right direction on understanding VPD. Definitely well worth the time to look into and understand.

ICF forms are Insulated concrete forms. Cost to cost comparison to traditional building it will run you slightly more in the beginning but they are basically insulated lego blocks that stay in place and you pour the concrete into them.

Keep those pictures rockin!

Good luck, peace

 

[CannaBunkerMan]

Maybe I can use the next couple of days to ask a few questions of my own. One thing that has been troubling me is that during full flower, when everything is humming away, the main breaker can trip. Well, not exactly "trip", but half of the panel will die, even though the main switch hasn't flipped. When I turn off main, and then on again, the dead half of the panel will be fine again. It's troubling, since my whole house is only pushing 70 amps, and I should have 120 amp service.

My diagnosis is a faulty main breaker. Ha! However, the panel is from the late 60's, and I don't know how to buy a replacement main without gutting and replacing the entire panel. I tried McMasterCarr, but I couldn't find anything. Any suggestions?

 

[CannaBunkerMan]

Use photoubucket canna!

I thought about that, but I'd really like the images to survive as long as the thread. I could post higher res images though. What do most people here do?

 

[Rowdy420]

Yeah I would replace main breaker and see what develops from there. Breakers become weaker as they get tripped and won't have the holding power the have brand new.

Good luck, peace

 

[CannaBunkerMan]

Yeah I would replace main breaker and see what develops from there. Breakers become weaker as they get tripped and won't have the holding power the have brand new.

Good luck, peace

Where would I find a replacement?

 

[humble1]

I've finally broken the 1lb per light barrier, it's not much, but it's a start. Some people on here blabber something about 3lbs per light, and I have to call BS. I wouldn't know what to do with 3lb/light.

I'm just envious of 3lb a light the way I'm envious of porn stars. Doesn't mean I would want to be them. Who am I kidding, right?
Are you saying that you broke 1lb per for the first time of 15 years growing, or just for this location?
I'm pissed when I hit below 1 per, even with finicky strains. Not saying it hasn't happened, even recently; just saying.