The latest creation.........

[Dreamscape]

how do you mean that 600w lights are more efficient?

I'm assuming he's either using the Lumatek digital E-Ballasts or something very similar.

And on that note:



I think I just felt some drool running down my chin Sonoma ... I remember that shed you did with the Generator as the power supply and had the same reaction ... Always impressed with your building abilities.

I was wondering about the feminzed strains - do you mean you bought feminzed seeds and they never panned out well for you ?? I'm a little hazy at the moment

Best of luck
~Dream

 

[William H]

Hey sonoma, sounds like your good to go mann! I love the different types of strains your growin, should be a very bountiful harvest, very interesting you mixing different strains with a drip system, ...do you have them grouped together or just mixed as far as location in your garden?? good question about how you plan on tending to ya plants, or is there enough room in between them to control?? either way, your a wizard with that electrical shit, cuz i would've already started a fire...be safe man, peace

 

[sonoma]

Thanks for all the response...I have to go into the woods every few days, so sorry for the delayed response....

As far as tending, I don't really do any tending in the bloom rooms. Once they go into the bloom room, I don't really do anything but gawk, and change the water every 7-10 days. Which brings up an interesting question......

What kind of tending do people do?? big leaf, check for bugs, stuff like that???

William H---I can tell which strain is which, I do try to group them together, but sometimes it gets mixed up....I sort it out in the end one way or another...

Yeah Dreamscape, they are Lumatek. Silver Star is the hood. As far as the feminized seeds.....they have a high likelihood of becoming hermis, and I have had it happen, and they pollinated my whole crop, so I like to be safe. Sometimes they work great, but I'd rather save my money. I can take the extra time to sex my strains rather than paying extra.

HellaFella--nice setup, loks like you are ready for action...I've seen that setup work great. I have a hard time giving up that kind of real estate for the sake of tending, but I understand. good luck to you!!!

somoz--what's happening...thanks, as always....yeah, I'm trying to spread the grow love, and keep on building em...I've used sheet metal before, in a different format, and it works great, so I don't think we'll get hot spots. if anything I think it helps lower branch growth. The co2 we've been hanging it up high, so that it could fall onto the plants, but we too were considering putting it at plant height. What about putting C02 into the water tank? Thanks again!!

Mampi---thanks....hard ducting is way easier, and yes it is quieter, and more efficient, because there is less friction, so the air can move more freely, and it looks cool too......We use 1-6 inch fan per 3 600 watt lights, and it's better to pull the air through the light, rather than push the air (in case you didn't know)...
You can buy a "brain" that will turn your fans off while the c02 is running and turn tham back on when it's time...super cool...but you want to keep your fans on? Well, I think if you put the c02 anywhere it will still get sucked out by your exhaust fans, no? They do make a soaker hose that you could connect to your c02 and run it to each plant....let me know what you come up with....

killabrown420--exactly, and thanks...I do recirculate, and I change the resi every 7-10 days......


8 weeks from today........

 

[Mr GreenJeans]

Hiya sonoma

Been learning and admiring your setups and grow. How do you like the Lumatek? You're running the 120 or 240v? Does their shielded lamp cord minimize the radio / tv interference?

I've been thinking of going digital ballast, but there's not a lot of space between houses around here. I wouldn't want to snow up someone's TV and have them start looking around...

 

[Dreamscape]

Hiya sonoma

Been learning and admiring your setups and grow. How do you like the Lumatek? You're running the 120 or 240v? Does their shielded lamp cord minimize the radio / tv interference?

I've been thinking of going digital ballast, but there's not a lot of space between houses around here. I wouldn't want to snow up someone's TV and have them start looking around...

Wow I never even heard of that before ... I'm assuming if someone were in an apartment building using those anyone within a (please fill in blank) radius would have snowy TV's ?? How common is this ??

 

[Mr GreenJeans]

Hiya Dreamscape

Don't know, that's why I'm asking. The power feed to the light is pulsed at very hgih frequency - which gives it advantages over the 60 cycle ballasts we normally use. Here's a snippet from Lumatek:

The Lumatek ballast comes with an attached 15ft. RF shielded output cord... Competing brands of digital ballasts which do not employ shielded cords can seriously disrupt radio and satellite TV signals for up to 50 yards. This interference may also disrupt the operation of pH equipment. The Lumatek ballast, if properly connected, will have minimal RF interference at less than 5 ft. and will not interfere with pH equipment.

 

[Dreamscape]

Hi MGJ

This is vedy vedy interestinG ... And also kinda shitty at the same time LOL ... Thanks very much for the insight because I was PLANNING on grabbing some lumateks myself - although I had also thought of waiting for them to make some 1000watt E-Ballasts , any idea on those (shot in the dark)?? ... I'm assuming they will but considering the additional output of a 1000w , if they're already having interference issues with the 6'ers then I'm assuming they've got mucho work to do ...

Sonoma buddy how are those Lumateks workin out for ya man ? Good I hope ...

Best of luck
~Dream

 

[Mr GreenJeans]

Dreamscape
Don't know about a 1000, however their 240V 600W ballast is supposed to run lights at close to the lumen level of a 1000 on a magnetic ballast, and uses as much current as a 400W magnetic ballast. A win-win if true.

 

[Dreamscape]

MGJ you got me drooling over here buddy LOL ... Close to 1kw and takes of 4w worth of power - wow...

I also just found this in regards to the cord :

The Lumatek ballast when properly grounded will have minimal Radio Frequency interference (RFI) (less than 5 ft) and will not interfere with pH equipment. In order to ensure maximum RF Shielding the output cord must be wired directly into the socket. If the ballast is connected to an existing non-shielded wire it will cause radio and satellite television interference. Both of the ground wires (green) should be grounded to the socket for maximum RFI suppression. If it is necessary to extend the output cord further than the 15ft supplied the customer should purchase RFI shielded wire to lengthen the output cord.

LOL sorry about the Highjack Sonoma I just figured (as i'm sure MGJ did as well) this may be of importance to others to know before making a purchase on a Lumatek ballast.

~Dream

 

[Dreamscape]

bump

 

[sonoma]

Well..... it's been a while.....here's a few pic's I took yesterday.....








Mr GreenJeans, Dreamscape....I run the 240v because they use less amps, so you can run more of them....as far as interference, I haven't had a problem with it, and I would have, if it was a problem. One thing, I have to return 1 ballast for every six I buy. They just don't work, but I get another, and it works fine, so get it from your local supplier. They do have 1000w digi's, they work great....I still prefer the 600's....

 

[Ronley]

amazing grow Somna,
Your grow reached that size in 1 month?
Thats most impressive.

 

[Mr GreenJeans]

Thanks for the info Sonoma, I'm definitely gonna save my pennies to get one, but first I have to get a 240v run down to the basement. Figure it will be worth it, less power draw saves cash in the long run.

Sometime I'd like to visit - I know that pics just don't do a setup true justice, the pics look oustanding so the real thing must be even more so!

 

[Guest]

holy jeez man! you are my god!! BUD GOD I shall call you!, lol. can i be your friend

 

[Guest]

so clean,
is this around 30 days from 12/12 in the first pics of the clones?
quite impressive I must say!

 

[sonoma]

Thanks all, those shots are at 24 days into 12/12. I vegged them for 10 days, so they are at 34 days from time of planting into the 6" cubes. Should be a good first run in this room.

Mr GreenJeans---come on over, fellow growers are always welcome.....

 

[Dreamscape]

Thanks a million for the info sonoma , its much appreciated.

And as far as the garden pics go , I would say I was impressed but considering what you've shown in the past , coming from you something like that is just "expected" now lol ...

Best of luck man
~Dream

 

[Meditating]

Hey Sonoma,
I am truly impressed with your growing skills. You mentioned that you only vegged for 10 days and I recognize you put in rooted clones but that is some seriously quick growth...truly amazing. I am thinking about starting something along the lines of your grow by feeding through a drip system but with a soilless mix, so sort of like an automated watering system. How difficult is it to put together all the lines and hoses and where would you look to get supplies for that sort of thing.
Thanks
Med

 

[sonoma]

Hey Med, everything is available at your local hardware store. I changed all the plumbing in another room today, and it took me most of the day to do it. 130 1/4" hoses takes a while, but it's well worth it. All the plumbing cost about $200 including the 3/4 HP sump pump, which is most of the cost.
This is one of the key elements in the plumbing.....

 

[Meditating]

sonoma,

another quick question I saw your electrical board in the first post there and I only have general knowledge of electricity but what exactly did you rig up there. Most of the lights come pre wired ready to plug in but how do you get that many outlets hooked up to the breaker in your basement etc. If you dont mind it would be great if you could explain how to do this or point me in the right direction.
Thanks again
Med