First Grow: Snow white & LSD: Questions and journal

[chusett]

Hey everyone, I'm here to attempt my first grow. I've been reading as much as I can for the last week or so and this time around I'm ready to get set up. I still have some questions here and there, and I figure i'd start my own thread instead of derailing other threads.

Pretty soon I'll have pictures up and keep this thread updated as like everyone else it seems, right now I'm not set up yet.

I am either going to use 3 105w CFL's, 5000k, or I will use 2 floro bulbs 4ft across. Im starting with 2 tubs, 12 plants. I've ordered my seeds and i have pretty much 90% of my stuff already, or it is ordered and on the way. I'll be workin with LSD & snow white.

I'm about to order my 600w digital hps/mh air cool hood light as well, and probably 4" scrubber along with fan combo. I contemplated for like a week on making my own bootleg scrubber, but finally i think im leaning on just getting the nice quiet inline fan and filter combo. I think 4" is enough, for my 4x4 area and i'll have another 6" fan of my own.

Now that thats outta the way, for those still reading, i have some questions to ask! Again these are possibly newb questions, or questions that can be answered if i were to search the thread endlessly but i might as well sum it here.

1) is it true my designated mothers should best be kept in soil?
Can I keep a mother in veg as long as wanted, as long as on 18/6?

2) ive read conflicting temps. Here they say below 75 or else there'll be pests.
http://www.cannabisdelight.com/temperature.html.
Here its 70-80 so that plants can flourish. http://weedfarmer.com/growing_guide/temperature.php
Which one is it? I have dogs and im not trying to get mites.

3) What is main difference(s) between rooting powder vs gel? besides the near $50 in price.

4) rockwool (even after seed) vs hydroton?

5) is it that waterpumps are for drip? If im only trying to do DWC do i only need air pump?

6) Relating to air pump, i am wondering do i need an air pump in both/each tub? If im planning on adding another 2 tubs later to my 4x4 area, can i just get a good 600gph or 950gph pump and put it in a middle 20gal reservoir and put like 2 airstones in each tub instead? I hv no idea how the air pump concept works
as some people seem to describe having a pump in every tub while others talk about using tubing on the pump.

7) When it comes to fans, what is the normal preferred setup? Do people run a fan for intake, then another one to exhaust, and then another fan in the middle of the room attached to the carbon filter blowing upwards? Or just an intake fan blowing towards an exhaust fan with the scrubber already attached on it? Of course Im talking optimal ventilation , obviously some people probably dont care for fans at all, or some just hv one fan and have a vent, but im talking a good layout.

Mistic cloner, can someone who has it actually tell me the exact dims/specs on it?

9) Should i get an EC meter, or TDS meter? or both?


Thanks in advance to anyone reading and for any tips and advice. Again im a newbert so any help is appreciated and im sorry if any of these questions happen to be retarded please help a brother out!

 

[blueybong]

Hey everyone, I'm here to attempt my first grow. I've been reading as much as I can for the last week or so and this time around I'm ready to get set up. I still have some questions here and there, and I figure i'd start my own thread instead of derailing other threads.

Pretty soon I'll have pictures up and keep this thread updated as like everyone else it seems, right now I'm not set up yet.

I am either going to use 3 105w CFL's, 5000k,(I used three 85W because the 105W was too hot) or I will use 2 floro bulbs 4ft across. Im starting with 2 tubs, 12 plants. I've ordered my seeds and i have pretty much 90% of my stuff already, or it is ordered and on the way. I'll be workin with LSD & snow white.

I'm about to order my 600w digital hps/mh air cool hood light as well, and probably 4" scrubber along with fan combo. I contemplated for like a week on making my own bootleg scrubber, but finally i think im leaning on just getting the nice quiet inline fan and filter combo. I think 4" is enough, for my 4x4 area and i'll have another 6" fan of my own.

Now that thats outta the way, for those still reading, i have some questions to ask! Again these are possibly newb questions, or questions that can be answered if i were to search the thread endlessly but i might as well sum it here.

1) is it true my designated mothers should best be kept in soil?
Can I keep a mother in veg as long as wanted, as long as on 18/6?

2) ive read conflicting temps. Here they say below 75 or else there'll be pests.
http://www.cannabisdelight.com/temperature.html.
Here its 70-80 so that plants can flourish. http://weedfarmer.com/growing_guide/temperature.php
Which one is it? I have dogs and im not trying to get mites.

3) What is main difference(s) between rooting powder vs gel? besides the near $50 in price.

4) rockwool (even after seed) vs hydroton? RW sits in the hydroton which all sits in the net.

5) is it that waterpumps are for drip?(Drip until the roots are fully in the water) If im only trying to do DWC do i only need air pump? Air pump & airstones is all that is needed. This grow I used one dual output airpump with two airstones per bucket. Next grow I'll buy a big airpump that can pump four large airstones. One for each bucket.

6) Relating to air pump, i am wondering do i need an air pump in both/each tub? If im planning on adding another 2 tubs later to my 4x4 area, can i just get a good 600gph or 950gph pump and put it in a middle 20gal reservoir and put like 2 airstones in each tub instead? I hv no idea how the air pump concept works
as some people seem to describe having a pump in every tub while others talk about using tubing on the pump. Yep, on large airpump should take care of four buckets. One large airstone per bucket.

7) When it comes to fans, what is the normal preferred setup? Do people run a fan for intake, then another one to exhaust, and then another fan in the middle of the room attached to the carbon filter blowing upwards? Or just an intake fan blowing towards an exhaust fan with the scrubber already attached on it? Of course Im talking optimal ventilation , obviously some people probably dont care for fans at all, or some just hv one fan and have a vent, but im talking a good layout. A 400CFM exhaust fan pulling air through the scrubber via the vented hood. One oscillating fan pulling over the tops of the plant. If you have large enough opening on the bottom, you won't need to force air in, but it does help!!

Mistic cloner, can someone who has it actually tell me the exact dims/specs on it?

9) Should i get an EC meter, or TDS meter? or both?
http://www.stealthhydroponics.com/section.php?xSec=35
http://www.stealthhydroponics.com/section.php?xSec=36
I bought the $59 pH & the $89 TDS meter

Thanks in advance to anyone reading and for any tips and advice. Again im a newbert so any help is appreciated and im sorry if any of these questions happen to be retarded please help a brother out!

I filled what I know!!

 

[dynamitejack]

I found that trying to set up a drip system was a monumental waste of time and money. Put your seedlings (which are in the rockwool) inside something humid. I used sandwich bags which held 6 cubes each. once they sprout move them into individual bags under light for a couple of days. The beauty of rockwool is it will stay moist for hours. Rather than set up a drip system I used an eye dropper to water the cubes until water ran from the bottom. Then I gently shook the cube up and down until no more water came out and put it back in the bag. I kept them in their bags until roots started coming out then I moved to to my dwc. I kept the water level about an inch above the bottom of the netpod this kept the grow rocks wet and the rockwool moist. 14 out of the original 16 I started are growing. If want 12 plants I would start 13 or 14 seeds.

1) is it true my designated mothers should best be kept in soil?
Can I keep a mother in veg as long as wanted, as long as on 18/6?
I don't think it will matter if it is soil or not. I would follow this: http://forum.grasscity.com/general-indoor-growing/121335-lets-build-bubble-bucket-step-step.html and keep your mother in there.

2) ive read conflicting temps. Here they say below 75 or else there'll be pests.
http://www.cannabisdelight.com/temperature.html.
Here its 70-80 so that plants can flourish. http://weedfarmer.com/growing_guide/temperature.php
Which one is it? I have dogs and im not trying to get mites.
If you can keep the temp below 80 you will be fine. The reservoir water temp should be as cold as possible, the colder the water the easier the roots can absorb oxygen. Keep the water between 55 and 90

3) What is main difference(s) between rooting powder vs gel? besides the near $50 in price.
I have heard that powder is better because it does not wash away as quickly as gel. I think the powder is cheaper too.

9) Should i get an EC meter, or TDS meter? or both?
An EC meter and TDS meter measure the same thing but tell you the results differently. TDS is mainly used in America and EC is mainly used abroad. READ: http://www.hydroponics.net/learn/debate_over_ec_and_tds.asp
I'm buying an EC meter and digital PH meter.

Hope this helps

 

[chusett]

Hey, well noted on the answers guys. Thanks for the help. This definitely did answer some questions, because i did not want to have to buy like 4 of those airpumps for each tub, that would run me dry.

So lets say i want to hv 4 tubs, do i get another like 20 gallon reservoir and put in the middle and put the air pump into that one?

 

[dynamitejack]

I like bubbles so I have 2 60 gallon dual output air pumps. You are going to need at least 2 dual output air pumps and flexible bubble wands too. Are you talking about filling a 5th 20 gallon res with water and nutes?

 

[blueybong]

$10 bucks

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10532634

 

[chusett]

I like bubbles so I have 2 60 gallon dual output air pumps. You are going to need at least 2 dual output air pumps and flexible bubble wands too. Are you talking about filling a 5th 20 gallon res with water and nutes?

Well.. i think im still confused with this concept so let me try to clarify.

What i mean is.. i have 2 tubs right now. I will have 12 plants. I am wondering.. do i need an air pump in each tub? Because ive been looking at this http://cheaphydroponics.com/store/imported-products/sunleaves-durapump-air-600gph/prod_200.html and that will make me broke if i hv to get multiple of those pumps. I plan on starting another 2 tubs soon and i definitely cannot afford 4 or more of these pumps.
So what im wondering is.. lets say the pump i linked.. its the 4 outlet one. So im supposed to use tubing and be able to support 4 tubs? Granted its not huge tubs they are like 14 gal tubs but i'l put 12 gal in there.

 

[chusett]

Nevermind.. i think i might have figured out what was stumping me. I think i was retardedly mixing up water pump with air pump.

The airpump doesn't touch water right? LOL.


Btw thanks for the link BB, i checked it out. If anything i think i'll just go with sunleaves Durapumps instead, theres an $11.00 pumps out 167 GPH.

If i plan on eventually having 4 tubs, do u think i should just invest in this? http://cheaphydroponics.com/store/imported-products/sunleaves-durapump-air-600gph/prod_200.html

 

[dynamitejack]

Nevermind.. i think i might have figured out what was stumping me. I think i was retardedly mixing up water pump with air pump.

The airpump doesn't touch water right? LOL.


Btw thanks for the link BB, i checked it out. If anything i think i'll just go with sunleaves Durapumps instead, theres an $11.00 pumps out 167 GPH.

If i plan on eventually having 4 tubs, do u think i should just invest in this? http://cheaphydroponics.com/store/imported-products/sunleaves-durapump-air-600gph/prod_200.html

If your getting a 600 gph air pump I would do what is attached below. Thats my plan but instead of reservoirs I I'm going to have 8 buckets with that same pump and 8 5" airstones.

 

[chusett]

If your getting a 600 gph air pump I would do what is attached below. Thats my plan but instead of reservoirs I I'm going to have 8 buckets with that same pump and 8 5" airstones.

Hmm.. so you have 8 buckets.. an A/S per bucket. And you're planning on a 600gph like me? Thats pretty much what i was wondering, i was not sure if 600 is enough for 4 tubs and i think it should.

With your setup, u hv 8 buckets and then a spare 10 gal res?

 

[dynamitejack]

Hmm.. so you have 8 buckets.. an A/S per bucket. And you're planning on a 600gph like me? Thats pretty much what i was wondering, i was not sure if 600 is enough for 4 tubs and i think it should.

With your setup, u hv 8 buckets and then a spare 10 gal res?

Right now I have 2 10 gal res. Once the plants get big enough I'm going to take clones and move the plants to buckets and put the clones in the 2 10 gallon dwc. Then a 10 gallon res filled with nutrient solution for topping off the buckets when they get low. The 600 gph should be plenty of air.

 

[dynamitejack]

How goes the grow?

 

[indigo]

sounds nice, gl bro

 

[chusett]

Hey peeps, sorry i havent updated this. My seeds are germinating in the dome right now, so nothing to do except wait. It's been about 55 hours now, and seeds seem to have cracked (at least 7 of them now) so seems fine.

Only question i have is, some seeds.. the tap root is growing up. Did i do something wrong when i dropped it in? I already dropped it in horizontally like people say to do. Do i have to manually adjust the seed?

BTW Djack .. i ended up with a 600 light from HTG as well ! got me MH/HPS .. hopefully it's not too much i'll just keep it high. I checked your thread, are you running your exhaust out into another room? I have a grow tent, i talked to HTG and they said i didn't have to do that, just a carbon filter was fine.

 

[dynamitejack]

Hey peeps, sorry i havent updated this. My seeds are germinating in the dome right now, so nothing to do except wait. It's been about 55 hours now, and seeds seem to have cracked (at least 7 of them now) so seems fine.

Only question i have is, some seeds.. the tap root is growing up. Did i do something wrong when i dropped it in? I already dropped it in horizontally like people say to do. Do i have to manually adjust the seed?

BTW Djack .. i ended up with a 600 light from HTG as well ! got me MH/HPS .. hopefully it's not too much i'll just keep it high. I checked your thread, are you running your exhaust out into another room? I have a grow tent, i talked to HTG and they said i didn't have to do that, just a carbon filter was fine.

Umm I 100% sure you dont want the seed to start horizontally, I started all of mine with the pointed side down and I haven't had any tap root issues.

I'm growing in a washer/dryer closet so my exhaust is running outside.

 

[chusett]

Umm I 100% sure you dont want the seed to start horizontally, I started all of mine with the pointed side down and I haven't had any tap root issues.

I'm growing in a washer/dryer closet so my exhaust is running outside.

yeah im starting to think it doesn't make much sense to do it horizontally now. I did read it though .. i guess i can carefully shift these asap b4 the roots grow more.

do u wash off/soak your hydro rocks?

 

[dynamitejack]

Just face the taproot down and you should be fine. Yes I did rinse my grow rocks, I put them in a colander and ran water through the rocks until it was clear.

Woot 100 posts!

 

[chusett]

Just face the taproot down and you should be fine. Yes I did rinse my grow rocks, I put them in a colander and ran water through the rocks until it was clear.

Woot 100 posts!

war newbies!! 50 posts FTW

 

[chusett]

Ok so first off in this update.. i am still trying to get my pics loaded now but i use photobucket to upload pics, and for some retarded reason they my cell phone is not sending the pics to my photobucket properly. It has always worked, just dunno whats going on right now. It seems the issue is with pbucket because my phone signals and functions are all fine.

Anyways, my sprouts are looking pretty good, except 2 of them. THe thing is the growth rate of these 12 RW cubes is so different, i have two of them that are sprouting quick with the leaves already, some others are still trying ot shrug off seed shells, but they are coming along.

My only concern are the two sprouts that don't seem to be doing anything. Don't get me wrong it has cracked, and ONE is standing, its just that its only about an inch out of the RW, and no root breaking the bottom of the RW. The other one is actually laying down now, so im even leanin towards it is dead. Also no root breaking the bottom of RW.

The rest (10 sprouts) are all up and running, just different growth rate for each it seems. I'm trying hard to get these pics uploaded, it sucks i have to use Photobucket to begin with since i lost my nokia data cable.

 

[chusett]

also my dome has come off now since the 10 sprouts are all at lesat a good 2.5 inches standing out of the RW now.. someone let me know if i am messing up this operation.