A noob's guide to doin it right the 1st time

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papapppaulwall

Active Member
wow very impressed by your journal i also just read from start to finish. idk i'd say your grow was more like a soap opera sooo much drama haha.
 
JohnnyPotSeed1969

JohnnyPotSeed1969

Well-Known Member
well, wouldn't you know it? it seems my 2 biggest and bestest are boys :/ i think that it is a sign. my priorities have changed here recently. i'm moving and starting a new job in a new city, and i can't continue this grow. i have learned a lot though.

when i start again, i'll have a much better idea of what i'm doing. it's one thing to read about it, and a completely different thing to actually do it. anyways, i'll still be around and what not. i can't start again until after we move to california, which will be next summer :) i want to thank everyone for their help and encouragement on this grow, i couldn't have gotten this far without you!
 
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livinlegend

Active Member
you just sat while your plants died? you know PH down is just acidic solution, right? you couldn't buy vinegar? some really ridiculous actions on your part in this grow that even while i read them i can't comprehend. you kept talking about your ph being in the mid 6s, in no way is that acceptable. 6.5 should be your MAX 5.5 is optimal. you added the epsom salts which was good and then you just watched your plants die when chances are you had plenty of household chemicals that would've helped. you could've poured orange juice in your rez, that is acidic.
 
JohnnyPotSeed1969

JohnnyPotSeed1969

Well-Known Member
i was fighting an uphill battle with 450-500 ppm water out of the tap, which definitely was affecting my ph. it's all a moot point anyways right now, as i can not afford to take the risk of continuing this grow. :peace:
 
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livinlegend

Active Member
that really sucks. i would advise to sell that giant hut thing and buy a small lockbox and grow a plant or two. not like they can do anything to you without a warrant or some suspicion
 
cream8

cream8

Well-Known Member
JohnnyPotSeed1969 said:
The HydroHut comes with 7 vents total, 3 at the top for ductwork, 1 at the bottom for cold air intake, and 3 flaps at the bottom for passive airflow. :) I had thought about just using the 1 vent, and using the carbon scrubber on the same fan as the cooltube, but I realized that the filter would interfere with the cfm's on the fan. I know it'll be another $40, but I think it will be worth it.

As far as my ballast goes, I do have it outside of the hut. Unfortunately, I didn't pick up a digital ballast, but I can definitely see the advantages of having one. After this first grow, I'll probably pick one up and sell my other. It has a 2 year warranty, so it should last a few months :)

There are some gaps under and around the doors of the closet which will allow adequate ventilation. I work 3rd shift, so there is a blanket up over my window to keep light out since I sleep during the day. I keep my apartment pretty cool, and I have two turbine fans which I use just to keep air flowing in the apartment. My thinking is that with a 250 cfm fan just for the cooltube, that should keep the light from being able to generate as much heat as it otherwise would.

I should have mentioned that I haven't purchased any of the ductwork yet either, but this last splurge in spending should be able to get me around 3rd and to home. So far I've spent about $450 on this setup, and I'll probably be dropping close to another $300, maybe more before it's all said and done. It's not cheap, but I know that this setup will pay for itself after my first harvest :joint:

I should also mention that so far everything I have I've purchased online. There aren't any specialty hydro shops within a reasonable distance. I also live in a college town, so purchases like these have to kept on the DL cause cops around here have nothing better to do. :roll:

I welcome all questions and comments!
Click to expand...

i am using the exact same set up as you..the cooltube hydro hut and the drip dwc bubbler. i am about to build my hydro kit today as a matter of fact so seeing this thread blew my mind..we may be able to really help each other out on this fourm. im really getting excited about this grow now...how strange of a coincidence
 
JohnnyPotSeed1969

JohnnyPotSeed1969

Well-Known Member
well here's what's going on: my best NL and my best AK both ended up being hermaphrodites. as soon as i realized this, i killed them both. it was interesting to note that even after i had cut them down, the capillary action in the stem continued. very cool :mrgreen:

so, after that, i waffled back and forth on continuing this grow in light of the fact that i will be moving in a little over a week. in the meantime, i had set out a good deal of water so the chlorine could evaporate and maybe give me something positive to work with. i decided earlier to go ahead and give my remaining 4 plants, 2 each full on bloom nutes. during this cleaning, i actually took the time to remove the air curtains and clean them with CLR to remove all the build up of salt. this is something that apparently should be done every week whether you think so or not, because now i'm beginning to believe that my problems might have been more related to a low oxygen environment for the roots. over time, the air stones get clogged with salts. you won't even really notice it until one day you have no bubbles at all. this is why it should be done every week :)

so anyways, this is my last ditch effort. if i don't notice a change for the better than fuck it, it's one less thing i have to worry about with my move. but anyways, i do have one confirmed northern lights female, which is why i'm deciding to try and continue. overall, i feel that this grow is pretty much doomed.

anyways, i'm off to watch the 300. :peace:
 
PhatAnna

PhatAnna

Active Member
this journal has scared me shitless :-? so many ups and downs. my plants just sprouted. i hope its a smooth ride
 
tahoe58

tahoe58

Well-Known Member
:mrgreen: well JPS...that was a really good read. you obviously had your ups and downs, but you walked through it and like you said learned a lot. We can all ead as much as we want, but the real test comes when you gent your hands dirty and day by day watch things happen and deal with it in whatever way you do! good luck with ur next one. I know I am better off with having read your trials and tribulations.....every little bit helps! and oh BTW - good luck with your move and new job!! :hump:
 
JohnnyPotSeed1969

JohnnyPotSeed1969

Well-Known Member
good news guys, i'm seeing the beginnings of flowers on my remaining plants!

the only problem is, my plants are lanky without much vegetation because i've almost killed them 100 times now. anyways, i'll try to get some pictures up later on today. i can't believe these things are trying to flower, lol
 
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