Thank you for your service... and the continued service in the MMJ community.

I enjoy helping out, speaking of which, how is your grow going? GFP journals really should have, at least, weekly updates.

After a week with intermittent phone and internet, thank you excavating company for cutting the lines to our street, here are some updates:

I began my experiment with the SolarStorm 400w on 1/23/13. As stated above, I have other grows going in my room, but have segregated a few strains, and sectioned off the light so that all data I present here will be for the 400w only. To start, here are a few pics of my room. I have a separate clone/ vegetative lab, and then the flower lab. I assume that most readers on here already know how to safely build a grow room, but if not, do some searching and you will find great information. A few safety points, always have a fire extinguisher in your room, and keep all electrics off of the floor, and if possible, out of the field of fire should a water hose or pump line break and become a geyser. The only other bit of advice I would suggest is that on all of you electric cables, run a drip loop. This is where you let a part of the electric line sag, before the plug goes into the receptacle. Should something leak and drip down the cable, it will follow the cord down to the lowest point and not be able to travel back up to the receptacle.







I am using the SS400w to flower four plants, three strains. I use ID#'s for my plants, so you will be able to track throughout the grow.
#01-Northern Lights
#13-Kandy Kush
#14-SDxJH
#15-Kandy Kush

Here is where we are so far. A few points, I run my vegetative unit between 750-1000ppm. When I move over to flower, I start around 1000ppm and increase to around 2000ppm. I have learned that unless you have thousands of dollars in equipment to automate your water, ppm, and pH, it will just drive you crazy trying to keep the levels exact. I check daily when I am home, and try to keep the ranges acceptable, but there are spikes from time to time. I am sure it decreases yield a little, but it is the best I can do at the moment, and I have not seen a tremendous adverse effect. Most spikes are caused by adding water, or nutrients. I did have a large spike on the 31st, but everything came back to normal and I didn't see a huge issue with the plants.

Date..............ppm........pH...#01........#13.........#14.........#15
.......................................(inches of growth from pot to top cola)
1/23/2013 .......1120.0.....6.2..12.00......19.50.......20.00......20.00
1/24/2013 .......1410.0.....6.5..13.00......21.00......20.50......20.50
1/26/2013 .......1910.0.....6.5..14.00......23.00......23.00......23.00
1/27/2013 .......2150.0.....6.2..14.50......24.00......24.50......24.50
1/28/2013........2210.0.....6.5..15.00......25.00......25.00......25.50
1/29/2013 .......2230.0.....5.8..15.50......26.50......26.00......26.50
1/31/2013 .......2520.0.....6.0..15.50......27.00......26.50......28.00
2/3/2013.........1660.0.....6.0..16.00......31.00......29.50......33.00

-Charlie.Lima...OUT

If you're using an apple/mac product to post, you may need to install an alternate browser (like firefox or chrome) and/or resize your pictures to be less than 1 meg.

Got it. Thank you.

Update 2/6/13:
ppm=2210
pH=6.0

#01 16"
#13 34.5"
#14 32.5"
#15 36.5"

The Northern Lights averaged an inch a day for the first week and has slowed at 16", and the Kandi Kush and SDxJH are averaging ~1.0 inch per day, all under the SS400w.

Also, after almost two weeks of switching to the LEDs, I can say that the heat is almost non-existent. I am keeping the lights approximately 4" off the top, with no issue. I had a few shoots grow rapidly and touch the glass on the bottom of the SolarStorm 400w, got a little browning and dryness, but nothing major at all.

Old HPS users, you will notice a significant heat reduction if you venture to try the LEDs.

Just to make sure that I'm clear; you're two weeks into flower and your heights range from 16" to 36" right? How tall were they when you started flowering?

I'd be careful with the lights that close; several members here reported burning and bleaching when put too close to the tops. Most journals report that the heat is similar to an equal sized air-cooled HID so I'm confused about your heat situation too. Even CLW suggests 18-24" from the tops but some of that could be to gain some area coverage. I'd love to know more about your actual space, how big is it? How big is the actual room that the grow space is in and what kind of cooling system are you using?

Correct, today is day 14 of flower. And you are also correct with the height of the light from what I am seeing. I remember watching a review on the California Lightworks, and two other LED lights, and if I remember correctly the light meter was greatest around 5". Today, when I checked on the girls, the tops were starting to burn again so I have adjusted to 12" (before I read your post). I will see how they are looking tomorrow, but probably raise it again. Although, in another spot, I also have a SolarFlare 200w, at about 3" and nothing has burned. It is over my Northern Lights plants. I am new to this LED thing so I will just keep experimenting.

Also, you have a point. I will update the first post with the measurements of the room.

Regarding the size, the Kandi Kush and SDxJH where 20", and the one Northern Lights was at 12" on 01DAY of flower.