Hey There,
As a CLW GFP Journal, I am getting ready to flower some plants in my new Aeroflo system. I have done a good bit of reading but have little, scattered experience. Never grown in an Aeroflo, but it seems like a good theory. Only one indoor grow, in hydro, using CFL & LED...turned out so-so, but learned a lot and had free smoke for over a year! Other than that, just a couple of outdoor grows for kicks every 3-4 years.
I have recently devoted a lot of time and $$ (at least on my scale!) to this pursuit. I started with a 4x4 grow tent, a 2'-4 Tube CFL, 2- 357 Magnum LEDs and 4 homemade hydro tubs...For this grow I have secured a lockable 11.5' x 11.5' room, with attic above, basement below. An AeroFlo2 AF60 will be the system, only running 4 of the grow chambers. The Aeroflo has a Hanna GrowCheck monitor installed as well as a ActiveAqua 1/4 HP chiller. Lighting will be California Light Works Solar Storm 400s...2 of them(waiting for my second light to arrive). Nutes will GH Flora 3 part. The system is populated with clones from my previous grow and are ready to flip to 12/12 as soon as my 2nd SS400 arrives. They have vegged under CFLs and most are getting 10-12" with the exception of a few runts, which I am thinking about eliminating when I switch to flower mode.
Ambient temp in the room ranges from 78-82 when lights are on, and drops to 73-75 during dark periods. Adding ventilation next...just room fans for now. Chiller holds reservoir temp steady between 66-67. Changed water yesterday and added bloom nutes in prep for 12/12...PPM at 1020, Ph holding steady at 6.0.
I think I am about ready...am I?? Have I overlooked anything?
Anyone with good Aeroflo experience and advise, please step forward....

Thanx!

You might want to research the Lucas Formula instead of using all 3 parts of the flora series and I'd drop the pH to 5.8. If you can get the dark period 10 degrees cooler than the day temps the plants seem to appreciate that.

Looking forward to pictures...

OK, I dropped the ph a little...it is bouncing between 5.7-5.8...waiting for it to settle out.
I have heard of the Lucas Formula but I will need to read up on it tonight. I won't ask until I know more about it....

Thanx Again,
Happy

OK, I checked out the Lucas Formula and it was a lot less reading than I thought it would be. Seems very simple!! A lot easier than GH feeding chart.
And it works? And works well?? Thanx for the info!! Next nute change I will be switching over and giving it a try. Now, when they say 8 & 16, do I really use 8 & 16 from start through finish? No halving or anything? Still flush at the end and everything else is the same?
I read the parts about clones and babies, but I couldn't find anything specifically about using the LF on Mother plants...will this work for them or better off sticking to 50% of GH veg mix?
Growcheck has my Ph holding steady at 5.8....guide me and I will follow...cuz I do want to learn...learn what works from someone who has already succeeded!! But somewhere I read that during the early stages 5.6-5.8 is where to keep Ph, but from flowering and beyond 6-6.1 is better... Is that old info or just inaccurate? I realize that the more info people share the more everyone is learning and perfecting their way of growing.
Plus on my bigger girls i had some Mag/Cal deficiencies to address and was led to believe at that time that more nutes would be available to my plants around 6.0 Ph than at 5.6-5.8....or is that just to help with the Mag/Cal issue? I used to just aim for 5.9 cuz I didn't know who to follow!

Thanx Again SME...

Happy

Yep, 8/16 + RO the whole way except for seedlings and newly rooted clones...

LF is more for hydro, I assume your mother plant is in soil?

I run 5.8 the whole way but I never tried aeroponics.

If the pH is too high or too low you can lock out either Ca or Mg (among other things) so I shoot for 5.8. With LF, using RO water, in hydroponics, the only time you *should* see calmag problems is if the pH gets out of whack. I guess some strains are different but for the most part LF works pretty darn well.


There is no one, single, right answer when it comes to growing...

Still waiting for 2nd ss400, scheduled delivery is Wednesday...my B-day!! Hellova present I think!!
My set up isn't complete but I am limping along as I build and I figured I would throw a few pics up...just to give an idea of where I am starting.

Right now I have 4 chambers running on the Aeroflo. When I get the other 2 chambers & 2nd ss400 and install them I'm planning to space plants out more and eliminate the smallest ones..

Ambient temp is 82f with lights on, drops to 72f before lights come on, reservoir temp is steady at 66f, ph is holding at 5.8

SME, how critical is RO when using the Lucas Formula? If it is important, what would be some units to look at? I have been using tap water to this point. Advantages of RO water?

I just tested my water straight out of the tap...

34-35 ppm

7.0 ph

If that helps.

LF was designed for RO so that everyone has the same end results but your tap is pretty clean (mine is near 500 ppm) although we still don't know what is in it. It could be chlorine or it could be something useful. You can always try your tap and see how it works or you can get an RO system. I got mine on ebay a while back; I don't have a suggestion on what brand to get. Shop around.

I got my 2nd ss400 today!! Hellova B-day present!!!
I have added the other 2 grow chambers to my system, so now I have all 6 running. I went from having 4 chambers loaded to the max to 6 chambers, running every other site...so I have 30 in an Aeroflo 60. In this process I have eliminated the smallest 10 plants, so now my tallest is about 14 and my smallest is about 10....hoping they will even out..they are 5 days on 12/12. Now I have 2 SS400s and 2 357 Magnums over my Aeroflo 60.....Is it going to be enough to get me the results I want??
Ph is being maintained at 5.8.....PPM is around 1000...(switching to Lucas Formula next water change)..ambient temp range 69-72 with lights off, and 78-85 with lights on. All plants look pretty healthy and seem to be showing growth every day, at least to me. Every time I walk into that room I am glad I bought my chiller!! It is holding reservoir temps steady between 66-67! Hoping to get my ventilation system here and installed in the next week. I have a water cooler I am hoping to convert to a chiller for my other tubs...Any guidance on that project??

Does it sound like I am ready to roll?? If not, please advise or guide me....
Try to get some pics posted tomorrow...lights are already off for the night....