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Hemivett's SolarStorm Grow

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Re: Hemivett's SolarStorm Grow

by SisterMaryElephant » Thu Mar 22, 2012 3:34 pm

With some pumps you can just change the impeller and you have a needle wheel pump. Some people modify their impellers but I'd prefer to buy one designed that way. I wish I had a DO meter to test it though, I hate not knowing...

Disclaimer:
I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.

: SisterMaryElephant; Posts: 2633; Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:05 pm

Re: Hemivett's SolarStorm Grow

by hemivette » Thu Mar 22, 2012 9:07 pm

SisterMaryElephant wrote:With some pumps you can just change the impeller and you have a needle wheel pump. Some people modify their impellers but I'd prefer to buy one designed that way. I wish I had a DO meter to test it though, I hate not knowing...

Ya my feed pump has the impeller that looks like a comb, and an intake line, with a anti-siphon valve, and an adjustable air intake valve. I can tell you, there is a big difference, when I shut the air valve. My sprayers lose a bunch of there misting capabilities. I originally bought it cause of the sealed res, and no airstone, so it was my way of oxygenating the solution.

As far as my res size, Im kinda stuck with it. The whole system is built around it, and there is no room for bigger. When I fill it to max capacity, (without having water in the bottom post) its 10 gallons. So I guess my solution is a bigger chiller. I will do the biggest I can for the $400 range, which puts me at the 1/10hp. It says, its good for 80 gallons, and has 3 times the BTU's of the one I have.

As far as the plants go, they are loving what little cooling is going on. The ones on the bottom that were yellowing, have really turned around in the past couple days, and are almost all green again. Happy Times! h

: hemivette; Posts: 279; Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 6:55 pm

Re: Hemivett's SolarStorm Grow

by SisterMaryElephant » Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:07 am

There are other reasons to go with larger reservoirs too but you have to work with what you have until you're ready to redesign/rebuild. Either way you already have permission to go bigger on the chiller so you're in luck temp wise. Your plants will thank you. How are the roots looking now that temps are down a little, getting new growth yet?

: SisterMaryElephant; Posts: 2633; Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:05 pm

Re: Hemivett's SolarStorm Grow

by hemivette » Fri Mar 23, 2012 10:26 am

SisterMaryElephant wrote:There are other reasons to go with larger reservoirs too but you have to work with what you have until you're ready to redesign/rebuild. Either way you already have permission to go bigger on the chiller so you're in luck temp wise. Your plants will thank you. How are the roots looking now that temps are down a little, getting new growth yet?

Ya, I'm stuck with this res, so I have to work it out another way. I am bidding on a 1/2hp model now, I doubt it will end under 400 though, as they want 999 for it new. You never know though.

I actually do have a lot of new root growth. I can't take them out anymore, so that's a good sign. What I can see when I lift them is a lot of nice white root growth. Yeah! They really seem a lot happier too. I can definitely see where a lot of problems can be solved, or completely avoided, by having the res at the proper temp. I honestly had no idea how important it was till I started reading the mj growers handbook the wife bought me along with a new Galaxy tab!

I will get some pics up in a bit. Peace. h

: hemivette; Posts: 279; Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 6:55 pm

Re: Hemivett's SolarStorm Grow

by hemivette » Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:55 pm

Areo week 5 pics
"Welcome to the jungle!" Really the pics are not doing them justice. Buds have virtually doubled in size since the addition of the chiller. Obviously it was really hampering the nute uptake.

To top it all off my PH pen took a crap. I was wondering about it, cause of all the high readings I was getting. Then today it started reading 9.4, then flicker, and read 4.6. I went and bought $18 worth of batteries, and had the same results, so I had to pay a visit to the hydro shop. I have to say I dont like going there, because it costs twice as much as the same thing off ebay. I know "cheap bastard". So $65 later, (the cheapest one they have)(which is actually pretty nice) my PH was actually at 4.3, (because I added a bunch of "Down") so I drained it, and started over, and now its at 5.7.

Finally the Pics! h

Well Ok, I guess Ive reached my "Board attachment Quota" WTF.... So no more pics here! No wonder people dont use this forum. If anyone wants to see them, PM me, and I'll shoot you a link to my other diary.

My work here is done. Sorry for the inconvenience Guys, and Gals! Peace everybody. h

: hemivette; Posts: 279; Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 6:55 pm

Re: Hemivett's SolarStorm Grow

by SisterMaryElephant » Sat Mar 24, 2012 12:48 am

Nice, 1/2HP is way overkill for 12 gallons but you'd definitely have room for expansion later.

SSF is trying to get admin attention to get the attachment thing fixed. *shrug*

: SisterMaryElephant; Posts: 2633; Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:05 pm

Re: Hemivett's SolarStorm Grow

by hemivette » Sat Mar 24, 2012 6:49 am

Thanks SM. I hope I win. My plan is to hit them with a huge max bid about 30 seconds before it ends. Wish me luck, its 11hrs from ending. h

: hemivette; Posts: 279; Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 6:55 pm

Re: Hemivett's SolarStorm Grow

by hemivette » Sat Mar 24, 2012 7:31 pm

Well brand new PH pen took a crap! But on the bright side....I just "Won" the brand new 1/2 hp chiller I was bidding on at eBay for $51.00.....Yes you heard right! I waited for the last 20 seconds, and did a max bid of $351.51, and the other guy had only done a max bid of $50.00, and didn't have time to bid again. Whooohooo! Here's a link to a similar item, as there is personal info on mine. Peace. h

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aqua-Euro-US...a#ht_872wt_924

PS. New PH pen here Wednesday. The shop owner loaned me his til the new one gets here.