Veggie grow under Solar Storm 400W LED
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 3:44 pmFor the last month or so I've been working out the kinks in my system and trying to keep my plants alive that I started.
If you want to see any of that info, I have it posted in the General section as "My head is going to explode!"
For those who just want to jump in and see how things are going, here you go.
Setup:
NFT system with 3" PVC angled so that water is about 1/4 way up inside of the pipe.
Lighting:
Solar Storm 400W LED, about 32" above the plants
On 17, off 7
Water:
I have 450 PPM city water, I also have 15 PPM Reverse Osmosis water.
I try to start out with about 150 PPM so I mix accordingly.
Nutrients:
General Hydroponics (Micro, Grow, Bloom)
After I premix my water, I add my nutrients to get to around 800 PPM.
I am currently adding a bit more to bring it to 1000 PPM.
But with the 800 PPM I was noticing the new leaves were nice and green. I attached a picture were you can see the darker vs lighter leaves in the same plant.
Environment:
63* at night 72* or so
Water temperature usually follows room temperature, but at a delay.
I have an oscillating fan blowing over the plants, not at the plants. It comes on with the lights.
Humidity is whatever the house is at since I have a vent that blows hot air from my furnace into the grow area.
I also have a space heater with thermostat set to bring the room temperature up to the 73 or so I need. It is on a timer of its own due to the electrical requirements. I have it set to go on an hour and a half after the lights come on and and hour and half before lights go out in order to mimic nature.
pH of my solution is about a 6. So far it hasn't been fluctuating, so I've been lucky.
Reservoir:
15-16 gallons, maybe more with what is in the PVC pipes, but no more than 20 I'd say.
Pump is 400 gallons per hour
Airstone right next to the pump
I'm also going to change the water when the total amount of water i use to top off equals the initial volume of the reservoir. 1-2 weeks I think?
CAUTION!!
Before you do a setup, make sure you don't overload your circuit or items. I almost started a fire with my setup.
Pictures included are tomato, lettuces, strawberry plants I bought at Walmart for $3 for 10. If they take off, they will be the easiest plants I've put into the system since they already had s small root system started.
If you look closely at the lettuce picture, you can see the color difference between when I almost killed them and now that I have the nutrients dialed in.
If you want to see any of that info, I have it posted in the General section as "My head is going to explode!"
For those who just want to jump in and see how things are going, here you go.
Setup:
NFT system with 3" PVC angled so that water is about 1/4 way up inside of the pipe.
Lighting:
Solar Storm 400W LED, about 32" above the plants
On 17, off 7
Water:
I have 450 PPM city water, I also have 15 PPM Reverse Osmosis water.
I try to start out with about 150 PPM so I mix accordingly.
Nutrients:
General Hydroponics (Micro, Grow, Bloom)
After I premix my water, I add my nutrients to get to around 800 PPM.
I am currently adding a bit more to bring it to 1000 PPM.
But with the 800 PPM I was noticing the new leaves were nice and green. I attached a picture were you can see the darker vs lighter leaves in the same plant.
Environment:
63* at night 72* or so
Water temperature usually follows room temperature, but at a delay.
I have an oscillating fan blowing over the plants, not at the plants. It comes on with the lights.
Humidity is whatever the house is at since I have a vent that blows hot air from my furnace into the grow area.
I also have a space heater with thermostat set to bring the room temperature up to the 73 or so I need. It is on a timer of its own due to the electrical requirements. I have it set to go on an hour and a half after the lights come on and and hour and half before lights go out in order to mimic nature.
pH of my solution is about a 6. So far it hasn't been fluctuating, so I've been lucky.
Reservoir:
15-16 gallons, maybe more with what is in the PVC pipes, but no more than 20 I'd say.
Pump is 400 gallons per hour
Airstone right next to the pump
I'm also going to change the water when the total amount of water i use to top off equals the initial volume of the reservoir. 1-2 weeks I think?
CAUTION!!
Before you do a setup, make sure you don't overload your circuit or items. I almost started a fire with my setup.
Pictures included are tomato, lettuces, strawberry plants I bought at Walmart for $3 for 10. If they take off, they will be the easiest plants I've put into the system since they already had s small root system started.
If you look closely at the lettuce picture, you can see the color difference between when I almost killed them and now that I have the nutrients dialed in.
