California Dreaming SS440...
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 8:14 pmHi Everyone! 
My name is quadgator, quad means 4 and alligator was name of beloved departed cat, put it together and it means “for gator the cat”.
Anyway, I am finishing my 5th grow, my 4 feminized Kannabia Seed Company's Big Bang(s) are finishing their last week of bloom and will be ready for flush very soon. I finish off my blooms with some Sprite Soda, 1 tbsp per gallon of H2O which leads to describe my system.
I run a General Hydroponic Rainforest currently with 5" nets; besides the aeroponic system, I supplement the reservoir with an air stone so hence it also has a bit of deep water culture going on. Even though I live in upstate NY, USA some 30 miles from the Canadian border on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario it gets pretty hot up here with daytime highs nearing 90F and night time lows in the mid-60Fs. I use an Aquachiller (cannot recommend this unit enough for those with root rot problems) with a H2O pump to keep my reservoir at an ideal 69F. I find that anything over 72F and root rot will start followed by root mites which feed on the dark brown globs of crap that is what is left of my plants roots. I learned this very hard lesson from my 2nd grow and 1st in the summer months.
I use Hesi nutrients, they were recommended by my local Hydro supply shop. The lady there has become my plant Godmother and I trust her with my "girls" lives. She has helped overcome a number of issues in the learning curve of trying to take a hobby to the next level which is producing high quality bud for respectable consumption.
While I believe my system and nutrient needs are well taken care of my lighting needs require allot of upgrading. A quick history lesson; several years ago I bought a "turn-key" system from a business advertised in one of the "stoner" magazines. This business is now out of business and I learned very quickly that I was ripped off, however one thing this business did was market LED lighting for their “closets” and they stood behind their warranty.
I literally went through 3 LED lights until I received the current one in use. I have no idea what it is. I believe it’s a 1 watt UFO unit. Since I grow in a 4’X4’ grow tent I supplemented the unit with T-5s fluorescents at the 4000K range and they do decent job in the Veggie stage and then change to T-5s in the 2700K for flowering.
However when I go to bloom my results are anything but “professional”. The quality of the bud is good but I suggest that this has more to do with quality seeds and good nutrients than anything else. There is no substitute for good DNA. The buds lack depth, compactness (dank) and yield. To compensate I have also supplemented the tent with two Sunshine Systems Bloom spot 27w(?) and hang them so they “cross fire” below the canopy. It seems to help.
On a side note Sunshine Systems appears to be going out of business and their products can now only be found on amazon.com, given their poor customer service and somewhat dubious product it might be for the best.
So I’ve been reading Maximum Yield and Rosebud magazines and there are many claims and many suggestions to upgrade my LEDs. There are also those who state that good old analog HIDs are the only way to go and a few who say screw the LEDs and HIDs, Plasma is next generation.
Was in Toronto, Ontario for the “Treat Yourself” Conference around Memorial Day and met the Dutch outfit promoting and marketing the latest Plasma devices, very impressive, very expensive and admitally by the Dutch only effective in the Veggie stage. They recommend finishing off the plants with HID high pressure sodium. WTF? What’s the point (WTP)? $1500 for a lighting system I will use for only 1/3 of my plants life and the electrical cost might be a little less? The Dutch used the word “comparable” when talking about “cost to operate” as opposed to LEDs
Understand I’ve been growing for only 3 years and have only grown with LEDs so I might be somewhat subjective for my love of LEDs, they’re just too easy, cool, efficient, and most importantly SECURE in heat signature; something my Dutch friends cannot understand about America and neither can I. We also got into it over the metric system; my Dutch friend could not convert 4'X4' into metric, "you are the only ones who use it (Imperial Measurement)". "Maybe but it’s my checkbook" was my reply. LOL! Love the Dutch!
But I have regressed, in my search for a solution I have talk to my plant Godmother, she has priced out an analog HID system with venting, air circulation, and bulb for around $500, a possibility, if you can’t beat them join them. Then I ran across California Lightworks (CLWs), after the initial sticker shock I noticed their “Grower’s Feedback Program”; another possibility. I would love to find a LED solution with the results of tried and proven technology but a fraction of the electricity cost and maintaining a stealth profile.
Think I’m going to go for it, if I don’t like the light I can send it back with no financial damage and change directions. If it works well, I’ll have friends and a high quality light for about 8 years.
One problem, due to the heat of summer, I had no success in cloning my Big Bangs, so hence I will need to start from seed. I’m contemplating utilizing a “screen of green” (SCROG) grow and [b]would invite suggestions as to what seeds I should germinate.[/b]
In the next couple of days I will make that decision and get the seeds ready for germination; I will change to 15 3” nets for the SOG. I have a week to germinate and figure about 3 weeks to get the seedlings ready for transplant into the Rainforest. Hopefully CLWs will show some patience and hopefully their marketing/advertising and most importantly their LED’s results are beyond allot of the crap that’s out there.
Wish me Luck!
quadgator
My name is quadgator, quad means 4 and alligator was name of beloved departed cat, put it together and it means “for gator the cat”.
Anyway, I am finishing my 5th grow, my 4 feminized Kannabia Seed Company's Big Bang(s) are finishing their last week of bloom and will be ready for flush very soon. I finish off my blooms with some Sprite Soda, 1 tbsp per gallon of H2O which leads to describe my system.
I run a General Hydroponic Rainforest currently with 5" nets; besides the aeroponic system, I supplement the reservoir with an air stone so hence it also has a bit of deep water culture going on. Even though I live in upstate NY, USA some 30 miles from the Canadian border on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario it gets pretty hot up here with daytime highs nearing 90F and night time lows in the mid-60Fs. I use an Aquachiller (cannot recommend this unit enough for those with root rot problems) with a H2O pump to keep my reservoir at an ideal 69F. I find that anything over 72F and root rot will start followed by root mites which feed on the dark brown globs of crap that is what is left of my plants roots. I learned this very hard lesson from my 2nd grow and 1st in the summer months.
I use Hesi nutrients, they were recommended by my local Hydro supply shop. The lady there has become my plant Godmother and I trust her with my "girls" lives. She has helped overcome a number of issues in the learning curve of trying to take a hobby to the next level which is producing high quality bud for respectable consumption.
While I believe my system and nutrient needs are well taken care of my lighting needs require allot of upgrading. A quick history lesson; several years ago I bought a "turn-key" system from a business advertised in one of the "stoner" magazines. This business is now out of business and I learned very quickly that I was ripped off, however one thing this business did was market LED lighting for their “closets” and they stood behind their warranty.
I literally went through 3 LED lights until I received the current one in use. I have no idea what it is. I believe it’s a 1 watt UFO unit. Since I grow in a 4’X4’ grow tent I supplemented the unit with T-5s fluorescents at the 4000K range and they do decent job in the Veggie stage and then change to T-5s in the 2700K for flowering.
However when I go to bloom my results are anything but “professional”. The quality of the bud is good but I suggest that this has more to do with quality seeds and good nutrients than anything else. There is no substitute for good DNA. The buds lack depth, compactness (dank) and yield. To compensate I have also supplemented the tent with two Sunshine Systems Bloom spot 27w(?) and hang them so they “cross fire” below the canopy. It seems to help.
On a side note Sunshine Systems appears to be going out of business and their products can now only be found on amazon.com, given their poor customer service and somewhat dubious product it might be for the best.
So I’ve been reading Maximum Yield and Rosebud magazines and there are many claims and many suggestions to upgrade my LEDs. There are also those who state that good old analog HIDs are the only way to go and a few who say screw the LEDs and HIDs, Plasma is next generation.
Was in Toronto, Ontario for the “Treat Yourself” Conference around Memorial Day and met the Dutch outfit promoting and marketing the latest Plasma devices, very impressive, very expensive and admitally by the Dutch only effective in the Veggie stage. They recommend finishing off the plants with HID high pressure sodium. WTF? What’s the point (WTP)? $1500 for a lighting system I will use for only 1/3 of my plants life and the electrical cost might be a little less? The Dutch used the word “comparable” when talking about “cost to operate” as opposed to LEDs
Understand I’ve been growing for only 3 years and have only grown with LEDs so I might be somewhat subjective for my love of LEDs, they’re just too easy, cool, efficient, and most importantly SECURE in heat signature; something my Dutch friends cannot understand about America and neither can I. We also got into it over the metric system; my Dutch friend could not convert 4'X4' into metric, "you are the only ones who use it (Imperial Measurement)". "Maybe but it’s my checkbook" was my reply. LOL! Love the Dutch!
But I have regressed, in my search for a solution I have talk to my plant Godmother, she has priced out an analog HID system with venting, air circulation, and bulb for around $500, a possibility, if you can’t beat them join them. Then I ran across California Lightworks (CLWs), after the initial sticker shock I noticed their “Grower’s Feedback Program”; another possibility. I would love to find a LED solution with the results of tried and proven technology but a fraction of the electricity cost and maintaining a stealth profile.
Think I’m going to go for it, if I don’t like the light I can send it back with no financial damage and change directions. If it works well, I’ll have friends and a high quality light for about 8 years.
One problem, due to the heat of summer, I had no success in cloning my Big Bangs, so hence I will need to start from seed. I’m contemplating utilizing a “screen of green” (SCROG) grow and [b]would invite suggestions as to what seeds I should germinate.[/b]
In the next couple of days I will make that decision and get the seeds ready for germination; I will change to 15 3” nets for the SOG. I have a week to germinate and figure about 3 weeks to get the seedlings ready for transplant into the Rainforest. Hopefully CLWs will show some patience and hopefully their marketing/advertising and most importantly their LED’s results are beyond allot of the crap that’s out there.
Wish me Luck!
quadgator