Grow Mediums First Grow - Hydro/DWC Training SCROG w/ Bagseed Photos

[TxOld Dude]

Greetings All! :tiphat:

Decided to move this now as the grow journal is soon to begin. Yep, you read right, this is a training round for me to learn this Hi-droe-pawnics thang. I'm not spending big scratch on seeds just to cook them in my bucket-o-death! LOL!

1. Gear
2. Closet build-out
3. Drop the Beans
4. Here We Go!

11/21/13 (updated 11/23/13)

1. Gear (for this round)

PowerGrow Systems 5 gallon 10" hydroton DWC bucket
400w iPower MH/HPS dimmable HID
EC and pH meters (cheapos)
General Hydroponics Flora series
4x4x7' Growing/lighting frame (& SCROG frame) using 1.5" PVC w/epoxied plywood under-deck/basin and 5 mil diamond foil film curtains.
4" inline duct fan
dual outlet air pump and stones

The seed for this grow came from buds that were left too long in drying. They were large and dense and 90% red-brown in color. The buzz was a nice mix of head and body, but didn't last very long. Kind of a hashy buzz; 45 minutes and I'm straight again, but good while it lasts. Probably too much heat during drying and a poor attempt at curing. They were very dry. Only 9 seeds out of nearly 1/2 oz.

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Awright!

Got some of my toys today! Two of the most important items are the ph and EC meters. I also got my GH nutes and ph up/dwn solutions.

I tested the tap water (pre-calibration of the ph meter) and got the following:

397 ppm
7.5 ph
chemical test shows ph meter right on the money.

The 7.5 water doesn't surprise me and actually expected it to be higher. Fill up my bath tub and it's so blue it looks like the Caribbean! I bought the GH ph controls "just because", mainly for the calibration. The "up" solution is more important as it will rarely be used. For the "down", I'll get a liter or two of reagent grade phosphoric acid. Great stuff when ph is too high and cheap too! A little goes a loooooong way. Hopefully, the bucket will show up tomorrow and then we begin the hard stuff! Final construction on the closet frame until the light shows up...well...after Mom goes back home anyway (she's hangin' for a few days).

Then The REAL Fun Begins!!!!!! :X's Evil Laugh x:

I've been following Mr. King Jorilla Ganjamotos grows and wish I could get my mitts on those Dutch Pro nutes, but...oh well. I've got the basic GH Flora series (Grow, Bloom, Micro). This first will be 5G 10" hydroton DWC bag-seed photos SCROG'd on a short cycle; 60-75 days depending, under 400w HID. Then, if all goes well, the Stone Dragons in 30L tub, 6x6" net pots using perlite filled coco baskets; SOG. What nute supplement to this kit would you all suggest? Don't figure to need much cal/mag with all the cal/mag ALREADY in the water! LOL! This waters gonna be great come the bloom!

Fish

:Cool:

 

[CGR]

bucket-o-death! LOL

....Im all su'd up my friend ...lol ..bucket-o-death....make shure we have lots of pictures .....+

 

[Blissmesome]

Good luck man, sounds like you got yourself a little operation running

:five:

 

[DWCocha]

Hey TX :smokebuds:good luck with the hydro run dude ...Its always a good idea to de-chlorinate (leave out the tap) & oxygenate (using an air pump/stone) the water for 24hrs before use if poss .You may find the PH & PPM have dropped then & should be stable making adding nutes to the right amounts a lot easier :High 5: good luck again with the bucket-o-death "MC2"

 

[TxOld Dude]

11/22/13
Step 1 Update

The light has arrived and is in great shape! No broken bulbs or bent up reflectors! One more package; the bucket, and we're on to step 2! The specialty PVC parts for the frame (3-way corners, slip-T's, etc.) are on order. Hopefully will be here soon. :dance:
UPDATE: Had to switch the whole thing from 2" to 1.5". I couldn't get the slip-Ts any bigger. A lot of this whole frame is going to be engineering overkill because like to try new ideas. More drawings to follow as I get them done, it's a work in progress, changing everyday. But as soon as the bucket hits the door, it'll be build-out time.

The SCROG frame will use "slip-t" fittings to allow the frame to slide up and down the vertical posts of the lighting frame with under-hooks to secure the net pot during raising. This will facilitate easier bucket change outs and allow inspection of the root ball without risking damage to the plant. A lot of this whole frame is going to be engineering overkill because like to try new ideas.

Here is where to get the specialized fittings cheap!
http://flexpvc.com/





Thx DWCocha!
I'm on a well with highly calcified water. In the tub it literally looks like cave water with a nice light blue tint too it.

Fish

 

[Roark]

Lookin forward to that scrog.

 

[TxOld Dude]

Updated drawings on #7.

Thanks for the reps and likes guys! I appreciate it!

 

[TxOld Dude]

11/23/13

Light testing successful! Both bulbs struck ok. The halide got up to full power and then got a couple of momentary flickers. My first HID, hopefully that was normal, kinda gave me some "pucker factor" though. Ran about 15 minutes per bulb with a cool down cycle in between. Pictures really don't do them justice, these damn things are BRIGHT. OH I'm SO looking forward to see what 400w of HPS is gonna do to my buds in a 4x4!

Questions:
1. How long would be a good veg cycle with photo sativa so as not to cramp the space available after all is said and done? Maybe I should ask "How far above the SCROG should I let it go before switching cycles from veg to bloom? In a 7 foot frame, SCROG will be 12" above the bucket. I assume the bucket is around 18-20", leaving about, what, 3-3.5 feet (allowing 1 foot for the light depth)?

2. Earlier in the thread I asked about the nutes. I have the GH Flora series, but just the basic 3. What supplemental nutes would be recommended to use with this kit?

Thanks!
Fish

 

[DWCocha]

love it TX :smokebuds:very cool idea , subbed & taking notes :X's Evil Laugh x:

Id get some liquid cal mag & root stim for sure ...maybe silicon as well ?

 

[TxOld Dude]

Thanks D-Dubya! Wow, that sounds a little Bushy. LOL! PUN INTENDED on more than 1 level! A real "Presidential" grow! "Bushy" is good! The Bushy-er the better! Hopefully I'll be "gettin' Bushy" soon. Uh-oh, I may have just come up with the name for the SCROG!! MRS. DUBYA!! She's REAL BUSHY!! LOL!!!!! Oh God, that hurts...!!!


Sorry just couldn't pass that one up.

I've read of a lot of people using lots of things, cal/mag being a "given", but wondered about all these bloom boosters, teas, etc. Too many posts to work through and the search engine kinda sucks. Think I'll start another question thread to see if someone has a proven GH feeding schedule for photos in DWC.