Gumballs CMH Powered PC

gumball

Well-Known Member
Great to hear about the CMH captain cave man! I think I am gonna get me a 3000k bulb and switch back and forth between that and the 4000k bulb, should be interesting

Yeah, she is a mild boxer as they go. The collar works like a fence, if she crosses the fence it beeps for a couple feet, then zaps. She's only crossed it twice, but only to get to another dog to play, never after a person.
 

Danielsgb

Well-Known Member
Cash, my American Pit-bull had one for a while, not the fence one. I tried it on my thigh on it's highest before we used it on him. Only took a couple weeks before he accepted I was the Alpha Male in this pac. They are good buddies for sure.
Cptn. Cave Man you'll love these CMH's, get a journal so we can follow along.
Daniels
 

jebus2029

Well-Known Member
When I finally get around to making my fridge I plan on putting in a HPS. Do you think the CMH is better? What about all the others like sodium vapor? Has anyone tried a variety to see what works best?
 

jebus2029

Well-Known Member
As for the shock collar they really are great for keeping a dog in the yard. My dad's dogs haven't worm their shock collars in years and they won't go past the line unless they are on a leash or in the car.
 

gumball

Well-Known Member
Cash, my American Pit-bull had one for a while, not the fence one. I tried it on my thigh on it's highest before we used it on him. Only took a couple weeks before he accepted I was the Alpha Male in this pac. They are good buddies for sure.
Cptn. Cave Man you'll love these CMH's, get a journal so we can follow along.
Daniels
My sister had one like that, I refused to put it on my neck. I put it on my tender belly, and it hurt, but I managed about 5 seconds. Left a small burnt spot, but I have easily bruised skin too, so yeah, I'm a little bit of a wuss!

When I finally get around to making my fridge I plan on putting in a HPS. Do you think the CMH is better? What about all the others like sodium vapor? Has anyone tried a variety to see what works best?
From what I gather, HPS will give you a better yield. But the CMH will give you better quality, with maybe 5-10% less yield. The other benefit to CMH is it does not run as hot as the HPS. So you may be better for the CMH in that regard. Plus the CMH is better to use for all stages of growth, whereas HPS is best in flower. I currently running a 4000k CMH, which is said to be great. But I am hoping to get the 3000k in the same wattage and I can switch back and forth to see any different result. I have seen a few grows with the 3000k, great grows too. But most people flaunt the 4000k bulb as superior. I think a combination would actually be best. I posted some info on the research I did on the CMH in the CMH group. Come check it out if you get time. If you got any questions on them let me know and I will try to answer.
 

Easy420forme

Active Member
From what I gather, HPS will give you a better yield. But the CMH will give you better quality, with maybe 5-10% less yield. The other benefit to CMH is it does not run as hot as the HPS. So you may be better for the CMH in that regard. Plus the CMH is better to use for all stages of growth, whereas HPS is best in flower. I currently running a 4000k CMH, which is said to be great. But I am hoping to get the 3000k in the same wattage and I can switch back and forth to see any different result. I have seen a few grows with the 3000k, great grows too. But most people flaunt the 4000k bulb as superior. I think a combination would actually be best. I posted some info on the research I did on the CMH in the CMH group. Come check it out if you get time. If you got any questions on them let me know and I will try to answer.
is the energy you use directly the 70W? or do snot that include the ballast energy use? how do you calculate the total energy used versus a CFL or an HID?
 

gumball

Well-Known Member
They have to be magnetic ballasts so about 10% for so his 100W CMH uses about 110W.
Daniels
is the energy you use directly the 70W? or do snot that include the ballast energy use? how do you calculate the total energy used versus a CFL or an HID?
thanks daniels!!

and on top of that, CFL's use more than they are rated at. look at the bulb's ballast. i am looking at a 13 watt right now. it says 120 v, and .180 amp or 180 milliamp. well 120v X .180 -21.6. so as you see even the builtin CFL ballast consumes more than you think.

i would call this false advertising, but the light probably does only use 13watt, and the ballast the rest. this actually shows that the CFL's are no where near as efficient as HID. please someone correct me if I am wrong, but this is the way i have learned it.
 

Easy420forme

Active Member
thanks daniels!!

and on top of that, CFL's use more than they are rated at. look at the bulb's ballast. i am looking at a 13 watt right now. it says 120 v, and .180 amp or 180 milliamp. well 120v X .180 -21.6. so as you see even the builtin CFL ballast consumes more than you think.

i would call this false advertising, but the light probably does only use 13watt, and the ballast the rest. this actually shows that the CFL's are no where near as efficient as HID. please someone correct me if I am wrong, but this is the way i have learned it.
Exactly! They are only reporting on the bulb, but the incandescents do not have a ballast and the CFL's do... this is not an apples v apples comparison.
 

gumball

Well-Known Member
Exactly! They are only reporting on the bulb, but the incandescents do not have a ballast and the CFL's do... this is not an apples v apples comparison.
yep! but if you had to choose a 21 watt for CFL or a 60 watt incandescent??? well i would take the CFL. i guess in 30 years they will have HID's with built in ballasts for consumers to switch from CFL's to them!!
 

crazytrain14

Well-Known Member
good link just read it. good to know about the ph. will check it now. i just mixed up a gallon of malasses water for the soil
 

gumball

Well-Known Member
i also like that it shows which ones have the Potassium, calcium, iron, and mag and the %. good to know. most of them would make a good cal/mag solution.
 

WWShadow

Well-Known Member
i also like that it shows which ones have the Potassium, calcium, iron, and mag and the %. good to know. most of them would make a good cal/mag solution.
The blackstrap didn't have any magnesium but epsom salts would take care of that & the ph should balance out once you dilute it with water, right? Although for hydro that ph wouldn't be a problem at all. Though I wouldn't want molasses in my res lol, unless it was straight DWC them you just have to clean the airstones real good. Not sure I want to try it & find out.
What about using molasses in soiless mixes like coco?
 

gumball

Well-Known Member
The blackstrap didn't have any magnesium but epsom salts would take care of that & the ph should balance out once you dilute it with water, right? Although for hydro that ph wouldn't be a problem at all. Though I wouldn't want molasses in my res lol, unless it was straight DWC them you just have to clean the airstones real good. Not sure I want to try it & find out.
What about using molasses in soiless mixes like coco?
yeah, the epsom salts would give you the magnesium, but I think it would have an effect over the pH still even in a gallon of water. I think like vinegar maybe, but not 100%. i think i have read people use it in DWC/Hydro. i actually just started a tomatoe DWC grow to test my skills at it. i dont have a PPM meter or pH pen, so I didnt want to waste my seeds on a failed attempt. I think the molasses would be good for hydro at the end of the harvest when you stopped giving nutes, similar to how soil growers use it. but you may have to clean your air stones more like you said. definitely use it in soiless mix, shouldnt be an issue but i havent used coco either and have heard it can be pH iffy at times.
 

Easy420forme

Active Member
yeah, the epsom salts would give you the magnesium, but I think it would have an effect over the pH still even in a gallon of water. I think like vinegar maybe, but not 100%. i think i have read people use it in DWC/Hydro. i actually just started a tomatoe DWC grow to test my skills at it. i dont have a PPM meter or pH pen, so I didnt want to waste my seeds on a failed attempt. I think the molasses would be good for hydro at the end of the harvest when you stopped giving nutes, similar to how soil growers use it. but you may have to clean your air stones more like you said. definitely use it in soiless mix, shouldnt be an issue but i havent used coco either and have heard it can be pH iffy at times.
Funny Gumball, I started doing the same with hydroponics. I am testing out my chops on hydro. I bought the hP pen and I can get precise ph readings, I don't know much about molasses, by my local hydro stop has some made for soiless growing. Check out the photos of my indoor vegetable ebb and flow garden. built this last weekend.

EbbandFlow 002.jpgEbbandFlow 004.jpgEbbandFlow 001.jpgEbbandFlow 005.jpg
currently germinating some vegetable seeds in wool blocks

I also have a six pot dwc grow on my back porch growing tomatoes out there and peppers. Inside I am growing lettuce cucumber, zucchini and such.
 

gumball

Well-Known Member
Very nice easy420!! By next year you will be begging the wife to let you grow herb of another kind in there!! You maybe able to root clones in there if you buy some non-auto seeds.

I use the pH liquid stuff from GH and I just make sure its yellow/yellow-green. I ain't as concerned with the pH for the tomatoes. Would you post up the pH pen you have and the price you paid? I do want one for the future for ease of use.

I think the brands of molasses from the link I posted would be good for soil or soiless, but the hydro I am unsure of. Its basically the carbohydrate stuff the fertilizer companies sell. And some can work as a cal/mag supplement too, if they have both in it.

Hey, don't know if you seen it or not, I hgave you some rep the other day, and put a link in it. Check out that link if you get time. Truely breathtaking on multiple levels.

Peace easy420!
 

Easy420forme

Active Member
Very nice easy420!! By next year you will be begging the wife to let you grow herb of another kind in there!! You maybe able to root clones in there if you buy some non-auto seeds.

I use the pH liquid stuff from GH and I just make sure its yellow/yellow-green. I ain't as concerned with the pH for the tomatoes. Would you post up the pH pen you have and the price you paid? I do want one for the future for ease of use.

I think the brands of molasses from the link I posted would be good for soil or soiless, but the hydro I am unsure of. Its basically the carbohydrate stuff the fertilizer companies sell. And some can work as a cal/mag supplement too, if they have both in it.

Hey, don't know if you seen it or not, I hgave you some rep the other day, and put a link in it. Check out that link if you get time. Truely breathtaking on multiple levels.

Peace easy420!
Yes, I followed that link, what a hillside grow that was.... beauty in so many ways. thanks. Thanks too for the rep. I'll post a pic of the pen and info... I know it cost $70 though. it's fully waterproof and seems to be very accurate. I feel like I have a good control on ph with this tool.
 

WWShadow

Well-Known Member
ph pen get a good one, I have 2 elcheapo's from ebay & they kinda do the job just not very well. Easy, what is that the pots are sitting in? You said it's an ebb & flo setup is that like a flood & drain type system? I dunno how you control the water levels... more to learn, lol
 

gumball

Well-Known Member
That's exactly why I haven't got a pen yet, don't want crap. I want to get one while I still have the liquid solution so I can compare the accuracy. The liquid may not be as precise, like to the tenth, but its always accurate that's for sure.
 
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