CGE Masterbubba Scrog 600w

[unity]

Cheers RUI
Finally got done rebuilding my grow space, and want to share my first grow in it.

The new space is 11'x8'x6'
The plants are 1 week veg. and will be scroged. I've been scroging for a while, so I don't expect much to go wrong in that regard, but since it is my first go around in my new space there are bound to be some issues relating to the cge environment. For that reason I am still exhausting for 3 min. every 3hours until I'm sure that there are no 'offgassing' issues.

Here are some pics:

 

[unity]

So technically speaking, as long as I vent my grow space every so often I can't really call it a cge environment. But then again I'm not a purist on this matter, mainly I want to reduce the venting as much as possible is in order to maintain my supplemented co2 and reduce energy consumption as it relates to the ac etc. I do run MERV16 air filtration, and a carbon filter, but there is something to be said for replacing the air completely every so often. Hard to find clear science on this, some authors advocate fresh air, others say it is not needed, I think my plants are doing better with the fresh air exchanges. Also, the size of the space (cubic feet) as well as the building materials play a very important role in determining air exchanges needed. I hope this makes sense, I'm very open to hear other growers ideas on this.
All the walls and ceiling in this new space have between r-20 to r-30 insulation, otherwise I might as well grow in a tent, would be a lot cheaper. But with the insulation, I run a lot more efficient.
The space is designed for either 2x 600w (4'x8') or 2x1000w (4'x8'), but for my first run I only run one 600w.
The light is isolated from the cge, and all the other stuff we need for a cge environment is in there as well: A/c, dehumidifier, humidifier etc. I run a Current chiller, some air stones and my res is outside the cge for more convenient access. Co2 is controlled by a controller and delivered from a 20# tank.
Currently my drains are still back-drafting a bit during venting, which can cause some gritters to enter. Easily fixed though with a drain-trap.
So, that is about it as it relates to the grow space, I hope it will put out a good crop

 

[unity]

They got a res change yesterday and a topping. The weather has been very dry here so I put the good old humidifier to work (50%).

 

[unity]

So far there are no apparent problems, which might just mean that I am too stoned to notice anything. I have upped the co2 to about 1000 ppm and so far it looks like they are soaking it up.
This strain is growing very stocky and compact, I hope it will not give me problems with the scrog. The leaves are huge, especially considering how small the plants still are. The main stems are going to be thick, which is usually a great sign.
They can carry a lot of weight
I still have the MH conversion bulb in there for now, great spectrum, but significant lumen loss over the HPS.
I figure another 4 days to reach the screen, and another week before I flip.
Conditions:
81F
1000ppm co2
EC 1.5 / 750-800ppm
45% RH
24h light cycle

 

[unity]

Here are some pics:

 

[unity]

Finally they are touching the screen, them are some stocky girls. Decided to skip my res change this week, topped off though. I figure another week and a half before I can switch, those big ass fan leafs are sure taking it away from vertical growth.

Here are some pics:

 

[unity]

Well, I decided to go ahead with the res change, felt like the girls lost a bit of their 'luster' if you know what I mean. I started to bring the humidity down to about 45-50% in an effort to bring my temps up. I supplement with co2 and temps below 78f will waste a lot of that. My new space will drop down to about 73f overnight (cali) and that is in a sealed room, anyone operating a sealed room knows that that is not bad, cause you tent to build up more heat in a sealed space. Anyhow, the dehumidifier raises the temps nicely, and the ac takes care of the rest. Currently I'm at about 81f.
On the down side I'm noticing my co2 to only last about 3 weeks a 20# tank, in my old space it lasted about 6 weeks at this point in the game. Clearly, venting still 3min. every 3 hours has got something to do with this, but I'll take the hit for now, don't want to take a chance with outgassing of the newly build room.
The strain, well I'm not sure yet how this Masterbubba will adapt to my scrog screen. There are huge fan leafs, and things are going to get busy underneath and on top of this screen. The roots are growing well pas their pot and are heading toward the lower drain lol.
Water temps are at their usual 68f, air temps are at 81f, co2 levels are at 1200-1300ppm, 45-50RH, Light cycle 24/24 (might start giving them a bit of dark time, maybe 4 hours or so), EC 1.5, A/B 5ml HG
I'm still using the mh bulb, but should probably change to the HPS in order to get the full 6oow.
So here we are, any input is welcome guys

 

[unity]

Had to change my co2 tank yesterday and decided to take the plunge and test my cge without venting every 3 hours. So far so good, plants are still happy and pushing along nicely
BTW, 211 views and no comment?! Come on guys, I need at least 1 every 200 to keep going lol!

 

[Sillybee]

That looks so nice Unity and nice avatar, love those cartoons

Wondering if you had details on your system ?

Nearly the same as my planet system

 

[unity]

Hey, somebody likes Asterix and Obelix lol, used to be my favorite comic. What's a planet system?
My system kind a grew out of the need to minimize energy consumption while establishing a consistent year around growing environment in a California desert climate. My space is in a uninsulated garage, were temps can get up to 120f+ for a good part of the year.
Tents were not an option due to the excessive temps in my area. I wood framed the space and insulated all walls and ceiling.
The lighting is completely isolated, it draws from the garage and exhausts outside, therefore reducing overall temps in the garage (ventilation).
Chiller sits in the garage, but not inside the grow space. Res sits also in the garage, on the slap actually to help maintain lower temps (less need for chiller).
AC is a window unit with no conditioned air exchange from inside to outside. I run a 5000btu unit, due to all the insulation etc. it does not run during the night (lights on) at all, only during veg at day time for a view min. every 10-15min. when the outside temps are high.
My space has to be supplemented with co2, a 20 pound tank and a cap co2 controller does that just fine.
I rigged myself a need little contraption that can particle filter my air (MERV16), as well as carbon filter it, as well as circulate the heavier co2 over the plant tops all with one fan.
My growing medium is hydroton, top feed 30sec. every 30 min. at this stage.

 

[bookechu]

Where did you get that screen and what are the dimensions of the squares? I have about a week until my plants are ready for scrog

 

[unity]

Where did you get that screen and what are the dimensions of the squares? I have about a week until my plants are ready for scrog

Cheers bookechu, the screen is simple. I got some nylon at home depot, I needed 16 feet of 3x1 wood in order to make the 4x4 screen, and some screw to wrap the nylon around every 3 inches. I don't have always the same hole size, if I want to use the screen as a support, I space at about 4x4 (hole size). I go as small as 2x2 depending on the leaf size, and how tight of a scrog I want. My current strain with its big ass leafs would be a pain in the ass to train under a 2x2 (hole size), the leafs would break easily by the time I get into weak 2 of flowering.

 

[unity]

They are getting thirsty now, drank about 6 gallons the last 5 days. This is why I do hydro, the growth rate is just awesome at this stage. The strain will be a pain in the ass to train with its big ass leafs, but I have a feeling that with this structure they should support some danky buds.

 

[hoagtech]

Very nice. Ive never seen such thorough insulation job. And did you build your trellis out of weed wacker?

 

[unity]

Very nice. Ive never seen such thorough insulation job. And did you build your trellis out of weed wacker?

Cheers Hoagtech First off let me tell you that I gave a couple of you guys a hard time on another threat, don't take it personal, I thought you guys were pretty off.
Anyhow, thanks for the kind words on the insulation, its all in an effort to run as efficient as I can, and to be honest, not a big deal once you decide to frame your room instead of using a tent.
I have to tighten the screen down a bit, the plants are pushing good against it.
By 'weed wacker', I assume you mean the nylon string they use, no it's just plain old nylon from home d.
Kind

 

[unity]

Ok, the plants are approaching 12/12, I would say another 3-4 days max until I will flip.
I'ven been looking at many scrogs on this site, and I think that most 'scrogs here' are not scrogs in the technical sense, but merely plant support structures. The idea is to have very little to no side branching on top of the screen. In a way it should look like a sog. The most difficult part of a scrog is to hit the timing of when to flip right, to early and we will sacrifice yield, too late, and we might end up with a overcrowded screen or a shit load of buds growing in and under the screen. Timing is difficult to get right on the first go around with a strain. On my first go around with a strain I usually pull about 20-30% less then I could cause I flip on the cautious side. On the 2nd go around you can make a scrog really shine

Here is a pic of my roots growing out of their pots:


I trained them last night:

 

[unity]

Fliped them today, the screen is about 50% filled. There will be a lot of training, and some dicing and slicing, can't be scared in a scrog, there is nothing natural about it lol.
The new cge is holding up well so far, no evidence of 'offgassing'.
Current grow conditions:
EC 1.6 (1.1 base)
CO2 1200ppm
Humidity 60%-70%
Temps 79f-80f
Feed schedule: 30sec. every 30min.
PH: bright Yellow

 

[wowweee]

Looks great man, what is your nut PPM and how many weeks along in veg are you?

 

[unity]

Looks great man, what is your nut PPM and how many weeks along in veg are you?

Cheers, I'm running about 1.6EC (1.1base) I have just flipped them 12/12 yesterday

 

[hiluxphantom]

Awesome setup. Did you build your own hydro?