2200 Watt Hydroponic 4 Table Perpetual 4X8 Tent Grow

Taviddude

Well-Known Member
Hey Rollitup.

Christmas came early. :D
I've updated my entire Grow setup. Still setting it all up, but I have to share it.


Started with a 4X8 GroDen Tent
3- 600 Watt Air Cooled Lights
1- 400 Watt Air Cooled Lights
(2200 Watt Total)
4 separate 2x3 Flood-Drain Tables.
Dust Shroom to filter incoming air.


Going to need a Carbon Filter, but I should be good for the first few weeks. Still waiting on seeds anyway.


So with the success of my last Think Different ScrOG grow I'm going to try to take it a step further with 4 tables, more light, and a perpetual setup. 3 plants in every 2 weeks, and three plants harvested every 2 weeks. I think the challenge will be preventing pests. Spider Mites in a perpetual setup could be a real shitty situation. I think I could nurture a 4x8 grow through to harvest by itself, but bringing in new plants in to an infested area could cause some real problems. I'll be totally honest, I may just run everything at once this time around since we're still remodeling and things aren't as clean as I would like but this is, and will be a perpetual setup. I won't be changing my methods much after this. I'm already in close to 2000 bucks with everything I've got into the setup including nutes which is a LOT to grow my own personal stash. I don't sell so there is no need to go any bigger. If I fell into a ton of money there are only 2 more things I would like to do. I would like to get rid of the HID's for Good LED's, and I would like to buy a GroBot Evolution so I could automate the entire room.
So this is the new setup Fam. Beans should be here by the first and I'll keep a detailed log to help anyone who would like to try Think Different, or Flood Drain tables. Personally, I love them both.


Here are a couple of shitty pics(couldn't find the cam) and there is not much to show anyways. Still only about half way setup.


Let me know what you guys (and girls) think.
Peace.


Perpetual ScrOG.




Some random pics. Just got the tent setup, and starting to put the lights in.











 

Taviddude

Well-Known Member
I got a few things done on the tent today.


- Built the Flood and Drain manifolds, got the flood manifold installed, and it's working great.
- Going to make a stand for the drain manifold It's just tied up with string now, but still works great.
- Put in the old bin I had used as a reservoir on the last grow, but will be replacing it with something more solid.
- I found out I can actually run the water level higher in these bins and use less water than with the 4X4 table I built so that's great. I thought I would have to run two reservoirs which would have been more work.


Here's Some Pictures. :peace:


Here's the drain manifold I put together. Works well.

Here's a shot of the water input lines running off the manifold. Nice clean setup, I'm liking it.

Another shot of the input lines running from the manifold.




Working Good.

You can see the line going from the pump to the manifold, and the drain fitting from the return manifold.
Glamour Shot.
 

firsttimeARE

Well-Known Member
I'd also be worried about those containers bowing out on the sides when full with water. I know my Botanicare res bows out a lot if the cover isn't on holding it in place.

Looks cool though!
 

Taviddude

Well-Known Member
nice setup, how many pounds do you think those pvc pipes can hold safely?
Quite a lot I'm sure. Definitely more than what I'm putting on em. It's a pretty solid design. I only run about 3 inches of water so there really isn't a lot of weight. I could have gotten by with smaller pvc. I actually planned on smaller, but they didn't have enough fittings so I had to go a size up.
and can you close the lid on the rez?
I won't be using that Rezervoir, lol. That was just in there to leak check everything, and sterilize the system. I'll be changing it out with something else. Not sure what yet though.
I'd also be worried about those containers bowing out on the sides when full with water. I know my Botanicare res bows out a lot if the cover isn't on holding it in place.

Looks cool though!
I worried about that too at first. Either way, I was going to run it. I thought I might have had to zip tie the lids on, but they don't bow the least bit.

how r u gunna deal with the temps? do u have nice natural cold air coming in?
Yeah, I've got a fan run on a digitally controlled thermostat that I can tell it what temp to turn on, and off at precisely. I can set the differential down to 1 degree if I want. It should run pretty cool with the air cooled lights, and cold air coming in from the outside.
Hopefully :)
 

superstoner1

Well-Known Member
its a great start. i highly recommend getting a 27gal strongbox or 50gal smartbin for your res, those thin totes are flimsy, it only takes dropping a screwdriver or scissors and popping the swelled sides, plus they allow light through the lid and sides. are you leaving the lights as is or will they be aircooled?
 

nick88

Well-Known Member
i use a big cooler for res. just add bottle of frozen water every 2 days water temp stays nice and cool
 

Taviddude

Well-Known Member
thats a clean ass setup though. interested in seeing how it runs.
Me to Man.
its a great start. i highly recommend getting a 27gal strongbox or 50gal smartbin for your res, those thin totes are flimsy, it only takes dropping a screwdriver or scissors and popping the swelled sides, plus they allow light through the lid and sides. are you leaving the lights as is or will they be aircooled?
Yeah Man, I'm definitely going to figure out something different for the res. I actually did run it like that for my last grow and it did just fine, but it needs to go. I'll look into those smartbins. Either that, or a cooler. All the lights will be air cooled, I just haven't hooked up the ducting yet because I'm still waiting on 2 600 watters to come in. I figure I'll do it all at once. It's been a lot of work already, lol.

i use a big cooler for res. just add bottle of frozen water every 2 days water temp stays nice and cool
I'm thinking of a cooler, but funds are a bit low right now. If I can't find something cheaper to do the job I'll definitely go with a cooler.
 

Taviddude

Well-Known Member
So, the ph probe on my Hanna Combo meter decided to take a shit today while I was adjusting the ph to soak the rockwool cubes. It was acting stupid and wouldn't give me a decent reading but I know the PH of my water and added 2 ml of ph down to a gallon of water and it should be close anyway. Shouldn't bother them for the first few days. Ordered another meter(not another Hanna Combo), but won't get it until Thursday :cuss:
It was stored with storage solution since my last grow, so I don't know. It is what it is. I wasn't all that happy with it from the start. The PH always had temper tantrums but I could usually get them under control by resetting the meter and recalibrating it a couple times. More work than I should have ever had to put into it so I'm glad it's gone really.


The Good News is all 14 Beans germinated and are into rockwool cubes until they are big enough to go into the tent. :leaf:


Scares me not knowing the PH of things right now though. :-( I imagine one could start seeds with regular tap water just fine, but I like to keep shit spot on from the start.
 

Taviddude

Well-Known Member
Update:


Day- 2


PH- :evil: 5.5-6.0
EC- 0.4


Fuck Hydroton. PH has risen like crazy no matter how far down I take it. Swapped out the hydroton back to the River Rock again. Did a res change, and cleaned the entire system. PH has gotten better. Don't fix what isn't broke. I should have just stuck with the rock in the first place. So now I'm two days in and still getting PH dialed in, lol. Next time I'll run the system a few days before putting anything in. Would have this time, but my damn ph meter broke and has left me scrambling to make up for it. Things should level out now and be a lot smoother from here on out.


Sorry for the shitty pics, my cams f'd up.








 

EyezofSnake

Well-Known Member
IMO you need a 2nd res and both will need covers on them. Get ready for algae bloom if you don't.

Also- why didn't you just use 2 4x4 ODs?
 

Taviddude

Well-Known Member
IMO you need a 2nd res and both will need covers on them. Get ready for algae bloom if you don't.

Also- why didn't you just use 2 4x4 ODs?
Naw, I don't need a second res I just need a new one. Going to swap it out with either a strongbox, or a cooler. It's way overfilled. I was trying to lessen the PH swings caused by the hydroton before I got rid of the shit. PH is stable now. I'm also running H202 from start to finish so I should be alright until I get a new res. I know it's a eyesore, but it's serving it's purpose for now.

I'm running a bunch of auto's right now just to fill the tent, and get a grow off while I veg the plant I'll be using for the perpetual setup. Some people like to harvest every six weeks, I want to harvest every 2. I'm going to group up the pheno's so as soon as I can get a tray empty I can start running clones perpetually from there.
 
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