BUDduino - My pointlessly complicated first grow.

Hey All,

I thought I would post the final spec of my first grow. I imagine I'll get pictures up as soon as I work out some kind of secure way to do it.

Not one to do things simply I've gone down the "lets automate and log as much as possible" route.

Firstly about what I'm growing:

Strain: Lemon Kush (feminized)
Soil: Guanokalong Complete Mix
Nutes: BioBizz - BioGrow / BioBloom
Method: SCROG
Pots: 1.5 gallon (Wide but only 5" high)
Number of plants: 2

The Box:
Dimensions: W: 45cm x L: 50cm x H: 70cm (Mini grow!)
Lighting: 1x360W LED
Filtration: 4" extractor, 4" scrubber, 120mm intake
Internal Aeration: 2x 120mm Delta fans (100cfm each)

Sensors:
Temperature: x1 internal / 1x external
Humidity: x1 internal / 1x external
Soil moisture: 1 on each plant

Automation:
Controller: Arduino Mega
Lighting: Automated on / off via Arduino (good old relays)
Filtration: Fans speeds controlled by Arduino using mixture of internal / external temps to keep fans on lowest optimal speeds to maintain temp.
Door Switch: Puts fans on high and lighting off when door is opened.

Software:
I've created software for the PC to interface with the Arduino to allow me to change settings easily (E.g. lighting times, desired temps). Although without the PC connected the box will run on it own just fine.

It also logs real time data of all sensors into nice graphs.

Notes:
I've also got automated watering ready but though it would be best to do the first grow watering by hand to get a feel for it.

Should probably add a PH sensor aswell but I'll need some time to work that one out. Not just the sensor. But also how the sensor can read the run off.

Anyway hopefully will get some pics up soon! Need to finish off some parts so maybe next week. I've also been time lapsing the seedlings so hopefully that will come out well.

This sounds pretty fancy. Got any pictures?
Also, that's pretty interesting that you have software made to control sensors. Did you use a USB board or some sort?? (I love looking into new methods for automation. I wonder if there's something out there that can slowly dim your installed lights during a 12-12 cycle)

Looking forward to your grow.

Oh my, i just thought of this idea because i have a Rasp Pi laying around. I have no idea how to use it but it sounds very intresting and up my ally of DIY... i THINK!..

ill keep an eye on this because i think i would need lots of help!

I`m looking forward to this grow, nice setup. good luck and happy growing

I'll get some pictures taken tomorrow of the box. But for now i've taken a still from the timelapes.

I've noticed that they are staying pretty short compared to other videos i've seen. Then again there is 360watt of LED in a 1.5 sqft box so maybe they don't need to grow tall to get the light they need?

Sorry i've not posted pics of the setup yet.. It's all running smooth and I don't really want to pull it all apart to take pictures.. But will do when I put my scrog net in.

Some new pics.. Little bit worried about to leaning.. Also as they have been on 24/0 light they are sooo short!

Hey BH I'm all subbed up for this one. Really looking forward to seeing the the humidity sensor/controller. I run a ultrasonic mister and when it gets above 65% I need to shut it down or my air filter begins to fail. Have thought about an Anduino controller but never put the work into finding out about it.

You should back the light up if you're worried about nodal length. If you can't do that I was wondering if the panel is compatible with a PWM dimmer? That's a lot of light for vegging a plant and you could probably run at half power and get great results. Also you should kill the 24/0 sched. Total overkill. Give the lady a break. She ain't no auto-trash, she's a lady . LOL

Love LED

Love Arduino/Pi/Single boards!

I have two lemon kush's right now in a hothouse outside, femmed too....... hate the humidity right now. They are so damn good, but they are killing me with daily checks. Oh well, live and learn. They were gifted in veg.

The next she Lk's, will hopefully be popping indoors this winter under new DIY leds! They get leggy, but scrog well in my opinion.

Good show!

Your box is almost the same size as mine 5cm- in height. I'm liking the sounds of all this tech can't wait too see more, subbed

Topped them yesterday. MAnaged to rember to grab a quick shot of the controller as I was adding a new sensor.

I've moved them to 18/6 now.. But they are still small and bushy!

The box itself looks really similar to mine, even the same diamond Mylar (you applied it much better) the plants look like they're lovin' their home too good job

Do you write your own sketches from scratch? Or how do you go about your coding?

I have been thinking of using an LED shield like this: http://www.chestersgarage.com/documentation/power-led-shield

Runs 4 drivers @ 36v 1.25amps. Really want to have an advanced way to dim in my micro setups in the future.

Wow!! For the setup you just rigged you ought to have WAY more followers! Everyone could learn something here, which is why im here and subbed.


Mind blown right now. Great job

very nice!
with my PC grow. I LST'd them. It worked very well for the space i was in and bending them over got the light in the inner nodes. I think that would help a lot.

Oh dude! I'll definately be following this. I have a project with vertually identical dimensions going, although it's gonna be waay more analogue. More comprehensive pictures of the box would be greatly appreciated.

Awesome job so far, keep it up!

You've got something great going on here.

Good work so far!

Few pic updates... one of them is growing much faster than the other.. Also i think i've was being to careful with my nutes.. I read that if you have very intense light you should up you nutes.. So i've been giving them nearly double what I was before and it's made a huge difference to their growth!

Then pics there are 19 days since they sprouted... I think if i had been giving them higher nutes from the start they would be a bit bigger...

OH and on a side note time to rework the soil moister sensing idea! Both electrodes that go into the soil just rusted to nothingness! Due to electrolysis, I think.. For my next revision i'll probs just turn them on when i need to take a reading and only take a reading once an hour instead of every two seconds as I'm currently!

bhpushnslide said:

OH and on a side note time to rework the soil moister sensing idea! Both electrodes that go into the soil just rusted to nothingness! Due to electrolysis, I think.. For my next revision i'll probs just turn them on when i need to take a reading and only take a reading once an hour instead of every two seconds as I'm currently!

Click to expand...

I didn't like your comment because your hygrometer has rusted so quicky.. just that I really appreciate you putting this thread up. There aren't too many people with automated Pi/Duino systems and it's really inspiring to follow. Watching closely and good work so far!

would it have helped if your nails were galvanized?