Fridge Grow 175w MH with CFLs

KolorBlind said:

OK, first off, I think you have plenty of light for vegging. In fact, if your temps are always above 80 I would just get rid of those 14w bulbs for now, you can make up the extra wattage once you start your 12/12 light cycle. Unless you have more than about 8 plants the 4 27w lights will suffice for now.
Also, when I started my first grow I watered the plants as soon as they sprouted, and apparently this is a BIG nono. This time around, I soaked my peat pellets, planted my seeds and did not water for 3 days. It was AMAZING how much more they grew than my first batch. They were as big as my first batch was at 2 weeks in only 3 days. So make sure you're not over watering, the roots need to grow and if they always have water theres no reason for them to grow.

As far as the DIY MH and HPS lights go, here a link to the page I used: http://www.onlinepot.org/grow/wiringlights.htm Make sure to read the entire top section as it is what helped me to understand the wiring in general. Then just skip down to the HPS or MH part for whichever light you have. My HPS light did not have a capacitor and neither did my MH. They came without one from the factory in a security lamp, but I was still able to easily wire it up using the diagrams.

Good luck
KB

PS: If heat is a concern, be aware that a MH bulb will get much hotter than an HPS bulb of the same wattage. If you can only afford one bulb I would go for the HPS considering your heat problems. Its a cooler bulb and by the time you're ready to use it you will only have it on 12 hours a day and not 18+ like you would a MH. My MH gets very very hot and its only a 175. Also, growth has been GREAT so far, last night I had only the CFLs on with the door shut, max temp was 80F and there was significant growth on all plants. My sprout has even turned from a pale yellow to a nice bright green. CFLs are just amazing, I would not even be using HID bulbs if they werent given to me lol.

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i have 7 plants so you think thats enough light everyone is saying the lights should be right above the plant so i'm just thinking it's tough with 7 plants if i have four lights but maybe i'll pull one of the lights....thanks for the DIY link too. i have all but two sprouting tonight i'm pumped hope i do this good

sykemfs said:

i have 7 plants so you think thats enough light everyone is saying the lights should be right above the plant so i'm just thinking it's tough with 7 plants if i have four lights but maybe i'll pull one of the lights....thanks for the DIY link too. i have all but two sprouting tonight i'm pumped hope i do this good

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Well as far as seedlings go, 2 plants per light is fine if the light is close. Once they get to be bigger and bushier you may want to consider throwin a couple more lights in there, but it can be done with what you have if your budget is pretty strict. Remember you will need siff lights for flowering too so dont break the bank on veg lights just yet.

KB

cool setup... +rep for you....

I like this grow man im subcribed, btw the one that has a broken stem will be fine give it a day or 2 and you wont be able to tell that it has ever been broken

keep it up

hey bro loving the fridge iv got a fridge going too im taking down my 2nd crop in it in 4 weeks check it out some time

DAY 5

Plant Stage: Seedling
Light Cycle: 24/0
Lights: 175w 4200K Metal Halide, 3x26w 6500K CFLs.
Medium: 3 Parts Sunshine Mix, 1 Part Pearlite.
Ferts: None
Strain: 8x Unknown Bagseed


This is a very exciting update for me. A friend and I brainstormed the heat, vertical bulb, lack of reflector and space issues and came up with a very interesting idea. I pretty much mixed every picture Ive seen of vented hoods, reflectors, & bulbs Ive seen and mixed up all together. We cut a hole in the partition between the fridge & freezer and installed a "window" made from 2 9x12 picture frames. More specifically one of the frames and 2 both pieces of glass, to make a rigged up 2 pane window. The idea was to trap some of the heat between the panes. This works perfectly with the exhaust I have installed, since the top freezer section is sealed off from the bottom all the high heat gets trapped up there and sucked out the back through a carbon filter. I took a couple before and after pics of the project.

Here are a couple pictures of the hole we cut from above and below. The holes that were originally cut for the bulbs were spaced a bit too far apart, but we fixed it with some duct tape

Here are a couple pics from the same angles after duct taping the window in place. When I saw white duct tape at walmart I kicked myself for not finding it sooner. In the 2nd picture you can see where I removed all the sockets, plugs and other plastic whatnot's on the inside of the fridge and taped over the holes with the white duct tape.

Here is how the lights are setup as of now. I plan on getting some brackets and mounting both bulbs to the hood, which would mean wiring the MH ballast separately from the bulb. The second picture is with the makeshift hood/reflector in place. We painted the inside of it white. I would like for a lot of the duct tape to go, it will just be a slow process haha. I didn't fee like waiting for the MH to warm up so only the HPS is on in the first pic.

Here are some pics of the inside after everything is was done. We rigged up a laundry shelf I had hanging around to extend the fridge shelf out another 6 to 8 inches, which made a nice difference. We zip tied it to the factory shelf.

Here is a better shot of the underside of the window. The white duct tape is not holding anything up. It is just there to make a seal and add a tad of reflectivity.

With the shelf extended, it makes it a LOT easier to put the plants where the light is optimal.

And last but not least the ladies. Lets start off with a couple group shots:

Plant #6 is the largest now, and my late bloomer #7 is the smallest.

So thats where Im at. I really appreciate all the comments and good vibes in this thread. As far as heat issues, when it gets blazing hot outside the MH may have to be shut off most of all of the day, but the HPS will be in full action dirung flower and this winter they will both be on as much as possible, I cant wait! I have 2 digital thermometers and after putting one in each section for a few hours the freezer reached 103F and the fridge maxed out at 83F. If you place your hand right under the window in the fridge it is not hot at ALL. I can touch the window and leave my finger on it easy. That is with both lights on. I may turn off the HPS, what do you guys think? Would it be good to have the orange spectrum or best to save it for flower? It may not last long either way with the heat.

Peace for now
KB

Just letting you know im subsciribed, hope you have better luck on this one than you did on your first. lookin good so far

iv got a 400whps in my fridge with a air cooled hood and i have no heat probs at all but you are looking fine

josh4321 said:

iv got a 400whps in my fridge with a air cooled hood and i have no heat probs at all but you are looking fine

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What is the weather like where you live? Currently the highs here are low to mid 80s which keeps my garage at about 68-74 due to the fact that the house faces east and begins heating up at like 9AM. We typically have a few weeks each year where the outside temp will reach mid to upper 90s. Also is your fridge in a basement or a garage?

In the winter I will be packing lots of bulbs into that thing to keep temps up. I believe with 1 more 3" passive intake the airflow will be optimal considering I have a 4" exhaust. I can put together a 250W HPS for $75.99 with shipping or a 400W for $91.07. Both prices include a ballast, capacitor, ignitor, & mounting hardware. If a 400W would keep cool enough I would much rather go with that, but I need to get a better idea about the heat they put out vs. a MH and how much heat each wattage bulb puts out. Ill do some homework before committing, and I may not buy anything till AFTER this grow but I am very excited to try and go bigger.

I also called whirlpool to get a replacement gasket for my fridge, and when they told me it would be $120 after shipping I hung up. I spent 4 hours searching the internet and ofund a universal 32x42" magnetic gasket that will fit mine perfectly for $37 after shipping!! So it should be here in 2-5 days.

Temps are staying incredibly low, its like the MH isnt even on. When I crank the HPS on the temp will rise a bit but I havent seen anything over 84 yet and that was during a hot part of the day with both on. I think if I left both on for a long duration (12+ hours) with the door closed that the temps might get a bit too high. Its a good thing im always out there, I probably open & close the door 20 times a day at this point.

Plants were all watered for the 2nd time today just after the lights came back on. They are all perking up and just looking beautiful. I am just 100 times more pleased with this grow than my last, and thanks to everyone for tagging along!

Peace
KB

DAY 9

Plant Stage: Veg
Light Cycle: 18/6
Lights: 175w 4200K Metal Halide, 70w HPS, 4x26w 6500K CFLs, 2x23w 550K CFLs
Medium: 3 Parts Sunshine Mix, 1 Part Pearlite
Ferts: None
Strain: 8x Unknown Bagseed


Ok just a real quick update. Plants are growing nicely, one of them is looking a little yellow though. I have been able to leave the MH and the HPS on with all the CFLs for the full 18 hours recently with max temps around 78-81.

I repositioned all my CFLs with some tip ties. They are all hanging vertical now so I can get the plants closer to the HIDs. This also spreads the light out MUCH more even on the canpoy. No CFLs are shading the HID light from any plants this way. I tested a zip tie by tieing it onto a CFL in my closet for about a day & a half. It didnt even come close to melting.

Here are some group pics of the ladies.

In the fridge

Overhead View

Here are a few individual pics.

Largest plant, #6

Smallest Plant, #7. I am a bit curious if those spots on the leaves are ok or if is a deficiency.

Sick Plant? Plant #8 is a little more light green than the rest, almost to the point of being yellow.

My soil I am using had no NPK rating. I have some superthrive and some alaska fish fert (10-5-5) that I can add to the water. Should I wait a couple more waterings or go ahead and use 1/2 the recommended amount of each with the next watering?


And here is the new light setup. I was able to raise the plant shelf up 3 notches and keep the CFLs roughly the same distance fromt he plants. This gives me more overall grow room and gets the plants closer tot he HIDs. The area under the window is not hot at ALL. In fact, I can keep the back of my hand on the underside of the window for 30sec without it hurting.

Top View

Thats it for now, another passive intake hole is comming this weekend
KB

Wow. Looking awesome man. The HID/CFL combo is going to do wonders on those things. Bravo on the amount of lights you have going with the distance and maintaining propper heat - def not an easy task to accomplish. If your soil has any nutes i'de wait till adding some. If the soil doens't have any added you might go ahead and add a small amount. Be careful though - small plants are very easy to kill with nutes. Done it several times myself. Maybe dilute to 1/10 and then step up to 1/5 if they take that well.

lookin good KB...our cfl buddy has gone HID

I would maybe put more 6500 CFLs in there during veg, then put in the 2700 ones for flower... Those are the appropriate ones to use for each period... just a suggestion.

Iron Lion Zion said:

I would maybe put more 6500 CFLs in there during veg, then put in the 2700 ones for flower... Those are the appropriate ones to use for each period... just a suggestion.

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Hey iron

Well right now I have 4 6500 CFLs and 2 5500 CFLs. I have 6 other 26w 2700k CFLs and 3 68w 2700k CFLs but none of them are in the fridge now. The only bulbs besides the 5500k & 6500k CFLs are the 175w MH and 70w HPS. Are you saying to replace the 5500Ks with 6500k?

KB

EDIT: Just realized that in my update post I put 2 550K CFLs, that was meant to say 5500K not 550k.

wow nice setup!!!

T@ll T33 said:

wow nice setup!!!

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Thanks T@ll



So I went ahead and watered last night about 2 hours after the lights came back on. I would have done it sooner but we had unexpected company. I went ahead and added some nutes to the water, I hope everything takes ok.

The nutes I added were Alaska Fish Fertilizer (5-1-1) at 1/2 the recommended amount (1/2 Tbl per Gallon) and Superthrive at half the recommended amount (1/8 tsp per gallon). The fish fertilizer smells like a bucket of fish guts & feces so it better work! haha.

Disaster struck plant #8 yesterday, the one that was already showing some yellow. Im almost embarrassed to admit but the disaster was me, I knocked her off the shelf and the pot landed upside down completely crushing the plant underneath. Luckily I used the Jiffy pellets and the root wad was still very much in tact. I dont think I broke any roots and I re potted the plant asap. The plant looked a little bent over and kinda pissed at me when I left for work today, we'll see how she looks tonight when I get home.

Thanks for staying tuned, Ill have more pics very soon!
KB

So I went ahead and watered last night about 2 hours after the lights came back on. I would have done it sooner but we had unexpected company. I went ahead and added some nutes to the water, I hope everything takes ok.

The nutes I added were Alaska Fish Fertilizer (5-1-1) at 1/2 the recommended amount (1/2 Tbl per Gallon) and Superthrive at half the recommended amount (1/8 tsp per gallon). The fish fertilizer smells like a bucket of fish guts & feces so it better work! haha.

Disaster struck plant #8 yesterday, the one that was already showing some yellow. Im almost embarrassed to admit but the disaster was me, I knocked her off the shelf and the pot landed upside down completely crushing the plant underneath. Luckily I used the Jiffy pellets and the root wad was still very much in tact. I dont think I broke any roots and I re potted the plant asap. The plant looked a little bent over and kinda pissed at me when I left for work today, we'll see how she looks tonight when I get home.

Thanks for staying tuned, Ill have more pics very soon!
KB

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looking forward to the pics, im sure the broken plant will bounce back. they really are resillient plants

bakedat420 said:

lookin good KB...our cfl buddy has gone HID

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Haha, in all fairness I wouldn't be using HIDs if they hadn't been given to me. But now the combo has taken my mind over and Im thinking of buying a 250w HPS haha!! i would still use CFLs in conjunction of course!!

tipsgnob said:

kolorblind been shoppin at the walmart. that alaskan fish fertilizer and superthrive are the bomb...you have to be careful with the superthrive, but I guess you know that.....carry on

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Man its so pathetic how many trips I made to the hardware/lawn & garden stores, as well as nurseries and I still end up buying nutes from WALMART!! Damn you Walmart and your convenient 24 hour superstores...DAMN YOU!!!!! Oh well at least I bought all my soil from a nursery eh?

Jizmatica said:

looking forward to the pics, im sure the broken plant will bounce back. they really are resillient plants

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Haha, that they are. Plant #2 took a similar spill a few days back, but not as bad. She looks great now. Also when I was putting plant #1 into its container from its Jiffy pellet, the pellet broke apart in my hands and the whole plant fell on the floor. I had to replant it in just soil, and its stunted I think but growing still

KB