T5ho/HPS 400w 1st grow

What's up RIU!?! So this is my first legitimate grow and grow log. Im using fox farm OF mixed with LW and perlite. Im using 1gal pots for veg than transplant to 3gal for flower. I have four 4' T5ho lights going with CFLs mixed in for a total of 22,000 lumens and little over 600w.
The grow space is a 4x4 closet with attic access i plan to vent in.
So far its been good, no issues. My next step is to setup my ventilation system!
 

thatsmessedup

Well-Known Member
I wish you the best of luck on your first grow. However you are wasting a lot of electricity. 600Watts for 22,000 lumens is low. A 600w hps bulb would give you close to 100,000 lumens. you may want to look into that. Other then that, it sounds like you have it figured out.
 
Thanks for the input man!
I hear ya on the bigger light, just need my vent system setup. Some of the wattage is equivalent though. The CFL are actually pulling like 40 something watts. So i guess it ain't too bad. Im posting some pics as soon as i get outta work too.
 
Ok so i noticed some of the leaves curling upwards on couple plants. From what i read, i think its my fan stressing them out. I moved the fan further away and Im goin to run it on a timer for now on.Still lookin for the best way to vent my 5x5x8 closet. Have a rough idea but any tips would be much appreciated :D.
 

mrwood

Well-Known Member
Your venting may depend on your required 'stealth' needs.
If you don't have to grow in secret, I would have a passive air intake at the bottom of the door, and a fan exhaust at the top of the door. I would include a carbon filter for odor control.

I am not a big fan of venting to the attic. Too many variables. Venting humid air to attic is rarely good. Attic insulation can be messy. Odors may re-enter your living space.
Where is the exhausted air going to go from the attic? Do you have a vent? attic fan? Can you duct into some existing exhaust ductwork?
Do you own your home or rent?
What part of the world do you live? (temp swings may impact the viability of venting to the attic).
 
Im don't have to be too stealthy, noise is more my issue because the closet is in my room. I like the idea of adding passive intake and exhaust to the door. I just Dnt know abt exhaust hot air into my room.
I am renting but landlord is nonexistent and were i live its hot and humid during the summer mild in the winter.
 
On another note more of leaves got crispy and i think it has to do with a couple of things.
I was under watering, to much heat, and extremely low humidity.
So i hooked up a humidifier with a shit ton of ice in the rez(not sure if this will help but we'll see), started misting the girls, and moved the fan closer to the door to pull cold air from under it. We'll. See if this helps over the next couple days. Goin to post some new pics soon.
 

mrCRC420

Well-Known Member
I keep my seedlings under a 7" humidity dome for the first 1-2 weeks; they love humidity and moist soil. The humidifier is a good addition but for those early seedlings or clones; a dome is a home. lol.... smh @ myself.
 
Ya tht sounds like a good idea for my next batch (live and learn lol).
But after doing some research Im almost positive its a humidity and watering issue. Good news is only half the plants seem to be affected by it. Hope the extra humidity and misting will turn the others around.
Now i just got to clear the rest of my GFs clothes outta the closet lol.
 

mrwood

Well-Known Member
I am not sure you can cut holes in the closet door or the ceiling if you rent.
If it is a common door, you could cut holes & replace the door when you leave, but still......

For me, I don't mind the fan noise. Sounds like 'white noise' and can drowned out other noises (e.g., traffic, etc.)
You can build a box for the fan to minimize the noise & insulate the ductwork.

Crispy leaves sound like too much nutes?
 
Well the door is 25 bucks. Not an issue for modification. And the the closet has attic access through the crawl space so realisticly I can get a square piece of plywood and fit it in the hole modified to except ducting.
I could also do tht through the closet light fixture because it already has a nice round hole there after its removed.
I was thinking nute burn too. But I figured I would address the env. issues before tht bcoz I haven't added any nutrients. I also cut the FF OF with LW, perlite. But time will tell
 
Alright, so the humidity adjustments, misting and increased waterings have helped turned things around. The two damaged plants have recovered and the other ones are growing with a force. Here is some new pictures
20130314_165957.jpg20130314_165950.jpg20130314_170007.jpg20130314_170028.jpg
Here are the good ones
20130314_171035.jpg20130314_171048.jpg
And the burnt ones.

Hope the sex will show on these soon so i know how many :leaf: ill be deal
 
OK, so now my plants are really taking off and its getting kinda cramped. I've grown before but nothing tht got this bushy so fast. This is by far my best grow.
I need a better option for spreading out my cfls so I can get my t5s closer and give my plants more room to branch out.
I'm actually thinking of taking out the cfls all together and getting another 4' t5ho. I was just wondering if I should even bother with the extra veg time and start flowering these plants? Or are they too small?
 
Plants are doing good. Growing rapidly without any issues except my grow space is getting cramped. Had a couple questions though:
1. Wondering when Ill be able to tell the girls from the boys?
2. Should I begin to trim them up now?
3. When should I trans plant them?
He're some pic taken today20130318_192006.jpg20130318_191935.jpg20130318_191943.jpg20130318_191956.jpg
 
Anybody out there stick with one gallon pots all the way through thier grow? I was considering doing this but I already have to water a lot so I dnt want tht to become an issue...
 

mrwood

Well-Known Member
Depends on your grow - some guys grow in PC boxes with SOLO cups!

I think 1 gallon pots are too small.
I read somewhere to figure 1 gal per month of grow.
You can supplement the nutrients in the soil, but you will probably get root bound.

I got a small grow box & use 2-gal smart pots. In hindsight, I wish I would have got 3-gal pots.
 
I think im going to go with the 3 gal smart pots. Called the hydro shop today and they have them for a decent price. Going to pick up my 400w light, fan and filter Friday so ill probably grab those too.. Cant wait to start flowering!!
 
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