The AltarNational Garden

Sup friends, I owe you some photos, it's been a while!

C99 side, raspberries off to right:


Raspberry side, c99's to left:


Group shot with lights and flash:


Group shot with just flash:


I am definitely losing some leaves at the bottom now on both... I think I'm looking at calcium build up from my hard water causing this... definitely goig to have to figure out a better solution for water if I"m going to stay in this house... I think I'm gonna switch to bottled for now, and try to find a cheap source of filtered, or just buy one of those under-counter filters... whatever will cut the calcium way back...

...but on the upside... look at that shit! haha. Mainlining kicks ass. If nothing else it has encouraged me to always allow several nodes to grow above the 'screen level' even with scrog... I used to think of scrog as being all about multi-heading so that you get lots of short colas... now I'm thinking it can be both, with either method, it can be a fucking foot tall cola above the screen/ring, why not? LOL. Awesome.

Lookin exquisite bro!

With this run bro, I didn't lose any leaves until the final weeks of flowering! I'd say maybe 2 weeks before harvest?!
Then the last couple weeks they drop like flies! But from what I've observed, it's just the plants picking and choosing, because all the growth closest to the buds are lush green, while the fans continually fade.

Also bro, maybe look into get a flushing agent that'll wash that build up on thru! I don't think it's be bad to use if you dilute if heavily, and follow it up with a tea balanced tea!
What you think?

edit- And I'm gonna be build on short plants with a few thick colas too bro! Just goot work the early topping method rather than the MLing! Will be nice to compare and contrast the two! I think the end game is just ridiculously similar!

Sincerely420 said:

Lookin exquisite bro!

With this run bro, I didn't lose any leaves until the final weeks of flowering! I'd say maybe 2 weeks before harvest?!
Then the last couple weeks they drop like flies! But from what I've observed, it's just the plants picking and choosing, because all the growth closest to the buds are lush green, while the fans continually fade.

Also bro, maybe look into get a flushing agent that'll wash that build up on thru! I don't think it's be bad to use if you dilute if heavily, and follow it up with a tea balanced tea!
What you think?

edit- And I'm gonna be build on short plants with a few thick colas too bro! Just goot work the early topping method rather than the MLing! Will be nice to compare and contrast the two! I think the end game is just ridiculously similar!

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Yeah man, I like what you're doin over there with the shorties for sure, and will keep it in mind for next run... mainlining eats up a lot of veg time!

I am definitely interested in trying some kind of a flushing agent, but will have to research what's safe for the soil web... don't want to do anything that could harm 'em fo sho...

I like the idea, just want to make sure I get something safe... if you got a suggestion I am all ears!

Also, I just emptied out a 2.5 gal spring water jug we had in storage 'in case of emergencies' (there's like six more down there so I thought I'd try it) into my feeding bucket, and the fucking ph right out of the jug is 10. WHAT THE FUUUUUUCK. lol. I really thought it would be at least close to neutral. Jesus. Bubbling it now to see what happens, heh.

JESUS CHRIST HAHA! That PH is OFF THE CHART LOL! WTF they doin to your water man?!

You sure bacon grease ain't leaching into it somewhere lol

Sincerely420 said:

JESUS CHRIST HAHA! That PH is OFF THE CHART LOL! WTF they doin to your water man?!

You sure bacon grease ain't leaching into it somewhere lol

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That's what I'm sayin bro, I don't get it. How can bottled spring water come with a ph of 10? Jeez...

My fuckin tap water comes out at 7.5-8.5 for christ sake... though I have noticed that if I aerate it it tends to jump up to close to 10 in a few hours. I don't know WTF is wrong with the water here, heh. I'm gonna have to buy a filter and be done with it.

I gotta trawl back through my own threads... I know someone recommended a good under-counter filter but I can't remember who or what it was... maybe I should just go full RO and be done with it, but would rather get a cheap one that will just take out that excess calcium... don't want to sit there with a brita pitcher all day tho...

Cough http://www.amazon.com/Filtrete-Under-Sink-Advanced-Filtration-3US-PS01/dp/B001DVW0PI/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_text_y

It's available at lowes/wallmart as well (replacements too) get the ADVANCED model which filters down to .05 micron! This is NOT an RO system but those cost hundreds, and this just easily install on the cold water line of the faucet(check video) and reduces the bad stuff very well(check data specs). It's a 3M product, which are usually good.

PSUAGRO. said:

Cough http://www.amazon.com/Filtrete-Under-Sink-Advanced-Filtration-3US-PS01/dp/B001DVW0PI/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_text_y

It's available at lowes/wallmart as well (replacements too) get the ADVANCED model which filters down to .05 micron! This is NOT an RO system but those cost hundreds, and this just easily install on the cold water line of the faucet(check video) and reduces the bad stuff very well(check data specs). It's a 3M product, which are usually good.

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Hahaha, I knew whoever posted it before would come out of the wood work if I cried loud enough! Thanks bro!

Psuagro buddy, are you sure that this will handle the calcium dissolved in water? I see that it handles particulates down to a certain size, but I was under the impression that calcium is dissolved in the water so that it would not come out from filtering solids? I'm gonna keep reading and try to find out... I will just bite the bullet and get a cheap RO system if it's the only way to get the dissolved calcium content... but maybe I am misunderstanding the whole situation and it actually is technically a particulate... wish I knew jack about this stuff, lol.

Edit: Don't get me wrong, I WANT to believe. I would love to spend 40 bucks and be done with this!

Thank you kindly! I am looking forward to trying both the Cough and the C99

AltarNation said:

Psuagro buddy, are you sure that this will handle the calcium dissolved in water? I see that it handles particulates down to a certain size, but I was under the impression that calcium is dissolved in the water so that it would not come out from filtering solids? I'm gonna keep reading and try to find out... I will just bite the bullet and get a cheap RO system if it's the only way to get the dissolved calcium content... but maybe I am misunderstanding the whole situation and it actually is technically a particulate... wish I knew jack about this stuff, lol.

Edit: Don't get me wrong, I WANT to believe. I would love to spend 40 bucks and be done with this!

Click to expand...

Good question!!!!................IDK exactly, it does remove some cal/mag , but at what levels??? best bet is to email 3m for a response, this filter has been tested extensively maybe they have more test results on their website????

Right on... I'll see what I can find out.

Though now that I am thinking about it, there isn't an easy way to get a bucket under the bathroom sink faucet anyway (I usually fill from the tub) so I'd have to hook it up there... gonna go investigate how feasible it is to get at the hardware necessary to do so... kinda thinking it doesn't use that 3/8" size line connector which might shoot me in the foot.

I might just bite the bullet and pick up one of those big brita holders that stores beneath for ya... would have to fill it 4x before I have a bucket full probably, but might be the easiest solution if I can't figure out a means to either get the water out of the bathroom sink and into a bucket or hook up the filtrete filter to the tub faucet...

Or, also looking at these new ZeroWater filters... supposed to be as effective as RO, but it uses a 5-stage dual ion exchanger instead... not sure what the fuck that means, lol. But it produces 0 TDS water.

Yep, as I suspected, this house being old as the hills, it's all solid pipe 1/2" work under both the sink and the tub, so that filter would be a bitch to hook up, I'd have to buy some extra shit to adapt it... hmmmm... and being as this is a rental and I wanna move out soon, the portable filter ideas are seeming more feasible...

I think that what I will do is mod a custom zerowater filter setup with a larger storage tank above and below the filter.. that way I don't have to sit there adding more water over and over again until it's full, ad infinitum. I read something recently where someone took a brita filter, cut a hole in the bottom of one rubbermaid tote, fit the filter in place in the hole, then just set that tote sideways across another tote. Then you got a nice big filter... I'm thinking I could do the same for the amount I use each time... something that transfers rougly 4-5 gals... fill it in the morning and it hsould be ready by evening I'd hope...

then again, god knows how long each filter lasts... hahahahhaaha.

Oh god, my head.

Alright checked it out on the website and the regular filter has .2 micron pharmaceutical grade mesh filter and carbon. the advanced model has a .05 micron mesh filter and carbon. test show a 99% reduction in "sediments/nominal particulate class" , whatever that means.

http://www.advancedwaterfilters.com/faq.php?q_id=10

http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/travel/household_water_treatment.html <<<< looks like you need at least .0005 to effectively remove chemicals/salts so its a BIG NO on my suggestion...........well it does make my coffee taste better

Alright I got my supplies... 15 bucks for the replacement filter, 4 bucks for a 4.5 gal tote, and 2 bucks for a tube of waterproof silicon. That's 21 dollars, instead of the 40 it costs to buy the biggest (23 cup, or 1.4 gal) ZeroWater dispenser.

I will take some pics during construction... should be super easy though... basically just cut a hole the size of the filter's inner edge (so the little lip sticks over to hold it up) and then silicon in place... then I'll just put the tote on top of a 5 gal bucket, and wait.

Holy shit, I'm retarded. Maybe I'll just go return this shit... it says right on the back of the box that it's rated for 16 gallons. Fucking wonderful. That's like four waterings.

Fuck.

Edit: Did some looking up online and came up with:

Q. How long will the filters last?
A. Though we are lab-certified for 22.5 gallons per filter under the strictest conditions, our customers with tap water near 200 TDS tell us that one filter will treat about 30 gallons of water before seeing a reading of 006 on their TDS meter. The lower the TDS, the longer the filters will last. You need to test your water to know for yourself.

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Sooo... my water is only like 50 ppm, so I'm figuring I can put like 40 gallons through it rather than 16... I'm still kind of skeptical about whether it's a worthwhile purchase... 40 gallons is ten waterings is like, what, a month? A filter a month at 15 a piece... like 180 a year...? shiiit. Who knew getting fucking decent water would be the big challenge when I live in a fucking rural area with well water...

Cheapest and easiest install RO I could find grower........high rating/reviews and 100 gallons a day....

http://www.amazon.com/Hydro-Logic-31035-100-GPD-Stealth-RO100-Reverse/dp/B002JLACGK/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1366840554&sr=8-17&keywords=ro+water+filter+system It's still allot of money but it ships from amazon directly so it's covered by their excellent customer service/warranty issues...blah

good luck

HtG 's stuff is cheap but mostly crappy........IDK what shipping costs

http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-1-PURE-100-Reverse-Osmosis--Deionizer-Water-Filtration-System.asp


Edit: Holy shit! didn't even know this existed== worlds smallest RO system

http://growershouse.com/two-stage-reverse-osmosis-system at this price I may also bite, cute little fucker.......uses hydrofarm filter and 50 gallon a day, way more than I need...awesome

Nice, thanks buddy! I will look into these options... 104 ain't bad... wanna find some reviews or somethin... kinda confused on the stages thing... some are 4-stage or 5-stage, but maybe that's not necessary for lower water volumes? I'm just worried it ain't gonna bring it to 0 TDS with less stages!

Also, I could really use something that hooks up to a faucet or draws from an open container rather than a water line... not sure how easy it's going to be to get at the plumbing situation I have... I guess I can go down and check out the downstairs kitchen sink... less convenient to tote the water up, but not a deal breaker...

Alright, for now, I opted to go with what I was already planning... cut the hole, got the zero filter mounted. It'll last me the next month or so at least, and then maybe I'll finalize an RO system decision in the mean time.

Pics tomorrow, silicone's drying tonight.