DWC or Hydroton, exhaust and lights

Questions to be answered in this first post:
Q: Does the light type change a plants behavior?
Q: What is the best way to move exhaust air 14 feet thru 3inch duct.

I have a 22" X 21" X 36" (inch) box, a 250W MHalide, a 250 HPS, an 8" round duct booster fan, and a 3 inch exhaust hole to outdoors (stand-pipe for how water heater?). I plan to duct 3" water heater exhaust to box for co2 when fans are off.

I will be attempting a 4-DWC screen grow. I was going to run the MH and the HPS simultaneously during both cycles of veg and bloom, but was told that I should not do so. I was informed that the light type tells the plant what to do. Meaning that if I blast the plant with MH, it will act vegitative and grow. And adversely, if I blast it with HPS, it will act flowery and flower. Is this true? I understand that 12/12 induces the bloom cycle, but does the light type also?

If this theory is true, then..., if I put my plants on 12/12 with MH, will they veg? Adversely, if I give em 16/8 of HPS, will they flower?

I ask this because i was setting up to use both bulbs at the same time for 500w grow power, and building a hood to accommodate them. If I only need one at a time, then finishing my box will be much easier. ANy help would be good.

The 3" exhaust is roughly 14' away (7' up the wall, 90 degree bend, 7' across ceiling to existing hole). I will need to disconnect the 3" duct from flange in ceiling which is connected to how water heater currently, route it to by box (7' across ceiling, 90 bend, 7 ' down wall to box), and then route an exhaust duct from box to the original flange in ceiling where the water heater exhaust duct will come from.

Solutions??????? If you aren't too baked, comment on any good engineering ideas please. If you are too baked, just smile and wait til ya see the nuggs I'm gonna grow, there'll be plenty of time for sillyness then.

I am planning on running two ducts.
1-existing duct from hot water heater to use co2.
2-Exhaust from box flange already in ceiling.

I propose to purchase a 4" squirrel-cage fan/blower or a 4" inline centrifugal (plan to use a speed controller), and place it at the start (grow box end) of the exhaust duct(1), to pull air thru the light hood and send it out the duct attached to ceiling out to the roof. At the same time, I propose to use two 4" pc fans mounted at each end of the other duct(2) running from the water heater when the exhaust fans is off.

What do ya think?

I built a bubbler for just 1 plant to test, and I think I'm sold on the idea. I liked the bubbler...

DWC is okay. I would use the MH for veg and then the MH and HPS for flower. 24 or 18/6 for veg and 12/12 for flower. I have a small DWC that is doing good, check out my grow....

You can use both the MH and the HPS at the same time during 12/12 without worry of the plants going back into veg. The MH is better suited for veg and the HPS is better suited for for flowering. The differences in the lights are the range of colors that they display. HPS put more orange red colors, which are better for budding and the MH puts off more blues which is better for veg. You could use just the HPS for veg, but you would see better results with the MH, and u could use the MH for flowering, but the HPS is much better for that. If you used both during flowering, you would have about double the lumens. So why not, unless heat or power are concerns

drynroasty said:

Questions to be answered in this first post:
Q: Does the light type change a plants behavior?
Q: What is the best way to move exhaust air 14 feet thru 3inch duct.

I have a 22" X 21" X 36" (inch) box, a 250W MHalide, a 250 HPS, an 8" round duct booster fan, and a 3 inch exhaust hole to outdoors (stand-pipe for how water heater?). I plan to duct 3" water heater exhaust to box for co2 when fans are off.

I will be attempting a 4-DWC screen grow. I was going to run the MH and the HPS simultaneously during both cycles of veg and bloom, but was told that I should not do so. I was informed that the light type tells the plant what to do. Meaning that if I blast the plant with MH, it will act vegitative and grow. And adversely, if I blast it with HPS, it will act flowery and flower. Is this true? I understand that 12/12 induces the bloom cycle, but does the light type also?

If this theory is true, then..., if I put my plants on 12/12 with MH, will they veg? Adversely, if I give em 16/8 of HPS, will they flower?

I ask this because i was setting up to use both bulbs at the same time for 500w grow power, and building a hood to accommodate them. If I only need one at a time, then finishing my box will be much easier. ANy help would be good.

The 3" exhaust is roughly 14' away (7' up the wall, 90 degree bend, 7' across ceiling to existing hole). I will need to disconnect the 3" duct from flange in ceiling which is connected to how water heater currently, route it to by box (7' across ceiling, 90 bend, 7 ' down wall to box), and then route an exhaust duct from box to the original flange in ceiling where the water heater exhaust duct will come from.

Solutions??????? If you aren't too baked, comment on any good engineering ideas please. If you are too baked, just smile and wait til ya see the nuggs I'm gonna grow, there'll be plenty of time for sillyness then.

I am planning on running two ducts.
1-existing duct from hot water heater to use co2.
2-Exhaust from box flange already in ceiling.

I propose to purchase a 4" squirrel-cage fan/blower or a 4" inline centrifugal (plan to use a speed controller), and place it at the start (grow box end) of the exhaust duct(1), to pull air thru the light hood and send it out the duct attached to ceiling out to the roof. At the same time, I propose to use two 4" pc fans mounted at each end of the other duct(2) running from the water heater when the exhaust fans is off.

What do ya think?

Click to expand...

Should I run both during vegging also? Wouldn't the greater lumens be better for veg too?

I got the heat issue handled by running duct to central AC.


Next question: What strain/genre do you guys/gurls think I should do as my first grow?

I would recomend starting with some bag seeds to get a feel for it, then go with a known strain. I know that you have seeds or know someone with some bag seeds around. That is what I used for my first grow, and my 2nd just so that I had the pratice in, and didnt waste my money on a something I may have killed lol.

I follow what you are saying Atrumblood, thanks for the suggestion.

What I'd like to know is:

Any experience with plant types in enclosed areas that did better than others because of space or other elements?

Is one strain/type better than another in a box with MH/HPS and an artificial climate zone and irrigation?

Is there a type/strain that is low growing in veg but taller in flower (I heard of something called Low-Rider)?

I grasp that indica and sativas have different height requirements (the area above my screen) for fruit production.

Here is my LHS= Local Hydro Shop horror that is still pending.

It has been 1 week since I sent my meter back and have gotten no word.

I chatted with a lady working at my LHS and bought a Milwaukee TDS, EC, PH tester with probe for a couple bills. After my purchase and before inserting batteries a friend told me he got the same meter/tester for $60 bucks less. I immediately called the shop (the day after my purchase) and told her of what I learned about a better price, and that I truly didn't need the meter at the moment, and asked if she'd refund me since I hadn't used it or inserted batteries. I guess I didn't notice the signs in the store when I made my purchase, but she informed me that all meter sales are final and that there are signs hung in the store. Obviously the answer was "No". I told her that if her sales representative took it back, she'd gain a customer for life. Again, the answer was "No".

I'm not disputing that there are or were signs, I just didn't see them or there was something obstructing them when I was there. The signs are not my real issue here. -but now that I have read what I have typed, I'm beginning to wonder about the shops responsibility to inform the buyer about the return policy because I was not told that my purchase was not returnable at the time of purchasing.

She told me that the same disclaimer is on the receipt, but I also know that legally, when a receipt is given for a cash purchase, the receipt is given after the fact of purchase and does not hold weight in a court case. I used a credit card so that does not apply to me, but take note for yourselves.

My real issue begins when I inserted the batteries and attempted to calibrate my new meter using the 1500 ppm solution that came with the mete (which had some dark liquid dried on the side of the probe when I opened it), and discovered that the TDS and EC functions did not work properly.

I don't know much about Milwaukee's electronic meters and have only owned a $60 ph meter prior to this purchase, so I read numerous websites to learn how to calibrate the meter.

I calibrated the ph with 7.01 solution and it seemed accurate, but the EC and TDS could not be adjusted to the numbers to the numbers of the calibration solutions. Turning the adjustment knob, the TDS did not get higher than 1270. I cannot remember the highest number for EC, but Brian at Milwaukee Instruments told me it was way off and it needed to be diagnosed.

To make a long story short, Brian told me to call the shop and give them his information, have them call him, and they would figure it out together. I called my LHS and gave them Brian's phone number. At that point all seemed to be going smooth.

When I spoke to Brian at Milwaukee Instruments and he suggested I take the meter to the shop and they use another unit from their store to dianose the problem. Anyhow, I stopped by the shop the next day and they wouldn't help me by even ordering/opening another probe or meter to determine the problem. They told me that it is my problem and that I have to deal with it (Milwaukee) because they didn't want to open the packaging on a new meter to test my meter.

Is that shitty of them, or am I just a sap?

I let her know that I wasn't happy and that she just lost a lifelong customer that has big ideas. She still didn't attempt to help.

So, in the meantime, I've got 3 $15 each babies a friend got that are looking pretty sad, and I have no meter to test their solution, even though I've already spent $60 more then another buddy who has the same meter I Paid $20.00 to ship back to Milwaukee Instruments...

Seriously, give me some feedback because I'm getting angrier by the day as I realize just how much they have inconvenienced me, and have ruined my potential grow. Now I have spent $80.00 more than my buddy on the same meter and still don't have it. It has been 1 week since I sent the meter back and I have seen nor heard a thing form the shop or Milwaukee Instruments.

I'm feeling like somebody now that I have some "Flair"

here are some pics.

I'm still waiting for my meter to be returned to me from Milwaukee. The guys at Milwaukee said they were going to 'Overnight" my meter on the return trip, but they sent if via ground delivery. How shitty is that?

I'm never buying from my LHS again, unless I need something in an emergency. I'd rather wait a day or two for delivery rather than support their business. Their customer service sucks.

Inside of DIY hood rose to 136F with fans running and box was 81F. A bit warm but I will be running the AC through a duct to box.

Awaiting my humidifier to arrive. It has a sensor to keep humidity where I want it, but I will have to figure a setup in box or attached via duct.

I had a Sour Diesel baby but I let her overheat in direct sunlight. I feel terrible about her passing.

Please, take a moment of silence to remember the fallen.

Can anyone help me out with what is happening here? This is my friends first grow and I am not sure.

This is a baby I got 8 days ago and is looking a bit sadly. Temps have been a touch high (mid 80's) and the roots are not thru the grodan cube, but are growing into it from her original root bag (whatever those bags with the growing meduim it came in are named).

I believe I was soaking the roots, so I am letting the thing dry out a bit.

drynroasty said:

I plan to duct 3" water heater exhaust to box for co2 when fans are off.

[...]

What do ya think?

Click to expand...

I think this is a very quick way to kill yourself and any other people in the house. Your water heater is making CO2 AND CARBON MONOXIDE.

DON'T do this!

drynroasty said:

Can anyone help me out with what is happening here?

Click to expand...

Severe overwatering, probably root rot.

here are my sprouts.

I've got my nute temp to a steady 70-72F, and ppm is at 550. Should I reduce PPM's when I see roots coming thru post of sprouts. I hear the 150 PPM is a safe range for new sprouts.

Are you still planning to duct your water heater exhaust to your grow?

you have plenty of light with a mh 250 for vegging and a hps 250 for flowering. each will give you about 6.000 lumens per square ft in your grow area.

only the light cycle (12/12) determines when a normal plant flowers, not the type of light. you can get autoflowering plants that don;t need a light change.

not sure what you;re asking but pics would help for your ventilation question

To whom ever this may concern:

The author of this site is no longer with us and will not be replying or continuing this thread. I am his Landlord/roommate, and I swear I didn't know nothing about growing weed with a water heater in my rented room and I was gonna call the cops but I forgot cause I was dizzy when I woke up this morning.

Al B., I was planning on doing the heater duct when the box was in my garage, and it was being carefully planned. I decided against that idea and moved the box indoors. It is now getting cool air from central ac and staying in high 70's with both MH and HPS lights on.

Should I run both lights simultaneously?
I have heard that 250 of MH would be sufficient for vegging but, would I benefit from running both at the same time for higher lumens?


Thanks for the over water tip. thanks, gotta get em away from nutes now, brb...

Okay, I just moved plants away from nutes to let rockwool/roots dry out. I was afraid of drying the roots so I kept the rockwool cubes "wet to the touch" of my fingertip.

Here are some pictures: See below.







Lower...

I am a noob and don't knw much about EC. Any advice or direction to advice would be great. I will begin searching threads soon.