Flooded 'Phatty' Tube Vertical Evolution - Discussion

rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
Thanks for stopping by Bob Smith!

I'm currently experimenting with an AACT (Actively Aerated Compost Tea) to work with vegan organic hydro folks. It's refreshing to be able to work in a manure-less environment - broad new territory of learning and experimentation.


Most recent batch of compost tea consists of:

Per 3 gal of water - OR
aerated 24, 48hrs @ 78deg F

1/2 cup alfalfa meal - OR
1/2 cup linseed meal - OR

In cotton sock steep for 1 hr, pour off 1 gal for foliar feeding and add 1 gal fresh water. Then stir (in clockwise direction) with enough energy to create a vortex to dissolve the next ingredient:

3 tbs organic blackstrap molasses
Vortex mix for ten minutes. I'm not entirely sure what is does, but it certainly does SOMETHING.

The next sock has:
1 cup alaskan humus - AL - Ancient Forest

Then directly in the water itself:
1 tbs bacterial and fungi inoculate - OR - Wonderdust (30 different strains)

After 24hrs a gal goes into the reservoir and 1 gal of water and molasses goes into the tea brewer for the next 24. Then this culture is kept active for the week with the withdrawal of biologically active culture balanced by additional water and molasses. New culture brewed per week.


Suspended at my waterfall line (active flow rate @ 1000 gph) a paint strainer bag filled with
1 cup of sand composed in equal measure
Azomite - UT
Glacial Rock Dust - CN
Greensand - NJ
Soft Rock Phosphate - FL
Lime - OR

View attachment 1433494


Makes for a pleasant soothing sound with lot's of bubbles!

I have to say, since going with the beneficial bacteria and fungi compost tea's, my root growth has been explosive and most recently, the fan leave surfaces have taken on a lustery deep translucency to them. My ppm's are down in the mid 400's (from 800) and the girls just seem happier, more vibrant. The leaves are vivid green all the way to the very tip. My growth rate - 7th week (4wk of veg) is about 1"/day. Plants are about 16" tall.
 
rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
Here are some pics 34 days into flower

DSCN0010.jpg

DSCN0003.jpg DSCN0004.jpg DSCN0005.jpg DSCN0006.jpg DSCN0007.jpg DSCN0008.jpg
Jack Herer, SSH, Jack Herer, Black Domina, Afghani, Afghani (topped)


I'm noticing that the vertical lighting has so many advantages. Cooler operational temps, plants can be closer to the bulb, better air circulation, light penetrating the plant easier from the side, making more use of the light's direct path, etc.

This week I built a manifold to feed additional air to the base of the plants. Using 1" pvc and 't' fittings that reduce down to 1/2" fpt, I found some 1/2" mpt to 1/8" barb fittings. The rig consists of two whisper 60liter air pumps feeding into a 1" manifold mirroring the shape of the phatty tube and then out through 6 plant sites with air stones at their base.

I can't pull the net pots out anymore, the roots are massive.

The nutrients are the next thing. Currently running Botanicare's line. But I'm not happy with the fluctuating ph and the precipitates at the bottom of my rez.
 
rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
After 24hrs a gal goes into the reservoir and 1 gal of water and molasses goes into the tea brewer for the next 24. Then this culture is kept active for the week with the withdrawal of biologically active culture balanced by additional water and molasses. New culture brewed per week.
Click to expand...
Well, there is a limit to how long it goes before something funky develops (~10 days). I can't really describe the smell other than you want it out of the room and house as fast as possible.
 
rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
Day 40 into flower.

DSCN0184.jpg
DSCN0117.jpgDSCN0118.jpgDSCN0119.jpgDSCN0120.jpgDSCN0123.jpgDSCN0124.jpg
JH, SSH, JH, BD, Af, Af (topped)

This past week, I've been focusing on nutrients and pH. The nutrients that I'd been using was the Botanicare's PBP Grow 3-2-4 and Bloom 2-3-5. In mucking with pH for a couple of days after fresh res changes and consistently getting a solution fallout of precipitation, I decided to learn more about it.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/hydro/msg0821545818867.html

After doing some research, I've switched up to a combo of the following:

Dyna-Gro 7-9-5, mono-ammonium phosphate, mono-potassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, phosphoric acid, cobaltous sulfate, manganese EDTA, iron EDTA, copper EDTA, zinc EDTA, boric acid, molybdic acid, potassium chloride
Hydroplex 0-10-6, potassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, potassium borate, calcium nitrate, ferric nitrate, manganese sulfate, ammonium molybate, zinc sulfate, hydrolsates, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamine.
Cal-Mag 2-0-0 (Ca,Mg), calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate, iron EDTA,
Sweet (Mg,S), magnesium sulfate
Silica Blast (Si)
Liquid Karma (Sea Kelp)

Rate:
7-9-5, 2 ml/gal
0-10-6, 2 ml/gal
Ca,Mg, 4ml/gal
Mg,S, 2ml/gal
Si, 2ml/gal
Kelp, 2ml/gal

This gives me an NPK of 7-19-11 which is close to 6-18-12 (1-3-2). (Well, actually only if I don't count the nitrogen contribution of cal-mag.) When I do, it's 11-18-12. (1.8 - 3 - 2).

We'll see what a couple of days does.
 
rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
Day 50 into flower

DSCN0232.jpg
DSCN0237.jpgDSCN0238.jpgDSCN0240.jpgDSCN0241.jpgDSCN0243.jpgDSCN0242.jpg

Leading largest cola.
DSCN0239.jpg

Things are running pretty smoothly. pH 5.8-6 @ 68-72deg, EC at 1.2
Switched out HPS for MH to finish up but not liking that my growth has slowed almost instantly from the change in spectrum. I've been researching and the Reptisun 10.0 looks like a good prospect for a dedicated source of UVB.
 
rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
Busted out a UVB fixture for the Reptisun 10.0 , 24" T-8 today.

It was made from flashing that had a 1" lip bent at 45 deg from a 3" wide field. I used two pieces, bolted them together along with the lamp pin supports and connected it to a ceiling box to house the ballast and starter. It cost less than a new fixture and gives me just the type of reflectance that I want.

DSCN0342.jpgDSCN0343.jpgDSCN0341.jpgDSCN0351.jpg


Hopefully, it will give me a UVB field close to this:

UVBandUVI-spreadchart-largealudome.gif

Here's the website for the above pic: http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor-tests.htm#totalUVB
Which is actually a great site, learned A LOT about UVB from there.

Aside from investing in a UVB meter, this will get me closer than I was. UVB meters are here:http://www.solarmeter.com/

Big thanks to Mister Postman with this post that was most helpful:http://forum.grasscity.com/indoor-marijuana-growing/104086-black-light-during-flower-hps.html
 
M

mikeq

Member
thanks for this journal---all of your good ideas have helped me. I am thinking of building one. My space is only 3X5 though........
I have a few questions

1. you said this has a 44" diameter---how big is your room/growspace?
2. How bad and how often was your ph fluctuations?
3.what would you do different next time?
4. "This week I built a manifold to feed additional air to the base of the plants. Using 1" pvc and 't' fittings that reduce down to 1/2" fpt, I found some 1/2" mpt to 1/8" barb fittings.The rig consists of two whisper 60liter air pumps feeding into a 1" manifold mirroring the shape of the phatty tube and then out through 6 plant sites with air stones at their base. "
do you have pictures of this? does this add air into the tube or just around the plants?


any response would be very much appreciated!!! thanks.
 
rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
mikeq said:
thanks for this journal---all of your good ideas have helped me. I am thinking of building one. My space is only 3X5 though........
I have a few questions

1. you said this has a 44" diameter---how big is your room/growspace?
2. How bad and how often was your ph fluctuations?
3.what would you do different next time?
4. "This week I built a manifold to feed additional air to the base of the plants. Using 1" pvc and 't' fittings that reduce down to 1/2" fpt, I found some 1/2" mpt to 1/8" barb fittings.The rig consists of two whisper 60liter air pumps feeding into a 1" manifold mirroring the shape of the phatty tube and then out through 6 plant sites with air stones at their base. "
do you have pictures of this? does this add air into the tube or just around the plants?


any response would be very much appreciated!!! thanks.
Click to expand...
Hey mikeq, welcome to the grow!

1) My grow space is 4'6"w x 5'd x 7'h

2) My ph doesn't really move that much. I add about 2-5ml of pH +, each time I add water and top off with nutes. My tds drops 40-60 ppm a day with an uptake of 1-2 gals of H20.

3) For the next round, I'll be adding an additional tier for 6 more plant sites and ports fore and/or aft of each plant site to add either LPA or HPA mister/nozzles. I don't think the airstones are as effective without a larger capacity air pump. I traded capacity for stealth. The thought of using electrolysis as a method to increase DO is something to explore with the next round. Also the idea of a vertical light mover seems promising.

4) I'll post what pics I have of it later. The airstone is basically underneath each plant site.

This is what I'm working on now for a buddy, check it:

DSCN0369.jpgDSCN0371.jpg

This is a 7' x 12' roomk, 2k watts lighting, whose floor dimension is the golden mean.
 
rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
Day 60 into flower
DSCN0424.jpg
DSCN0425.jpgDSCN0426.jpgDSCN0427.jpgDSCN0428.jpgDSCN0429.jpgDSCN0430.jpg

First main cola harvested, Afghani
DSCN0442.jpg

btw, same pheno in prior grow but in soil with horizontal lighting.
DSCN1303.jpg
 
That 5hit

That 5hit

Well-Known Member
rosecitypapa said:
Thanks for stopping by Bob Smith!

I'm currently experimenting with an AACT (Actively Aerated Compost Tea) to work with vegan organic hydro folks. It's refreshing to be able to work in a manure-less environment - broad new territory of learning and experimentation.


Most recent batch of compost tea consists of:

Per 3 gal of water - OR
aerated 24, 48hrs @ 78deg F

1/2 cup alfalfa meal - OR
1/2 cup linseed meal - OR

In cotton sock steep for 1 hr, pour off 1 gal for foliar feeding and add 1 gal fresh water. Then stir (in clockwise direction) with enough energy to create a vortex to dissolve the next ingredient:

3 tbs organic blackstrap molasses
Vortex mix for ten minutes. I'm not entirely sure what is does, but it certainly does SOMETHING.

The next sock has:
1 cup alaskan humus - AL - Ancient Forest

Then directly in the water itself:
1 tbs bacterial and fungi inoculate - OR - Wonderdust (30 different strains)

After 24hrs a gal goes into the reservoir and 1 gal of water and molasses goes into the tea brewer for the next 24. Then this culture is kept active for the week with the withdrawal of biologically active culture balanced by additional water and molasses. New culture brewed per week.


Suspended at my waterfall line (active flow rate @ 1000 gph) a paint strainer bag filled with
1 cup of sand composed in equal measure
Azomite - UT
Glacial Rock Dust - CN
Greensand - NJ
Soft Rock Phosphate - FL
Lime - OR

View attachment 1433494


Makes for a pleasant soothing sound with lot's of bubbles!

I have to say, since going with the beneficial bacteria and fungi compost tea's, my root growth has been explosive and most recently, the fan leave surfaces have taken on a lustery deep translucency to them. My ppm's are down in the mid 400's (from 800) and the girls just seem happier, more vibrant. The leaves are vivid green all the way to the very tip. My growth rate - 7th week (4wk of veg) is about 1"/day. Plants are about 16" tall.
Click to expand...
1 where do i find this stuff at
2 is this just for flowering what do you use for veg
 
rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
An organic nursery or feed & farm store would have the bulk items. Your local hydro shop would have the rest.

Use throughout the grow, clone/veg/bloom
 
rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
Final yield 14.27 oz from six plants. bloomed out when 12" tall.

I like the system. The next run on it might include an additional tier but I think vegging longer and training the plants to the Vscrog would double the yield.

Aside from yield, with the ease of maintenance, accessibility to plants, the ease of growing multiple stains with various canopy heights and NO leaks, this design shows lots of promise. Growing trees would be a different story.

There is definitely a limit in how long one could veg in it. The root density fills the tube up to the water line, causing the water line to raise, allowing more roots to develop, creating a cycle until there is overflow coming out the injector ports. I noticed this at week 12. Making minor adjustments to the dam collar and bypass value fixed the issue.

I love when pre-planning pays off and crisis is averted.
 
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