Amaximus' Half-Assed CFL/LED First Grow™

I know we don't always get exactly what we want and sometimes our expectations are to high, but like Dawg said ^^. You gained some knowledge from this and that is always a good thing.

Hey everyone, Thanks for all the kind words. Sorry I haven't been around this past week but I've been having some real life issues which have been making me miserable. But never mind that shit! Here comes Mongo!

The SBA is fully dried and is currently curing. I managed to pull 18g of fluffy bud from this one. Another 40 grams of popcorn buds/trim.

So... That is it. This run is done. It had ups, it had downs. I learned a ton from all my knowledgeable RIU'ers! Thanks to all.

The numbers...
First Grow = 5 months, 8 plants, 235 watts draw (BS240 & BS180) - The BS240 was a recent additional 2 months ago, replacing cfls.

1 NL x Big Bud Auto - 6g
1 Liberty Haze - 22g
3 Liberty Haze - 58g
1 Liberty Haze - 10g
1 Grand Daddy Purple - 10g
1 Sweet Black Angel - 18g

Total: 124g (4.4oz) (15.5g per plant) (.53/gpw)

If my numbers are right ^^^ then I averaged half a gram per watt. I'm "ok" with that but there is room for plenty of improvement. If you remove the NLxBB auto from the picture (didnt know she was an auto and stressed the fuck out of her) and take into account that I used less lighting the first 2 or 3 months the numbers are bit better. I decided to just pretend I had the leds going the entire time for easy math though.

I'll tell you one thing, I don't know if sativas & leds really perform well together. None of my sativas wanted to finish for me. Not at 12/12 or 10/14. I'm definately sticking to indicas in the near future... Not sure I'll be keeping the BS240 either. I'm just not happy with the heat it is putting off or the noise level. I'm seriously considering using my 600w hid for flower and keeping the BS180 for veg next round. We'll see.

Anyway, This run is done. Thank you to everyone that answered my silly questions, corrected my mistakes and generally held my hand the entire time. I remember every little bit of info I have learned and will be applying it, hopefully, to better success next run.

Good job brother, I'm sure your next grow will be better with the lessons learned. Even though it is a weed it sure is hard at times to cultivate. But they sure are fun to grow and enjoy.

Happy Growing!!

Looking forward to see how I do with the sativas in my tent. Hopefully you are wrong hehe. They are doing very well atm and they will exercise my patience skills in about 50 days when they refuse to finish. Man you did very very well for a first grow (did well even if it isnt your first grow!). Too bad you have to use the 600W hids, It was fun to have u around in the led serction, now we'll have to stop talking to you. just kidding. Hope you grow a lbs+ with the 600 so you can afford a better LED than the BS. Nice work in the garden my friend.

EDIT or maybe you will win a superb LED light that will save you from us not talking to you

Great job man,,,

Txchilies said:

Good job brother, I'm sure your next grow will be better with the lessons learned. Even though it is a weed it sure is hard at times to cultivate. But they sure are fun to grow and enjoy.

Happy Growing!!

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Endur0xX said:

Looking forward to see how I do with the sativas in my tent. Hopefully you are wrong hehe. They are doing very well atm and they will exercise my patience skills in about 50 days when they refuse to finish. Man you did very very well for a first grow (did well even if it isnt your first grow!). Too bad you have to use the 600W hids, It was fun to have u around in the led serction, now we'll have to stop talking to you. just kidding. Hope you grow a lbs+ with the 600 so you can afford a better LED than the BS. Nice work in the garden my friend.

EDIT or maybe you will win a superb LED light that will save you from us not talking to you

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DelQ said:

Great job man,,,

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Thanks everyone. Yeah, once I crunched the numbers I saw I didnt do as bad as I thought. When you factor in time spent, the 5 months, it gets a little uglier. They just wouldn't finish for me. Hopefully I am wrong about other leds finishing sativas. But as far as the Blackstar goes it just cannot get the job done so I see no reason to keep using it.

There was a time the room was fragrant, frosty buds everywhere and things were good. But after about 65 days flowering things got stagnant. Odor started to fade and new growth started. The longer flower times also allowed more time for problems to occur. Like the bud rot and mildew I encountered that caused me to lose a good 3 oz of yield, at least.

I'm not happy about using the HID, And I still haven't made my final decision, But I just cannot try another session flowering with these blackstars and the led panels I want I cant justify paying for at the moment.

Amaximus said:

Thanks everyone. Yeah, once I crunched the numbers I saw I didnt do as bad as I thought. When you factor in time spent, the 5 months, it gets a little uglier. They just wouldn't finish for me. Hopefully I am wrong about other leds finishing sativas. But as far as the Blackstar goes it just cannot get the job done so I see no reason to keep using it.

There was a time the room was fragrant, frosty buds everywhere and things were good. But after about 65 days flowering things got stagnant. Odor started to fade and new growth started. The longer flower times also allowed more time for problems to occur. Like the bud rot and mildew I encountered that caused me to lose a good 3 oz of yield, at least.

I'm not happy about using the HID, And I still haven't made my final decision, But I just cannot try another session flowering with these blackstars and the led panels I want I cant justify paying for at the moment.

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I turned to 4ft HO T5s using aquarium bulbs, which are available in wavelengths similar to LEDs. Drying my first plant. The small buds are dry and kicking my ass.

Interestingly, I feel as though something is going on in the right brain hemisphere and right eye- sort of like a very subtle pressure

Ok, I did it. I sold the BS240. I actually got more than I originally paid for it, Ya have to love eBayers that overbid.

Hooked up the 600HPS in the flower tent yesterday. I fucking hate myself now.
I hate this stupid ballast and I hate the duct work and I hate the sound of it all!

ANYWAY!

There is nothing in the flower tent so none of that matters. I moved the BS180 into it's own tent along with the remaining party cup girls. When they are all finished up and I can flip back to 18/6 this will become my new veg tent.

So I'm officially a LED vegger and HPS bloomer until I can find a panel I like for a price I like. I so want to pull the trigger on a solarstorm 400 for $629/shipped but I'm currently holding off.

Maybe I'll throw some autos in the veg tent so I can still have a journal and remain relevant in the led forum! heh.

Well you got lucky then sellin that BS240, I was thinkin of makin you an offer but I'm glad you got more than you paid for it. I've been thinking of gettin that light. As it stand now I'm about to join the ranks of the HSP grows like you veg led bloom hsp not really lookin forward to it, but my current light set up is just not givin me the resluts I want.

Txchilies said:

Well you got lucky then sellin that BS240, I was thinkin of makin you an offer but I'm glad you got more than you paid for it. I've been thinking of gettin that light. As it stand now I'm about to join the ranks of the HSP grows like you veg led bloom hsp not really lookin forward to it, but my current light set up is just not givin me the resluts I want.

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Yeah, I was happy with what I got it. I basically got to use the panel for several months for free. Maybe even made $20. lol.

The damn thing just ran too damn hot and with no warranty I didn't want to take a chance. If I can't run cool with led then there is no point in having one. At least the BS180 runs cool and I can use that in the veg tent.

It sucks your hitting off the hps too. I know I'm not thrilled at all. But this is just for a short time anyway. I'm in the market for a new panel I'm just not seeing what I want for the right price yet.

You got your eye on anything specific?

Aloha Brah~

I luv those numbers! lol

And they will just keep going up and getting better as we go along!

It is a lot of headaches sometimes, yes? But a dayum fine job!
Looking forward to your next one!

Maybe someone can answer a question for me... I know it's the LED section and the wrong place but I'm hoping my LED buddies can answer this...

So, I'm using this damn ballast.... Whatever, it is what it is whether I like it or not...

My problem is the noise of the damn thing. Not buzzing or anything. But the noise of the pc fan that is on it for cooling. It's louder than my 240 CFM inline. Much louder.



I know there are digi ballasts with AND without these fans. So with that in mind can I open this puppy up and disconnect/remove the fan? Or will the ballast overheat without it? Or is the fan just extra cooling and I can remove it with no bad effects?

I've searched all over this forum, other forums, yahoo, google etc etc etc and cannot find an answer.

Please answer if you know for sure not a guess. Thanks guys!

Damn Brother Amaximus That Must Be A Cheap Fan.The Mfg.Put One On For A Reason.If I Was You I Would Buy A Better One Thats Quiter

Return it and get a quantum/ or hydrofarm phantom.........Ok seriously now, they are obviously running this little fan at max rpms...meaning that NO It will not run safely without it(it will shut off); in the summer at least( did you check the fan mounting screws and dampners tightness?).....either exchange the fan for a better quality or blow a larger-quieter fan on the ballast with shitty fan disconnected............fanless digi ballasts have way larger fins and their internal components are isolated to prevent heat failure by design.....good luck

I did absolutely nothing other than a few searches and then getting lazy and I decided to ask you guys. heh.

Seriously though. I'm a led guy. I have this ballast but I've never used it. I don't know shit about them really past the basics. It isn't broken, or cheap or rattling or humming or anything "bad" sounding. It's just loud. Maybe it's perfectly fine and it's actually quiet, for a ballast with a fan, but I wouldn't know. lol. Ya know what I mean?

I have a 6 inch 240 cfm inline fan that i run at 70% and i notice when the timer turns the lights/ballast off that that is where most of the noise comes from.

I thought I read somewhere that digi ballasts come in two flavors, with and without a fan? And that the fan was not really necessarily? That's why I asked if i could remove it. Or is the shit I've read regarding digi ballasts wrong?

Hmmm. The ballast is outside the tent. maybe I'm just used to the sound from within the tent? The led panels have 3 of those fans and they're inside and don't sound loud...

Thanks for the help guys. If i'm just losing my mind let me know.

Amaximus said:

I did absolutely nothing other than a few searches and then getting lazy and I decided to ask you guys. heh.

Seriously though. I'm a led guy. I have this ballast but I've never used it. I don't know shit about them really past the basics. It isn't broken, or cheap or rattling or humming or anything "bad" sounding. It's just loud. Maybe it's perfectly fine and it's actually quiet, for a ballast with a fan, but I wouldn't know. lol. Ya know what I mean?

I have a 6 inch 240 cfm inline fan that i run at 70% and i notice when the timer turns the lights/ballast off that that is where most of the noise comes from.

I thought I read somewhere that digi ballasts come in two flavors, with and without a fan? And that the fan was not really necessarily? That's why I asked if i could remove it. Or is the shit I've read regarding digi ballasts wrong?

Hmmm. The ballast is outside the tent. maybe I'm just used to the sound from within the tent? The led panels have 3 of those fans and they're inside and don't sound loud...

Thanks for the help guys. If i'm just losing my mind let me know.

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I'm like you, don't know a thing about digi balasts and I think we are both crazy for going to hsp. I sure don't want to use more power but damn I need more light intensity, guess I'll have to bite the bullet.

Oh the things you do for a woman...LOL!!

Txchilies said:

I'm like you, don't know a thing about digi balasts and I think we are both crazy for going to hsp. I sure don't want to use more power but damn I need more light intensity, guess I'll have to bite the bullet.

Oh the things you do for a woman...LOL!!

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You aren't kidding Tx!

Well as much as I hate using HPS at least I'm not alone! We can complain about the heat, sound, lighting costs and everything else together! haha.

I guess now it's just a race to see who gets their shit together and buys a new panel first!

PetFlora said:

Someone here has a DIY using 100watt warm white leds. They are all on one chip ( 3 x 3)?

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I'm sorry man, You lost me?

petflora is talking about gastankers 100w led chip grow ..... pretty cool but i think the summer heat just killed his plants off

curly604 said:

petflora is talking about gastankers 100w led chip grow ..... pretty cool but i think the summer heat just killed his plants off

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Ahh, I got ya. That went over my head.

I actually was asking gas early on about his diy. I had intended to do something similar but I couldn't wrap my brain around it so that took a backseat. I'd love to do a diy panel I just need to do some research.