Rubbermaid CFL Tub Tag Along - Making My Return (With Pictures)

Well, It's been awhile. Been back cruising these forums, along with grasscity, etc. for the last month. Seeing so many small decent grows just got the greenthumb bug in my brain and I can't get it out. I haven't done anything for myself personally in like 5 or 6 years at least. Helped a few buddies along the way since but other then that nothing, haven't had the proper opportunity to get it going again. Anyways, I figure I'll give it a go finally again but just something small to tide me over enough to get it out of my system. I'm going for total stealth here which is required and I just don't have a dresser or cabinet I can use atm.

Cleaned out my closet and saw all my crap hidden in the back collecting 5+ years of dust. I got a 400w hps, a never used Hydro Hut Mini (3x3), DIY 6inch(2+ft long) Carbon scrubber, Rubbermaid GroTub, tub full of testers,meters,timers,pumps,Bulbs,CFL Reflectors...as you can see the works etc etc. Just been sitting in there for all this time unused, wasted. And of coarse, a small assortment of strains thats been sitting away for just as long+.

For now, like I said staying small, I'm goin with a Rubbermaid Tub I did few years before all the crap got put away. Didn't see too many using them back around then, at least with decent results. Anyways, pretty simple.....Rubbermaid Tub, with reflective aluminum ducting Tape as a liner (what I did at the time), with vanity fixture and 80mm fans. Lighting used will be 30w 6500k 2000lumen cfls that were with my crap. These are great lights to veg with, especially with a good reflector when able to use.

I have already removed the intake fan as its not needed, instead using it for circulation. I also plan on installing a pvc fitting/elbow on the intake to give it a clean look from the outside as well as serve as a light trap. The same goes for the exaust, except I plan to make a diy filter as well. Most likely a simple pvc pipe filled with carbon attached to a fan, then attached to a fitting/elbow to be exausted. With this size area I shouldn't need one of those pencil basket filters, just a tad big I think. Once I make it I will update with pics. Don't need to worry about smell for a couple weeks at least, but will do it asap. I may buy a new tub (one that is the same except its like double the height) and white line it inside and add a second vanity fixture, but I'm not sure yet. For now, using what I have.

Ok, now for some pics. I plan to update as it unfolds.

Mind The Dust...








Surprised this came out so well...


Let there be light! It gets pretty damn bright. 42w+ cfls would be better as well as long as temps are in good range.


Closes nicely, some tiny light leaks through cuz of scratched tape in spots, easily fixed.


Tough Life Decisions....OMG...What to Choose?!?!





And the Winners Are.......... 3 Ice & 3 Thai Mix ( I believe the mix is either Hindu Kush, Satori, or Chemo).



We'll see what pops (if any) and then we'll go from there.
Feel free to discuss or ask questions and hangout during this adventure

very nice idea mate, looks cozy for the first period of your plants

Just an update,


Have added PVC fittings and elbows to help create light traps. Have painted them flat black inside to stop light reflection. What a difference it is night and day, before they were like spotlights reflecting all that brightness in the tub.

The elbows are 90 degrees. They are a bit too big for my liking but the 80mm fans fit those so that's how it has to be. Funny how big the size jump is when looking at it, from 2 inch to 3 inch PVC....then when you look at 3 to 4 it dosen't seem like much.

The traps are not totally light tight, but after a intake filter is added and a diy carbon filter is on the exhaust there won't be any light coming out of there.

I have some spots to retape/cover inside to stop light spots on the outside, as well as seal around the pvc (not perm as it will be removable) and the old fan secure holes....then it will be completely light tight.
I have to file down the fan a tad more so it will fit right into the pvc fitting, then I have to seal the edges with silicone where the fan is not touching the inside of the pvc.

I was going to use the exhaust pvc elbow as a diy carbon filter, but with the activated carbon I got (small granules), I don't think the fan is going to be able to pull through it full of the carbon and keep heat in check.
I'm thinking of using a much smaller elbow (still 3inch) but 45 degrees or even 22 degrees (what was in store). Or, I may get a pvc adapter (looks like a small part of pipe thats been cut) and screen off both sides and then fill it with carbon (only a couple inches deep, as thats how long the pvc adapter is)......then insert it into the elbow's end fitting.....or even remove the exhaust elbow altogether and insert it into the pvc end fitting with the fan in it.

If any one has any suggestions, please feel free.
I'm trying to figure out different ways to tackle the issues so that I can apply them in different situations possibly.


I set to germ 3 Thai Mix and 3 Ice back on the 14/15th....... All 3 Thai's popped and sprouted on the 17/18th...... none of the Ice have yet..... one may have popped, but we'll see tomorrow.


Pics....

New PVC Fittings


Fan partially inside fitting....


Peek-a-boo


Elbows


The Hopefully Lovely Ladies...

Nice bin 2supra. I'm subbin up.

Are you runnin a veg cycle with these plants or is it 12/12 from seed?

Well because of size, kinda forced to do a 12/12. I've never done one before, just because I've never tried such a small space.

They are on a 18/6 cycle right now. I figure I will do it for about 2 or 3 weeks, then go 12/12.

Since when you go 12/12, the plants still technically veg for about 2 or 3 weeks til they mature enough to be able to flower. So I figure, why not give them the extra light if there gonna veg for 2 or 3 weeks anyways (and hopefully see preflowers by then so I dont have to waste more time if I dont have to). Then the switch to 12/12 and 2700k and more bulbs.

Plan is to have them in Large rectangular ( but not tall) boxes to ensure decent root size. Then do major lst or scrog from very early on, fim or top as well to give more bud sites. If scrog, gonna put the screens as close to the bases as possible. I figure if I can get an area of 6-8+ inches from the screens to the lights and have it only full of bud shoots theres a good chance of actually doing a decent job here.

Over the last bunch of years seen so many people doing 7g+ little guys in pop bottles or party cups with cfls. No reason I cant fill up that tub with lots of shoots and have similar success with a suprising result, I feel.

But we'll see I guess

2supra4u said:

Well because of size, kinda forced to do a 12/12. I've never done one before, just because I've never tried such a small space.

They are on a 18/6 cycle right now. I figure I will do it for about 2 or 3 weeks, then go 12/12.

Since when you go 12/12, the plants still technically veg for about 2 or 3 weeks til they mature enough to be able to flower. So I figure, why not give them the extra light if there gonna veg for 2 or 3 weeks anyways (and hopefully see preflowers by then so I dont have to waste more time if I dont have to). Then the switch to 12/12 and 2700k and more bulbs.

Plan is to have them in Large rectangular ( but not tall) boxes to ensure decent root size. Then do major lst or scrog from very early on, fim or top as well to give more bud sites. If scrog, gonna put the screens as close to the bases as possible. I figure if I can get an area of 6-8+ inches from the screens to the lights and have it only full of bud shoots theres a good chance of actually doing a decent job here.

Over the last bunch of years seen so many people doing 7g+ little guys in pop bottles or party cups with cfls. No reason I cant fill up that tub with lots of shoots and have similar success with a suprising result, I feel.

But we'll see I guess

Click to expand...

Sounds like you've got a plan. You've done your prepwork and know that the thai's a stretcher - LST or SCROG is gonna be the best bet. There's a grower here on RIU (undercurrentdwc) that did a "reverse scrog"; he laid the screen on top of his DWC bucket and used it as an anchor for his LST ties... just a thought.

I'm subbed and following.

Happy growing, welcome back to RIU.


P.S. The PVC light traps rock.

overTHEman said:

I'm subbed and following.
Happy growing, welcome back to RIU.
P.S. The PVC light traps rock.

Click to expand...

Thanks


Looking at a post last night got me looking, found some reflectors I used for my cfls before.
Great little things, I swear by them. I have 6 of them.

I put 1 in the tub for now just so light is focused right on the seedlings. The other main reason is so when I open the tub, the room doesn't light up like I've just turned on a giant spotlight lol

Comin along real nice brah

I really want to build a replica of this, and will in some time after I try out my PC grow box!

How are your light sockets held onto the container?

EvilRuin said:

How are your light sockets held onto the container?

Click to expand...

As of right now, i'm just using bread ties (things you twist to keep bread or whatever closed). The best thing to use would be zip ties, but I just didn't have any small enough and wasn't gonna buy a pack to use like 3 or whatever.
I'd use zip ties now but i may wanna switch tubs so it makes it a bit easier rather than cutting ties off.

Just a update...

The 3 Thai are just about a week old now since sprouting, they are doing well.

I fed them for the first time with a diluted strength solution the other day. Went very light on the feed. However, looks like it was borderline too much as two of the Thai showed signs of overfeed. One got slightly yellow leave tips and the other looks like the new growth was starting to go "mutated". I have since watered again and today they look fine and recovered and show signs of good growth as they have sped up a bit after the light feeding.

I just checked the 2 Ice seeds I have left in damp paper towel since the beginning (was 3, had to toss one away) and to my surprise, one has actually popped. Looks like it just did in the last 12-24h. Maybe I'll get lucky and the other will pop too.

Pics...

I will be doing the same thing as you just with a larger rubber maid, will definitely following this. Good luck. This will be my first grow when I start, any recommendations, since I am doing the same as you.

2supra4u,

The thai root system grows quickly and can likely handle any nutrition you give it. However, they're still pretty young and most seedlings can live off of water for quite some time. Maybe wait until they throw out some 5 bladed fan leaves?

They look good in this nice bin.

Happy Growing.

Nimr said:

I will be doing the same thing as you just with a larger rubber maid, will definitely following this. Good luck. This will be my first grow when I start, any recommendations, since I am doing the same as you.

Click to expand...

Nothing much really to add, its pretty straightforward. Other then you gonna need to be on top of them everyday and tie/screen them from getting too tall.

Just read up all the "sticky" info in the different forum sections at the top and read anything you dont understand or know what to do.

Plus theres lots of ppl to help on the different forums, just make sure you put your questions in the right place

good luck

overTHEman said:

2supra4u,

The thai root system grows quickly and can likely handle any nutrition you give it. However, they're still pretty young and most seedlings can live off of water for quite some time. Maybe wait until they throw out some 5 bladed fan leaves?

They look good in this nice bin.

Happy Growing.

Click to expand...

Yea, haven't done the Thai's before (got the seeds from a CC forum member who does breeding....there is also a thread on the CC forums that show this exact thai mix done under floros by someone else who was given seeds too), but I do know that sativas have larger root structures compared to indicas usually so I considered that (no that it matters when they are in only half a water bottle lol, but thanks for the input!).

Normally I wouldn't feed so early, but I felt that as long as you keep the strength low, it shouldn't hurt them. They should be able to handle a feed early on, as long as you don't over do it. If they ain't burning, they're eatin' lol. Plus, it's hard to look at them and not wanna do anything...I can't always win that battle so sometimes, I'll do stuff a bit early or when I'm impatient too lol (grow damn you *shakes fist*). I just want them to take off as fast as possible, so giving them a kick in the behind to start should get them going (and it has). I could have watered for another week or whatever before first feed, but I'd rather feed them before they start showing any nutrient deficiency.

Thanks, I think they look good in there too lol, better if they had budz.

Well, I almost lost two last night (tues. night). I added another bulb and reflector that morning and before I did, I checked the Thais to see where they were at for water. They were light but not bone dry, so I decided to do it later on. When I checked on them before lights off, I saw the biggest thais "top" half-slumped and another slightly wilted. Could tell instantly it was the start of a dry out wilt. At first glance I was like oh its probably game over, but taking another look I could tell they were wilted but not dried out. So I gave them all a good soak and put them back til morning. Luckily, they looked great when I opened up in the morning. Threat neutralized. I did remove the second light tho just to be safe I can still do without it atm. The temps jumped to 29ish with it in. Weird, cuz I ran 4 in there before I started and temps stayed at 27ish. Might of just had the furnace heat up more or something.

Anyways, they actually grew noticeably in size in just one day. So they looking good, looking like the feeding is doing it's job as they are growing a bit faster then I expected to see.

I put the Ice in some soil as well as you can see. It didn't sprout with long taproot, rather this tiny little nub poking from the seed. Looking at it today, I could tell it was splitting the seed as if it was sprouting, but still wasn't growing the taproot. So, I just separated the sprout from the seed and put it in soil but left the top of the sprout exposed (in hopes that it will get some light energy and grow the taproot as well as break free from the skin-like protective layer and sprout properly).

We'll see what happens. I'm hoping the ice does ok b/c it would be nice to have a indica/indicadom rather then the thai. I'd prefer 8 weekers but i'm pretty sure this thai mix went 11 or 12 weeks at least.


I don't see the need to update constantly, so usually I try to go for a weekly update kinda thing....unless I do something (add/change/improve/or something happens)....maybe 2 a week if I'm bored lol.

But keep the convos goin

You were talking about making more space. I used 2 and stacked them. It worked ok but I wished I would have used bigger Tupperware containers. I used CFL's and yield was eh, but all the work and problems I had made me get hooked on growing. I have move up to an old coke machine.

KcCrion said:

You were talking about making more space. I used 2 and stacked them. It worked ok but I wished I would have used bigger Tupperware containers. I used CFL's and yield was eh, but all the work and problems I had made me get hooked on growing. I have move up to an old coke machine.

Click to expand...

I'm just using the one out of necessity really. I would rather use 2 as it makes it easier.

Haha it's funny cuz if I were to use two, I would have done exactly what you did there. I see other people using 2 and flipping on on top of the other, which to me looks stupid and not clean looking. I would just stack two on top of each other, cut out the floor of the top tub and the lid of the bottom the exact same, but leave enough of a ridge for it to stack and sit and still be light tight. I'm assuming that's what you did??

How much cfls did u have in there and the wattage of the bulbs?

That is exactly what I did. The stacking part works well but you have to leave so much space between the two and there is not a lot of grow room. From what I see you are using the same CFL's that I was using. I had a bathroom light fixture with y splitters for the veg and then I moved up to the big dogs at lowes that are 300 watt and they cost $20 each and I had 2. I needed more light on the under side so I had like a clamp light hitting the under side. Oh I found some pictures!