Micro ebb/flow (NOW DWC), all CFL ScrOG, perpetual Stealth locker

Wolfman Zen

Well-Known Member
Going through some rough times, and not wanting to pay some one else for my medicine, I decided to grow my own. Something I should have done a long time ago. I will admit, it was just easer to buy what you needed when you needed. However the local supply is less then desirable :(.


So it begins...

First thing is deciding what kind of grow... I don't need much so a micro cab grow would be perfect for me... looking around the house I picked this locker cab as the base of my grow.



I'll start with the top half, which has is separated into 2 chambers by a removable and hight adjustable shelf. I plan to use the top chamber for budding and the lower chamber for a clone mother and clones. I will work on the lower half later as my grow gets going.


I'm going for stealth, small scale and ease of use not to mention low cost. A trip to the city and about a $100 later I'm ready to get creative.




Used mylar emergency blankets to coat the inside for maximum reflection.





Will be using a plastic shoe box tub for a 4 plant cloner.


I could have drilled out 6 holes, but 4 is all I need.


The cloner will be DWC with an air pump feeding an airstone to oxygenate the solution. All the bubbles popping on the surface creates a fine mist giving it an aeroponics effect. Clones love that. The small tub has been completely covered with reflective chrome duct tape to keep light out, and reflect it back into the cab.


This is a great time to germinate some beans


Cut a clear plastic cup. Fold and role up a paper towel in the cup. Place 5 beans between the side of the cup and the paper towel. Add some water and keep it in a warm and dark place. Sneaking a peak everyday to add water and check for tap roots.




Drilled out a hole for and exhaust fan, I may add another later. Also a utility hole for the cables. Also put in the lights... As of now I will be using 4 24w daylight cfl's I have 2 extras in case I need them or to have quick replacements in case one burns out. Later when I change this chamber to budding I will be replacing them with soft white cfl's, and move the daylight cfl's down to the clone/mother chamber. As you can tell my cab will be easily adapted as things progress.


Wow those cfl's are bright. I was starting to doubt my cfl theory but after turning them on for the first time, I'm sure things will turn out just fine. It doesn't seem like heat will be a problem eather. I may not have to add a 2nd exhaust fan after all. Not sure if you can see in the pic, but I have also made a simple screen using paint mixing sticks and nylon black thread. I used the shelf as a template, and the existing shelf pins to hold it in place. You can also see the cloner in the lower chamber, it's a perfect fit.. the mother will be in a soil pot next to it.


Test fitting the tubs I will be using for the ebb/flow unit, and I'm all ready seeing a hight/space problem. This may force me to change my design, but for now I will finish it just as a learning experience =].


Using another shoe box bin for the flood unit with 2 plants. Using 3" net pots



I used a shorter but wider "pencil box" bin for the solution reservoir. Notice the flap door I cut out for adding nute's and checking ph. A small marine pump will pump the solution to the flood unit, plugged in to a timer set to turn on every hour for 15min's each hour.


here you can see the flood unit on top of the reservoir. On the left is the flood and drain tube coming up from the pump. On the right is the overflow tube the controls the flood level.


In action


The overflow tube.. notice the little v notches. these help regulate the flow, and keep everything quite.


All put together, and in place..unfortunately I have decided to change the design and will be taking the whole unit apart do to space. =[ But will keep the design in mind for future grows. =]


ah, and the miracle of life begins =]
I noticed this little tap root just a day after placing the seeds in the cup. The next day 2 others cracked.. Things are moving on nicely =]


Changing the design of the grow, seedlings well on there way, and supplies unavailable for at least anther week, when I head back into the city. I do with what I have... I will be using the reservoir as a temp 4 plant dwc unit. I removed the marine pump and replaced it with the airstone/airpump from the cloner unit.





I also turned the flood unit into a 2 plant dwc unit. It will have it's own air stone. It fits nicely in the budding chamber. In fact I will be adding another side by side, giving me 4 plants in the budding chamber though it may be overkill, it will undoubtedly give me more bud sites. I plan to flower the clones as soon as they establish roots, keeping them short. If 4 plants prove to be too much for the space, then I will mover 2 of them to the lower half of the cab under the clone/mother chamber.


Up date... as I was typing this out, I peaked at the rest of the beans and one more has cracked.. Not sure if any more were going to crack, I placed an extra bean in the cup... as of now I have 4 out of 6 crack.. I will leave the other 2 in the cup for another couple of days, if they to crack I will give them away to a fellow medical marijuana patient =]

By the way, the seeds come from a local medical marijuana patient giving to me by a trusted 3rd party who told me they were White Widow or White Widow Cross? I will try to find out more, in aether case I am greatfull =]

I also have access to ak47 clones, if things were to go wrong with my seedlings.
 

Wolfman Zen

Well-Known Member
Picked this little guy a while ago. It's a portable electric pump, perfect for changing the res.
DSC04489.JPG


After soaking some rockwool in a ph balanced solution of mostly water and a hint of fish emulsion (stinky stuff), I placed the 4 seeds with tap roots carefully in the rockwool and secured them in the 3" net pots with clay pellets.
DSC04512.JPG

Covered each net pot with clear plastic cups to help keep the little ones humid. I also mist spray 2 times a day with pure water.
DSC04513.JPG

Today I sneaked a peak and found that one has already sprouted =] ... though I am concerned about it's yellow appearance. I will be starting their light cycle tonight 18/6. I'll keep an eye on there color for the next few days.
DSC04515.JPG
 

Wolfman Zen

Well-Known Member
No i'm afraid not.... this much yellowing is not normal, but she's still alive so i'll give her a fighting chance.

Sneaking a peak this morning I noticed 2 more of her sisters have sprouted and looking healthy. I'll post pix later today.
 

Wolfman Zen

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the comments guys... =]

Things are going well for now though here are the things I need to work on.

I still haven't done anything to the lower have of the cab but it can wait.

I will need to make a light tight intake vent. I'm thinking of something that will focus the incoming fresh air under the plants as it moves up and out the exhaust fan. As of now the intake is passive (what ever gets through the crack in the door)

More importantly I need to get a couple new air pumps.. I have a small one feeding the temperary resevoir and I know it's not enough. I have a larger double out put pump, but it's not working right and will be returned.. I will be getting 3 of these pumps, one for each chamber.

I also need to pick up more of those plastic shoe boxes, 2 plants in each, to replace the temporary reservoir i using now.


And yes guys there is something wrong with "Esperansa" (named by my girlfriend, means hope) She was the first to sprout, but her strong yellow color had me concerned from the start, and now that her sisters have sprouted, it only confirms my suspicions.... in less she just happens to be from a deferent strain, but doubtful... aether way I will be giving her a fighting chance.


Here is Esperansa in front of her sister "Spirit" (I think naming your plants is a good habit.. keeps you motivated)





"Spirit"





The 3rd sister "Star"

 

Wolfman Zen

Well-Known Member
The forth seedling has not sprouted yet, but I checked on her and her tap root is about a half inch and looks healthy so it's just a matter of time... No name for her yet, if you have suggestions I'll take them =]
 

Wolfman Zen

Well-Known Member
Thanks guys =]

and "Wind" it is =D




Got up in the mid. of the night for some munchies and couln't help but sneak a peak at my girls (don't know if they are girls, but being optamistic =)

Esperansa and the rest of the girls are doing better... she is still yellow though. This is there 2nd cycle of 18/6 light. So there will be many changes in the next few weeks.. Seeing how well Esperansa did in just the last few hours of light... realy does give me hope =]




 

skatterman420

Well-Known Member
Wow I love that setup, now is it necessary to water alot because of the root system not being developed, or do are they kept wet from the mist? sorry i'm a hydro noobie
 

Wolfman Zen

Well-Known Member
Glad you like it skatterman =]

I don't need to water at all... The seedlings are in rockwool surrounded by clay pellets in net pots... the lower part of the netpots are submerged in water, keeping the rockwool nice and moist and giving the seedling more then what they need as far as water goes...

The misting of the sprouts 2 or more times a day is simply for humidity. I live in a low humidity area. Misting them and keeping them under those clear plastic cups helps keep the humidity up for the sprouts.



My little ones are doing well but not much more to report on... Esperansa is not showing much improvement, but she is alive and holding her head high =]

Testing out my "close up" picture technique. I took this pic of her.

 

gobears4eva

Well-Known Member
nice can i see my baby wind and haha im baked righ tnow,girl just dumped me because these other 4 girls who i was hanging with were diggin me so they texted my girl saying they was in my pants and then my girl showed up and beat up one bitch and dumped me so i started making out in fron tof hte other bitch in fron to fher and cops got calle dhaha
 

tom__420

Well-Known Member
Wow Zen, this grow looks like it is gonna be great. Keep up the good work, I will be following this. Very interested so keep us posted!

Tom :joint::peace:
 

olstoner

Active Member
Very nice set up and well thought out. :joint: I'm pulling up a chair too, great read so far! Love these cool hi-tech stealth grows! All the creative people these days really ROCK! :mrgreen:

Love your signature too Wolfman Zen. My "medicine" has kept me sane for years.
 

skatterman420

Well-Known Member
Oh I see, the rockwool kind of "wicks" it up as its misted? I love the simplicity, but how well thought out this system is, nice work. I just started 9 in a tupperware deal lined in Pandascreen, i've got until winter till i can really do anything serious, since i'm stuck using a garage attic, and its hot as fuck!
 

skatterman420

Well-Known Member
Oh I see, the rockwool kind of "wicks" it up. I love the simplicity, but how well thought out this system is, nice work. I just started 9 in a tupperware deal lined in Pandascreen, i've got until winter till i can really do anything serious, since i'm stuck using a garage attic, and its hot as fuck!
 
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