Vote's Grow Journal

My Equipment

Below I have included all the equipment, nutes, meters and so forth that I use in my day to day grows. The items listed below have direct links to their respective web sites for additional information. If your going to be a serious grower then you should at least invest in some decent equipment.


Lighting

New Wave T-5's
I use this unit for seeding, vegging, and cloning.
Seeding and vegging:18 hour light cycle.
Cloning: 24/7 hour light cycle.

This unit works extremely well. But only can veg. about six plants. So if vegging more than six one should use more lights.

1000 HPS Cool Sun Grow
I use this unit for flowering and finishing.
Used only for the 12 hour light cycle.

I would suggest 400 to 600 watt for closet growers.

1000 HPS Cool Sun Grow Light System New Wave T5 System - 2', 4 Bulb



SunRise Reflector Hanging System

The SunRise relector hanging system is a must have for any grower, but especially closet growers. Very easy to install, and it allows you to move your lighting system up or down with ease.

Maximize growth with proper light position
Easiest way to maintain optimum distance

HydroFarm SunRise

Exhaust Fan

These units I use to exhaust heat, smell, and to help draw fresh air in from outside. The squirrel cage design on these units are much quieter than most exhaust fans. But still they do emit some wind noise.

Dayton 465 cfm Exhaust Fan w/cord





Oder Control

Carbon Cans help exhaust heat, smell, and to help cirulate fresh air in my grow areas.

"Oder Killer" Gel is used to help rid the grow area and beyond of all smells. Oder killer works fast when placed near the exhaust port of the Carbon Can.

The Carbon Can I use is 5' x 2.5'. It's fricken big!!! Most closet grower's only need the smaller unit! I like to over kill with the carbon cans. Nothing like clean fresh air! I also use the oder killer gel when I'm growing a major crop, but only while budding since the smell is much greater at that time. A little on the exhaust port clears an entire house out with in 20 mins. or so.

Carbon Can150 Combo Odor Killer Gel - gallon

Grow Medium
I grow mostly in Rockwool cubes any more, mostly due to the easy clean up. They are an excelent grow medium, especially for the newbie grower. Soil really sucks to grow in mainly due to all the problems associated with it. pH can be a bear to control, perasites in the soil that damage the roots, root rot due to the acids in the soil as well as moisture retintion from over watering, bugs and spiders are attracted to soil as well. And the list goes on. But Rockwool and hydroponics that's a whole different ball of wax, and things are easier to control. I use 4x4x4 Rockwool cubes, which is perfect for closet grower's who want to grow several plants in a small and confined closet. Rockwool Round Splits work great for transplanting your clones or seedling into the Rockwool Cubes. I use a EZ-Clone 30 which is one of the best units for closet growers.
4x4x4" Rockwool Block Rockwool Round Split EZ-Clone 120


Continued Below!

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My Equipment - continued



Nutrients

Millenium Garden Nutrients are for Indoor/Outdoor use, but is best used in hydroponics and Rockwool cubes. Most of you may look at this and wonder why so many different nutes. Depending on how you wish to grow your plants greatly depends on which nutes to use. If your growing your plants like you would outside (6 month cycle) then you will use all the nutes listed below according to my grow/nute schedule. But if your growing (80-90 day cycle) then only a few of the nutes are used. These nutes are mixed using a 1 to 3 ratio. 1 part Fulcrum, 3 parts nutes (spring, summer, autumn or twilite).

The nutes are used with a two part solution. Fulcrum being the main part which is used in every growing phase, and Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Twilite is added according to the grow cycle.

Spring is used at 1/2 strength along with Fulcrum which is also used at 1/2 strength. This is used mainly for seedlings and early veggitaion (first 20 days). Helps aid in a stronger and healthier root system.

Summer is also used in part with Fulcrum. Summer however is only used if your doing the 6 month grow cycle.

Millenium Garden Single Bloom is a single grow/bloom additive that you add right to your nutes solution. Single Bloom is used up until the time that you start using "Twilite". Discontinue use when finishing (twilite) cycle begins. 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons of nutes solution!


Autumn is used in part as well with Fulcrum. Autumn is also used in the 6 month grow cycle as well as the 80-90 day grow cycle. When your plants are ready to be put in the flowering stage, this is the time to start using Autumn.

Twilight is a nute that is used in part with Fulcrum. Twilight is used two weeks before the end of the plants life. When the plants have reached about 50% red hairs this is the time to start applying Twilight. When plants have reached 60% red hairs is when you start the flushing cycle. Plants get flushed with plain water until plants reach 70% red hairs. Then it's time to harvest. Twilight is a flavor enhancer, and It will also enhance the smell! Great stuff!

Green Blast can be added to your nute solution at any time durring the plants growth cycles. This is added at 1/4 strength to give your plants a shot of green (nitrogen). Have to be real careful with this stuff because your plants will also get a huge growth spurt from it's use. Best only to use if your plants need a small shot of nitrogen to help green them up.

Fulcrum Spring Summer Single Bloom Autumn Twilight Green Blast

Ph Balance

To help maintain a healthy crop, the pH in your nutes solution should be checked before feeding your plants. If growing in soil then one also needs to add a soil ph meter to their collection of tools so that the soils pH can also be checked. Otherwise, if your growing in rockwool cubes or doing it hydro style, then all you need is a TDS meter. In Hydroponics your pH balance should be somewhere around 5.6 - 5.8. In Rockwool Cubes your pH should be in the neighborhood of 6.1 - 6.3. And when growing in soil the range is a bit wider 6.5 - 7.0, but you should keep an eye out on your plants health to figure out what's right for your plants since soil can be a problem to grow in.

pH Up Pro pH Down Pro




Root Stimulator

Hormex

Hormex is a liquid vitamin and hormone concentrate that stimulates root growth. Hormex is used for cloning your favorite plants, and Hormex can be used in a cloning machine like the EZ -Clone 30. Or you can dip your cutting in to the Hormex and then place it right into your grow medium (rockwool rounds slit, or soil). Works much better than most cloning powders. Hormex also helps to prevent transplant shock by stimulating growth of the small feeder roots, which often become damaged during transplanting. Hormex is not only a strong rooting hormone for plant cloning, it also contains vitamin B1.

Application rate:

Cuttings - dip base of cuttings in full strength HORMEX for 1 minute before planting in soil.
Transplanting - 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons of water (10 drops per 1 gallon), once per week until established. Drench thoroughly.

Hormex



Continuous Tri-Meter

For those of you who are new to this hobby, a "Continuous Tri Meter" is used to check the temp. of your solution, to check the PPM in solids that your nute solution has, and to test the pH in your nute solution. The meter like the one below gets read from the right to the left. So when mixing up your nutes solution you would start off with the temp. of your water, which should be around 72-74 degrees (F). Then you would add the nutes to the water. Then lastly you would balance out the pH according to what your growing in. If you don't do it this way, then you will get false readings and you may land up killing your plants. Also note that this is a "Continuous" meter. Meaning that the pH probe has to stay emerged in water or a nutes solution, it can not be allowed to dry out, otherwise it will be no good and you'll have to get a new TDS meter.

Nutra-Dip Continuous Tri Meter




Continued Below!

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My Equipment - continued



TDS Calibration/Cleaning Solutions

pH should be calibrated frequently (every 1-4 weeks, depending on use). Two-point calibration (using both 4.0 & 7.0 buffers) ensures the most accurate calibration possible. Do not reuse calibration solution, as once it has been used, it is no longer sterile and may result in improper readings. Pour a small amount into a shot glass and discard after use.

TDS meters should be calibrated frequently (every 1-4 weeks, depending on use). Do not reuse calibration solution, as once it has been used, it is no longer sterile and may result in improper readings. Pour a small amount into a shot glass and discard after use or use the sachets.

pH and TDS electrodes should be cleaned frequently (every 1-4 weeks, depending on use) to prevent premature failure and maintain accuracy.
To use the Hanna Electrode Cleaning Solution, simply put a small amount (enough to cover the probe) in a Dixie cup or shot glass and let the electrode sit in the solution for 24 hours, then rinse.



7.01 pH Calibration Solution 4.01 pH Calibration Solution 1413 uS/cm Cal. Solution



pH Electrode Cleaning Solution





Fans

Stay cool.
Avoid hot spots by spot cooling with this 120VAC 3" cooling fan. It's perfect for drawing in and circulating fresh air around and about your plants. This fan is a ball bearing fan. In other words it will last longer, it's much quieter, and it won't cause a fire if the bearing freeze's up. Unlike electric fan motors. An eletrical cord can be purchased from Home Depot or Lowe's that you can connect to the fan, Plug and play pretty much!

120VAC 3" Fan x 3 Does not create hurricane conditions





Water Filter System

PUR Water Filter System PUR Filter replacement


Continued Below!

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26 Days - After Germination
Days:26 - After Germination.
Lighting: T-5's
Light Cycle:18 hour
Stage: Vegging
Room Temp Day: 74 °F
Room Temp Night: 72 °F
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Nutes:
Water Temp: 74 °F
Fulcrum = 4 mm ~ Summer = 12 mm ~ Total Ph: 6.2

--------------------------
Brain Wreck - Top ~ Brain Wreck - Front ~ Blueberry - Top ~ Blueberry - Front

Black Pearl - Top ~ Black Pearl -Front ~ Haze - Top ~ Haze - Front

Avalanche - Top ~ Avalanche - Front ~ Northern Lights #5 - Top ~ Northern Lights #5 - Front
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28 Days - After Germination
Days:28 - After Germination.
Lighting: T-5's
Light Cycle:18 hour
Stage: Vegging
Room Temp Day: 74 °F
Room Temp Night: 72 °F
~
Nutes:
Water Temp: 74 °F
Fulcrum = 4 mm ~ Summer = 12 mm ~ Total Ph: 6.2

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it just stopped......bit of a waste writing all that

The waste was you replying to his thread three years later. =P

Originally Posted by benvegas

The waste was you replying to his thread three years later. =P

Not that it's anyones business, but my wife got lung cancer (no she never smoked). and has been battling it every since. You try to have a life with someone who has cancer!!! It takes up most of your time!

Terribly sorry to hear that news. I know you may not read this but i was searching and found your thread. Good luck with everything, take care.