2k DIY UnderCurrent 6XL - 4x8 Gorilla - Plushberry Grow

Hey guys - So I've been around here for a few years learning, and I finally decided to document a full grow.

I live in a legal state, and am operating fully within my local/state laws.

Here's the STATS:

Environment: 4x8x6.5 Gorilla Grow Tent
Reflectors: Magnum XXXL 8" Vented x (2)
Ballast: Phantom 1000w Digital (Running on 240v off Dryer outlet 30A)
Ventilation: 8" Max Fan HO (932 CFM)
Grow System: DIY UnderCurrent 6XL / 2" Piping / 25" Centers
Chiller: Elemental H20 1/4HP Chiller (Temps set at 62-65)
Environmental Controls: Sentinel MDT-1 / EVC-2
Cooling: 8000BTU Portable AC
CO2 Supplementation: 20lb Tank + Titan Controls solenoid on a timer.
PH/PPM Monitoring: Nutradip Trimeter (in Reservoir/Constant Meter)

Genetics: TGA Plushberry

I am currently in the process of testing the system for leaks and will be
calling it tomorrow as long as everything stays good overnight.

AC will be getting here this week and then a temperature test will be run during the day.
Temps outside have been up to the low 90s, room ambient temps around 82 lights off.
My goal is to get ambient temps to 75-78, and either vent light lights out (which will vent AC... /bad)
or vent the lights back into the room and let the AC cool things, while CO2 supplementing the 4x8 tent.

Each 1000w (currently dimmed to 600x2 due to summer temps) puts out 3.414 BTUs heat / watt.
Running at 2000w that's just shy of 7,000BTUS, so the 8000BTU AC should cover the heat, while being a bit
less than I'd normally want.

(Buying a higher rated AC means less run time and wear on the compressor, normally
I'd want a 10K-12K BTU window unit, but I have strange/small windows and had to build a vent manifold.)

-VEG TENT:

Running 3 LED UFOs for now - May drop my 400w SG602 in there to boost "preveg" as the 2k will be for
limited veg/flower only.

I am going for 6 trees here with a goal of 2lbs per light. I know some will say that's unrealistic, and maybe it is
but that's the goal. I'll be using H&G full line (Aqua Flakes) on the custom feeding chart + Top Shooter +
CO2 Supplementation. 4.4lbs would be 1GPW for a 2k setup, so I feel that this is reasonable.

I'll post a video run through of the system here in the next few days.

Quick Update:

AC Unit arrived this morning, and has been hooked up.
Nutradip also arrived, and all 4" disc air stones are plumbed in.

It appears there is a slow drip leak from the inline Durapump.
I seem to always have issues with the pump connection, as the collar cracks
easily if you tighten the piping too much.

The top off res is full, and the system hold 40 gallons of R/O water with the
level just barely touching the bottom of the 8" net pots.

I am going to do some test work with temps and fixing the leak later today,
and once those are taken care of, the plants will be put in their new home!

Should be interesting. I built my own version for under $200 with an 18 site setup. I plan to run it soon have been too full with flood tables and DIY ebb n gro setups but these seem fun. I'm gonna be using 3 600 watt lights no chiller, co burner,55gallon res and Fox Farm nutes. I havent decided what strain to run through it but might go with Great white shark original before the company split or maybe Rocklock for a bit of old days refresh. good luck should be interesting.

UPDATE:

Here's a quick video run through of the system and growing environment.
The girls are finally in their new home.

[youtube]XLjHq90Fa6Y[/youtube]

LivingCanvas said:

UPDATE:

Here's a quick video run through of the system and growing environment.
The girls are finally in their new home.

[youtube]XLjHq90Fa6Y[/youtube]

Click to expand...

Yo LC...this is the shit! You got the hook up son! I went from 6-12 o'clock 30 seconds into the vid. I couldn't do it any better if I had the means here. Much love and respect. Ill be popping in from here on out. Love the setup and can't wait to see your results. I have much faith! ~JB

Thanks jonboy! I still have a few mods I'd like to throw into the system. Had a few thoughts on a reverse
flow drip manifold using an electronic solenoid, and an inline water structurizer/UV filter to kill anything such as pythium
even though it shouldn't be a problem with water temps @65.

I have been DIYing systems basically since I started growing, as well as stealth cabinets and LED setups. Plus the big deal here,
is I'm going to be installing cameras for remote viewing, as I'm going on vacation here soon. So, everything needs to be automated
and remote viewable.

Also, I'll be building custom trellises with *Create a Cage Connectors* - BGWS makes them, and they snap on to the green steel stakes
allowing a custom cage to be built to support the plants.

Both UPS and FEDEX just dropped off more goodies for the garden, so as they come into play I'll give more updates. I need to train these
girls into bushes, so I'll probably do some super-cropping later today. The girls will be going to bed in an hour.

Looks good. What did you use to wrap your buckets and lids?

It's called Frost King adhesive insulation. Lowes usually carries it in the plumbing/ventilation section. ~$18 per package. Took ~2.5 packs to do the whole system.

Small Update: Currently on vacation. I am remote viewing the grow room in real-time via Foscom IP camera with full rotation/tilt control. So far, so good. PH: 5.7 PPM: 1200 TEMP: 65* F

Back from vacation now. Plants are growing rapidly. Added create a cage trellises today. They are vegging nicely.
Nute solution has gone from 5.6pH 1250ppm to 5.9pH 1110ppm

Looks good! Im pulling up a chair on this one. I run a diy unit very similar and love it.

When are you going to start thinning the under growth ie Lollipopping the sucker growth out? I start early and keep doing it through the grow

I'll probably do it ~1 week before the flip. Right now I'm stretching them out and tying them down.
On certain plants I am letting the lower growth get preference by tying down taller tops and letting
the undergrowth sit higher so that apical dominance will give them a growth spurt.

Quick Photo Update:

Just took a couple shots a second ago. The girls have officially been in the UnderCurrent for 2 weeks now.
They went in on the 6th. The two plants farthest from the camera in the first photo are the largest and were
the biggest clones. The second photo is of the largest plant which is doing quite well and has an very even canopy.

I am planning on flipping the girls here in the next couple weeks once I've had a chance to train them to cover the
entire available space. I know veg pics are pretty boring, but hopefully I'll get these girls flipped soon.

Just my opinion. But I wouldn't wait another 2 weeks to flip them. They really take off when they go into flower ..

Flip them now bro. Plants easily double and most of the time triple in size in rdwc.

Yeah. I need to clean out the lower potions of the plants, tie them down and out to control the stretch, and flip em soon.
I checked on them a bit ago and they are blowing up.

Current PPMs ~1700

Nutes:

4ml GH Flora Grow
8ml GH flora Micro
16ml GH Flora Bloom
1ml Roots Excel
2ml Europonic Silica
Heavy 16 Foliar w/ Floralicious and Dark Energy (once a week)

R/O Water Top Off is running from the top off res right now, to drop the ppms a bit.
Water stays at 65* F with a wort chiller coil and 1/4hp Chiller.

Right now lights are on 18/6.

Interesting thing keeps happening with my Nutradip: When the lights are OFF, the ppms read ~1500.
However, when the lights come ON the PPMs RISE according to the meter. Could this be from plant
exudates, and suggest that plants only give off exudates when they are photosynthesizing?

The bottom 1/2 of each plant has been stripped of any fans/small nodes. I also set the timer so that the girls will
start their 12/12 flowering cycle tomorrow. I may choose to leave the MH bulbs in over the stretch to see if the
more blue spectrum will slow stretch at all.

Here's a few photos:

Here's a run through from Day 1 in the UC system to today. (Day 17)
View attachment 2833500

Looking excellent. I would lower ppms into the 700 range. In rdwc less is actually better. Plants are looking great already so its just a suggestion. Rock on man.