Apache Tech AT600 Grow - Sannie's Sugar Punch SCROG

Hello All,

I've been growing for 5 years now (always indoors). And until now, I've always used T5 lighting for vegging, and a 600-watt HPS for flowering. But I recently decided to make the move to LED lighting - in the form of an Apache Tech AT600.

The initial investment was hard to swallow (appx $2000), but the heat reduction will allow me an additional 4x4 grow per year (the heat in the summers here prevent the usage of hot HPS bulbs). And the heat savings year-round will save me big time on my power bill. Add to that the fun-factor of trying something new on the cutting edge, and I'm stoked.

Hell, growing MJ and making wine are my only hobbies anyway, so I don't mind spending $ on them.

Enough of the introductions. Let's get to it.

Grow room: 4 x 4 x 8 closet with good ventilation; temperature and humidity always kept in check.
Light: Apache Tech AT600
Grow Medium: Soilless (Sunshine Mix #4 + extra perlite + 2 tbs dolomite lime per gallon of mix) in 5-gallon Smart Pots
Nutrients: Dyna Gro (Pro-Tekt + Grow; no Bloom formula, since it's not needed).
Additives: Liquid Karma during flowering.

I bought the Sugar Punch feminized seeds from Sannie's Shop in Amsterdam. I sent him cash in the mail, and received my seeds 7 days after he confirmed receipt of my money. I've ordered seeds from him several times before, and I've always received my seeds in a timely manner. So far, I've grown his Herijuana and Jack Herer with great success. Now I'll get to see how his Sugar Punch strain compares. If it's anything like the hype, I'll be quite pleased.

I just transplanted my 3 female Sugar Punch plants into 5-gallon Smart Pots tonight, and put them under the AT600. See pics below. Yes, they're a bit droopy, since I always transplant just as they're running out of water (I water heavily the day I transplant).

I will provide weekly updates from here, with plenty of pics.

Wish me luck.

Thank you all.

its nice to see more led journals popping up here i daydream of one day owning a led set up sannie has given me the best service of any seedbank ive tried ive mailed him cash before too ...no problems this has my attention ill be watching

@H.M. Murdoch Looking great so far...Keep up the great gardening. Are you planning to flower only 3 plants in the 4x4?

DarthBlazeAnthony said:

@H.M. Murdoch Looking great so far...Keep up the great gardening. Are you planning to flower only 3 plants in the 4x4?

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Yes, three plants in a 4x4 SCROG.

Subbed- can't wait to see the progress. I'm a home brewer myself and have dabbled in wines and meads - fun stuff. Look forward to your impressions of the AT600.

subbed. girls look great so far! thanks for sharing with us. i'd love to have the $$$ to start using LED. growing in the summer in the heat has been a pain. my SOG is definitely showing the stresses of the extra heat and for the first time ever--i'm looking forward to winter. (PS and i like to ski! and still don't like the cold. what we all do for our girls!)

The AT600 is quite a bright light. And so far, I'm pleased with it. But there's a long way to go until harvest.

Some initial observations:

1. It doesn't run quite as cool as I hoped it would. Don't get me wrong - it runs MUCH cooler than a 1000-watt HPS (it's designed for and supposedly proven to be a true replacement for a 1000-watt HPS). But it still puts out a lot of heat.

2. While Apache Tech customer service is A+++, their web site is very lacking for up-to-date info on their lights, and is difficult to navigate with any certainty as to what info is where. Compared to Area 51, Apache Tech has a very sub-par web site as far as specific info on each of their lights.

3. I was very surprised to open my AT600 box and find NO USER's MANUAL. I naturally figured that this was an honest mistake of omission by Apache Tech, so I called their customer service. And found that it was no mistake. Although Apache Tech includes numerous advertising flyers with the AT600, they INTENTIONALLY do not include a user's manual. Very surprising since I can buy a towel from Wal Mart that includes sort of a user's manual on the attached label (washing instructions at least). I would have expected the non-existent AT600 user's manual to include such info as:

* There is no "Veg Mode" vs. "Flower Mode". The spectrum is the same for both (on their latest recommended AT600 configuration). I had to learn this the hard way: by calling customer service directly.

* There are 2 power cords included: one for 110 volts, and one for 220 volts. But there was no explanation of this anywhere in the enclosed documentation.

* It's too bright for seedlings or any plants that are not very well established, yet there was no explanation of this anywhere in the enclosed documentation. Nor is there any info regarding the recommended distance between the light and top of canopy. They included some sort of chart showing light footprint intensities at various distances, but it would take a phycisist to know how to translate that into horticulture specifics.

* There were "extra" LED banks delivered, with no explanation as to why. I had to call customer service to find out why.

* There was no documentation anywhere to explain how to properly clean the light surfaces. I had to call customer service to find out the recommended best way.

I'm a software developer by profession. And if I developed a software product and tried to deliver it to a customer with the same lack of detail as the AT600 (i.e. NO USER's MANUAL), I would be tarred-and-feathered by my boss, and then fired.

Please don't get me wrong. I like Apache Tech, and the AT600. But I'm trying to give an honest and helpful review, instead of being just an Apache Tech homer.

As mentioned above, their customer service is great; second to none. I ALWAYS get a human on the phone when I call during their business hours. And that human is always helpful and takes as much time with me on the phone as I need. They NEVER seem in a hurry to get me off the phone.

I sent Apache Tech an email with the above information (complaints). I'll post their reply when I receive it.

love the honest info....good vibes on this grow.

genuity said:

love the honest info....good vibes on this grow.

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me too! thanks.

Here are pics taken tonight. The plants have really perked up since being transplanted, and are now touching the SCROG screen, which is 11 inches above the tops of the Smart Pots.

I always veg on a 24/0 light cycle. I grow the plants in a spiral fashion until 75% of the screen is covered, and then switch to flowering (12/12) light cycle. The plants continue to grow for up to 3 weeks into flowering, at which time the screen will be completely covered and all buds will begin growing through the screen at the same height.

Take a piece of friendly advice from me: do not make your SCROG screen out of metal fencing. I did exactly that on my first SCROG grow, and my hands stayed scratched up all the time from sharp wires. Since then, I've always used 50-lb fishing line from Wal Mart ($3.00), and it works very well as a screen. Just tie all the "east-to-west" strings first. Then weave the "north-to-south" strings in alternating fashion. Make sure to pull the strings tight before you tie them, and the screen will be strong, but won't cut your hands up.

H.M. Murdoch said:

Take a piece of friendly advice from me: do not make your SCROG screen out of metal fencing. I did exactly that on my first SCROG grow, and my hands stayed scratched up all the time from sharp wires. Since then, I've always used 50-lb fishing line from Wal Mart ($3.00), and it works very well as a screen. Just tie all the "east-to-west" strings first. Then weave the "north-to-south" strings in alternating fashion. Make sure to pull the strings tight before you tie them, and the screen will be strong, but won't cut your hands up.


View attachment 3210510 View attachment 3210511

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I like to use super bright pink twine so the scrog is more visible. Excellent tips @H.M. Murdoch

Sorry for the long while with no updates. I've been really busy formulating and mixing a new organic soil I plan to use next grow.

Anyway, back to the AT600 Sugar Punch grow.

Here's a pic taken tonight. The plant on the back right showed some stress early, and I considered culling her, but lately she's perked up and looks better.

I'm guessing 3 more weeks until the screen is 75% full, at which point I'll induce flowering. And flowering should take about 9 weeks.

Did you notice I chose a pink kiddie pool for the girls?

H.M. Murdoch said:

Sorry for the long while with no updates. I've been really busy formulating and mixing a new organic soil I plan to use next grow.

Anyway, back to the AT600 Sugar Punch grow.

Here's a pic taken tonight. The plant on the back right showed some stress early, and I considered culling her, but lately she's perked up and looks better.

I'm guessing 3 more weeks until the screen is 75% full, at which point I'll induce flowering. And flowering should take about 9 weeks.

Did you notice I chose a pink kiddie pool for the girls?

View attachment 3218953

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Pink is a good color actually. It lets you see your plants more clearly.

Update on 8/11/2014

As you can see from the pic below, I've abandoned SCROG. The reason is because one of the plants is showing signs of stress. And since it (and the other two) are from feminized seeds, I didn't want to risk the possibility of a hermie in a SCROG grow.

So I cut out the SCROG screen, and flipped to 12/12 for flowering on 8/6/2014. The plants are still growing taller and bushier. I'll keep a strict lookout for sex in case one becomes a hermie.

The AT600 seems to be performing very well. But I have one question/concern. I've always vegged on a 24/0 light schedule, back when I used MH or T5 lighting, with good results. However, when I tried 24/0 with the AT600, the plants were droopy and growth seemed "slow". But as soon as I flipped to 12/12, the plants perked up and the leaves were/are reaching for the sky. So I'm wondering if the AT600 is "too strong" for 24/0 vegging. Next grow I'm going to an 18/6 vegging light schedule to see how the plants react.

Cheers. I'm ripping from my new Roor bong as I type this, so I won't be able to type much longer...

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Hey H.M., nice stuff you got goin on there. I am considering an Apache purchase myself. Either Apache or a Spyder 600, since Area 51's are out of stock. Any new updates or did you run into some problems???

Lookin good bro!

One question, and a piece of adivise.

I'm a led soil organic grower, mind if I ask what you had in mind for your soul recipe?

And some advise from my two pennies, these questions/concerns you have regaurding the at600 or anything led related, from height distance , veg , flower etc etc, ask them on RIU's LED forum , you would be amazed on how smart these dudes are, I'm sure you will get some solid anwsers !

Much love

Anti climatic