First Grow plan with stealth hydro bubbleponics... looking for advice

EgoSlayer

Active Member
Hi Everyone,

I have been doing my due diligence on how to grow my own. This is for love, not money, although I may sell some extra buds to friends in order to offset startup costs.

Based on a LOT of research but ZERO experience, this is my plan.

I am looking for advice from experienced growers who have been there, done that in regards to bubbleponics with CFL lighting. I want to fill in any gaps to my plan before pulling the trigger.

The space:
22” deep by 8.5 feet wide sliding door closet
Has wire rack at 70” high to hang lights from

The plan:
Add some 2x2s in strategic places to panda film the entire closet from 70” down for a well sealed grow chamber. I will divide the chamber to give 5’ for flowering and 3.5’ for veg. Tarp zippers will be used to make two doors. I will vent with a 70 cfm fan and home made carbon filter.

The Lights:
One dual spectrum standard from stealthhydroponics.com for veg area.
Two dual spectrum II high output light kits for main grow/flower area.
Three pairs of (at least) 42 watt bulbs (3000k & 6500k) from home depot for side lighting.

The grow boxes (all from stealthhydro)

TWO bubbleponics 6 plant units.
One mistic cloner with 18 sites.
One DWC basic kit for mothers.


The seeds:
11 seeds of White Russian all started at once in the two bubblepon units. (My research indicates that Serious Seeds White Russian usually has 90%+ germ rates, so I am hoping / expecting 9-10 seeds to germ)


Seeding strategy:
Prepare hydroton & rockwool cubes as per Roseman & other’s tutorials. Insert the seeds directly into the rockwool & germ them in the bubblepon units with the water line for each basket flowing right onto rockwool cubes.


The grow plan:
After plants grow 6 nodes, I will top all plants above second node (to stimulate 4 colas) and use those 11 tops as clones, labeling which clones came from which plants so I can discard the male clones once I discover sex of the donors.

After plants have been topped, switch to 12/12 flower mode and hope for 4-5 females.
Discard all males and consolidate 4-5 females into a single bubblepon system.

I will discard the clones that came from male donors, leaving me with 4-5 clones which will be vegging while their donor plants flower.

As the clones grow, I will select the best one to make into a mother and move her to the DWC kit to continue vegging & donating clones.

The other 3-4 clones will be sent to flower in the bubblepon unit that is currently empty, a few weeks behind the initial seeds that I started with. (I know I will have to keep track of two different nute schedules, but I will track everything in a spreadsheet)

A couple weeks before the original seed batch reaches harvest time, I will make new clones from the 2 mothers and get them established in the clone mister for 2-3 weeks.

Once the first batch is harvested, the new clones will go into the flower chamber.

Repeat clone/harvest rotating each bubblepon unit, for a monthly(ish) harvest of 6 plants at a time once everything is moving smoothly.


All suggestions from experienced growers are welcome.

Thanks,
EgoSlayer
 
I

Illegal Smile

Guest
I suggest you keep the 42w sidelights and lose the 85s from SH. Go with some T5 flouro tube fixtures overhead. My configuration is similar to yours and I plan to go to two 24 inch, 2 bulb T5s for next grow with 42w sidelights in clamps. And of course, keep the bubbles and lose the tubes (feeder tubes that is).
 

EgoSlayer

Active Member
Thanks for the reply. I have questions:

Are you using 2 24" T5 fluors overhead and the pairs of 42 watt sidelights as your only light sources for the flowering stage?

Can you link me to a good website for T5s and bulbs?

I understand the straight DWC perspective, but I like the faster initial growth concept with bubblepon. I also kind of like having dual pumps for redundancy/safety's sake.

Thanks,
ES

I suggest you keep the 42w sidelights and lose the 85s from SH. Go with some T5 flouro tube fixtures overhead. My configuration is similar to yours and I plan to go to two 24 inch, 2 bulb T5s for next grow with 42w sidelights in clamps. And of course, keep the bubbles and lose the tubes (feeder tubes that is).
 
I

Illegal Smile

Guest
Thanks for the reply. I have questions:

Are you using 2 24" T5 fluors overhead and the pairs of 42 watt sidelights as your only light sources for the flowering stage?

Can you link me to a good website for T5s and bulbs?

I understand the straight DWC perspective, but I like the faster initial growth concept with bubblepon. I also kind of like having dual pumps for redundancy/safety's sake.

Thanks,
ES
I'm not using the T5s yet but plan to, and yes, they and 42w sidelights would be my only lighting and plenty I think. It would probably total 400w. As for the water pump thing, I think everyone should try it both ways. I had roots in the water on the 6th day.
 

horribleherk

Well-Known Member
htg has t5s i;ve heard people bad-mouth them lately but i am happy with them &their service www.htg supply.com i think will get you through to them good luck
 

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
You posted:
I am looking for advice from experienced growers who have been there, done that in regards to bubbleponics with CFL lighting. I want to fill in any gaps to my plan before pulling the trigger.



I can read and comprehend that request, unlike someone who lacks comprehensive skills and has never harvested a plant.

Welcome to RollitUp, the best site on the internet to learn how to grow.

I have completed 7 SH BB grows with Feeder Tubes and Irrigation Hub and I am started my 8th grow a week ago.

There is a team of SH BB growers here named The BubbleHeads, and we are dedicated to helping and teaching HOW TO GROW with Bubbles and feeder tubes.

I suggest you start here:
Roseman's DIY Bubbleponics-DWC Tutorial
I will post new pics there tonight.

Also look here:

Roseman and purpdaddys guide for my Bubbleponics setup from Stealth Hydroponic

and here:

Starting Nutes Post # 10395

here is what I get with the kit:












 

MostlyCrazy

New Member
I've done 5 grows with ever increasing success and you had it right that you would like to advantages of the quick start that the feeder tubes provide. Hand watering is troublesome at best. Straight DWC is best left to rooted clones.
 

tSunami13

Active Member
It looks like you've got a good plan going. Use the TUBES they truly do help the first week or two of growth. TUBES help , but speed things up is a better way of looking at it. Once the roots hit water you can do as you please with the tubes. T-5's are some great lights to get. Nice even dispersion of light. Good luck with grow.
 

purpdaddy

Well-Known Member
Me personally would use HID lighting if you can duct the heat and proper ventilation it would work but if not t-5s to cfls is next best thing for lighting.
 

Mongobud

Well-Known Member
Tubes and plenty of bubbles. I on my first grow hydroponically and the BP system, in my oninion, seemed to be the easiest system to do...what made me choose it was NO PUMP TIMERS!! I've grown in soil before, but you will see much faster growth in the first few weeks in a BP system.
 

EgoSlayer

Active Member
Thanks everyone for the info and links. I won't be able to vent much heat in this small closet, so I am going to stick to CFL. I checked out T-5s, and CFLs seem better from what I have found.

Roseman, thanks for those links -- those are some of the main threads that I mined for info in coming up with my plan. :-)

NOW, here's where I need some help getting this done on the cheap.

I found these 105 watt 2700k bulbs:
http://growwurks.com/105-watt-compact-fluorescent-cfl-vegetative-flower.aspx

Unfortunately, they don't come in 6500k

But I found a 105 watt 6500k here:
http://www.topbulb.com/find/Product_Description.asp_Q_intProductID_E_49655

I would LOVE to put them together into a SINGLE, inexpensive reflector that holds 2 bulbs. Basically a 2 bulb version of this: http://growwurks.com/hydroponic-compact-fluorescent-fixture-ref-006.aspx

Can anybody link me to a reflector like that? Inexpensive is good ($50ish would be nice), as long as it doesn't fall apart.

I'm thinking that IF I can pair up those 105s into a single $50-ish reflector, that's a whole lot of lumens for $100. 2 of those up top should light up my flower area very nicely, and I can side light with 42 watt bulbs as needed.

Thanks,
ES
 

MostlyCrazy

New Member
ES,

I use the 105's and the 3 in 1 from SH and it works great but the 105's do put out a bit of heat. With the 10% Bubbleheads discount gets it comparable to 3-105watt lights and a reflector.

The other way to do it is using a couple of the reflectors they sell at HD and Lowe's and put a couple of 42 watt cfl in it with one of these adapters.

 

purpdaddy

Well-Known Member
Tubes and plenty of bubbles. I on my first grow hydroponically and the BP system, in my oninion, seemed to be the easiest system to do...what made me choose it was NO PUMP TIMERS!! I've grown in soil before, but you will see much faster growth in the first few weeks in a BP system.
You made a good decision to listen to us and use the feedertubes to auto water your plants!
 

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
Thanks everyone for the info and links. I won't be able to vent much heat in this small closet, so I am going to stick to CFL. I checked out T-5s, and CFLs seem better from what I have found.

Roseman, thanks for those links -- those are some of the main threads that I mined for info in coming up with my plan. :-)

NOW, here's where I need some help getting this done on the cheap.

I found these 105 watt 2700k bulbs:
http://growwurks.com/105-watt-compact-fluorescent-cfl-vegetative-flower.aspx

Unfortunately, they don't come in 6500k

But I found a 105 watt 6500k here:
http://www.topbulb.com/find/Product_Description.asp_Q_intProductID_E_49655

I would LOVE to put them together into a SINGLE, inexpensive reflector that holds 2 bulbs. Basically a 2 bulb version of this: http://growwurks.com/hydroponic-compact-fluorescent-fixture-ref-006.aspx

Can anybody link me to a reflector like that? Inexpensive is good ($50ish would be nice), as long as it doesn't fall apart.

I'm thinking that IF I can pair up those 105s into a single $50-ish reflector, that's a whole lot of lumens for $100. 2 of those up top should light up my flower area very nicely, and I can side light with 42 watt bulbs as needed.

Thanks,
ES

I need to tell you that those 105s get hot enough to need Venting. I don't tlike them.

Here is a cheap reflector:Super CFL Reflector, $32
 

purpdaddy

Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone for the info and links. I won't be able to vent much heat in this small closet, so I am going to stick to CFL. I checked out T-5s, and CFLs seem better from what I have found.

Roseman, thanks for those links -- those are some of the main threads that I mined for info in coming up with my plan. :-)

NOW, here's where I need some help getting this done on the cheap.

I found these 105 watt 2700k bulbs:
http://growwurks.com/105-watt-compact-fluorescent-cfl-vegetative-flower.aspx

Unfortunately, they don't come in 6500k

But I found a 105 watt 6500k here:
http://www.topbulb.com/find/Product_Description.asp_Q_intProductID_E_49655

I would LOVE to put them together into a SINGLE, inexpensive reflector that holds 2 bulbs. Basically a 2 bulb version of this: http://growwurks.com/hydroponic-compact-fluorescent-fixture-ref-006.aspx

Can anybody link me to a reflector like that? Inexpensive is good ($50ish would be nice), as long as it doesn't fall apart.

I'm thinking that IF I can pair up those 105s into a single $50-ish reflector, that's a whole lot of lumens for $100. 2 of those up top should light up my flower area very nicely, and I can side light with 42 watt bulbs as needed.

Thanks,
ES
105w.CFL
I use these for side lighting,made by Eiko.These particular ones dont get hot at all..just like anyother cfl.seriously.
 

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HomeGrownHairy

Well-Known Member
Hi Everyone,

Based on a LOT of research but ZERO experience, this is my plan.

TWO bubbleponics 6 plant units.
One mistic cloner with 18 sites.
One DWC basic kit for mothers.

EgoSlayer
:oThat's an ambitious plan for a first time grower and in a very small area. I wish you luck!
 
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