My phototron grow..week 4 flower

Oh yeah, the negative things that you have read about Trons comes primarily from commercial growers. Obviously you can't grow a ton at a time and yes they are the "easy bake oven" of growing but if you grow just your personal stuff in it, and only use the best you can find, then it should work great for you. Just as a suggestion, you might want to research fluorescent lights for growing; that might help you out too. Apparently, different kelvins can give you different results. For example, the Tron that I bought came with 4100k sticks which is good for side branching. If you change those to 6500k sticks you would end up with a plant that looks like a giant bud; or at least that is what I saw on youtube. So, your heat issues may be caused by using a certain kelvin of light, but this is just a guess. Judging by your pics, I would say that you are probably right, I think we do have the same model. With that said, take a look at these bulbs:

http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-BIAX-F55T5-High-Output-Bulbs---One-Pair

They are expensive but from what I have been told they are unbeatable for a Tron.

Bgdog30 said:

all i read is negativity about these things but obviously from the looks of your pics they can definitely do the job.

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The negativity is what we call "haters are gonna hate".
There's nothing wrong with a Tron. If you only have a small space, go for it.

Both of you guys have some good Trons going.
The computer fans are good but I'd suggest putting them on a timer. Too much air/wind through that tunnel and you've created a dehydrator. You could be taxing your plants and making them work harder than they need to be. Less is more.

Leaves that get near the lights should not be allowed to touch the light. Cut off one finger at a time if you need to. If the whole leaf needs to go, then do so. You can play around with it. Less is more.

I like the smart pot approach you both have done instead of using the base as the container. Coco would be cleaner than soil and give you more control over the feeding, allowing you to push it even further.

Consider LED's as your next upgrades.

WestDenverPioneer said:

The negativity is what we call "haters are gonna hate".
There's nothing wrong with a Tron. If you only have a small space, go for it.

Both of you guys have some good Trons going.
The computer fans are good but I'd suggest putting them on a timer. Too much air/wind through that tunnel and you've created a dehydrator. You could be taxing your plants and making them work harder than they need to be. Less is more.

Leaves that get near the lights should not be allowed to touch the light. Cut off one finger at a time if you need to. If the whole leaf needs to go, then do so. You can play around with it. Less is more.

I like the smart pot approach you both have done instead of using the base as the container. Coco would be cleaner than soil and give you more control over the feeding, allowing you to push it even further.

Consider LED's as your next upgrades.

Click to expand...

Awesome advice! Thanks! "Less is more" I will try to commit that to memory.

WestDenverPioneer said:

The negativity is what we call "haters are gonna hate".
There's nothing wrong with a Tron. If you only have a small space, go for it.

Both of you guys have some good Trons going.
The computer fans are good but I'd suggest putting them on a timer. Too much air/wind through that tunnel and you've created a dehydrator. You could be taxing your plants and making them work harder than they need to be. Less is more.

Leaves that get near the lights should not be allowed to touch the light. Cut off one finger at a time if you need to. If the whole leaf needs to go, then do so. You can play around with it. Less is more.

I like the smart pot approach you both have done instead of using the base as the container. Coco would be cleaner than soil and give you more control over the feeding, allowing you to push it even further.

Consider LED's as your next upgrades.

Click to expand...

Yeah man thanks for the advice...i have already been considering led for my next upgrade i was thinking that mite even help cool it down inside that thing a little bit

UniDragon said:

Oh yeah, the negative things that you have read about Trons comes primarily from commercial growers. Obviously you can't grow a ton at a time and yes they are the "easy bake oven" of growing but if you grow just your personal stuff in it, and only use the best you can find, then it should work great for you. Just as a suggestion, you might want to research fluorescent lights for growing; that might help you out too. Apparently, different kelvins can give you different results. For example, the Tron that I bought came with 4100k sticks which is good for side branching. If you change those to 6500k sticks you would end up with a plant that looks like a giant bud; or at least that is what I saw on youtube. So, your heat issues may be caused by using a certain kelvin of light, but this is just a guess. Judging by your pics, I would say that you are probably right, I think we do have the same model. With that said, take a look at these bulbs:

http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-BIAX-F55T5-High-Output-Bulbs---One-Pair

They are expensive but from what I have been told they are unbeatable for a Tron.

Click to expand...

I'm gonna check into those bulbs man i guess i didnt even really thinking about being able to get them u bulbs in different kelvins..thanks for all your knowledge i hope u stick around i'd like to see how your girl turns out

UniDragon said:

Oh yeah, the negative things that you have read about Trons comes primarily from commercial growers. Obviously you can't grow a ton at a time and yes they are the "easy bake oven" of growing but if you grow just your personal stuff in it, and only use the best you can find, then it should work great for you. Just as a suggestion, you might want to research fluorescent lights for growing; that might help you out too. Apparently, different kelvins can give you different results. For example, the Tron that I bought came with 4100k sticks which is good for side branching. If you change those to 6500k sticks you would end up with a plant that looks like a giant bud; or at least that is what I saw on youtube. So, your heat issues may be caused by using a certain kelvin of light, but this is just a guess. Judging by your pics, I would say that you are probably right, I think we do have the same model. With that said, take a look at these bulbs:

http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-BIAX-F55T5-High-Output-Bulbs---One-Pair

They are expensive but from what I have been told they are unbeatable for a Tron.

Click to expand...

And i really dont get why its so warm in it either...the temp in the closet its in runs about 70-72..but all i know is if i open the closet door the temps start to go down almost instantly inside the tron

WestDenverPioneer said:

What do I think???
I think the guy asking "what's a phototron" is TOO YOUNG TO BE GROWING CANNABIS.

I'm definitely getting too old.

Pics look good. Way to rock out an old school setup. Nothing wrong with it. Replace the bulbs as needed to keep it effective. Keep on keeping on.

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Is there an age limit to grow weed ?

Bgdog30 said:

the phototron is kinda octagon shaped...it has 6 flourescent u shaped tubes around the sides and i added 3 cfl bulbs up top...i can post pics tomorrow after the lights come on..it is old school and evebody says there junk but it was given to me so i decided togive it a shot

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I had a phototron in 83' the first time I ever tried to grow indoors.
I asked a friend to watch it for 3 days.
3 plants drowned and I sold it.
My whole apartment glowed.
Very cool design IMHO.

Bless,
DZ

Home Depot sells the bulbs. I painted the outside of the panels with Flat black plastic paint to cut down on the "room Glow" & to keep light out during dark period, the inside is mirrored to reflect light back.
I had heat issues, trying to keep the heat down was a pain in the ass. hit the low 90s
I was using it to keep a mother for cloning, but she got root bound.
My ballast are bad and not sure where to get replacements

Callisto405 said:

Is there an age limit to grow weed ?

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Yes. In Colorado it's 21, or 18+ with a medical card.
It was also a joke because we're talking about 'Trons. (Insert 90's humor here)

Bgdog30 said:

I'm gonna check into those bulbs man i guess i didnt even really thinking about being able to get them u bulbs in different kelvins..thanks for all your knowledge i hope u stick around i'd like to see how your girl turns out

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She is pretty much done. I have been flushing for a week and she finally, yesterday, showed cloudy trichs with some amber. My wife went through her and removed all the fan leaves and leaves with long stems and I took the panels off to dry her out. Tonight, after dinner, I will be turning off the lights and just let the fan run for a couple of days and the chop her up. I forgot that we didn't tie her back, we just shoved the branches that were in the way back against other branches and the branches stuck to each other. Now that my wife has done some trimming in preparation for harvest, she looks like something out a sci-fi movie; "The Plant That Ate My Tron" or maybe some kind of super dreadlock plant. Anyway, I'll try to get some pics up pre and post harvest.

~CReePeR~ said:

Home Depot sells the bulbs. I painted the outside of the panels with Flat black plastic paint to cut down on the "room Glow" & to keep light out during dark period, the inside is mirrored to reflect light back.
I had heat issues, trying to keep the heat down was a pain in the ass. hit the low 90s
I was using it to keep a mother for cloning, but she got root bound.
My ballast are bad and not sure where to get replacements

Click to expand...

Great idea; I totally forgot about Home Depot. They may not have lights made specifically for plant growing but they do have pll/biax lights and they do fit and work very well. I have been told that up until a few years ago there was an actual Phototron store in Los Angeles. I googled them and couldn't find them so I blew it off but you might want to take another look. Otherwise, if you take your Tron apart and ask around on RIU someone is bound to know where you can find another ballast for it.

UniDragon said:

She is pretty much done. I have been flushing for a week and she finally, yesterday, showed cloudy trichs with some amber. My wife went through her and removed all the fan leaves and leaves with long stems and I took the panels off to dry her out. Tonight, after dinner, I will be turning off the lights and just let the fan run for a couple of days and the chop her up. I forgot that we didn't tie her back, we just shoved the branches that were in the way back against other branches and the branches stuck to each other. Now that my wife has done some trimming in preparation for harvest, she looks like something out a sci-fi movie; "The Plant That Ate My Tron" or maybe some kind of super dreadlock plant. Anyway, I'll try to get some pics up pre and post harvest.

Great idea; I totally forgot about Home Depot. They may not have lights made specifically for plant growing but they do have pll/biax lights and they do fit and work very well. I have been told that up until a few years ago there was an actual Phototron store in Los Angeles. I googled them and couldn't find them so I blew it off but you might want to take another look. Otherwise, if you take your Tron apart and ask around on RIU someone is bound to know where you can find another ballast for it.

Click to expand...

Or upgrade to LED!

Don't put me in the Phototron haters group. They taught me how to grow- in an Arkansas attic, so idk why y'all are having heat issues; active heat management is the key.

As I said, I just outgrew them.

Maybe not really; I still to this day grow vertically, just like a 'tron.

ttystikk said:

Or upgrade to LED!

Don't put me in the Phototron haters group. They taught me how to grow- in an Arkansas attic, so idk why y'all are having heat issues; active heat management is the key.

As I said, I just outgrew them.

Maybe not really; I still to this day grow vertically, just like a 'tron.

Click to expand...

Been thinking about going to led but im not exactly sure how to go about it

Bgdog30 said:

Been thinking about going to led but im not exactly sure how to go about it

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LEDS are top notch for personal grows, much less heat than mh/hps,Hell i grow in a closet with 1 fan no aircon, no heat extraction or exhaust fans, half the time the closets shut and temps don't go over 87, try that with hps.

ttystikk said:

Or upgrade to LED!

Don't put me in the Phototron haters group. They taught me how to grow- in an Arkansas attic, so idk why y'all are having heat issues; active heat management is the key.

As I said, I just outgrew them.

Maybe not really; I still to this day grow vertically, just like a 'tron.

Click to expand...

Hey Ttystikk, do you have any recommendations for a quality LED light? Would like to give LED a go.

My led 90 watt ufo grow didn't go very well at all. I had four plants in a 2'X4'x7' closet that I outlined the walls with a very white paper and they didn't produce very much and what they did produce was not even mentioning. I considered it a complete failure. In a Tron, that may be different. In fact, I have been told by three shop guys and fellow RIUppers that it would be to my advantage to convert over to led, but not sure what would be most appropriate for what I have. I looked at Hydrofarm leds and they are expensive, $65.00 or more for one bulb; Ushio offers leds for $20ish shipped to the door. After my experience with a 90 watt ufo, I am really turned off to the idea of leds, but then again, if the lumens, par and lux are right I might try again. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Bgdog30, I made that video for you but the RIU system doesn't like the format so I can't upload it. Here are the pics I took yesterday right before cranking up the fan to about 400cfm and turning off the lights to force the finishing stage. My system for this grow that I am wrapping up is as follows:

I have a Hydrohut Silver Edition 3x3x6.5 grow tent, a Phototron (model unknown), a Vortex VTX 600, a el-cheapo fan controller and what looks like a utility rack for storage and easy access to things like scissors, a magnifying glass and a towel. Because this project, as well as my next project, are both autos I am using Dutch Pro nutrients for autos. I couldn't afford all of the products in the grow that I am wrapping up now so I substituted Hormex for Dutch Pro's Take Root and Roots Organics Uprising Bloom for Dutch Pro's Explode. You can look at the attached pics for the results; just keep in mind that I trimmed her on a daily basis and you are not supposed to cut anything on a auto so keep that in mind when you review these pics. In an effort to induce finishing, it was recommended that I add more light somehow, so my wife ripped off a shop light reflector from one of our snake's cages to direct more light downwards toward the plants.

Yep, I have this thread on my watch list so I am hoping to stick around for awhile; until you tell me to leave, then I will.

getting jealous on that phototron.. *drool* would fit perfect in my little grow *plant slaughter* cornor i have atm. miiiight have to keep my eye out on ebay for on

UniDragon said:

Bgdog30, I made that video for you but the RIU system doesn't like the format so I can't upload it. Here are the pics I took yesterday right before cranking up the fan to about 400cfm and turning off the lights to force the finishing stage. My system for this grow that I am wrapping up is as follows:

I have a Hydrohut Silver Edition 3x3x6.5 grow tent, a Phototron (model unknown), a Vortex VTX 600, a el-cheapo fan controller and what looks like a utility rack for storage and easy access to things like scissors, a magnifying glass and a towel. Because this project, as well as my next project, are both autos I am using Dutch Pro nutrients for autos. I couldn't afford all of the products in the grow that I am wrapping up now so I substituted Hormex for Dutch Pro's Take Root and Roots Organics Uprising Bloom for Dutch Pro's Explode. You can look at the attached pics for the results; just keep in mind that I trimmed her on a daily basis and you are not supposed to cut anything on a auto so keep that in mind when you review these pics. In an effort to induce finishing, it was recommended that I add more light somehow, so my wife ripped off a shop light reflector from one of our snake's cages to direct more light downwards toward the plants.

Yep, I have this thread on my watch list so I am hoping to stick around for awhile; until you tell me to leave, then I will.

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Looks amazing bro my lights are off or id post some pics...maybe in the morning if i get time...im just 28 days of 12/12 so looks nothing like yours...definitely stick around man i wanna know how u come out in the end

Bgdog30 said:

Looks amazing bro my lights are off or id post some pics...maybe in the morning if i get time...im just 28 days of 12/12 so looks nothing like yours...definitely stick around man i wanna know how u come out in the end

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Ive seen some videos on YouTube of the newer versions and there pretty bad ass