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- #101
A Low Budget Micro TLA Grow - With Added LED - Two Cream Caramel Photo Period
- Thread starter ajagunle
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CannabisMeds
New Member
Welcome to 420 and thank you
I have only grown with CFL before so that I didn’t have to deal with the heat created by ‘proper’ lights in confined spaces, but I was very envious of the ‘snow-dusting’ effect that others achieved, when it came time to replace my two 300w CFL bulbs I thought it was worth the risk of spending almost the same money on cheap Chinese LEDs.
They are 180w, 60 3w lights, 40 Red 20 Blue, there was very little other information, but they were cheap, £115. They got me on the bottom rung of the ladder, I am aware of all the bad press and warnings but they couldn’t be worse than CFL could they? I’ll know in a couple of months.
Hey thanks Ajagunle.
Worse than CFL? well, it's possible, if they lacked spectrum. I think that's one of the strong suits of CFL, is great spectrum. The downside is the diffuse, omni directional lighting - and I guess the heat on the bigger bulbs? Oh, and that you have to replace them often.
Anyway, looking forward to seeing your gals flower!
danklover79
New Member
Hey aj coming along nicely, I'm really thinking about taking the LED route one day, I really like the results members get from them, they definitely beat cfls.
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- #104
ajagunle
New Member
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- #105
ajagunle
New Member
TDS has risen to the low 390s so I have diluted with water to around 370, I will check in 12 hrs, ph left at 5.9 res temp is 72f with a heater. I have also added a second air stone on the NFT shelf attached to the same air pump as the one in the res.
There is still some room in the middle!
There is still some room in the middle!
AJ. I've seen your LIKES. We finally meet. Subbed- Thread starter
- #108
ajagunle
New Member
Thank you,
they do look happy don't they!I got them from fleabay, I got 5 or 6 for less than £20, 'clip-on lamp holder BC' I think.
Hi Reg, nice to meet you too! I hope you don't mind me looking over your shoulder in silence!
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- #109
ajagunle
New Member
Ph had dropped from a stable 5.9 to 5.4 in a 12 hour period, TDS was still about 370. When this has happened previously it has been due to organic ‘stuff’ in the res which results in algae collecting in the pump filter. Filter has been cleaned and replaced, there was some minor algae, but very little. Unfortunately I have had to use ph Up to adjust to 5.9.
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- #110
ajagunle
New Member
Cleaning the pump filter may have resolved the falling ph, still at 5.9 today. TDS has dropped to 348 (lowest reading) so I have added 1 ml of v eg nutes which puts it at 390. It stands to reason that if conditions are correct for a period of time they will eat at their quickest but still surprised how quickly it dropped.
I have managed to tuck a few tall branches into empty squares, remove shading leaves and remove some of the fluff below screen. I should really remove the screen and clear more but I am too busy with all the procrastination that there is at this time of year.
The Northern Lights Big Bud Auto is budding nicely under the LEDs, just sitting on the edge of the footprint and turned every day, so 1 side is not always in the shade, although I may stop rotating it, 1 side will always be in the shade but the other side will get the good stuff 100% of the time?
The leaves have a 'thickness' and colour (or tone) I cannot achieve with CFL, a tinge of the High Brix effect almost, this could be the strain or it could be another benefit of LED? She is about 18" high.
I have managed to tuck a few tall branches into empty squares, remove shading leaves and remove some of the fluff below screen. I should really remove the screen and clear more but I am too busy with all the procrastination that there is at this time of year.
The Northern Lights Big Bud Auto is budding nicely under the LEDs, just sitting on the edge of the footprint and turned every day, so 1 side is not always in the shade, although I may stop rotating it, 1 side will always be in the shade but the other side will get the good stuff 100% of the time?
The leaves have a 'thickness' and colour (or tone) I cannot achieve with CFL, a tinge of the High Brix effect almost, this could be the strain or it could be another benefit of LED? She is about 18" high.
Coming along nicely AJ!
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- #112
ajagunle
New Member
TDS was still falling, very slightly, set at 390, so I increased to 400. Ph is still stable at 5.9, I will lower it to 5.7 tomorrow for 24hrs.
I removed a dozen or so of the larger shading leaves and manipulated 1 or 2 tops to empty squares, not many empty and not many with more than 1. I also removed some more under skirts fluff.
I have used small pieces of sponge to keep tops near the centre of any squares where I have tucked them a little early and the wire is now in the way of growth.
Most importantly, I made a management decision and changed the timer to 12/12!
I do not have a record of when the seeds were sown but it was mid-October when I took the first photos. 70 days in flower will be celebrated on my Birthday!
I removed a dozen or so of the larger shading leaves and manipulated 1 or 2 tops to empty squares, not many empty and not many with more than 1. I also removed some more under skirts fluff.
I have used small pieces of sponge to keep tops near the centre of any squares where I have tucked them a little early and the wire is now in the way of growth.
Most importantly, I made a management decision and changed the timer to 12/12!
I do not have a record of when the seeds were sown but it was mid-October when I took the first photos. 70 days in flower will be celebrated on my Birthday!
toker69
New Member
Cool training on the SOG. Can't wait to see the buds! 
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- #114
ajagunle
New Member
Cool training on the SOG. Can't wait to see the buds!
Thank you toker
I can't wait to see your Auto seed!!!- Thread starter
- #115
ajagunle
New Member
One 12 hour night into flowering, I have removed 2 or 3 leaves from the tallest shoots, the canopy is looking reasonably level or flat, a couple of holes, but very early days, or the earliest day!
The res is down to the 5l mark, TDS is about 390, I added 6l water with Bloom nutes and Fulvic acid, I raised TDS to 420 and lowered ph to 5.7.
The res is down to the 5l mark, TDS is about 390, I added 6l water with Bloom nutes and Fulvic acid, I raised TDS to 420 and lowered ph to 5.7.
wow looking great AJ!! thats going to be a nice full screen in a few weeks
Hey ajagunle! 
I finally made it here! Congratulations on switching to 12/12 and the perfect timing of it for you.
I will be following along the rest of your grow here. It looks great. I'm very jealous of that LED!
Have a great Monday, or a good Monday....however Monday's are for you. LOL I HATE Mondays. It's actually in my book of 4 letter words. LOL
I finally made it here! Congratulations on switching to 12/12 and the perfect timing of it for you.I will be following along the rest of your grow here. It looks great. I'm very jealous of that LED!
Have a great Monday, or a good Monday....however Monday's are for you. LOL I HATE Mondays. It's actually in my book of 4 letter words. LOL
Thanxx for dropping by THE REPS ARE RIGHT yesterday AJ.
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- #119
ajagunle
New Member
wow looking great AJ!! thats going to be a nice full screen in a few weeks
Hi Jon, good to see you now you are having a short break from journaling.
When the stretch starts I will only tuck the tallest shoots and then let them go for it, I think I need to keep some edge space empty for fans, I now have so much room once I managed to sample enough ‘Fuck It’ and bought the LEDs!
I hope your new room is going well!
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- #120
ajagunle
New Member
Hey ajagunle!
I will be following along the rest of your grow here. It looks great. I'm very jealous of that LED!
Have a great Monday, or a good Monday....however Monday's are for you. LOL I HATE Mondays. It's actually in my book of 4 letter words. LOL
Hello Cannafan!
I do love your Avatar, I did read your explanation of where you got it a while back, tremendous picture! If it was on a T-shirt I would buy it! (Hint Hint)
I am having a Great Monday following a good start!
I will do my best avoiding Fmon! For the rest of the year!
If you are willing to take a gamble LEDs can be quite affordable! I am going to find out if the ‘affordable Chinese LEDs’ are capable of producing better Bud than CFL, they certainly do the business with Autos!!
