Drdan's GH Flora Nova (+) Vs. AN Grand Master Level Hydro Grow

DrDan

New Member
Hello all and welcome! I am a Medical MJ patient and I grow for two other patients as well. Today is the start of my second grow journal. I will be running two journals at a time, this one and another one that has been going for a month. The first is a grow using Advanced Nutrients "Grand Master Level" Bigger Flowering System. This journal will be a comparison grow using General Hydroponics modified Flora Nova system. I will be using a modified feeding chart for the GH mix with Flora Nova and some other suppliments I have used in the past together with very good results. The AN grow consists of 3 strains, Afghan Gooey, ATF (Alaskan Thunder F***), and Bag Seed. I will only be using the Afghan Gooey for comparison. Please feel free to follow along with the other journal I am keeping, but I will be posting enough pics for comparisons that it won't be a requisite. I know how it is trying to keep up with all the threads I subscribe to so I don't plan on making you add another if you haven't been there already.:smokin:
I am growing two strains in this journal, Afghan Gooey and F-13. I start the rooted clones in an ebb and flo table under T-5s until I see good root development (approx. 1 week). They are then transplanted to a modified ebb and gro table. They are moved to a true ebb and gro system in the flower room at 3 weeks or 18 inches.
This will be the first time I have grown the F-13 strain and since I have 4 more strains as developing seedlings it may be the last if it is not to my taste. I am not looking to become a spokesperson for any line of nutes. I am just experimenting and prooving (or disprooving) to myself certain claims made by manufacturers. If it helps anyone else in making choices about how much they want to spend vs. the bang for thier buck, that is what will bring me joy.:blunt:
I use half the recommended strength of most of the nutes from the base on up the chain for Advanced Nutrients system. I used the 2 part Sensi Grow for veg then I began using the 3 part base for AN. This is the mix I used for the first week of flowering. There are a couple variations to the AN formula besides amounts, but none that will not accompany this grow, ie Great White and Dutch Master Root Zone. I have used the strict formula before, but ran in to some root rot and as any creature of habit, I went with what I know. Seems to be working well.:wood:
The AN grow has been flowering since 7-20, here is an excerpt from the AN journal:
"Ht. 18-20 inches, almost 3 full weeks of veg.
Lights: one 1000k MH and one 1000k HPS in a 5 foot cool tube reflector
cooling: one 6 inch vortex fan, once 6 inch booster fan, ducted from outside room and vented outside room.
Venting: one 8 inch vortex fan and filter combo for exhaust, one 6 inch vortex and one 6 inch booster fan for inlet from an aircondition room.
Dehumidifier with drain tube exiting room, kept at 50%
Resevoir: 55 gal. Filled to 40 gal. with R/O water and nutrient mix as follows;
Sensi Grow 150ml
Sensi Micro 200ml
Sensi Bloom 250ml
Voodoo jc. 150ml
Tarrantula 7 scoops
Bud Candy 150ml
Great White 10 scoops (cheap Pirhana)
Sensizym 150ml
SensiCal Mag 200ml
Bud Ignitor 150ml
Rhino Skin 150ml
Bud Factor X 150ml
Dutch Master Root Zone 100ml"

This mix is used to achieve a ppm 1000 to 1100 and ph 5.7 for the first week, then ppm concentration is increased to 1400 to 1500 range second week.

Week 3 I flushed them and after lights out, I changed the res to the 3rd week phase of AN's system. The mixture I used for 35 gals of R/O water is as follows:

3-part grow; 150ml Grow, 250ml Micro, 350ml Bloom
Big Bud 75ml
B-52 75ml
Bud Candy 100ml
Nirvana 75ml
SensiZym 100ml
Rhino Skin 75ml
Bud Factor X 75ml
Sensi-Cal Mag Bloom 150ml
Dutch Master Root Zone 80ml
The ppm was 1515 and ph 5.17, I adjusted the ph to 5.71 which resulted in a ppm of 1565.

This catches us up on the AN grow to this point as far as statistics. I will be posting some comparison pics at the appropriate junction with the pics from this grow. Though I have made some changes to the veg room, the flower room conditions should be relatively the same for each group as far as environment. They will be in the flower room together for approx 4 1/2 weeks before harvesting of the AN group. The flowering room is setup for continuous flowering and a harvest every 4-5 weeks. I have a terrible habbit of changing things for the better whenever possible so that some differences in yield can't be accounted for simply with differing nutes. However, I have seen what my old formula can do and how it responds to different environments enough that I feel I can get a good impression of the difference between nutes.

By now your probably saying, "Come on with the pics already" and I agree, it is about freakin time for some photos.

8-8-10_The_line_up.jpg

The players in this play!:morenutes:

8-8-10_nursery.jpg

The nursery/cloning side of the room.

8-8-10_clones_rdy_for_transplant.jpg

8-8-10_Clones_and_Seedlings.jpg

The girls just itchin to move out (and my seedlings on the left).

8-8-10_Veg_room_T-5s.jpg

The new T-5s.. "Look Ma, no heat!" or at least a lot less.:slide:

8-8-10_One_F-13_leftover.jpg

One clone left alone among the seedlings.

8-8-10_Clones_transplanted.jpg

8-8-10_Lights_in_position.jpg

The girls in thier new digs!:yummy:

The Gh group had been in the ebb and flo table for a week prior to transplanting. Lighting is provided by two 4' 8 bulb T-5 HO 6500k lights covering a 4'x5' area nicely. The mix used for this stage of veg takes us from 400ppm to the 1100 ppm range and is as follows:

25 gal. R/O water
100ml Flora Nova Grow
10ml Floralicious Plus
10ml FloraBlend
50ml Botanicare Cal Mag
10ml Dutch Master Root Zone
10ml SuperThrive
40ml Hygrozyme
8 scoops Great White

This resulted in ppm 1165 and ph of 4.3 which I adjusted to 5.95 with GH's ph up.

Ok, some comparison shots of the AN girls at relatively the same age. These were vegged under the T-5s for a little over a week in the ebb and flo table before moving to the bucket table. I believe the stretch you see is due to the high temps I was getting before changes in ventilation were made. The clones were in the cloner an extended period as well, so roots were very developed prior to going in to the ebb and flo table. To compensate for some of these discrepencies, I plan to veg the GH group until the same ht. as the other girls prior to flowering. My pruning methods I use will be the same used for the AN girls. I suspect I may be vegging the Gh group a little longer due to being under the T-5s and having the heat under control now.

Puppies_and_Plants_035.jpg

Puppies_and_Plants_036.jpg

Puppies_and_Plants_039.jpg

This is a 1kw MH and vented hood used to for the last 2 wks of veg for the AN girls, now replaced with nearly 1kw of T-5 HO flourescents.:surf:

Puppies_and_Plants_063.jpg


So we are off and runnin like a turd of hurdles. Feel free to ask questions, post suggestions and even criticize if you must. Just remember to take a rip or a toke before you do!:peacetwo:
 
I'm in for this one! I used the flora nova in a hempy grow and liked it very much. I have read that since it's so concentrated it has issues with clogging and making a mess in hydro. :lot-o-toke:
 
I'm in for this one! I used the flora nova in a hempy grow and liked it very much. I have read that since it's so concentrated it has issues with clogging and making a mess in hydro. :lot-o-toke:

Welcome and thanks for stoppin in. I have used Flora Nova in aeroponic setups and found it does tend to clog the sprayers. Since I am using a Ebb and Gro bucket system, there are no sprayers to cause problems.

i'am in nice set up:thumb:

:thanks: and it is nice to have ya aboard!

Got room on the bench for another spectator ?:thumb:

Hi Dowg, there is always room on the bench for more, especially a Dowg!:welcome:

Just gonna be a quick note this morning, I should have some pics and more of an update later today. Yesterday the temp in the room was 83 degrees, Rh 58% and I added 3 gal. back of R/O water to get the ppm from 1250 down to 1112pm and brought ph from 6.4 down to 5.96. I had to raise the light on one end a couple inches to accomodate the taller girls. This also earned the tall ladies a hair cut. I topped the tallest ones using fim tech. Time to get ready for work.:lot-o-toke:
 
Sorry for the delay, but better late than never. I have a few pics of the girls and a quick update. The room temp has been a little high for my taste, and I believe it is due to the fact that I swapped out an aircooled HID for the two t-5ho lights. They do put out heat, just not nearly what an HID does, so without directly venting the heat from the lights, it is driving temps to 88 degrees. Thankfully, veg temps can be higher without adverse affects, as long as the res temps don't get out of hand. I have a humidifier going to kick the Rh up to 60%. Had to add back 2 gal. of R/O water to get ppm back to 1100 range, ph has been steady at 5.9 and res temp 72 degrees.

These shots were taken yesterday, 8-11.
8-11_update6.jpg


8-11_update7.jpg


8-11_update8.jpg


A few shots of my seedlings. There are 5 White Widow, 3 Afghan Kush, 2 Bubblelicious and 2 Hash Passion. They are all regular seeds so I should get a male or two to start some breeding/crossing in the future.

8-11_update9.jpg


8-11_update10.jpg


8-11_update11.jpg


8-11_update12.jpg


:peace:
 
Hey DrD, all your babies look great,very bushy and green. Is the heat from the bulbs or the ballast? I have a CFL fixture thats about 3'x4' and hung a 4" fan blowing across the lights, it lowered my canopy temp about 5 deg. :peace:
 
Hey DrD, all your babies look great,very bushy and green. Is the heat from the bulbs or the ballast? I have a CFL fixture thats about 3'x4' and hung a 4" fan blowing across the lights, it lowered my canopy temp about 5 deg. :peace:

The heat is comming more from the T-5 fixture itself. I did the back of the hand bit under the lights at the top of the canopy and found the temp very tolerable. The measured temp is in the room above the lights and there are two circular fans blowing gently over the ladies. I am sure the canopy temp is at least 3 degrees lower than what my thermometer is reading. I will still need to make improvements to ventilation in the near future, but all in all, I am happy with the way things are going.

Loving this post and all the pictures.

I aspire to grow like you...:blunt:

:thanks: Sensibowl. I am glad you are enjoying the pics and posts!

I am about to head in to see the ladies and make sure everything is in the sweet spot for the night. I will snap some pics and if I have time, get them uploaded tonight.
 
:nicethread: I look forward to the nute comparison. :morenutes:

I like your new T5's. I've been comparing some for myself. Where did you get yours? Are you going to flower with T5's too??

:popcorn:
 
Nice grow! I'm subbed. It's similar to my setup. Been a bit skeptic to post a journal yet. Yours is lookin real nice though. Could you maybe post pics of the whole room? I'm a little confused of the amount of blowers you have in the room. Just show the way its setup if ya don't mind for us curious folk.

Those water lines are clear, or are those for airstones? If its for water you may want to paint or replace those lines with lightproof ones, algae can grow and that messes with pH. (just a precaution). And is the tarantula a beneficial mycorrhizal (spelling) fungi? I know the voodoo juice is beneficial bacteria, but if you don't have fungus I would suggest AN Dr. Hornsby's Piranha. Takes about a day to ummm colonize? the water. Once it does the root mass increases tremendously. I can say this from first hand experience. Or figuring your an AN grand master, have you tried it?
 
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. Been working in the rat race to make green so I can continue to grow green.:ganjamon:

:nicethread: I look forward to the nute comparison. :morenutes:

I like your new T5's. I've been comparing some for myself. Where did you get yours? Are you going to flower with T5's too??

:popcorn:

I like the new T5's very much. I purchased these from a local retailer who is always giving me great deals one equipment. They are hydrofarm brand 8 bulb 4 foot fixtures. The two of them cover an area of 4' x5' perfectly. I am only using them for vegging. I have flowered with CFLs and T5s before, and the buds are too wispy for my taste.

Nice grow! I'm subbed. It's similar to my setup. Been a bit skeptic to post a journal yet. Yours is lookin real nice though. Could you maybe post pics of the whole room? I'm a little confused of the amount of blowers you have in the room. Just show the way its setup if ya don't mind for us curious folk.

Those water lines are clear, or are those for airstones? If its for water you may want to paint or replace those lines with lightproof ones, algae can grow and that messes with pH. (just a precaution). And is the tarantula a beneficial mycorrhizal (spelling) fungi? I know the voodoo juice is beneficial bacteria, but if you don't have fungus I would suggest AN Dr. Hornsby's Piranha. Takes about a day to ummm colonize? the water. Once it does the root mass increases tremendously. I can say this from first hand experience. Or figuring your an AN grand master, have you tried it?

:welcome: Krhyme, and thankyou. What do you mean by "a bit skeptic to post a journal yet"? Sorry for the confusion with the blowers and ducting. The room is still in transition from the previous lighting set up. The clear lines you see are air lines. I will be connecting them to an air pump in the next day or two. The roots are just now poking through the bottom of the inside bucket and don't rest in the standing water yet. I will probably hook them up this evening.
I don't claim to be an AN grand master or any other kind of master for that matter (I haven't even mastered my own emotions). I am just using the AN "Bigger Yields Growing System" at the "Grand Master Grower Level" on my currently flowering crop. I have run two crops to harvest using AN at that level and had some great results. I also had a lockout with the second grow, which I have never experienced before. That would have been a great journal, lots to learn from that one.
Tarantula is a "100% Organic Root Booster/Crop Protector/Yield Booster" according to the AN advertisement in Rosebud magazine (which is Big Mike's rag). They do not list the ingredients on the jar except for "non plant food ingredient" which is 3% Humic Acid. The magazine ad states;

"Here's what Tarantula's exclusive microbes do:

Decompose organic matter to create extra nutrion for your plants
Increase plant growth rates and yields
Increase nutrient uptake and solubility of minerals
Produce natural plant growth hormones
Improve aeration and water-holding capacity of root zone material
Increased viability of seeds, clones and transplants
Enhance availability of phosphorous and increase conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to plant available nitrogen
Defeat harmful fungi, molds and bacteria"

Tarantula is used in conjunction with Piranha which is a much more expensive brand of Mycorrhizae bacteria and Trichoderma than Great White (1/3 the cost). I have already found that many of AN's products are superior to others, and I have also found the opposite of some of them. I have used Piranha in previous grows and saw no appreciable difference but the price. I am moving away from using strict lines of nutes and back to my mix and match ways when the two journals are complete. I will be taking the best from each I have used regardless of who makes it then. So I made an executive decision not to purchase Piranha for the AN comparison and will use Great White with both grows. I suspect that there could be some duplication in the mixing of the Tarantula and Great White (though I didn't see any Humic acid in the Great White) but I like the effects I have seen using the combo. I was given a sample of Humboldt's "roots" to try and being the experimenter I am, will probably run some comparisons of thier Mycorrhizae with the Great White/Tarantula mix.:hmmmm:

Being a visual person myself, I aim to please... so here are some shots of the venting/ducting and an explaination of each to help.

8-14_view_thru_the_door.jpg

Step inside and leave your worries behind.
8-14_vent2.jpg

6 inch ducting inlet with 6 inch duct booster fan in the foreground. The ducting in the background is now passive inlet. It used to be the inlet for the air cooled MH reflector.
8-14_vent.jpg

4 inch exhaust fan and carbon filter. This is going to be upgraded to a 6 inch fan and filter combo.
8-14_vent3.jpg

6 inch ducting and 6 inch inline fan now a passive inlet, the fan is unplugged. Used to be connected to an air cooled reflector.
8-14_vent4.jpg

This is used to be the exhaust ducting for the air cooled reflector. Now it is also a passive air inlet. The solid ducting in the foreground belongs to the furnace.
8-14_vent6.jpg

Another view of the furnace ducting, you can see it exiting the room in to the next. Also seen is the 4 inch exhaust fan and filter.

I hope that clears up the confusion, and yes, I still have a negative pressure with all the passive inlets. Upgrades seem to happen weekly round here, so hang on to your hat!
Now for some pics of the ladies. The first set are from 8-12.

8-12_update1.jpg

8-12_update2.jpg

8-12_update3.jpg

8-12_update4.jpg


These are from today, 8-14.
8-14_update6.jpg

8-14_update7.jpg

8-14_update8.jpg


8-12_ATF3.jpg

Just a little bud porn, ATF I just harvested the other day.
 
Thanks Dowg! The buckets were originally white, and a bit translucent, so I painted the buckets chrome. I figured it would help a little with reflecting light and mainly wanted to keep light from passing through the buckets allowing algae to grow. It has worked like a charm!:wood:
 
One hell of a grow ! I'd love to have a basement to grow in !! Haven't seen a basement since I moved to Ca. !! Sure miss all that room with no one looking over the fence!! Great journal ! +rep for that grow room and the great journal !!:peace:
 
One hell of a grow ! I'd love to have a basement to grow in !! Haven't seen a basement since I moved to Ca. !! Sure miss all that room with no one looking over the fence!! Great journal ! +rep for that grow room and the great journal !!:peace:

:thanks: I am lovin the basement myself. I didn't have one to take advantage of until moving this last winter. I made the basement a priority in our choice of residence so I didn't have to use a bedroom like before (actually I used two of them when my oldest moved out). I didn't have to deal with the mad heat during the summer where I used to live, a basement is a must now! Thanks for the + reps!
I am just headin down now to do a res change, they have spent a week in thier new homes. I will snap some pics so I can post a comparison of the AN girls at the same stage.:peace:
 
Better late than never, I say. Here are the pics I promised.

8-15_GH_update1.jpg


8-15_GH_update2.jpg


8-15_GH_update3.jpg


8-15_GH_update4.jpg


8-15_GH_update5.jpg


So those were the girls yesterday AM. Here are some comparison pics of the Advanced Nutrient girls at the same stage. The AN group was vegged under Metal Halide lighting. The length of the internode spacing and previous success with shorter node spacing with T5s led me to make the change over to all T5s in my veg room.

July14.jpg


July14_with_moms.jpg


Here is a shot of the cloner with the very girls growing in this journal.
July15_clones.jpg


Here is a shot of the AN girls in thier current condition, flowering day 26.
8-15_AN_update1.jpg


Time to ready myself for work. Hope ya enjoy the pics. :peacetwo:
 
Jeesh! Its been forever since I have had a moment to sit and update my journals. Bet yall thought they had been abandoned.;) Nope, just so busy with work and tending the ladies, not much time to sit and fill everyone in. Fortunately, I did take some pics today... because it is TIME TO FLOWER!:cheer: I have some shots from the 17th as well showing the new 6 inch filter/fan combo upgrade. The T5s have been working out pretty well, but the heat here this summer has been near record setting every day. Temps in the veg room go from 74 in the am to 88 at the high during the day. Rh has been between 50 and 57% and I had to use some re-freezable ice packs to keep the res. temps below 74 for the past 4 days. I see a chiller in my future before next summer. :slide: The flower room got an upgrade today, a new A/C, and I still am futzing with it. I may change the setup tomorrow, maybe not. I am thinking of creating a "lung" for the bloom room instead of having the A/C unit in the room. So the girls really bushed out this last week and as you will see, the internode spaces are pretty short. Nuff talk, lets watch a show! :popcorn:

8-17_GH_update1.jpg

4 inch inlet fan

8-17_GH_update2.jpg

6 inch exhaust fan/filter combo

8-17_Gh_update.jpg

6 inch booster inlet fan

8-17_GH_update3.jpg


8-17_GH_update4.jpg


8-17_GH_update5.jpg


So much for the past... here is what awaited me today.:blunt:

8-26_GH_update3.jpg


8-26_GH_update5.jpg


8-26_GH_update4.jpg


8-26_GH_update6.jpg


And this is thier new digs for the rest of thier lives!:smokin:

8-26_GH_update1.jpg


8-26_GH_update2.jpg


Here are 12 of the 14 girls in place. The two bushiest stayed behind to become mothers for future generations.:surf:

8-26_GH_update7.jpg


8-26_GH_update9.jpg


8-26_GH_update8.jpg


So we are off and running, the ladies will get 12 hours of dark for thier first time. I am using the transition stage for the res mix and halved the amounts for 30 gallons. I did add root zone, hygrozyme and Cal Mag as well as AN's Bud ignitor (this is the most amazing stuff! I will never go to flower without it!). GH doesn't seem to have such an additive and I am mainly interested in the difference in base nutes as well as other additives I have used with GH in the past.

Before I have to close my eyes... here are some shots of the AN girls current condition as well as some pics of the seedlings I have been working with.

8-26_AN_update2.jpg


8-26_AN_update1.jpg


8-26_Seedlings1.jpg


8-26_Seedlings2.jpg


8-26_Seedlings3.jpg

Ahhh, breathing room.

:peacetwo:
 
Back
Top Bottom