My first "Grow Bin" - Advice Appreciated

[JPepper]

As you can see the setup should work quite nicely with correct operation, however I am seeking advice as to nutrients/hydro solution mixing, lighting, plant sprouting/growing in a controlled environment. I soon will be switching to T5's (4 double light fixtures to go in corners of bin, possibly two (4 bulbs) to replace the 10 cfl's). I will also be adding an additional 5 fans (2 cooling, 3 ventilation). I am currently using Holland Secret 3 part formula for nutes, PH of the water is 6.4, approx. 350ppm solution (there recommended seedling/starter mix), dont have an EC meter to measure this yet. As I am very new to hdyro/aero any suggestions are appreciated! I started all my seedlings with a heating mat with great success rate, currently have: black hab's, 7-pot Jonah, red savina's, and pinguita de mono sprouts going as you will see in the following pictures. As for the monitoring part you probably have questions about, I have a basic relay setup to be able to control the lighting via an alarm panel as well as the main AC line powering everything (the whole bin plugs into the wall). This is also monitored by API monitoring so I know as soon as there is a problem with temperature, flooding, or a stop of the waterflow to the sprinklers. As well if the smoke detector outside the bin goes off the power to the bin dies and fire department dispatched. I have not had the aeroponic part of the setup running yet, I got it from a friend who used it to grow basil. Photos will be on the next post of the seedlings in the net pots. The temperature in the bin during the "day" is 85F, night drops to around 67F. The plants are sprouted in PET Fibre cubes, when do you start feeding seedlings nutrient solution vs. clean water (level PH)? I have also read that adding a little H2O2 (Hydrogen Peroxide) to your grow solution is a good idea, is this true? I have put the seedlings in the net pots due to an algae/mold growth problem on the cubes last attempt at sprouting (by keeping the white cubes out of the intense light this has stopped, or seems to have). Any suggestions are helpful!





Pepper Bin #1.1
The Grow Bin
• 42” x 32” x 68” inside dimensions (LxWxH)
• 17” – height of netpots off floor
• 9” – height of lighting fixtre
• Approx 42” of growing room (Height) (will be increased whith T5 Lighting mod.)
• 2 fans (1 cooling/1 ventilation) 45mm computer fans
• Potentiometer for speed control of ventilation fan (1k-ohm pot)
• 10 CFL light fixture (Home Made)
• 24 hr wire in AC Timer for lighting (15A)
• Alarm monitoring system
• 12v 5amp Power supply with batt. Backup, ac + low. Batt relay outputs
• 1 GFI for pump
• 1 outlet for lighting (wired after timer, also gfi protected)
• AC Power control relays (12v coils)
• Day/night thermostat (controls cooling)
• Flood, water flow, cold+heat sensing alarm products
- 70 gal. airstone pump with 2 6" airstones

 

[JPepper]

Seeds Started October 10th

 

[fishing4fun2]

Looks like your on a good path to growing peppers, I wish i had information to help you but i am new this year just getting into it myself.
I like your set up and if i had that and was switching to t5's i would just keep the cfl's and mount them on a simple strip along on the sides (unless they would get in the way of things) along with the t5's.. your way further along with your project then i am, all i have is a homemade grow hut with ample lighting from two 28 w led panels and a couple jury rigged 42w cfl's // not having good luck yet as my leaves are falling off so i am waiting for more cfl's to arrive to beef up the light but still working on how i will be putting them into the hut but thinking about putting 8 45w 6700k's into one large shop reflector that came off a 400w mh.. from what i read though is that cfl light comes mainly from the sides of the light so not quite sure if my idea would be adequate or if i would be loosing more of the light rays with so many crammed into one reflector..
Good luck with your project its looking way good, very cool man.

 

[JPepper]

Pic Update

 

[doublejj0305]

Looking awesome keep the posts coming I'm interested in hearing more about the grow

 

[JPepper]

UPDATE!

^Anyone know why the one black hab is way lighter than the other?

^Red Savina's

^Trinidad 7-pot Jonah strain

2 white hab's that are just sprouting (took about 27 days), and a pinguita de mono(this was sprouted because i wasn't sure about the white hab's

I've upped my micro nutrients nitrogen and potassium, the plants have seemed to take well to it. Can't wait to get those suckers in the aeroponic bin!

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

Looks good, but why aren't they in the bin now?

 

[habmeonetime]

Saskatchewan WOW you are starting at the beginning of winter
nice set up by the way
what kind of emitters are you using

can you fit a second tub inside ? i think you are going to need more root room because it is going to work great

i did a small outdoor hydro test this summer and one habanero plant roots filled a single 15L bucket top to bottom

i will be watching for updates good luck looks great

 

[Walka]

I am kinda cheap as far as electricity goes, have you noticed the difference in your electrical bill with this type of setup?

 

[JPepper]

Looks good, but why aren't they in the bin now?

Plant selection process, make sure I get the good ones in there.... For example my white hab's died I believe, and the Pinguita De Mono doesn't seem to like this much light; i probably wont use either of these plants.

 

[JPepper]

Saskatchewan WOW you are starting at the beginning of winter
nice set up by the way
what kind of emitters are you using

can you fit a second tub inside ? i think you are going to need more root room because it is going to work great

i did a small outdoor hydro test this summer and one habanero plant roots filled a single 15L bucket top to bottom

i will be watching for updates good luck looks great

By emitters i'm assuming that you mean the sprayers? All I know are they are 360 sprays, got em from a buddy of mine... I have thought about the root room issue a bit, this is a "trial" run if you will, I may end up with a few DWC setups in the bin or just design some new bins. However I do intend to trim the roots if they become to massive, I also will be pruning the plant to grow how I would like it too. Speaking of winter it was storming all day lol. Do you have pictures of your outdoor plant? How big was it? I'm going to assume it got bigger than I intend to have my plants grow. I have also added 8 4ft t8 cfl's in the coners (vertically) to the bin, have to install about 7 more fans and a new variable pot for the speed control before I can fire them up... Will have pics when it is done (hopefully tomorrow if not saturday). I am using a full spectrum (1/2 3000k, 1/2 6500k) configuration for the growing process with the t8's.

 

[JPepper]

I am kinda cheap as far as electricity goes, have you noticed the difference in your electrical bill with this type of setup?

Haven't really noticed much yet as the bin as is with the lights on (16hrs/day) would add up to approx. 250w (2.1 amps). I believe our electricity rate is $0.082/KwH so right now it's costing approx. $0.22/day. Once i fire up the t8's i've added it will be costing approx. $0.66/day ($20.46/month (+-$1.50), 500w/4.2a). The approximate lumen value inside the bin would be 33400 lumens. These are estimates not exact, nor are these estimates including the pump (very small pond pump) running. I have a feeling the pump should add $0.02/day max, too lazy to go pull it out too check wattage at the moment. Cost should go down during flowering as the lighting time/day will decrease.