Kuwl...... MH FC 8000 EVO + 6 Plants

[Kuwl]

Squeesing in a run.

SIX SEEDS
2 - LSD [Skunk #1 and Afghan Indica] {?% Indica, ?% Sativa, }
1 - Blue God [Blueberry and God Bud] { 90% Indica / 10% Sativa}
1 - White Truffle [Gorilla Glue #4 and Peanut Butter Breath] { 70% Indica / 30% Sativa }
2 - Blue Dream [ Blueberryand and Haze ] , { 60% sativa / 40% indica }

The FC 8000 EVO, a 800 watt beast, I'm using it with the iconnectu Smart Controller and
Mars Hydro Controller 43 ( Environmental Control System Monitor)
for Temp, Hummi, CO2 n PPFD.
An App for iphone to adjust the light and set the timing and add Sunset/Sunrise to the cycle.
Also has settings for IR, UV n Reds to control from the App, pretty cool just have to learn how to use it haha.
( The Par Sensor did not work so they ordered me another one )
Which I recieved and tho it was totally a different style, it worked perfect,
I don't think I will be using any supplimintal lights this go around.
This new light should do without the other frills.

Bamm
Dropped seeds in water 3/24/2025 12 noon
Took out in the morning at 8am and put in damp paper towel in a ziplock bag.
Temp 78ish in small tent in darkness.
Got tails 3/25 put in dirt.
Checked next day (3/26) heads are popping out.
3/27 One LSD n BD are on inch tall with leaves!
The others still have helmets but def doing well.
Temp in small tent is 80ish +-2
Turned on light 18/6 cycle
Soon as I see leaves on all 6 the steam goes on.

Cats: Ghosti won't let anyone touch her yet but is getting more comfortable around the house
and with Sky, who is, oh so curious, of Ghosty the cat. She caught it and it's her's, in her mind.

Female cats spray and she is starting to.
In the cellar and on the curtain in the spare room upstairs.
Brought another kitty litter for upstairs, maybe that will help.
Eliminated the smell with soap and vinegar but my allergies are going nuts.
Sooner or later, some how I got to trap her and she has to get spayed.
Shady on left Ghost is on the right.

Then I got a catio~ dam my impulse buying got me again.
I wanted to copy Pipe's stuff he did but wife said no.
If it goes well I could copy the measurements and make another.
I still will have to figure out the escape route from the bathroom window to the catio enclousure.

___________________________________________________________________________________
Well it all started out ok with no problems from the seeds.
All were new fresh from an order except the LSD which I had from a year ago.
Now if I can finish before the summer heat gets here I'll be alright.

 

[Driver77]

Cool light and control system! I think your going to be impressed by plants response to it.
I have a couple of the older fc8000's and love them. The sunrise sunset function in the app will only start at 25% I think and ramp to 100% and then ramp back down in your set time period no fine tuning at all....unless they've improved that.
Mine are in 4x4's and rarely get over 85% so hopefully they'll last forever lol

 

[Pipecarver]

Squeesing in a run.

SIX SEEDS
2 - LSD [Skunk #1 and Afghan Indica] {?% Indica, ?% Sativa, }
1 - Blue God [Blueberry and God Bud] { 90% Indica / 10% Sativa}
1 - White Truffle [Gorilla Glue #4 and Peanut Butter Breath] { 70% Indica / 30% Sativa }
2 - Blue Dream [ Blueberryand and Haze ] , { 60% sativa / 40% indica }

The FC 8000 EVO, a 800 watt beast, I'm using it with the iconnectu Smart Controller and
Mars Hydro Controller 43 ( Environmental Control System Monitor)
for Temp, Hummi, CO2 n PPFD.
An App for iphone to adjust the light and set the timing and add Sunset/Sunrise to the cycle.
Also has settings for IR, UV n Reds to control from the App, pretty cool just have to learn how to use it haha.
( The Par Sensor did not work so they ordered me another one )
Which I recieved and tho it was totally a different style, it worked perfect,
I don't think I will be using any supplimintal lights this go around.
This new light should do without the other frills.
View attachment 95107
Bamm
Dropped seeds in water 3/24/2025 12 noon
Took out in the morning at 8am and put in damp paper towel in a ziplock bag.
Temp 78ish in small tent in darkness.
Got tails 3/25 put in dirt.
Checked next day (3/26) heads are popping out.
3/27 One LSD n BD are on inch tall with leaves!
The others still have helmets but def doing well.
Temp in small tent is 80ish +-2
Turned on light 18/6 cycle
Soon as I see leaves on all 6 the steam goes on.

Cats: Ghosti won't let anyone touch her yet but is getting more comfortable around the house
and with Sky, who is, oh so curious, of Ghosty the cat. She caught it and it's her's, in her mind.

Female cats spray and she is starting to.
In the cellar and on the curtain in the spare room upstairs.
Brought another kitty litter for upstairs, maybe that will help.
Eliminated the smell with soap and vinegar but my allergies are going nuts.
Sooner or later, some how I got to trap her and she has to get spayed.
Shady on left Ghost is on the right.
View attachment 95108
Then I got a catio~ dam my impulse buying got me again.
I wanted to copy Pipe's stuff he did but wife said no.
If it goes well I could copy the measurements and make another.
I still will have to figure out the escape route from the bathroom window to the catio enclousure.
View attachment 95109
___________________________________________________________________________________
Well it all started out ok with no problems from the seeds.
All were new fresh from an order except the LSD which I had from a year ago.
Now if I can finish before the summer heat gets here I'll be alright.

I cut a piece of plywood the shape of the window opening then put in a cat door. I can shut the windows when it gets too cold but the one out to their large enclosure is open just about 24/7 12 months of the year. I have a small 12"x12"x12" catio outside the window I enclosed in plastic so it acts as a wind block for the cat door and only the coldest of the coldest nights of the year I shut that window....and you should here my Qnight howl...lol.....he hates being trapped indoors and the moment we get up in the AM he's howling to get out...if only for a min or 2 at a time he needs his outdoor access. The other 2 could care less it seems

 

[steamroller]

In to see how the controller works.
I run Mars Hydro Fc8000 also.
They are a lot of light.

 

[GoodShit97]

Following for sure
I can't believe the 8000 is only 70 watts more than the 6500.
I thought the 8000 was a 1000w light.
I just got the 6500 evo and it's 730 watts, also 200 dollars cheaper

Talk about sales tactics lol

 

[Pipecarver]

Following for sure
I can't believe the 8000 is only 70 watts more than the 6500.
I thought the 8000 was a 1000w light.
I just got the 6500 evo and it's 730 watts, also 200 dollars cheaper

Talk about sales tactics lol

It sound like Mars is making a hit this year, I'm on my first run with an FC4500, a 320w 2x4 light. I like it has more intensity than both of my Spiderfarmer SE3000

 

[GoodShit97]

It sound like Mars is making a hit this year, I'm on my first run with an FC4500, a 320w 2x4 light. I like it has more intensity than both of my Spiderfarmer SE3000

I got the fce4800 from my FIL for free over a year ago.
Its been a good light so I got the new 6500 evo even though I said I'd never buy another mars light.

They've definitely improved from the first set of lights i bought from them

 

[Pipecarver]

I got the fce4800 from my FIL for free over a year ago.
Its been a good light so I got the new 6500 evo even though I said I'd never buy another mars light.

They've definitely improved from the first set of lights i bought from them

Yes me too, Mars had a bad name in my books. I saw the migrow guy talking about them just before I bought and he rated it at the top even compared to his with efficiency & coverage at the price point.

 

[Kuwl]

Following for sure
I can't believe the 8000 is only 70 watts more than the 6500.
I thought the 8000 was a 1000w light.
I just got the 6500 evo and it's 730 watts, also 200 dollars cheaper

Talk about sales tactics lol

I would not have purchased this light but for the awesome discounts and sale.
I believe I ended up paying about $440 for it.

 

[GoodShit97]

I would not have purchased this light but for the awesome discounts and sale.
I believe I ended up paying about $440 for it.

Hell yeah. That's about what I paid for the 6500. I came out at 410

 

[Kuwl]

It sound like Mars is making a hit this year, I'm on my first run with an FC4500, a 320w 2x4 light. I like it has more intensity than both of my Spiderfarmer SE3000

I love my FC4800 and gave me some good crops but I wanted a larger coverage for the room I have, 6.5' x 9'
I also was worried bout not having much of a backup light, only the 2 MH TS1000's which are prety old.

 

[Kuwl]

I cut a piece of plywood the shape of the window opening then put in a cat door. I can shut the windows when it gets too cold but the one out to their large enclosure is open just about 24/7 12 months of the year. I have a small 12"x12"x12" catio outside the window I enclosed in plastic so it acts as a wind block for the cat door and only the coldest of the coldest nights of the year I shut that window....and you should here my Qnight howl...lol.....he hates being trapped indoors and the moment we get up in the AM he's howling to get out...if only for a min or 2 at a time he needs his outdoor access. The other 2 could care less it seemsView attachment 95191

Yes. pretty much what I had in my head but the plywood w/kitty door would work perfect and I like the stablizing post too.
The square braces holding the fencing is exactly what I was thinking for that part of the run to the catio cage.

My slight worry is they won't come in lol I might have to go into the cage to wrangle them but Ghost would be the big problem as she is still
feral as fk with that "you can look all you want but don't you dare fkn touch me" attitude.

 

[Kuwl]

Two months of prepping for this and still.........
Well I forgot to run the timer thru it's paces and it figures, not set right, so light on for 2 days straight.
One plant, LSD keeled over and another one Blue God is not looking to good.
The others are fine. Had them set to 18/6 starting at 8pm, found out when I checked in the morning
at 7:30am and lights were on,..... not off. Checked it with a table lamp and darn if it was not working proper.
Fidiled with it till I got it working right and put it back but needed to reset it all before my other plants keeled over.
Now its off at 6pm ( I checked ) and on again at midnight. If it's on in the morning and LSD is still alive I'm saved,
if LSD is dead, I have one LSD seed left to pop and hope it pops fast.
My main light has a timer built in with the controller, so no worries there,
but for now,, with the T5 light, I have to use one and I have probs with mech timers too, lil tiny pins.

I need a timer that I can use with an app for the next run. Not sure where to look. I thought someone was using one like that.

Well, sittin' down with wifey to watch Wheel of Fortune and a beer and a shot and a smoke.
Tommorows a better day.

 

[Pipecarver]

Yes. pretty much what I had in my head but the plywood w/kitty door would work perfect and I like the stablizing post too.
The square braces holding the fencing is exactly what I was thinking for that part of the run to the catio cage.

My slight worry is they won't come in lol I might have to go into the cage to wrangle them but Ghost would be the big problem as she is still
feral as fk with that "you can look all you want but don't you dare fkn touch me" attitude.

My neighbor had a bunch of old boat cradles he was burning so I grabbed my electric chain saw with my generator in my trailer with yard tractor drove over and cut 2 large posts . 1- I burnt ...lol and one is the post I used.

Lucky cat is Ghost to have a home and be feral too. Tough, you've had him quite a while now and still no love? I had a wrestling match with Qnight this morning, my arm took the brunt, 3 blood holes 2 scratch marks in a fun game he had. I was giving him a morning mauling as I call it with a rough petting, he loves it but got all worked up, gave me a warning meow and I kept at it then wham hes got my arm teeth, claws and ears back, Yikes everybody calm down wees all good....serenity now....and he was back to gentle sorry cat but for a few seconds he was in wild gotta killem mode....Good thing he loves me or I'd have been fked.;

 

[Driver77]

Two months of prepping for this and still.........
Well I forgot to run the timer thru it's paces and it figures, not set right, so light on for 2 days straight.
One plant, LSD keeled over and another one Blue God is not looking to good.
The others are fine. Had them set to 18/6 starting at 8pm, found out when I checked in the morning
at 7:30am and lights were on,..... not off. Checked it with a table lamp and darn if it was not working proper.
Fidiled with it till I got it working right and put it back but needed to reset it all before my other plants keeled over.
Now its off at 6pm ( I checked ) and on again at midnight. If it's on in the morning and LSD is still alive I'm saved,
if LSD is dead, I have one LSD seed left to pop and hope it pops fast.
My main light has a timer built in with the controller, so no worries there,
but for now,, with the T5 light, I have to use one and I have probs with mech timers too, lil tiny pins.

I need a timer that I can use with an app for the next run. Not sure where to look. I thought someone was using one like that.

Well, sittin' down with wifey to watch Wheel of Fortune and a beer and a shot and a smoke.
Tommorows a better day.

I use smart outlets to time lights with an app. Amazon and just about every hardware store carries them now.

 

[Kuwl]

My neighbor had a bunch of old boat cradles he was burning so I grabbed my electric chain saw with my generator in my trailer with yard tractor drove over and cut 2 large posts . 1- I burnt ...lol and one is the post I used.

Lucky cat is Ghost to have a home and be feral too. Tough, you've had him quite a while now and still no love? I had a wrestling match with Qnight this morning, my arm took the brunt, 3 blood holes 2 scratch marks in a fun game he had. I was giving him a morning mauling as I call it with a rough petting, he loves it but got all worked up, gave me a warning meow and I kept at it then wham hes got my arm teeth, claws and ears back, Yikes everybody calm down wees all good....serenity now....and he was back to gentle sorry cat but for a few seconds he was in wild gotta killem mode....Good thing he loves me or I'd have been fked.;

You bet, I was roughing it with Shady yesterday, he rolls over and wants to play
but when I start rough housing he digs in, lol, but I think he's more gentle than your cat Qnight.
Same with Panda but he is even more gentle than Shady.

I seen Ghost was in the bathroom as I came in, She was laying on the dresser watching out the window,
I closed the door, she wanted out but was panicy when she could not escape.
I slowly reached out to her and as I got closer, she spased and hissed, lol, scared me a bit and
I backed off, That ended the thought of trying to friend her. Funny thing, she would let us pet her
as she was eating when we first got her. After I picked her up for my wife to see her sex, she never
forgave me for touching her. She likes my wife better but still no dice on the touching,
She is way tamer now and walks by Sky as she stares at the dog. Dog stares back lol.
Sky so wants to be friends with her. Sky will kiss Panda when she sees him or walks by. Not Shady lol.

 

[Kuwl]

Update: I was up at 6am, early for me haha I could not sleep cause I thought I messed up.
Forgot to put a fan in there for a breeze and forgot to put some steam for RH but they are weeds now.
I thought I had time to do that, still early, I thought. They grow up fast, don't they haha.
I was so relieved to see they recovered and looked pretty good.
Everything looking good so far.

I though this was funny.
My Grandson wants to start a garden using some kind of copper technology he found on instagram, geeesh! pseudoscience

 

[Kuwl]

I use smart outlets to time lights with an app. Amazon and just about every hardware store carries them now.

I tried govee smart plugs but had problems and never got them working.

I looked at the Home Depot and they had one that looks good for $10 W/free delivery
I'll prob get it (Defiant) See how it goes.

 

[Pipecarver]

I tried govee smart plugs but had problems and never got them working.

I looked at the Home Depot and they had one that looks good for $10 W/free delivery
I'll prob get it (Defiant) See how it goes.

I have at least 10 timers here, some work others don't but the best ones are the digital that I can program. Once set they are reliable but the trick is remembering how to program them. Lose the little pamphlet and it can take an hour to figure it out. I have 1 cheap one with just a red and blue slider and it works well just an on and an off. I have a bunch of the fkin pin ones and they all suck. I use one for my far reds, just 1 pin up at lights out for 15 min but my old eyes don't see the positions well so it takes a few days to get the timing just right.

 

[Pipecarver]

I'm dropping some seeds tonight if I can remember to take them upstairs, time to get another run started. It puts me at a shaky time for a harvest, looking at almost June before I flip, mid Aug harvest....lol....what am I doing? Mid Aug and big buds? hot, humid and mushroom growing time in my basement....ah well I can't not grow for another 2 months to get me past summer....Grow and bitch it is then...I want to get another Air con for a my dry box maybe it won't be so bad, other than the fking elect bill

 

[Kuwl]

One week old and they all look good except one of the Blue Dream.
I have no clue why, but it was not doing well from the git go.
These guys are in straight Pro Mix with nothing added.
I might have over watered but the others seem fine.
Temp in the tent goes from 74-80 but try to keep it close to 80 as much as I can.
RH swings from 53% to 70% when the steamer is on. It's a small one but even at it's lowest setting,
it gets up to 75% so I'm putting a timer on it to switch on/off at 15 min on/ 1 hour off, intervals
Small 6" fan in there to move the air and I keep tabs on them with a Govee Temp/RH wifi monitor.
I can't remember this happening before so not sure what went wrong.
Got another BD seed in water germinating, will take it out and put in paper towel tonight, by tomorrow it'll go in a solo.
Not gonna take a chance cause I doubt this one will recover.
I put a stake next to it to hold the top leaves from pulling it down further, as it was bent over all the way, touching the stem.
The second BD is the tall one with the stick supports.

 

[thisguyvapes]

I have that light, it's a beast! That's the light that pushed me into the CO2 territory.

Catio sounds super fun for the kitties. I've been in the Catio rabbit hole these last few weeks, but I'm a renter and my wife disapproves.

 

[Kuwl]

I have that light, it's a beast! That's the light that pushed me into the CO2 territory.

Catio sounds super fun for the kitties. I've been in the Catio rabbit hole these last few weeks, but I'm a renter and my wife disapproves.

I can't wait to start using it, which might be in 2 or 3 wks, depends.
I also have to figure out the control panel functions and how to set it up.
Guess I'll have to start reading the manual but if I can find a good utube vid to guide
me through it.

I got it too soon lol, it's sitting on the porch in boxes till warmer weather.
I need aleast 3 days of warm n dry to do this, not sure i will have any help haha.

 

[Kuwl]

I got the back up Blue Dream poppin' up and looks good.
The other BD plant is kinda hangin' on but don't look good.


On the near left is the crippled BD plant, The new kid is doing great, it will be 2 weeks behind tho.
I have no idea what went wrong, same dirt and everything.

 

[Kuwl]

Set up the new light today had a little bit of trouble with all the different settings in the end. I got it all figured out, checked the light and it turned on when it was supposed to and turned off when it was supposed to.
Only problem I had was the sunrise/Sunset function did not work, yet.

Getting the pots ready today, had to find all the socks and stuff, what a pain.
I’m going to stick them in the auto pots to continue vegging a couple more weeks then I’ll turn on the system.
I don’t like my T5 for growing them more than two weeks. It’s only 2 feet long with four bulbs.

Pic of Ghost sleeping on the couch where Sky looks out the window in the daytime.
Looks like she caught me taken a pic the second time ha ha.

 

[Kuwl]

Skippin' along
They bout two weeks old and a bulb blew out on my T5 so I decided to skip a step
and transfere them directly into the main auto pots but the system is not on so
put my pans and stands under.
Gave them a good watering before the transfer.
Set them in their new homes, discarding the solo cups as I planted. I was soooo
careful, all the planning went out the window, I forgot to mark them....again!
Ha ha airhead mistake. Oh well, they took to it real good so far.
I did them all but 2 are in gal. pots for a bit, especialy the new BD.
Could not have the tent and all that stuff in the room, to cluttered and can't get around.
Guess I'll know as the buds start to pop who is who, I think.

Now that the main light (FC 8000 EVO) is on and set, I'm nervous as hell.
I'll go down n check tonight at lights out....8pm and check morning
to see if light is on. But I can't get the Sunrise/Sunset to work yet.
I got a vid but it flys by so fast, hard to catch the part I need.

The App is cool and acts like a timer so no need for one with this light.

Crossing my fingers this works out.
I've done this before with no problems (skipping a step).

Well I gonna roll up a few for tonight and check out that vid again.

Darn watched 4 times, paused it and wrote down stuff nada, not
sure i have the same contoller interface or can't find where the
S/S settings are on mine. The only thing I found to set is the S/S time.

 

[Pipecarver]

Skippin' along
They bout two weeks old and a bulb blew out on my T5 so I decided to skip a step
and transfere them directly into the main auto pots but the system is not on so
put my pans and stands under.
Gave them a good watering before the transfer.
Set them in their new homes, discarding the solo cups as I planted. I was soooo
careful, all the planning went out the window, I forgot to mark them....again!
Ha ha airhead mistake. Oh well, they took to it real good so far.
I did them all but 2 are in gal. pots for a bit, especialy the new BD.
Could not have the tent and all that stuff in the room, to cluttered and can't get around.
Guess I'll know as the buds start to pop who is who, I think.

Now that the main light (FC 8000 EVO) is on and set, I'm nervous as hell.
I'll go down n check tonight at lights out....8pm and check morning
to see if light is on. But I can't get the Sunrise/Sunset to work yet.
I got a vid but it flys by so fast, hard to catch the part I need.

The App is cool and acts like a timer so no need for one with this light.

Crossing my fingers this works out.
I've done this before with no problems (skipping a step).

Well I gonna roll up a few for tonight and check out that vid again.

Darn watched 4 times, paused it and wrote down stuff nada, not
sure i have the same contoller interface or can't find where the
S/S settings are on mine. The only thing I found to set is the S/S time.
View attachment 96365View attachment 96364View attachment 96363
View attachment 96362

Nope, I'm not messing with no Apps, I couldn't figure out how to call or receive phone calls and by the time I figured it out they hung up. When I bought the FC4000 it had an option for the controller for $10 more. Nope.

 

[Kuwl]

2 wks + 3d old
Plodding along in veg stage.
Seems they should be more bushy with more branches.
Might be the shock of the transplant into much richer soil.
I put down some azomite and perlite for bug protection since I forgot to treat the coco coir.
I used the same mix as last time a 3-2-1 mix of Coco Coir- Perlite and Soil.



This light is cool with the app I can control the light from anywhere.
Someday I'll get that Sunrise/Sunset feature to work.
The chart says ppf should be 400 @ 25% but that don't work cause as you
can see the ppf is much too low @ 30%, so I raise it to 40% and it's now at 427.
Just tryin' to get the right mix/balance. I lower it before lights out and turn up an hr after lights on.
The light is 12" to 14" above. I got one 6" oscillating fan and the intake air is an open 4" duct from outside.
The exhaust is open but not on yet. So there is air flow but keeping it passive for humidity reasons mostly.

Cellar Control Center

So far I'm havin' fun with this light and the app/controller.
Not taking anything it shows to serious but it's interesting to me, to watch the changes.

Ghost is family now and wanders anywhere she wants, plays with the other cats and is getting along great!
Still treats us humans as danger with about the same attitude as she gives the dog, Sky.
She will let Sky come close 2or 3 feet and stare at each other, then Sky will turn and walk away.
Once in awhile she hisses but it's rare now. She moans when she is hungry and she is hungry alot haha.
Seen her brother, on my catcam, last night after I put food out for the strays.

https://www.lionking.org/sounds/WAV/ImSurroundedByIdiots.wav

 

[Pipecarver]

You have more patients than I do with cats, You've had Ghost in for what about a year now? and He still won't let you close enough to pat? Have you tried a play wand with him, ours loves 5-10 min of playing with it. Its an interactive toy they can't seem to resist.

 

[Kuwl]

You have more patients than I do with cats, You've had Ghost in for what about a year now? and He still won't let you close enough to pat? Have you tried a play wand with him, ours loves 5-10 min of playing with it. Its an interactive toy they can't seem to resist.View attachment 96980

Yep I've tried everything and nada.
It's a lil hard when the other two cats are protective and interfere when I'm trying to get Ghost's attention.
They always jump in and seem to come out of nowhere.
Then there is Sky who thinks she's a kitty cat too! So she will join in any play activities I start.
Every time I try to get close, she will only sniff my fingers and take off.
I was hand feeding her at night but it never got past her eating out of my hand, that's it.
She can touch but it's no dice for me.
She runs to safety as soon as she feels thratened.
She sprays in the cellar and up in the spare room, but not much and not often.
My wife seems to get a lil closer and Ghost seems to trust her a lil bit more but not much more than me.
I don't know what else to do.
I just took these pic's playing with a wand with feathers on the end of a wire.
Panda, Shady and Sky, Ghost ran down cellar.