steamrollers COM Stonington grow

[Rootsruler]

Interested to learn more about these Bluemats, been hearing a lot about them lately.

The reports I've gotten on them are mostly positive. Most of the complaints have been where the little valve inside either clogs or gets stuck open.

IMO, Blu Mats are good if you're running media with soil amendments already in the soil and all you need to do is give them clear water. When you introduce nutrient is when you start running into issues. Even liquid nutrient will clog up the works if you aren't running any drip clear along with your solutions. I know @Nesta has been running them and loves them and he runs Canna nutrient through them.

One of my friends that runs them told me that even with clear water you want a filter for any debris that may clog the carrots.

 

[steamroller]

Big 12 are 3 days short of 4 weeks in soil.
The last 5 are 2 weeks in soil .

^^ All 17 in 1 g pots^^

^^ Candy Store is the largest so far^^

^^ the funny Rum Runner turning its blades sideways again today^^
It was only 1 leaf earlier today and wasn't happening since the first time???

^^2 @ XXX^^

^^Business end of room^^

^^ 3 Zamal Dreams just up potted^^

^^ Fruit Punch^^

Fruit punch ,Rum Runner and Candy store are the largest.
All but the 5 just up potted got fed 1 gallon 3-2-1 and a little bit more plain water

 

[Nesta]

The reports I've gotten on them are mostly positive. Most of the complaints have been where the little valve inside either clogs or gets stuck open.

IMO, Blu Mats are good if you're running media with soil amendments already in the soil and all you need to do is give them clear water. When you introduce nutrient is when you start running into issues. Even liquid nutrient will clog up the works if you aren't running any drip clear along with your solutions. I know @Nesta has been running them and loves them and he runs Canna nutrient through them.

One of my friends that runs them told me that even with clear water you want a filter for any debris that may clog the carrots.

I have had really good luck running both living soil and Coco with liquid nutrients thru Blumats. 99% of the issues people experience are because they either set them up incorrectly or they allowed the reservoir to run out of water thus allowing air into the line. If set up properly you shouldn’t have any issues. I do run drip, clean in my tank.

 

[SweetLeafGrow]

^^ the funny Rum Runner turning its blades sideways again today^^
It was only 1 leaf earlier today and wasn't happening since the first time???

Was wondering if that one likes a bit less light? Looks almost like some tacoing on those upper fans and maybe those lower leaves are turning away in some fashion because of the light? That was my first impression when seeing that photo.

 

[steamroller]

One of my friends that runs them told me that even with clear water you want a filter for any debris that may clog the carrots.

I am pretty sure that the carrot is just a valve.
Osmotic pressure either sucks the water in the carrot out opening a valve that has been pinching the water line or refills carrot and closes the valve.
No ferts or water are actually passed through the carrot.
The terra cotta should never clog with cleanings between grows.
Like Nesta said if the line is clogged with solids from improper use that is another issue.
Same for the rings. If they clog I will just enlarge the drip holes or increase the number of them.
The hose that goes through carrot is very small though. 3 mil?

 

[Rootsruler]

@steamroller - I followed your lead and replaced my bin res with a 30 gal Brute. One of the issues I forgot about is my bin has square sides and the Brute is round so trying to suction cup a pump with the input pointed at the bottom to the wall of the Brute won't work. Same goes for the powerheads. I decided to stick the 880gph pump onto the bottom of the Brute where it is straight enough for the suction cups to stick and laid the 269gph pump on its side to keep nutrient from settling on the bottom and suspended in the water.

I may try and rig something up to get it to work but for now that's the plan!

 

[steamroller]

See if you can find magnetic mounts for your pumps.
Many come with them now.
They are actually magnets in a suction cup.
One on inside attached to pump one on outside.

 

[Rootsruler]

See if you can find magnetic mounts for your pumps.
Many come with them now.
They are actually magnets in a suction cup.
One on inside attached to pump one on outside.

I'll look around. I was thinking just get a strip of poly carb plastic and hang it inside off the edge of the can so the pumps and powerheads have a surface to stick to..

 

[steamroller]

I let the powerheads just sit on the bottom when I use them.
I am running air to both barrels now so no pumps.

 

[steamroller]

4 weeks 2 days in soil for the big 12.

^^Funny RR under lower 35% power lighting^^

^^ Fruit Punch^^
^^
^^ Fruit Punch^^
Zamal Dreams and Rum Runner at 19 days in soil

^Rum Runner^

^ Zamal Dreams^

^^Zamal Dreams^^
They're all drinking more and just fed 2 gallons 100%.
Pretty pleased.

 

[Observer]

4 weeks 2 days in soil for the big 12.
View attachment 33980
View attachment 33982^^Funny RR under lower 35% power lighting^^
View attachment 33983
^^ Fruit Punch^^
^^View attachment 33986
^^ Fruit Punch^^
Zamal Dreams and Rum Runner at 19 days in soil
View attachment 33981
^Rum Runner^
View attachment 33987
^ Zamal Dreams^
View attachment 33988
^^Zamal Dreams^^
They're all drinking more and just fed 2 gallons 100%.
Pretty pleased.

hell yea

cant wait till i get me a proper room.

Fruit Punch my goto drink, i gotta get that plant, lol.

 

[steamroller]

So topped the Zamal dreams and late Rum Runner and Cherry Gar See Ya yesterday.
All plants fed 2 gallons at 100% today.
They are dark green, but all seem well.
Well except the Rum Runner that is light shy?
Not sure WTF is up with her? I had turned the lights down from 50% to 35% and she just reacts even worse?
Leaves turned sideways within 10 minutes of watering today on top of tacoing.
I just moved her to a spot not directly under a light. Just a little to the side.
None of the other plants merit turning the lights down and I did say I would push if they let me.

Room is running super smooth since sealing it up.
Maybe with no venting I should fill up my CO2 tanks and see how long they last?
Going to pour rain here tomorrow so maybe go to welding supply and fill em up.

 

[Anthem275]

So topped the Zamal dreams and late Rum Runner and Cherry Gar See Ya yesterday.
All plants fed 2 gallons at 100% today.
They are dark green, but all seem well.
Well except the Rum Runner that is light shy?
Not sure WTF is up with her? I had turned the lights down from 50% to 35% and she just reacts even worse?
Leaves turned sideways within 10 minutes of watering today on top of tacoing.
I just moved her to a spot not directly under a light. Just a little to the side.
None of the other plants merit turning the lights down and I did say I would push if they let me.

Room is running super smooth since sealing it up.
Maybe with no venting I should fill up my CO2 tanks and see how long they last?
Going to pour rain here tomorrow so maybe go to welding supply and fill em up.

how many plants are in there steam?

 

[steamroller]

Got 17 total.
All in 1 gallon pots.

 

[Anthem275]

Got 17 total.
All in 1 gallon pots.

then about 3 weeks out of a 20 pound bottle. early on a little bite longer and like week 4-6 a little shorter.

 

[steamroller]

My bottles always went much faster when I had the vent fans running.
I would thrilled if my 20lb would last 2-3 weeks.
It was 2-3 days before~!

So now through flower would be ideal time huh?

I have inkbird controller so I guess if I just matched ppm to par this could increase my yield.

 

[Anthem275]

My bottles always went much faster when I had the vent fans running.
I would thrilled if my 20lb would last 2-3 weeks.
It was 2-3 days before~!

So now through flower would be ideal time huh?

I have inkbird controller so I guess if I just matched ppm to par this could increase my yield.

It has to be sealed. If you get it good and sealed up you can get 2500 PPM's of CO2 lights out. That is a way to tell how well the room is sealed. Set your PPMs around 1300 to 1400

 

[steamroller]

Besides the insulation on the solid concrete floor the room is pretty sealed with vents all closed up.
I think I will fill them up tomorrow and see where I get.
So you let the controller run at night instead of shutting it off?

 

[Anthem275]

Besides the insulation on the solid concrete floor the room is pretty sealed with vents all closed up.
I think I will fill them up tomorrow and see where I get.
So you let the controller run at night instead of shutting it off?

Mine automatically shuts off when the lights go out. I would probably look up your model on the inkbird website and see if it does the same. It is pretty common for them to go shut off when lights go out. Say you are not running the room sealed right now are you?
Do me a favor just plug in the inkbird Co2 sensor and see what it is reading between 350 and 450 is normal. If you have the room sealed now you really have to add Co2. The plants will eat it up. Sometimes a bottle runs out in the middle of lights on and I have seen like 80 PPM of CO2. You do not want any of that.

 

[steamroller]

Just hooked it up and waited for it to acclimate.
It was stored indoors.
Reading 425-430 which if I remember from before is higher than the room was ?
Running the ICC-500 with SO1 sensor.

INKBIRD Programmable CO2 Controller w/ S01 Sensor ICC-500T

INKBIRD ICC-500T is a CO2 carbon dioxide controller that is plug-and-play and easy to operate. The controller is equipped with dual relays for connecting CO2 regulators, generators and fans. Supports programming of CO2 concentration high and low alarms.

inkbird.com

 

[Anthem275]

Just hooked it up and waited for it to acclimate.
It was stored indoors.
Reading 425-430 which if I remember from before is higher than the room was ?
Running the ICC-500 with SO1 sensor.eable-co-controller-icc-500t[/URL]

I think it has a photo cell (light sensing device) on it but the specifications do not mention anything. Do a small experiment to confirm. Set the desired PPM to 2000. Plug in an electric device to the CO2 side of the inkbird. Something that does not use a lot of watts. Place the sensor in a lightproof location and see if the device shuts off and if it goes back on when light is introduced.

 

[Anthem275]

Just hooked it up and waited for it to acclimate.
It was stored indoors.
Reading 425-430 which if I remember from before is higher than the room was ?
Running the ICC-500 with SO1 sensor.

INKBIRD Programmable CO2 Controller w/ S01 Sensor ICC-500T

INKBIRD ICC-500T is a CO2 carbon dioxide controller that is plug-and-play and easy to operate. The controller is equipped with dual relays for connecting CO2 regulators, generators and fans. Supports programming of CO2 concentration high and low alarms.

inkbird.com

Also you being in the room for like 5 minutes can have an impact on CO2.

 

[steamroller]

Also you being in the room for like 5 minutes can have an impact on CO2.

I remember just breathing on it and it climbing like crazy~!
I'll do the light test.
Thanks man.

 

[steamroller]

Quick test says it does not have photocell.
It is plugged in to the strip for lights so on timer anyways.

 

[steamroller]

Ok when I checked room this morning the CO2 was 185~!
That's what I remember from before.
So tank is hooked up and room is set for 800ppm.
My lights are only 50% on a "300" watt led.
My reading says there is a much larger difference between 600-800 than 800-1,000.
I also believe the ppm should be increased with the light which is a continuing effort right until last weeks of flower.
So fingers crossed the tank last longer than days or just 1 week.
We will see~!
I would sure love if I could pull this off effectively.

 

[MDK]

Nice choice of strains dude!

I've been wanting to see that rum runner in action and that zamal was crazy max grew.....had me bugging out on the colas, massive....I don't know my airflow could handle it or I would have gotten it as one of the dfg packs from the Halloween contest...but I'm glad someone else is growing it too! Max killed it, but I noticed he always does (you always do too) so it'll be awesome to see how she does for you...I am expecting similar results, big honker buds!

 

[Rootsruler]

Ok when I checked room this morning the CO2 was 185~!
That's what I remember from before.
So tank is hooked up and room is set for 800ppm.
My lights are only 50% on a "300" watt led.
My reading says there is a much larger difference between 600-800 than 800-1,000.
I also believe the ppm should be increased with the light which is a continuing effort right until last weeks of flower.
So fingers crossed the tank last longer than days or just 1 week.
We will see~!
I would sure love if I could pull this off effectively.

How can your room CO2 be at 185 ppm when ambient is 400? Are your plants absorbing CO2 at a rate faster than your tank can replace it?

 

[steamroller]

How can your room CO2 be at 185 ppm when ambient is 400? Are your plants absorbing CO2 at a rate faster than your tank can replace it?

That was this morning before I installed the tank.
Still I always gawk when I see people with 400+ using nothing.

 

[Rootsruler]

That was this morning before I installed the tank.
Still I always gawk when I see people with 400+ using nothing.

400+ is normal nowadays. I remember setting up CO2 PPM sensors and having to calibrate to 340ppm as the norm. That was 20 yrs ago.

 

[Max]

So your rooms sealed bud thats why low c02 reading?

 

[steamroller]

So your rooms sealed bud thats why low c02 reading?

I am really hoping this was the case.
Also just hoping the CO2 can limit other issues being too low can enhance. Lockouts and such?
$35 a bottle so just hoping to get 2 weeks or so?

 

[Anthem275]

I am really hoping this was the case.
Also just hoping the CO2 can limit other issues being too low can enhance. Lockouts and such?
$35 a bottle so just hoping to get 2 weeks or so?

The place you are getting the bottles filled is a rip off $15 to 20 a bottle is what I pay

 

[Rootsruler]

The place you are getting the bottles filled is a rip off $15 to 20 a bottle is what I pay

Yes. I used to get 50 lb tanks filled for $21 at Air Gas.

 

[Stoneyluv]

you need to talk to em more Steam!! breathe heavy when you're watering ... sorry, not helping!!!

 

[steamroller]

So the room was getting warm.
One infinity said 85 w/ 63% humidity and the other said 89 with 58% humidity. The sensors are hanging inches from each other.
Decided to connect the exhaust to intake with a 20 foot section of 6 inch line.
Then I set the high temps to move air at 85.
Took a moment but got them synched up.
Figured with the 20 feet of 6 inch hose running through the non heated area this will keep temps more appropriate.
I had talked about doing this long ago but slacker you know.
Hopefully things balance out.

you need to talk to em more Steam!! breathe heavy when you're watering ... sorry, not helping!!!

Really would help. The CO2 goes up atleast 100ppm if I spend any time in the room.

I may make up some sugar/yeast CO2 bottles if the gas turns out too expensive.
I will search out other suppliers, but I have been getting CO2 and O2 from same welding supply for years now.
Been a while since I have been there but remember CO2 costing $25 before.
If any state can beat California for waste and cost we got it here in NY~!

 

[Bandit420]

So the room was getting warm.
One infinity said 85 w/ 63% humidity and the other said 89 with 58% humidity. The sensors are hanging inches from each other.
Decided to connect the exhaust to intake with a 20 foot section of 6 inch line.
Then I set the high temps to move air at 85.
Took a moment but got them synched up.
Figured with the 20 feet of 6 inch hose running through the non heated area this will keep temps more appropriate.
I had talked about doing this long ago but slacker you know.
Hopefully things balance out.

Really would help. The CO2 goes up atleast 100ppm if I spend any time in the room.

I may make up some sugar/yeast CO2 bottles if the gas turns out too expensive.
I will search out other suppliers, but I have been getting CO2 and O2 from same welding supply for years now.
Been a while since I have been there but remember CO2 costing $25 before.
If any state can beat California for waste and cost we got it here in NY~!

I knew a feller back in the late 90s who kept a ferret in the grow room for the co2.
Little bastard was a biter and I hated the damn weasel wannabe...and it stank too...like a musk scented cat and it ate cat food... the ferret pee soaked newspaper was not cool, but dude did grow some dank Afghani that was better than what any of the rest of us were growing at that time

 

[steamroller]

I could use another pet?
Would a girlfriend work?

Scratch that.

So I think I will need to up pot the big 12 this weekend.
They are going through water pretty quick in the 1 gallon pots. Every 2-3 days.
Got some Mr. Fulvic since reading Bill Fs The recipe.
I had read it before but when @Observer asked if I had it I thought I really should be using it.
I'll skip the silica as I may try another technique this grow anyways, but for the cost the Mr. Fulvic is a no brainer.
1 ml. per gallon says it last a long time. Thanks Observer for bringing it up~!
Room is well under control and the CO2 is holding up so I lowered the lights closer to plants and turned CO2 up to 850ppm. The lights are at aprox.60% and 12-16 inches above tops.
Temp is good at 85f with RH holding at 60%
All plants got fed 2 gallons worth at 100% strength with the Mr.Fulvic except the 3 Zamal Dreams. They are still slower on uptake being younger but doing great.

 

[Stoneyluv]

i assume you got no gauge on your tank? just to see how much you've been using.

 

[steamroller]

There is a pressure gauge on my regulator.
It has not moved which seems like a good sign?
It would have been smart if I weighed, the tank after filling, then I would have had more accurate info.
The tank I filled is a steel 'rental' not my aluminum tank I own and know the weight of empty and full.
If the tank holds up long enough I'll be filling the other to have a replacement on hand.
When I used CO2 in fish tanks it seemed it always ran out Saturday night or on Sunday~!
Having a spare just made life easier, so I threw down a deposit and have the 'rental' tank.
I don't rent it or anything but don't get deposit back till I surrender the tank.

 

[Stoneyluv]

yeah that is a good sign the gauge hasn't moved. i think my welding tank is increments of 100 psi or something.. if you movement in a couple days i'd be worried. at least when the gauge does come down you'll know around half way anyway.. i didn't even bother asking about a scale but yeah if you got one of those it would be a more accurate measurement for sure!!! but like ya say if it works out on this trial run you can use your good tanks and know the weight.
i feel ya on the saturday night bro! f'n murphys law!!

btw... i jelly of the 850 you got going on!!!