Brother, we are on the same way.
2 Likes
totally agree with you there
4 Likes
Hello OG! Hope everyone is having an excellent day, I know I am! So first up just a quick update in the small tent and then we will do some rosin pressing 
.
Veg Tent
Hey @Kalgrae , ya said purple tips but WOW! The other two are not so dominantly purple but definitely has that purple hue throughout the leaves. What do you want me to call them, I may just say âpurple piggyâ to reference them. Plus I got 3 of those little piggies 
The re-vegged clones are growing out their funky leaf sets and are blasting growth tops faster then I can top them. Looking for one good mother each from the 3 NL clones and 3 WW clones. Then I will build the mother DWC setup 
Root systems are developing nicely with a gentle PH swing from 5.5 to 6.2 over 3 days. So they are eating, but the clones are going to be wanting more food so we will be selecting one mother from each in the next week.
Lets Squish Rosin!
So I have been playing around a bit and am getting better and better at my yields. This round I used some very average weed weighing in at 0.73g.
One thing I do is to put some moisture back into this dry ass weed. so I wrap it in a paper towel and gently run it under water for 20 seconds (water board 
) . Then donât squeeze it, just set it down for a 10 minutes in the wet towel or until the pigment from the weed is starting to absorb into the paper towel.
Next I lined a shot glass with parchment paper and press down a puck of the weed. When making the puck, I broke up the bud and removed the sharp stems that could rip out paper.
I made a bunch of parchment squares all the same size to fit the heat plates. I fold the edges so the goodness doesnât leak out.
So far I have figured out 240f to 260f for about 10 to 20 seconds seems to do the trick.
The first press I did it at 240f, then the second press I did at 260f and got a higher yield. I did not attempt a third press because the bud wasnât sticky at all afterwards.
We got 0.12g of beautiful rosin, This is great and if we crunch the numbers.
Number crunching...
Starting product weight is 0.73g
Ending product weight is 0.12g
Ending weight / Starting weight = Yield | 0.12 / 0.73 = 0.164 = 16.4% yield
Total of 16.4% yield on this average so-so weed. Not bad, but I think I can increase yield with better weed, and dialing in the press a bit more, but we are on the right track.
Thanks for joining me and may the wind always be at your back, and the sun always upon your face, and may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.
19 Likes
You know I am watching this eagerly.
99
3 Likes
I felt like you would be interest Iâm pressing some right now to see if I can improve yield. Plus I wanna make some e-juice with rosin.
4 Likes
Hi Roux,
I have been reading up on the DWC top feed systems and I am seriously considering trying it on my next grow. I like the ebb and flow too, but it seems a bit more up-front costs.
In one of the tutorials I read, they mentioned that you dont want the water too hot because it can cause issues. Im assuming with bacterial growth. However, they never said what temp range is ideal or how hot is too hot. I noticed you put a heater in your tank. What temperature range are you shooting for as ideal?
2 Likes
Almost forgot - have you tried using an air pump to feed water to the roots? Its been years and years, but I used to use an air stone inside a tube to pump water from the bottom of the tank and into an external filter. Im not sure how hi above the water level that type of setup would lift the water though. I know 2"-3" should be easy. How much water flow do you need going over the roots? Would a slow trickle work or do you need a flood?
Temp for water should be like 67f-74f
Cooler water holds more dissolved oxygen and warmer water promotes more root growth.
2 Likes
You can have as small as drops, or flood the whole table. Each has advantages and disadvantages. In hydro you just want to make sure there is enough dissolved O at the root zone.
3 Likes
Iâve looked into both the DWC top feed and Recirculating Deep Water Culture (RDWC). With both of these systems being a step up above regular DWC, due to the introduction of more oxygen either as; the oxygenated water being delivered by a pump to trickle down over the roots, or a steady stream of recirculated reservoir water pumped to the top of the reservoir breaking the water as it falls making oxygen in the water(RDWC)
I think extra air stones in a regular DWC can accomplish what the top feed DWC system has to offer. If the DWC system is setup properly, then the bubbles breaking on the surface from the air stone will create little droplets of water that should reach all the way to top of the net pot. Which will saturate the roots as it drips down. As the water level drops those droplets continue to splash on the roots, causing a crude aeroponic environment. I see little benefit having the inline drip system, when extra air stones accomplish same results.
The RDWC is a very nice solid system with lots of perks over regular DWC. Check it out. I believe @Zimbogroâs rockin the RDWC.
As for water temperature for your reservoir youâre going to get a range of answers. Its just one of those things people have differences on. There are pros and cons to different temperature water. Our good friend @Viva_Mexico pointed out 2 very good pros of both.
I personally have mine between 72f â 76f . But I also add a bit of H2o2 to prevent algae and have got a good air pump for oxygen in my water.
Never go lower than 65f and never above 77f and youâll be fine . That is great range for us because aquarium heaters share those ranges and they are cheap for heating water temp.
4 Likes
If costs are a concern check out hempy buckets. Cheapest and easiest hydro setup avil. Never have to worry about temps or ph flux.
1 Like
Looking back at your toothpick pics, I see what you mean about the bubbles working as well as top feed as long as the roots are hanging down a bit.
That helps a lot - thanks!
1 Like
@Roux again, you made my day. Iâd say if youâre able to get it to consistently grow purple, you will get credit for naming it! Perspective on the photo is great too.
Say commander, what temp were you set at when you pressed that bud?
99%
1st press = 260f
2nd press = 280f
I have no idea if these were the actual temperature of the plates. I do not have a IR thermometer and am just going off what the controller said.
1 Like
Hello OverGrowers!!! I am back from vacation (âholidayâ for the brothers over the pond)
Before I left, my PH meter was not giving accurate readings which caused huge deficiencies as the PH I was reading was actually a few points lower (YES whole points!). I keep my system at 5.5 - 6.2 but in reality it was more at 3.5 - 4.5. The plants did not like this. It threw up signs of Cal/Mg deficiency as I tried to correct that and with no result. The White Widow clones, Northern Lights clones, and Kalgraeâs #3 seedlings were all in very bad shape (Yellowing, stunted, deformed, dying leave, etc.)
So after a frustrating week I figured to test my PH with another method. BINGO! That is how I discovered the issue. I tried to calibrate my PH meter again and again, with no luck. It kept throwing up errors so I wasnât able to calibrate it. So now, Keep in mind I am using the vile and drops to test my real PH at this point (which for a hydro system is highly inefficient as far as precision and time goes.) I ordered a new PH meter from Hanna (donno why I didnât start with them, I have always used and trusted their products with great success) So i was pretty sure that these plant would be dead by the time I come back due to the mistreated water.
Iâve been gone for almost 2 weeks at this point. These plants had no interaction during the 2 weeks, they have been on there own. So here we are today, pictures of the aftermath
DOT DOT DOT
I separated the roots from the other plants and took some readings. They sorted themselves out. They corrected their PH level, and began to bounce back and flourish. I wish I could take the credit, but I canât they fixed themselves lol Also the PPMâs where outrageous, Iâm talking like 2100âs however their leaves are indicating no toxicities.
Thanks OGerâs for checking in!!
13 Likes
@Roux
Sounds like you returned from holidays just in time!
1 Like
well on their way to recovery. The pH drop method works and i stil use it for double confirmation but its definitely not as nice as a meter. Iâm on my second cheap meter just as i broke the first one i had relatively short it it life. But just need to pull the trigger on a decent one now that i like using my pH meter more. What did you end up getting ?
2 Likes
I went with the same meter I used over a decade ago.
Hannaâs a decent company, their customer service is great. When I first bought the meter 15 years ago I had a problem with it. I call them up and they offered to send a complete replacement. It arrived within a week at no cost to me. That was unheard of back then. And the meter worked great for years after.
Now fast forward to today. The meter arrived and I calibrated it, its reading ph accurately. They have a good product for the price, and their customer service was great. Although I do think there are better quality meters out there, but your going to pay $$$ for them. At least Hanna backs their products.
4 Likes
I couldnât take it anymore. These plants are too vigerous and just outgrowing this space to quicklyâŚI was going to wait, but I just canât anymoreâŚ
Oh no! Heâs done another DIY project 
Yep, The mother DWC reservoir is now up on the priory list. Well lets make quick work of this and put it all together. If anyone is wondering I think I spent $30 total. I screwed up and the drill got away from me a bit, but duct tape is awesome. 
Yay! Now that is done, I modded my flowering DWC containers to flower 4 plants (2=WW 2=NL) that are just to big to be mothers now. I kept 1 NL and 1 WW mother for the new DWC res. and now @Kalgrae poor neglected #3 plants are going to get the special attention they deserve.
Well thatâs about it for my little adventure today. Iâm now outta nutes so I need to order some asap (wasnât counting on flowering more plants, but life is a curve ball lol) Here is my setup of the two tents if you all are wondering or curious.
Thanks my fellow OGers!
16 Likes