Hydrotek Flood Trays

We are currently using a 48"x48", and a 24"x48" Hydrotek Flood Tray.  They are black/dark grey, and the measurements represent the outer dimensions.  They are a good comprimise between cost and quality.  Hydrotek trays are thinner than some of the competitors but are priced well, at only $75 for a 48"x48" tray.

You cannot stand on these trays or they will break.  Dark trays are better than light colored trays for plants.  The underside of leaves are not intended to receive high levels of reflected light, or otherwise they transpire too quickly.

Botanicare Flood Trays

We are using a Botanicare 48"x48"x7" Flood tray, as well as a 36" x 36" x7" Flood tray.  They are white, with the measurements representing the INNER dimesions.  The manufacturer would cringe, but customers report being able to stand on their Botanicare trays.  Don't try that though.  They are very heavy duty.  Botanicare Flood Trays are an example of you get what you pay for.  At $144 for a 48"x48" tray, they are not cheap.  However, they are the highest quality.

Note to tent/hut users.  Many portable darkrooms are designed using metric measurements, while the trays are SAE.  You cannot safely fit a 48"x48" Botanicare tray into a 48" x 48" darkroom.  The Hydrotek trays need to be trimmed to fit.

C.A.P. HID Reflectors

We are currently using a LumeSun and a LumeCool Reflector.  Both are very high quality units, that are currently housing 400W Metal Halide bulbs (the Lumesun is Using a Blue MH bulb).  The Lumesun should be used on 250W MH/HPS and 400W MH/HPS bulbs.  It has 4" air cooled flanges for those wanting ventilation.  Ours is vented.  Designed to let very minimal light out of the vents.

The Lumecool features 6" vents for cooling.  Best suited for 400W and 600W bulbs.  Both of these reflectors are highly suggested.  The LumenAire brand of hoods are, umm, still being worked out.  The last ones we got had very sticky gaskets and reflective liners very poorly secured in place.  The hinges are very cool.

Valuline In-Line Centrifugal Fans

Our grow room sports an 8" Valuline Fan (made by CAP), while our darkroom is fitted with a 4" one.  Both kick ass and are the most affordable on the market.  They pull pretty low Amps, with the 4" fan pulling less than 1 amp.  Valuline Fans have cheesy looking packaging, but are great quality.  They pull just as much air as a CAN Fan, and cost half as much.  Low noise, rubber mounted brackets, long power cords, low price.  So far we can't find a reason to use another fan for the average grow room.

Rule of thumb is to evacuate your room once an hour in 5 minutes.  Come into our shop and we will set you up with the correct fan for your cubic feet.

NEXTGEN DIGITAL BALLASTS

These digital ballasts are very compact and look like car amplifiers.  But don't be confused by appearance - they are super quite and cool running ballasts.  We are using two 400/600W switchable ballasts now.  They really run as cool as body temperature.  Able to run between 90-260V without hesitation. A cool feature is the ability to use a 400W MH bulb for veg and then use a 600W HPS bulb for flowering.

The only issues we have heard with NextGen ballasts related to the early models.  Backed by a 5 year warranty.  They are supposed to put out more light than a magnetic ballast, but our $30 light meter didn't show significant difference.

Roots Organic Formula 707

This potting soil is the best soil in the market for the High Desert area.  It is formulated to retain water exceptionally well. Because of its high coco content, it does not compact much or get hard like Ocean Forest can do.  Comes in a 30 Gallon grow bag and 3 cubic feet (twice as much as most).

We were impressed within days of transplanting into it.  The only negative we have heard involved the soil coming with fungus gnats.  We would wager that this is not from the soil, but from the wholesale or retail middle men.  Our 707 is clean and comes from a highly trusted, and clean supplier.

Roots Organic Nutrients

Do not use this stuff in anything but soil.  You have been warned.  We used the Buddha Grow, Trinity, Ancient Amber, and Extreme Serene on young tomatoes and peppers.  It smelled to high heaven.  The dirty plants seemed to like it though.  Some premixed nutrients let to sit aerated for a day fermented stronger than most beer. Nutrients with head!

Now on soil, preferrably outdoors, it works well.  The Buddha Grow is popular and is effective.  It seems weaker than stated and does not burn plants easily.  The Ancient Amber is a great humic/fulvic acid blend.  Customers have also praised HPK (a bat guano flower booster) to give noticeable changes quickly.  Until Roots learns to hydrolize, sonicate, or do whatever is needed to be done to keep the bad guys at bay, it is 30% off in our store.  We will continue to stock Buddha Grow and Bloom.  Those work well.

(Photo of Grow Room)

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Hannah pHEP pH Meter

We used this meter for a month to test it.  It is very ergonomic and is a quality unit with replaceable electrode. We did not drop it in a reservoir, but it did get a little wet with no problems.  For the price it worked exceptionally well.  A quick one point calibration should be done before each use.  They do not hold calibration that well.  They retail for around $54.

Hannah Primo TDS/ PPM tester

This unit has been in use for about 6 weeks.  It calibrates easy and seems to be accurate within 20 ppm.  Stays calibrated very well.  You only get a ppm reading, but for $35, the Primo is probably your best bang for your buck.  Highly recommended for all growers.

C.A.P. Controllers

For controllers, you can choose from a few manufacturers.  We chose C.A.P. because of their quality, warranty, and proximity (based in Riverside, CA). We are using an MLC-8, Fuzzy Logic, and AIR-3 currently.  All are about 5 years old and work perfectly still.

MLC-8 is the master lighting controller.  These are useful for hooking up your power supply to one source for all your lights.  C.A.P. Master lighting controllers come in 4, 8, and 16 light configurations.  120V/240V.

 The Fuzzy Logic controls CO2 in our grow room, without overshooting the desired set point.  It is hooked to a C.A.P. regulator and to an AIR-3.

The AIR-3 is an atmospheric controller.  It controls temperature and humidity.  A photocell keeps the CO2 off at night when it is not needed.  It keeps the CO2 off when the exhaust runs.

If someone from C.A.P. reads this, how about shooting us some modern displays!

Air King Fans

We are using a couple different Air Kings.  Right now it is the wall mounted 16" and the floor standing 18".  The wall mount one is quite and vibration free.  Top of the line unit.  The Floor Standing one seems flimsier, and has more noise.  Difference in quality for sure.  Both move a lot of air, but given a choice I would stick with their wall-mount line. 

Their 6" clip on fan is a quality unit that is recommended.

Gro-Tek MM2000

We are not exactly sure what this product was intended for originally, but it has many uses.  You use very little so a quart should last a year or two.  It smells like lemon fruity pebbles and has floaties in it.

Now, use this stuff in your EZ Clone, GroClone, or any hydro/aeroponic cloner.  Follow the instructions and do not use any other nutrients.  You will never use anything else besides MM2000 in your clone machine again. For cloning it is simply the best.

We use it in our reservoirs during the case of excess bad and stinky microbes.  Used like this with a low-medium nutrient level clears it up in 2 days.  Use in conjunction with Hygrozyme or Sensizyme. Labeled as a root and foliar spray to relieve stress in plants.