Post UC Questions and Concerns Here

[Bubba kush]

So is there a benefit if I run 6 1000's on my 12 site EVO. I have lumatek dimmable ballast so I can run 600 750 or 1000

 

[UCHQ]

So is there a benefit if I run 6 1000's on my 12 site EVO. I have lumatek dimmable ballast so I can run 600 750 or 1000

You could always start at 600 till the canopy gets larger, then boost to 1000 watts the last half of your bloom to maximize your output.

 

[bakershredhead]

Hey Uchq wondering what is recommended for flushing the plants biweekly or not. As in would one run straight water in the system for four hours,drain and then refill with a fresh batch of nutes or do you just drain the system of old nutrient water and refill with fresh nuts? Then just flush with straight water at the end of the plants cycle. Thanks again for you time

 

[johnnyrex]

Need help on light position

Hello fellow farmers I recently purchase the
UC 4 XXL 13 and was gonna do a 5 light vertical
Grow.
My problem now is my space has been reduce and I can no longer
Do 4 plants. Now I have the space for 2 plants how
Would one position the light for 2 plants vertically? To maximize producing
Also can I configure the
The UC 4 XXL 13 to 2 plants thanks everyone for the input

 

[St3ve]

You could always start at 600 till the canopy gets larger, then boost to 1000 watts the last half of your bloom to maximize your output.

That actually what I've been doing lately. I have 600 MH's (conversion bulbs) that I run for the first 14 days, then 750 HPS that I run for a week, then switch to 1k HPS's after the stretch is done.

Then I run 750 the last week while droppin' the nutes to keep it cooler.

 

[woodsmaneh]

I sent an email from your web site as I have a cracked bucket but thought I would also post here. Came home yesterday to find a flood, checked it out and a bucket has a crack going from the 3" hole to the bottom of the bucket. The system is 6 to 7 months old is it covered by warranty? I have plants in them that are 4 weeks old any Idea's how to fix or repair so I don't lose the plants?

PS they got back to me and are sending a new bucket and told me to use Waterweld (epoxy clay) from Homer Depot to fix temp.

 

[St3ve]

sweet woods

 

[GanjaAL]

Wow... great company. YOu would be lucky with others to even get a return phone call. Great customer service in my opinion.

 

[woodsmaneh]

I had the shipping number for the replacement in my email within 3 hours. WOW great people to deal with. Fixed the crack last night and back at it. I am going to put EDPM down in the room so no more wet rugs.

 

[BCrocker]

Can someone explain the proper use of a top off res in an UC setup?

To my knowledge it holds previously RO'd water that will be used to daily top off the UC system after plants have consumed. Now, do you add nutrients back into this res? Or directly into the UC system

 

[St3ve]

There are a few ways I've seen different people use it.

The intended way is as you described with nutes premixed.

For me, I keep it the same as whats in the system.. which is usually 800ppm at .7. Then I'll keep it steady till I let it get low heading into the final two weeks where I will only add plain water to slowly drop the nutes in the system while the plants are finishing.

 

[UCHQ]

Hey Uchq wondering what is recommended for flushing the plants biweekly or not. As in would one run straight water in the system for four hours,drain and then refill with a fresh batch of nutes or do you just drain the system of old nutrient water and refill with fresh nuts? Then just flush with straight water at the end of the plants cycle. Thanks again for you time

Unless you have toxicity (build up) issues it should not be necessary to flush with plain water or a clearing agent before replenishing nute solution. As for the end of the bloom cycle, we recommend a 2-3 day flush in water culture.

 

[UCHQ]

Can someone explain the proper use of a top off res in an UC setup?

To my knowledge it holds previously RO'd water that will be used to daily top off the UC system after plants have consumed. Now, do you add nutrients back into this res? Or directly into the UC system

It is best to operate a UC integrated top off res with balanced nutes for a more seamless top off into your preexisting nute solution.

Answer from FAQ's on the web site....

When operated properly, top off should be balanced the same
as the solution in the system. Traditionally hydro growers
have been instructed to top off with ½ strength or pure water
to avoid nutrient toxicity but because the UC runs best with ½
strength nutes there is less of a chance of salt build-up.
Ideally the solution in the system should stay balanced even
as the plants use the nutrient and water. As a rule of thumb
if the nutrient EC/TDS rises as the solution is depleted you
are likely running your levels too high to begin with.
Conversely, if your EC/TDS drops it indicates you’ve started
to low. Ultimately, as solution levels drop in the system the
EC/TDS should stay stable, this is a good indicator that you’re
dialed in. This EC/TDS stability will translate into improved
plant health and greater pH stability to boot.

 

[BCrocker]

It is best to operate a UC integrated top off res with balanced nutes for a more seamless top off into your preexisting nute solution.

Answer from FAQ's on the web site....
.[/B]

Thanks for the info! I want two. I emailed CC just waiting for a reply. :)

 

[evu80]

I just bought the 16 site 13xl unit and wanted to know if each individual system requires its own water chiller. I was thinking about buying a larger chiller with the intention of expanding later with a second UC unit. That way I save more by going with a larger chiller than having to purchase another one down the road.

 

[UCHQ]

With the use of cool coils and one large centralized chiller you can service (cool) multiple UC's. I'd visit the advanced cooling Forum and check that out....possibly hit up Chillsville and get more info.

 

[Zensai]

Depending on your situation, draining to waste with a resistat is a way to not need a chiller. But you would want to have cold well water or another source of cold water like a spring that you would be able to draw through, and drain back to the source. Where I am located the well water comes out of the ground at 55, and its pretty easy to run to waste and drain back to the water table. The only cost is the cost of power for the pump, which is less then setting up a chiller to cool water, and pump it.

Make sure you understand that when you add a chiller of any size that it generate significant heat, which you will have to exhaust, or have it in a location where fresh air is able to keep the ambient temp down. Insulating your lines, and rez will make a huge difference.

How we use our top off systems is we have a large RO storage tank, that we have a inline pump that is plumbed to our top off rez. On the top off rez we have a 2 way output, one goes to our UC where we top off with the float valve, and we have a second output that goes to the drain. Between top off refills, we are able to shutoff the topoff feed line, and empty, clean, and rinse any nutes that we want to change. Usually we fill out top off rez with enough water+nutes to last the full week. Then we will do a quick rinse and drain of the tank, and pump fresh RO back in and mix our nutes. After everything is mixed and ready to go, we turn the float valve back on.

Nothing ever goes straight into our UC systems

 

[Shroomberry67]

I was wondering where the water level should be kept for the first week in veg? I have heard several different things and figured it best to just ask you guys?

 

[Kasi]

Which Air Diffusers

Long Time lurker first time poster.

UC has the four types of air diffusers now, I am planning a new grow room and ordering a UC so which is best for the XL13 systems?

 

[Zensai]

Long Time lurker first time poster.

UC has the four types of air diffusers now, I am planning a new grow room and ordering a UC so which is best for the XL13 systems?

Do you want re-usable or disposable solution