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surfdad_grows posted an update
Found this in the ACI growers groups on FB. Someone pulled it from chat GPT. Me not liking reading manuals for instructions i copy and pasted lol. Setting triggers so everything doesn’t work against itself is what i have left other than running it at the temps and vpd. I think ill be going for the AI controller if this doesn’t work out. Everything is just set where it’s perfect but constantly running.
Hey guys and girls. So am on my 2nd ever run. Was having very small issues and decided to ask chat gpt. Here is the chat. You can see where it has filled in the blanks in the info. But on the main it seems to be grand. I’ve just set everything to it’s recommendations and will run for a couple of days to see if it is any better than my previous trail and error settings.
Absolutely! Here’s the same setup guide written from the perspective of an experienced grower and AC Infinity expert, offering more in-depth and precise recommendations.
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### **Expert Setup for Vegetative Stage – AC Infinity Equipment*
The settings I’m recommending here are tailored to create a thriving environment during the vegetative stage of your plants. The focus is on maintaining consistent temperature, humidity, and airflow, which are critical at this stage.
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### **Exhaust Fan (Cloudline Pro T4)**:
– **Mode**: Auto.
The Cloudline Pro T4 is a robust exhaust fan that will handle the necessary environmental controls in auto mode, but fine-tuning the triggers for temp and humidity ensures your plants thrive.
– **Day Temp Trigger**: Set it to **28°C (82°F)**
To ensure your plants have optimal temperature during the daytime. If temps exceed this, the exhaust fan will kick on automatically to bring the temperature back within range.
– **Night Temp Trigger**: Set to **24°C (75°F)**.
Nighttime temperature fluctuations are important, but keeping it within this range helps your plants rest and recover from daytime stresses.
– **Humidity Trigger**: **60% RH** is the sweet spot for vegetative growth. At this level, your plants will have enough humidity for proper transpiration, but it won’t be so high that you risk mold or mildew. Set the trigger here for automatic regulation.
– **Fan Speed**: **Mode 6**. I recommend using **Mode 6** in the vegetative stage as it provides adequate air exchange without being overly aggressive. If temps or humidity rise, increase the fan speed to **Mode 8** to maintain airflow and cooling.
– **High Temp Alarm**: Set to **30°C (86°F)**, as this is when your plants will start to experience heat stress. Anything above this for extended periods can stifle growth.
– **High Humidity Alarm**: Set to **70% RH**. If humidity exceeds this threshold, your exhaust fan will engage to bring it back down, ensuring no fungal or mold problems.
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### **Circulation Fans (S6 Cloudray x2)**:
– **Mode**: Constant.
Circulation fans should run continuously to prevent stagnation and ensure even distribution of humidity and CO2 throughout the space.
– **Speed**:
For the vegetative stage, set fans to **Mode 6**. This is a balanced speed for maintaining airflow across the canopy without causing excessive movement of the leaves. If you notice excess moisture buildup or if the space feels stagnant, bump up to **Mode 8**.
– **Fan Placement**:
– **Fan 1**: Place above the canopy, angled slightly downwards to direct airflow over the tops of your plants, which will help with transpiration and cooling.
– **Fan 2**: Position it lower in the tent, below the canopy, to circulate air at the plant level. This helps reduce humidity pockets and prevents stagnant air that can lead to mold growth.
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### **Humidifier (AC Infinity Cloudforge)**:
– **Mode**: VPD (Vapor Pressure Deficit).
The **VPD mode** will keep your grow space within optimal range for both humidity and temperature. During veg, you want a VPD of **1.0–1.2 kPa**. This range ensures that your plants are getting sufficient humidity for growth without excessive moisture that could lead to other issues like mold.
– **RH Trigger**:
– Set the **humidifier to turn on at 50% RH** and off at **70% RH**. Humidity will naturally fluctuate, but this range ensures your plants stay hydrated without risking too high of an RH, which can promote mildew.
– **Cycle Mode**: Cycle mode is a good idea for seedlings or early vegetative plants, but in the veg stage, maintaining a steady RH with an adjustable trigger is more beneficial. Let the humidifier respond automatically to the environment rather than cycling on and off too much.
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### **Heater (ThermoForge)**:
– **Mode**: Auto.
Even though the exhaust fan does a great job at regulating temperatures, sometimes the environment needs a little boost during colder nights. Set the heater to **Auto** so it kicks in only when temps dip below your set range.
– **Daytime Temp Trigger**: Set the heater to turn on when temps drop below **23°C (73°F)**. Turn it off at **28°C (82°F)**.
This ensures your plants receive the consistent warmth they need during daylight hours.
– **Nighttime Temp Trigger**:
Set the heater to come on if temperatures fall below **20°C (68°F)**, and turn it off when the temperature exceeds **24°C (75°F)**. The heater helps keep temperatures stable during the nighttime period, avoiding the common stress caused by cold nights.
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### **Grow Light (EVO 3 LED)**:
– **Mode**: Timer.
Your light cycle during vegetative growth should be a solid **18/6**, which simulates the long days of summer and promotes strong vegetative growth.
– **Brightness**: Set to **50–75%** during the veg stage. This is enough light intensity for the plants to photosynthesize efficiently without overloading them with light.
As your plants mature, you can gradually increase light intensity to closer to **100%**, but don’t rush this – plants need time to acclimate to higher light levels.
– **Heat Control**: Use the **exhaust fan** to regulate heat. If the temperature exceeds **28°C (82°F)** at the canopy level, your light intensity can be dimmed by 10-20%. Link the fan with the light intensity to ensure consistent temperatures and avoid heat stress.
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### **Controller 69 Pro Plus Settings**
1. **Smart Triggers**:
The AC Infinity controller’s smart features give you the ultimate control over the environment. I would recommend linking devices to trigger each other for a cohesive response to changes in temp and humidity:
– **Exhaust Fan**: Set to activate when **temperature > 28°C (82°F)** or **humidity > 60% RH**. This will ensure the environment stays balanced without the fan running constantly.
– **Humidifier**: Should be set to turn off when the exhaust fan triggers. This will prevent the humidifier from fighting against the exhaust fan and help maintain proper humidity balance.
– **Heater**: Link the heater to turn off if temps exceed **26°C (79°F)** to avoid overheating.
2. **Custom Alarms**:
The alarms will help you keep track of any environmental issues that arise:
– **High Temp Alarm**: Set to **30°C (86°F)**. Anything above this is considered too hot for most plants, and the system should alert you to make adjustments.
– **Low Temp Alarm**: Set to **18°C (65°F)**. Cold temperatures can stress plants and stunt growth, so it’s important to keep them above this threshold.
– **High Humidity Alarm**: Set to **70% RH**. Anything above this level can cause fungal issues and mold growth.
– **Low Humidity Alarm**: Set to **40% RH**. Lower humidity levels can stunt growth or cause plants to go into stress mode, so it’s important to keep the environment within the right range.
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### **Vegetative Stage Environment Targets**
| **Parameter** | **Target** |
|——————|—————————–|
| **Temperature** | **Day**: 23–28°C (73–82°F) |
| | **Night**: 20–24°C (68–75°F)|
| **Humidity** | **50–70% RH** |
| **VPD** | **1.0–1.2 kPa** |
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By maintaining these precise settings, your vegetative plants will have a solid foundation for rapid and healthy growth. You can adjust the parameters slightly based on your environment or specific plant strain needs, but this setup is optimal for most growing conditions.
Let me know if you need any further guidance on adjusting settings or troubleshooting issues!