How difficult is hydro?

[papa canna]

Well i think i've got just about everything I want to do dialed in. my last issue is just how many plants to run. A couple people have suggested 2, but that just seems like a very small number.

 

[Anon Emaus]

Like Gregor said, it sounds intimating to a lot of people but you just gotta get ur hands wet and do a grow. There's just little shit ya learn along the way, you'll learn more doing a grow than you will asking us because you don't fully understand the answers without having done it first hand. Grow away and try different shit out yourself, everyone does shit different, you gotta find your own best answers.

I'm workin on that last part myself @Gregor Eisenhorn

 

[Anon Emaus]

Well i think i've got just about everything I want to do dialed in. my last issue is just how many plants to run. A couple people have suggested 2, but that just seems like a very small number.

Do 4 or 6 then. At least then you'll find out if you like doing six and if you don't you'll know how many would be better for you. It's personal preference, gotta find your own preference.

 

[Gregor Eisenhorn]

Like Gregor said, it sounds intimating to a lot of people but you just gotta get ur hands wet and do a grow. There's just little shit ya learn along the way, you'll learn more doing a grow than you will asking us because you don't fully understand the answers without having done it first hand. Grow away and try different shit out yourself, everyone does shit different, you gotta find your own best answers.

I'm workin on that last part myself @Gregor Eisenhorn

Have fun mate.

 

[Garden hackle]

Better too many than too few. You can remove plants or chop off bits if you need to but you can't add more plants to fill out your canopy once it's going. I ran a few with too few plants for the available light but that's a mistake I plan never to repeat. Seeds are relatively cheap. So, depending on the strain. I'd start more than two seeds. For a four plant run, it wouldn't hurt to start 5 or 6 seeds. The big cost of the grow isn't in seeds.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ThaMagnificent]

Best way to mix up nutes and add them to rez?

 

[papa canna]

Better too many than too few. You can remove plants or chop off bits if you need to but you can't add more plants to fill out your canopy once it's going. I ran a few with too few plants for the available light but that's a mistake I plan never to repeat. Seeds are relatively cheap. So, depending on the strain. I'd start more than two seeds. For a four plant run, it wouldn't hurt to start 5 or 6 seeds. The big cost of the grow isn't in seeds.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I actually get top shelf phenos in the form of clones from a friend. I dont want to worry about males and all that. even with the "feminized seeds" crap.

 

[Garden hackle]

I actually get top shelf phenos in the form of clones from a friend. I dont want to worry about males and all that. even with the "feminized seeds" crap.

Sounds like you've got it all figured out then. Good growing to you

 

[papa canna]

Sounds like you've got it all figured out then. Good growing to you

actually there was one last thing I almost forgot about. The clones I get come in cups of coco. Is there a safe way to remove most of that coco for I can place these into my netpots?

 

[BreenGuds]

actually there was one last thing I almost forgot about. The clones I get come in cups of coco. Is there a safe way to remove most of that coco for I can place these into my netpots?

As always I do not claim to be an expert just offering personal advice.

I read most of the posts in this topic, and not sure if I missed it or no one was saying it really, but when I was first learning about DWC set ups it was intimidating. People talking all about water management, PH levels, root rot and such. I have stated this before and always will, props to those that grow in soil, for me I could never do it. DWC on the other hand was so easy and cheap. You need a bucket with a lid, a high volume air pump with a stone(s), a net and grow medium.

I have never once, in the past year and a half focused on, PH or on water management in general. (I may get some lash on this.) You should know at least one thing, what is the ppm of the water you will use consistently, straight up. I use tap water, and have since day one. My tap water has a ppm somewhere in the low 600s, yes it is high. I used the General Hydroponics nutrients, the micro and bloom nutrients (the brown and pink). With a high ppm in the water I just worked with that number to maintain my nutrient levels. By checking the ppm I either add more nutes and water, although I change water on Sundays and by Sunday usually the nutrient solution is almost straight water so I'm basically making a new nute batch. If you have hard water, I highly recommend hard water nutes. They take care of the hard water situation for you.

I do understand there is a scientific breakdown of exactly what nutrients are best absorbed at what PH, but when you are first starting out, relax. Take it easy, small bites, have fun and try ideas. Focus on just growing it. Make sure your bucket is always full, you most likely will need to check it twice a day (depending on the size of the plant), as my buckets were so full of roots instead of 5 gallons of water I could get 3ish in. I found water management to be not worth the time and worry, when I'm just learning to grow. I have been growing for over a year now, and still do not pay any attention to water other then how much is available for the plant, and what the ppm is.

 

[Niblixdark]

As always I do not claim to be an expert just offering personal advice.

I read most of the posts in this topic, and not sure if I missed it or no one was saying it really, but when I was first learning about DWC set ups it was intimidating. People talking all about water management, PH levels, root rot and such. I have stated this before and always will, props to those that grow in soil, for me I could never do it. DWC on the other hand was so easy and cheap. You need a bucket with a lid, a high volume air pump with a stone(s), a net and grow medium.

I have never once, in the past year and a half focused on, PH or on water management in general. (I may get some lash on this.) You should know at least one thing, what is the ppm of the water you will use consistently, straight up. I use tap water, and have since day one. My tap water has a ppm somewhere in the low 600s, yes it is high. I used the General Hydroponics nutrients, the micro and bloom nutrients (the brown and pink). With a high ppm in the water I just worked with that number to maintain my nutrient levels. By checking the ppm I either add more nutes and water, although I change water on Sundays and by Sunday usually the nutrient solution is almost straight water so I'm basically making a new nute batch. If you have hard water, I highly recommend hard water nutes. They take care of the hard water situation for you.

I do understand there is a scientific breakdown of exactly what nutrients are best absorbed at what PH, but when you are first starting out, relax. Take it easy, small bites, have fun and try ideas. Focus on just growing it. Make sure your bucket is always full, you most likely will need to check it twice a day (depending on the size of the plant), as my buckets were so full of roots instead of 5 gallons of water I could get 3ish in. I found water management to be not worth the time and worry, when I'm just learning to grow. I have been growing for over a year now, and still do not pay any attention to water other then how much is available for the plant, and what the ppm is.

600 ppm tap water ? Thats some insanely hard water, guess you don't require calcium and magnesium supplements haha

 

[BreenGuds]

600 ppm tap water ? Thats some insanely hard water, guess you don't require calcium and magnesium supplements haha

Hahaha seriously. For my next trick I'll walk on it. These hard water nutes work wonders for it. Wanted to state my ppm because I do have well water and the water in my area is naturally high anyways, and still to this day have had no issues growing with it.

 

[ThaMagnificent]

Hahaha seriously. For my next trick I'll walk on it. These hard water nutes work wonders for it. Wanted to state my ppm because I do have well water and the water in my area is naturally high anyways, and still to this day have had no issues growing with it.

how did you mix up the nutes? All in a separate container and slowly add that to the Rez or pour in 1 nutes at a time in the rez?

 

[BreenGuds]

how did you mix up the nutes? All in a separate container and slowly add that to the Rez or pour in 1 nutes at a time in the rez?

When I was doing DWC I mixed in a separate container one gallon at a time. That way the solution is as it will be in the bucket. If you add them one at a time you risk soaking the roots with straight nutrients and I believe that is not a good idea.

 

[ThaMagnificent]

When I was doing DWC I mixed in a separate container one gallon at a time. That way the solution is as it will be in the bucket. If you add them one at a time you risk soaking the roots with straight nutrients and I believe that is not a good idea.

I have a 25 gal rez for my ebb and flow table. Should I mix in like a milk jug and then add it to the main rez?

 

[BreenGuds]

I have a 25 gal rez for my ebb and flow table. Should I mix in like a milk jug and then add it to the main rez?

Ahhhh, I'm using a rez also. I guess depending on how you fill it. I fill mine with 5 gallon buckets so if you know the amount of nutes you need mix it in the container then it'll get a good mix when you pour it in. Not sure how much water is absent from your rez during normal operation but this should be fine. Honestly I'm not quite positive on the full details of the ebb and flow as my current system is low pressure aeroponics where at any given time my rez is only low maybe half a gallon max(the water in the circuit lines plus whatever else hasn't drained yet) so that may be a factor for you.

Edit: Also not quite sure of the circulation rate on that setup either, referring to the distribution rate of the system. If you add nutrients to the rez how long until they make it around and back to the rez

 

[Niblixdark]

You don't mix nutrients while it's recirculating, shut off the res valve for incoming water and out, fill up the res with clean water and then add nutrients, if you have a nutrient line that requires a certain micro nutrient to mix with water first, do that or the nutrient solutions don't mix properly and you lock out certain metals and or minerals. After its all mixed up and bubbles up good and PH ed unless it's PH perfect, then open the res valves and let it recirculate with the rest of the system.

Also do not make pre 5 gallon mixes, make it all at once in the res, starting with the first essentials micros so it gets absorbed within the water correctly.

 

[BubbaGrump]

I think my total outlay when I went hydro was ~$175 for the tub, air pots, stones, and pump.
I just added an Iceprobe chiller for $80 from eBay, an air-cooled hood, 6" inline fan, and a new 6" filter.
All told, I'm in for ~$300. But the recurring costs (the ones that actually count) will be "dirt" cheap, pun intended.
The quality AND quantity will more than compensate me for the "trouble".....

 

[BubbaGrump]

Igloo coolers eh? Sounds expensive. Is it common to run less plants in hydro than non? I have 9 plants under a single 600watt and im pushing it a little bit as it is.

edit: also, does anyone know of a good website for a simple DWC setup so I can check it out. sifting through google links and haven't found anything too good yet.

Try this: http://www.growweedeasy.com/