Need advice on feed system

[Mroutdoors]

I'm setting up a hydro type automatic feed system for my soil grow. I've ordered a pump, hoses, fittings, ect. I'm planning on using a plastic tote for my resivour. Do I need a air bubbler and air stone? Also I'm hand feeding twice a week as per my feed chart. Can I just add nutes and adjust to proper ppm in res, I'm assuming. Any input is greatly appreciated

 

[rkymtnman]

you'd be better off buying a small water pump, some tubing and some 90's and make a small waterfall in your res. adds DO and keeps your nutes mixed up too.

 

[Mroutdoors]

you'd be better off buying a small water pump, some tubing and some 90's and make a small waterfall in your res. adds DO and keeps your nutes mixed up too.

That's a good idea. But if it's always flowing, how do I control the pots being fed at specific times

 

[rkymtnman]

That's a good idea. But if it's always flowing, how do I control the pots being fed at specific times

i do auto watering hempy buckets. i have a 6 outlet manifold on a bigger water pump that i have a digital timer on to control feedings. the smaller circulation pump runs 24/7

 

[Mroutdoors]

Oh, 2 pumps. I'm kinda stoned at the moment. I guess that would be better for keeping it mixed up. How high do you keep your ppms

 

[rkymtnman]

Oh, 2 pumps. I'm kinda stoned at the moment. I guess that would be better for keeping it mixed up. How high do you keep your ppms

not to be a smart ass, but i let my plants tell me where they like the EC/ppm at. right now, i'm running at 0.5EC (250ppm roughly) and they are in there 2 week of 12/12. i've never been above 1.2EC (600ppm)

 

[Mroutdoors]

No offense taken bro. I'm on my first grow and I've been going off my soil feed chart from FF. So far so good. As I get more experience I'll be better at seeing what's best. Plus so far I've only fed every other water . So I was thinking every other, compared to every time would equal half strength

 

[rkymtnman]

No offense taken bro. I'm on my first grow and I've been going off my soil feed chart from FF. So far so good. As I get more experience I'll be better at seeing what's best. Plus so far I've only fed every other water . So I was thinking every other, compared to every time would equal half strength

soil you "should" be able to run much higher ppms than my hydro setup. i think most dirt growers do something like water, feed, water, feed etc. which sounds like what you are doing. keep on keeping on!!

 

[rkymtnman]

if they seem healthy now, just cut your feed in half and water/feed every day instead of water, feed, water feed

 

[Mroutdoors]

Thanks for the info. I'm trying to get it set up so I can leave them alone for short periods of time while I'm away

 

[Mroutdoors]

if they seem healthy now, just cut your feed in half and water/feed every day instead of water, feed, water feed

That's what I meant in my other post

 

[rkymtnman]

That's what I meant in my other post

i guess i'm not high enough. lol. time to fix that!!!

 

[Mroutdoors]

I'm gone once a month for 4 to 5 days. So a auto watering system will be great. Plus as they are filling up my tent they are a pain in the ass to water

 

[rkymtnman]

i've been gone for 2 weeks with my setup and they were fine. 4 to 5 days will be easy.

 

[Mroutdoors]

Maybe some day I'll be comfortable enough to go to all hydro. But for now it seems soil is way simpler IMO. I'm sure I'll try it all some time or another

 

[rkymtnman]

that's why i like hempy buckets. run them like hydro but they can't be overwatered.

i went away from rdwc/dwc just because i do go out of town and they need to be babysat alot.

 

[Mroutdoors]

I'll have to look into hempy buckets. I'm in five gallon buckets with drain holes drilled in bottom. Not the best containers

 

[rkymtnman]

I'll have to look into hempy buckets. I'm in five gallon buckets with drain holes drilled in bottom. Not the best containers

you are so close! 5 gal bucket with a 7/16" hole 2 inches up from the bottom as a drain. i use growstones as my medium. there's a hempy bucket!!

 

[Mroutdoors]

No shit. I don't know why I was thinking hempy buckets were the fabric sacks

 

[im4satori]

well in this case I might recommend you try feeding EC 1.0 or 1.2 and not ramp up to the high EC some soil guys do

those guys feeding plain water everyother so they leach the nutes out every other watering

in your case you want to dose nutes with every watering.. so you just need to find the EC that works in your set up without causing accumulation in the medium

when your plants are set to water take a sample from the run off that comes from under the pot

if the waste water leaving the pot EC is higher than the feed water ...lower the EC

on the other hand.. if your feeding ph of 6.5 and the water exiting the pot is 8.0 your EC is to low


Originally Posted by OldPhart
Basic cheat sheet:
Ec goes up, PH goes down=plants require less nutes.
Ec goes down, PH goes up=Plants require more nutes
Ec stable, PH goes up=Equilibrium=Good thang.