If you don't mind me asking
@Heisengrow, what size system are you running? How many buckets, what size chiller and how many 1000hps lights? I've seen many other dwc setups online before, and without a doubt, the growth rate is extremely fast. In some ways, too fast. I've seen guys run that system, and run into issues they've never had to deal with before. For instance, some guys have found, due to such rapid growth, they have to grow only ONE plant per light, have far more rapid defolitaion intervals, spray intervals, and having to really get a grip on vertical growth. Have you run in to these same issues? I'd be interested in trying a dwc system, but with the amount of lights I'm running, I highly doubt I'd be able to keep up with the work demands such fast growth would require. Would you mind sharing your experience and opinion on how it's affected your workload and available time being able to deal with it? Thx.
~McG
on my 4.5x 6 foot scrogs i run 1000W.This keeps my canopy even and keeps the height down on the tops.I always time my scrogs so the majority of the stretch is above the screen.This give me way more bud sites above the net.Never allow the plants to stretch under the screen or stretch while your filling the screen in.Its counter productive and you end up building all your bud sites under the net.You want nice stacked colas growing up from the base of the screen.This is the way i do it because i have 7 foot ceilings.If i had 12 foot ceilings i would run 27 gallon totes and water jets to get 6 foot plants under 1200W gravitas but this is another time when this state pulls its head out of its ass.
IMO scrogging with DWC are made for each other.You never have to fuck with the plants.Never have to move them to water.All your nutrient recirculates through the buckets so all your worried about is what is above your scrog screens.I put my buckets on 18 inch centers and found this a very good compromise for a scrog.
DWC gives me way faster veg times and once the net goes up i just start to tuck the tops and move the branches to fill in the screen.When its about 85 percent complete i flip to 12/12.Again the only main concern for me is spacing the branches.I use 4 inch net and just have 1 branch for every other square.Picture it as a checker board.Just put a branch in the black squares.so everything is spaced out.I cut every thing else that doesnt get a square.That way growth is super even,and not crowded.it takes me about 4 minutes a day to tuck and weave branches but it is only for about 2 weeks if that.Once everything has a square thats it.
Also the recirculating with the control bucket (dummy bucket)is awesome cause its the only bucket i have to check.thats where i put my nutes in and check the ph.I run gen hrdro flora duo and im telling you of all the multiple plants ive run it always seems about half strength of what there charts say is always money.
I also use water chillers.Its extremely important to keep out root disease but not always a fail safe.Ive been using Hydroguard now as an insurance and i have to say im impressed with it.I wish i would have found it way back when i first started.I ran a test with it using single bucket and room temp water and have white as fuck roots so this will be part of my systems for now on if you dont want to have to brew a bacterial benificial tea.
Ive known about teas for a while i just dont have to deal with all that.The purpose of DWC is for ease of operation.Once everything is set is is retarded easy.
I also use top off reservoirs and float switches in my control bucket.I have a remote 20 gallon resovior that drains to a float valve in my main system.I always mix my nutes in that reservoir and i can always tell how much the plants are taking in.If i have 600PPM in my system and 650 in my top off res.And the system is staying at 600,this tells me my plants are eating a little more than im giving.When u get the top off res and the system PPM around the same than thats it.All you have to do is check the PH once a day and adjust if you need to.
Like i said once everything is set up and you get it dialed in which dont take much than you will be bored in your grow room cause shit becomes so automated you will have nothing to do.
Hope i answered some of your questions.
Also to the guy that was having leaks.I use 5200 marine caulk to seal up everything.its 25 dollars a tube but once it dries u never gonna have a leak period.that shit is used below waterline sealing boats.i always run a bead around everything before i fill with water.Once i do that 12 hours to dry and thats it.
