5BY5LEC
Well-Known Member
Also, FWIW on two of my plants, I snapped one of the main shoots almost half off training them.
I wired it back into place and it just grew like crazy, never even wilted.
5by5's 2nd RDWC grow
- Thread starter 5BY5LEC
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I wired it back into place and it just grew like crazy, never even wilted.
5BY5LEC
Well-Known Member
Adding back about 1.75 gallons a night and around 40ppm of nutes every night. In other words the PPM's drop about 40 a night. PH stays relatively stable. I attribute this to adding fresh nutes.
I brew a fresh EWC tea with the Oregonism XL and Ancient Forest each res change. I brew it nice and strong and add about 150ml when I change the res. Three days later I will add around 75ml.
I brew a fresh EWC tea with the Oregonism XL and Ancient Forest each res change. I brew it nice and strong and add about 150ml when I change the res. Three days later I will add around 75ml.
Sdh777
Well-Known Member
I’m 
Hey 5BY5LEC,
I’ve been reading some of your posts because you seem to have the same passion for RDWC as myself! I’ve designed multiple RDWC systems for smaller grow set-ups
(2 plant, 3 plant & 4 plant systems) & fine-tuned them over time. I run two 4 plant systems in two separate tents for a perpetual grow. I’m still fairly new at this, but I’ve had some good success with some key additions & revisions for improvements. I use air stones waterfalls & fluming to maximize dissolved oxygen and the girls seem to love it. I’ve also dialed in room temps, tent temps & water temps...and I don’t even use a chiller! so I figured we could collaborate some so everyone wins. I’m getting ready to leave town next week on a 6 day trip and I’m not even worried about my grow I’ve got my system dialed in pretty good on auto pilot for a long trip coming up, but we’ll see how it goes? It’s getting late, but I’ll be back soon enough to share my RDWC experiences.. Before I go I’ll post some pics of my set-ups.
Hey 5BY5LEC,I’ve been reading some of your posts because you seem to have the same passion for RDWC as myself! I’ve designed multiple RDWC systems for smaller grow set-ups
(2 plant, 3 plant & 4 plant systems) & fine-tuned them over time. I run two 4 plant systems in two separate tents for a perpetual grow. I’m still fairly new at this, but I’ve had some good success with some key additions & revisions for improvements. I use air stones waterfalls & fluming to maximize dissolved oxygen and the girls seem to love it. I’ve also dialed in room temps, tent temps & water temps...and I don’t even use a chiller! so I figured we could collaborate some so everyone wins. I’m getting ready to leave town next week on a 6 day trip and I’m not even worried about my grow I’ve got my system dialed in pretty good on auto pilot for a long trip coming up, but we’ll see how it goes? It’s getting late, but I’ll be back soon enough to share my RDWC experiences.. Before I go I’ll post some pics of my set-ups.
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5BY5LEC
Well-Known Member
Thanks for taking the time to read them.
Ditto as far as the additions and revisions. If I had it my way I would have built a new system already but I figured I would run this one for a bit cause it works.
What size water pump are you running?
The more DO the better for sure. A lot of people say to ditch the stones but they have worked well enough for me, to this point.
The pump makes little noise and uses like 1.15a.
Ditto as far as the additions and revisions. If I had it my way I would have built a new system already but I figured I would run this one for a bit cause it works.
What size water pump are you running?
The more DO the better for sure. A lot of people say to ditch the stones but they have worked well enough for me, to this point.
The pump makes little noise and uses like 1.15a.
Sdh777
Well-Known Member
I actually use a 1000 gph pump because it runs the undercurrent flow, as well as the waterfall system, plus I use it to generate a fluming method (small geyser or boiling effect) in the control station, which provides another major source of dissolved oxygen. I also have an aerator & stones in each grow bucket, but when they fail (and they always do at some point) I’ve got more than substantial DO, without an aerator, to keep the plants thriving indefinitely. It’s balanced out well enough that I don’t get root suction issues in the undercurrent system, plus I also use filters on the inflow pipe in each bucket I clean weekly. Another trick I use is...I have no water chiller, but keep the water around 65°F. I have a small portable A/C unit (6000 btu’s) in my storeroom which I use to vent cold air into the bottom of the tents. Then I use folded Mylar sheets that sit right on the RDWC and covers most of the system...it not only reflects away the grow lights & heat from the RDWC buckets, but it also helps trap much of the cold air down below In the lower tent portion which keeps my RDWC water temps at an idea range below 68°F. The best part is, it also keeps the plants canopy section around 70°F to 74°F, so it serves multiple purposes. I travel for work so I gotta have the system dialed in to leave for days or even a week at a time without issues.
I also have two 25 gallon water reservoirs outside each tent that auto feeds the RDWCs at a constant level by float valves. Since the pH levels in my RDWCs typically rise over time, I keep the pH level in the reservoirs around 4.5 to 5.0, which slowly feeds & balances out pH levels in my RDWC’s at around 6.0 for days. I’ll include another below canopy photo of the system in the tent, but I removed the larger Mylar sheets to see the system better. The plants are nearly 6 weeks old now & I’m just transitioning them over to flower this weekend, so I’ll take a few more snapshots in a few hours when the lights come back on.
I also have two 25 gallon water reservoirs outside each tent that auto feeds the RDWCs at a constant level by float valves. Since the pH levels in my RDWCs typically rise over time, I keep the pH level in the reservoirs around 4.5 to 5.0, which slowly feeds & balances out pH levels in my RDWC’s at around 6.0 for days. I’ll include another below canopy photo of the system in the tent, but I removed the larger Mylar sheets to see the system better. The plants are nearly 6 weeks old now & I’m just transitioning them over to flower this weekend, so I’ll take a few more snapshots in a few hours when the lights come back on.
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5BY5LEC
Well-Known Member
Yeha you arent kidding.
I am 13 days since flip and its getting out of control.
I had to trim the shit out of them last night cause the top was blocking everything, leaves sitting together ect.
Only running 500ppm @.5 but I add every night back to 500, it drops like 40 ppm a night. I have been raising it around 20 a night. Tomorrow will be 520 ect.
With RO I have not had to touch the PH yet. Nute mix comes out perfect.
Each plant is using a 1/2gal or more if its hot every 24hrs.
I am 13 days since flip and its getting out of control.
I had to trim the shit out of them last night cause the top was blocking everything, leaves sitting together ect.
Only running 500ppm @.5 but I add every night back to 500, it drops like 40 ppm a night. I have been raising it around 20 a night. Tomorrow will be 520 ect.
With RO I have not had to touch the PH yet. Nute mix comes out perfect.
Each plant is using a 1/2gal or more if its hot every 24hrs.
5BY5LEC
Well-Known Member
They look great but you look like you got some N tox going on. Dark green leaves and pointed down tips. Drop the grow a bit.
I ran into the same thing in veg and a little into flower. As soon as I dropped the grow by half it went away.
Sdh777
Well-Known Member
Thanks! 2nd grow so I’m still learning a lot...usually by mistakes. It’s under 1000ppm now, but it did get up near 1200 last week for a day or two. I’m doing a water exchange today, so I’ll flush for a day, then I’ll slowly bring it back up to 600 ppm.
I just designed a new pumpless drainage system for my TDWC this week, so I’m adding that in today. Every Few weeks I try and improve the overall RDWC design until it’s as easy to run as possible & automated so I can travel.
I just flipped to flower over the weekend, so I’m about 10 or 11 days behind you.
I just designed a new pumpless drainage system for my TDWC this week, so I’m adding that in today. Every Few weeks I try and improve the overall RDWC design until it’s as easy to run as possible & automated so I can travel.
I just flipped to flower over the weekend, so I’m about 10 or 11 days behind you.
Sdh777
Well-Known Member
Man, what a difference 12 days makes...
These 1st two photos were taken on 8/18...right after defoliation & about 6 days before I switched to flower or 12/12 light cycle.
These next 2 photo were taken today...
about 6 days after switching to 12/12 light cycle
They’re already in desperate need of defoliation once again, but I’ve read to hold off until week 3 of flower?
At this rate, If I wait 2 more weeks to defoliate I’ll need a bigger Scrog net and tent!
Anyone who wants to chime is more than welcome!
To defoliate or not to defoliate...that’s the question?
These 1st two photos were taken on 8/18...right after defoliation & about 6 days before I switched to flower or 12/12 light cycle.
These next 2 photo were taken today...
about 6 days after switching to 12/12 light cycle
They’re already in desperate need of defoliation once again, but I’ve read to hold off until week 3 of flower?
At this rate, If I wait 2 more weeks to defoliate I’ll need a bigger Scrog net and tent!
Anyone who wants to chime is more than welcome!
To defoliate or not to defoliate...that’s the question?
5BY5LEC
Well-Known Member
Running about 550ppms. Still drops 30 a night but I just add it back each night to keep 550 all the time.
Calmag/GH Three part. 1 part micro, .5 part grow, 1.25 part bloom.
This time I am not seeing any kind of spots or brown/dead leaves like last year. Here is underneath the canopy.
Not really anything going on I can see. My nutrient mix must be ok.
Calmag/GH Three part. 1 part micro, .5 part grow, 1.25 part bloom.
This time I am not seeing any kind of spots or brown/dead leaves like last year. Here is underneath the canopy.
Not really anything going on I can see. My nutrient mix must be ok.
