The man who knew too little. (Need experienced opinions more then facts)

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DonnaviaTripp

Member
Ok so I've been racking my brain surfing the net for info on hydroponics and the facts but fact never Trumps experience so im a long time soil indoor grower and just bought and house and wanna go all out ( no more aprt. Closet grows) and I want to make the switch from soil growing to hydroponics. So what I'm asking can some tell me what I'm getting myself into?
A. What are the benefits of hydroponics over soil growing (speed of growth rate, yield, quality, time, and attention) ?
B. Witch is better for hydro growth Dwc or areoponics?
C. What is the best cob led with good penitrating light and how many watts is good to cover 16 sq ft. ?
Thank you
 
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Larry3215

Well-Known Member
Well, if you think experience always trumps facts, your in trouble, but on the other hand this is the 'net, so opinions are all your likely to get anyways ;)

a) Yes to all - maybe. It depends on how badly you screw it up. I think you are more likely to fail spectalularly in hydro than soil, but it depends on how good a job you do. Small mistakes can get out of hand faster with most hydro. The exception would be hempy buckets. They are "almost" idiot proof.

b) That depends entirely on you and how good a job you do. Your general growing skills - things like maintaining good PH, temps, humidity, air flow, EC, nute balance, light levels, etc etc - all have a far far greater impact on yields and quality than the type of hydro you run. That said, aero has the potential to be better all around - IF - done correctly. Aero done properly takes a good deal more work, and money to get it right than other forms of hydro, but as with all types of growing there is a sliding scale.

c) COBs suck. Go with strip LED's. They are cheaaper, more efficient, the light is more spread out, cooling/heat sinks is much easier, and you can more easily choose spectrum and do mixed spectrum if you want to do DIY. COBs suck :)

As far as watts/sq ft most people recommend between 25-35 watts/sq ft. I start my babies under 20, work up to 25 or so late in veg, then work up to maybe 30-35 in flower. That will depend on the strains you are running an dhow far you keep the light from the plants. Some strains are more or less sensitive to light burn. Just be sure to get a driver with variable output.

If you are considering advanced aero, I have a thread about that running now:

Advanced aeroponics - or how to get fuzzy roots and be a happy grower

Why aeroponics? Most people would agree that aero is the apex of hydroponics. Ok, maybe its more like some people would agree ;) It is supposed to give you faster growth, faster harvests, bigger buds, higher yields, etc etc etc. Ok, fine. All of that is true – in theory. In my experience, YMMV...
www.rollitup.org
 
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DonnaviaTripp

Member
Thank you very much, and basically I know switching is starting over so I figured if I'm gonna be a baby again and bump into shit might as well do it the right way, so areo is potentially better thank you again for your attention
AND SEE ABOUT FACTS they were all pointing me to cobs, I'm use to hps and cmh first time using led and was getting tired of killing my brain, thank you so much and would mind if I messaged you every know and again if I'm stumped only if i can't find it on the web?
Once again thank you for you attention and time everything you was helpful I appreciate it
 
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harrythehat

Well-Known Member
DWC would be one of your best bets for a system with reliability and ease of use plus speed and yields. Aero for the inexperienced can me a mare. NFT has too many things that can happen and ebb and flow is a bitch with the similar traits. Forget passive systems like run too waste again they can be problematical.
The lesser amount of substrate the better a plant will live happily in a 50 mm net pot and generally its substrates cause the problems in hydro
You could even go totally bare root with those hydroplasticsinc thingies
keep your nutrient simple like a 1 or 2 part self P.H.ing nute will do you fine.
Its when peeps start using multiples and odd recipes they start getting in trouble
DWC will be good at keeping P.H inline and need little adjustment, so much so when i used DWC P.H. was not a problem
Even nowdays i do not bother with adjusting P.H. and just keep my E.C in line.
Loads of people will say nono and adjust P.H. but when your in a system as active as a bubbler it really is not a problem.
 

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Larry3215

Well-Known Member
DonnaviaTripp said:
Thank you very much, and basically I know switching is starting over so I figured if I'm gonna be a baby again and bump into shit might as well do it the right way, so areo is potentially better thank you again for your attention
AND SEE ABOUT FACTS they were all pointing me to cobs, I'm use to hps and cmh first time using led and was getting tired of killing my brain, thank you so much and would mind if I messaged you every know and again if I'm stumped only if i can't find it on the web?
Once again thank you for you attention and time everything you was helpful I appreciate it
Click to expand...
COBs used to be the 'best new thing' several years ago, but strips have come way down in price, and up in efficiency, and availability. There are also several mfg's making sheet led's that are nice, but more $$.

If you are into DIY and building your own lights, I like this guy, but there are lots of options. Just stay away from the cheap ones like Mars Hydro.


On the hi end, there are companies like HLG

Horticulture Lighting Group Premium LED Grow Lights for Agriculture

Premiere high end indoor gardening LED grow lights for hobbyists & professionals looking to remove HPS & lower electricity costs by 60% while increasing yields.
horticulturelightinggroup.com horticulturelightinggroup.com

I prefer answering questions in public forums. That way other people can share in the discussion. Also, I dont know all the answers by any means, and other experienced growers can chip in with more viewpoints, details, etc. So feel free to jump into that thread I linked above, or start a new one with questions.

Of course, the downside to open forums is that you are sometimes forced to sort through posts and opinions that are more fact free than you would like.

harrythehat said:
Loads of people will say nono
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Yup. Pretty much everyone tells you that every time you post. :)
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
DonnaviaTripp said:
A. What are the benefits of hydroponics over soil growing (speed of growth rate, yield, quality, time, and attention) ?
Click to expand...
Yes. All of these: "speed of growth rate, yield, quality"
DonnaviaTripp said:
B. Witch is better for hydro growth Dwc or areoponics?
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Whatever one you are good at I suppose. DWC is better suited to larger plants IMO.
DonnaviaTripp said:
C. What is the best cob led with good penitrating light and how many watts is good to cover 16 sq ft. ?
Thank you
Click to expand...
Timber Redwood-VS
timbergrowlights.com

Redwood VS

This 650 watt COB LED grow light features Bridgelux Vero29 COBs and dual Meanwell drivers. Remote driver placement helps with managing heat and custom color temperatures are available. Designed to cover a 4 x 4 coverage area with high PPFD for full cycle/flowering.
timbergrowlights.com timbergrowlights.com

If you want a LED that can be run close to the plants to save vertical space then look at the Fluence Spydr 2i. Many LED lights are intended to run at >28" where the Spydr is 6-12" which can be a big deal if you typically run out of vertical space.
 
A e o n

A e o n

Well-Known Member
For me, speed is the main reason to go hydro when talking about growth. Faster speed also means higher yield/year. The other is cleanliness and control; can visually improve a nutrient issue in 24-48 hours. All hydroponic styles work pretty well when optimized, coco DTW and ebb+flow are probably easiest to get started with. LEDs appear to be able to do it, but 1000Watt HID probably have the best penetration for a canopy.
 
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harrythehat

Well-Known Member
Larry3215 said:
COBs used to be the 'best new thing' several years ago, but strips have come way down in price, and up in efficiency, and availability. There are also several mfg's making sheet led's that are nice, but more $$.

If you are into DIY and building your own lights, I like this guy, but there are lots of options. Just stay away from the cheap ones like Mars Hydro.


On the hi end, there are companies like HLG

Horticulture Lighting Group Premium LED Grow Lights for Agriculture

Premiere high end indoor gardening LED grow lights for hobbyists & professionals looking to remove HPS & lower electricity costs by 60% while increasing yields.
horticulturelightinggroup.com horticulturelightinggroup.com

I prefer answering questions in public forums. That way other people can share in the discussion. Also, I dont know all the answers by any means, and other experienced growers can chip in with more viewpoints, details, etc. So feel free to jump into that thread I linked above, or start a new one with questions.

Of course, the downside to open forums is that you are sometimes forced to sort through posts and opinions that are more fact free than you would like.



Yup. Pretty much everyone tells you that every time you post. :)
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Beginning to think your having a personal dig fella
 
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Larry3215

Well-Known Member
harrythehat said:
Beginning to think your having a personal dig fella
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Its not personal. You just keep posting things that I strongly disagree with, and believe will cause new growers big problems. You have to admit, I am not the only one who feels that way. Pretty much every thing you have posted recently has been debunked and/or strongly criticized by someone. You even admitted that your posts get reacted to that way when you made that silly comment about PH earlier "Loads of people will say nono and adjust P.H.".

There is a reason for that - you are pretty far off in left field with most of your advice.
 
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harrythehat

Well-Known Member
strangely enough 50% + of my posts have likes so there cannot be that much wrong
Personally i do not adjust P.H. and dont have any problems it comes in @ 7 and quite happy with that and does not fluctuate with 9 being the upper limit before problems appear. Never do i see any P.H. problems with my grows
thats my opinion as you have yours
If you have a look at the actual P.H. Range for plants there is so much leeway that P.H. is generally not peoples problems
it is ineffectual systems that will not run to recommended nute levels. because they have inherent defects
and you have twats that think nute makers tell lies about actual E.C. levels. HTF have nute makers come up with a 2.0 E.C. just made it up after breakfast. NO its done scientifically
Another reason peeps have problems with E.C. coming in @ 800 freakin madness no wonder they have problems and think its P.H.
Expect problems when you run like that poor ole plant hasnt enough food to live on.
 
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HydroKid239

HydroKid239

Well-Known Member
DonnaviaTripp said:
Ok so I've been racking my brain surfing the net for info on hydroponics and the facts but fact never Trumps experience so im a long time soil indoor grower and just bought and house and wanna go all out ( no more aprt. Closet grows) and I want to make the switch from soil growing to hydroponics. So what I'm asking can some tell me what I'm getting myself into?
A. What are the benefits of hydroponics over soil growing (speed of growth rate, yield, quality, time, and attention) ?
B. Witch is better for hydro growth Dwc or areoponics?
C. What is the best cob led with good penitrating light and how many watts is good to cover 16 sq ft. ?
Thank you
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I’d say to go with @Renfro on that timber. If you like COB lighting.. there is a company out there for you.
 
Romeo7701

Romeo7701

Well-Known Member
Lighting is such a controversial subject,,, I run Nothing but WILLS lights LED Q Boards in veg and
I am trying their COB lights in flower they are cheaper than the Timbers and most other companies
out their and I have great luck with them and don't like spending more money if I don't have to...
 
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Larry3215

Well-Known Member
harrythehat said:
trangely enough 50% + of my posts have likes so there cannot be that much wrong
Personally i do not adjust P.H. and dont have any problems it comes in @ 7 and quite happy with that and does not fluctuate with 9 being the upper limit before problems appear. Never do i see any P.H. problems with my grows
thats my opinion as you have yours
If you have a look at the actual P.H. Range for plants there is so much leeway that P.H. is generally not peoples problems
it is ineffectual systems that will not run to recommended nute levels. because they have inherent defects
and you have twats that think nute makers tell lies about actual E.C. levels. HTF have nute makers come up with a 2.0 E.C. just made it up after breakfast. NO its done scientifically
Another reason peeps have problems with E.C. coming in @ 800 freakin madness no wonder they have problems and think its P.H.
Expect problems when you run like that poor ole plant hasnt enough food to live on
Click to expand...
HydroKid239 said:
I do it for the likes too.. even if it kills my plants.
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hahahahahaha I was going to say something more about how I didnt think his "advice" could get any worse, but I am just going to bow to the master. Thats one of the best comebacks I have seen all year :)
 
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