Hydro noob- looking for easy system to try

[smokeyloki]

Soil has been my friend so far but I'm thinking about trying a hydro grow. I'm new to the terms and probably looking up the wrong info.

I saw a rubbermaid system that was pretty much just a container that had net pots and two of the air stones used in fish tanks. Obviously I'll need nutes, ph tester and something that I can adjust the ph with.

What is this even called? Looks like something I can easily build and the system looked fairly simple.

Is this good for a hydro noob? Is there a faq or guide for this type of hydro setup? Maybe a supply list?

I'm thinking about using some bubbledust seeds for this experiment. I've done two seed runs with diselryder and snowryder that went really well, but those were in soil. I think it's time to try something new and also move away from the constant 18/6 lighting.

Any help or pointers would be great.

 

[spike1499]

the systems you have bin reading about are DWC deep water culture. there is loads of info on this method and building your own . can take a bit of practice to get right but with a little learning and the odd mistake, its awsome.

growem green -------------------spike.

 

[fred1]

DWC is really easy. Just go light on the nutes, especially when they are young, and don't over think things.

 

[GreenThumbSucker]

My first attempt at hydroponics is with a simple drip system. Very simple and I am getting almost scary results (GOooooood scaaary!) with it.

Basically there is a resevoir with a pump and airstones in it. The pump pushes fertilized water through tubes that go to each plant and drip into their individual pots.

The pots are filled with hydroton which is basically red clay that has been popped like popcorn. The solution runs through the pots and drips back into the resevoir below. The pump goes a half hour on a half hour off, all day and night.

You can see pictures of the grow here: http://forums.cannabisculture.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1486588#Post1486588 and as you can see, the results are stunning!

This is my first stab at hydroponics and I am blown away by the ease and results. There is a learning curve the first few weeks, but once you get the basics down, it is very simple.

I would suggest that with a first grow you just keep things simple. I did drip mainly because it was very cheap to get started and it is a simple system. I would recommend it for first time hydro growers getting their feet wet.

Once you master something simple and learn the basics, you can try out something a little more advanced.

Hope this helps...

Peace V

-GTS

 

[grobofotwanky]

I just got done praising dwc on another thread. You can't beat it for beginner hydroponics. Just do plenty of research before building your own system. They are very cheap to assemble if you can gather all your materials locally. Concentrate on maintaining a consistant ph, ppm,water level, and temp in your res., and the rest in downhill from there.

 

[smokeyloki]

I'm going to do a 18 gallon rubbermaid. What pump would you guys suggest? I'm thinking that for this size setup I'll need two air stones. I'd like something that is on the quiet side that will provide enough air to get the job done.

 

[pencap]

Take a shot at my journal, plenty of how to, I also have a tutorial I could e-mail you, it's in word format....journal

 

[smokeyloki]

Ok, well I've been doing more reading and was almost going to say F it and continue with soil....and then I find out that my buddy has a "hydro kit" that he bought from fleabay. He can't use it because he moved and has no room to grow. I offered him twenty bucks and he said sure.

It looks like it covers the basics. I'm thinking about getting a tetra whisper pump (IS the 40 large enough??) and another bubbler bar.​

​

I'm also not sure about the nutes since I don't know what they are. For this I am thinking about using flora nova. I'd use the two bottles instead of the three botttle type to keep things simple.​

​

Do you think I'm on track thinking that a second bubbler and different nutes is the way to go?​

These are the specs:

6 plant system

18 gallon Reservoir​

Dimensions are 18" wide x 16" tall x 24" long.​

4ozs Grow Food​

4ozs Bloom Food​

2oz PH up​

1oz PH down​

Six 5" "Hydrofarm" net pots​

A generous amount of Hydroton
​

**Now comes with a Vibra-Flo air pump**​

air pump is rated for up to 20 gallons.​

6 feet of air hose.​

12 inch Bubble bar​

Six - 1.5" rock wool cubes.

​

 

[alwayslost]

I agree with going DWC I'm a week away form harvesting my first grow which was a home made dwc 5 gal buckets and it was easy and the end results are great i would give it a try easy, cheep and works cant beat it

 

[alwayslost]

i would recommend eather a larger air pump or a smaller air stone i use 4 in air stone for a 60 gal air pump other wise the airstone is so big that you get almost no oxygen to the roots just something to think about

 

[ViRedd]

Just go to WalMart and go into the aquarium section. You can buy a dual air pump there as well as the airstones. The pump is around $10.

I use the DWC method with RubberMaid tubs for cloning, for vegging and for my moms. Works great. My vegging and mom tubs each use two, two-outlet air pumps and four airstones. You can't beat oxygen for healthy roots.

Vi

 

[smokeyloki]

I got a tetra whisper 100, 4 four inch airstones, and the necessary tubing. I figured that I can always add the other air pump and 12 inch bubbler for more air.

So is the two part flornova nutes a good idea for a noob? I wanted something that is some what easy and forgiving.

Also will a cheaper ppm meter be ok? Fleabay has a few in between 20-30 bucks.

 

[smokeyloki]

Is there anything else that I am forgetting?

 

[spike1499]

don't forget your ph meter + up & down solutions.

growem green--------------------spike.

 

[smokeyloki]

Picked up a ppm meter and ph test strips.

I have four 4 inch air stones, each directly under the a pot that will run off a tetra whisper 100. I also have a 12 inch air stone running right down the middle that is hooked up to a second pump.

Flora nova grow and flower nutes are on the way as well as flora nectar.

I have ph up and down.


I think I'm all set! Going to germ four seeds and get this party started.

 

[alwayslost]

Picked up a ppm meter and ph test strips.

I have four 4 inch air stones, each directly under the a pot that will run off a tetra whisper 100. I also have a 12 inch air stone running right down the middle that is hooked up to a second pump.

Flora nova grow and flower nutes are on the way as well as flora nectar.

I have ph up and down.


I think I'm all set! Going to germ four seeds and get this party started.

Good luck dwc is a great way to grow

 

[regionaldragon]

I got a tetra whisper 100, 4 four inch airstones, and the necessary tubing. I figured that I can always add the other air pump and 12 inch bubbler for more air.

So is the two part flornova nutes a good idea for a noob? I wanted something that is some what easy and forgiving.

Also will a cheaper ppm meter be ok? Fleabay has a few in between 20-30 bucks.

I'm a noob too, so this ain't expert advice...

I'm using floranova nutes and think they are great. They seem expensive compared to others, but if you look at the dosage tables, it takes about 3x more of the other stuff to make a gallon... This is some thick stuff!

Later.