Transitioning from soil to hydro ~~ +REP for advice

[shipinit]

I am currently growing in soil but need to simplify due to health reasons.....bottom line I cannot continue to haul soil and all the additives that go with it.

I have done my research on all the different hydro systems and have concerns and questions....really I would like to hear the pro's and con's of the systems that you all are using and what you would do differently. Let me give some details of what I am currently working with and what will soon be added:

• SunHut XXL (4 x 8 x 7)
• 2-600w digital HPS Air cooled (adding a 3rd)
• I have the space to add a rez outside the tent if needed
• I am not on the ground floor (flooding concerns unless rez is in tent?)
• Think ease of use (physically speaking)
• Currently using FF liquids but open to change
• Mothers stay in soil?

Closest I have come to hydro was a simple ebb flow system for a college project years ago and some hempy buckets last year. I have the tools and ability to DIY as long as it is not too physically demanding. If I am missing any relevent info needed please chime in.....basically I am trying to extend the time that I can care for my garden before having to bring in an outsider or worse resort to others supplying my meds.

Thank you all in advance, rep will be given for participation.

 

[lilmafia513]

IMO Hempy is the easiest, cheapest, and has a nice speed to it.

 

[Drgreenz]

i am in the same situation as you and have decided on a 2 res system. basically it is 2 reseviors(30gal tubs from walmart), 3 6"pvc pipes cut to whatever length, i got 4', and a 4" hole cutter for the basket pots.
Cut 2 holes for the 6" pvc to fit into in the top or res one, then 2 more holes about 1.5-2 inches lower on res two. use the hole cutter to put the holes for your pots in these tubes every 1.5-2 feet apart or so.
next cut a hole on the same side of res two again but make this one about 7 inches from the bottem of the res, then cut another in res one about 5 inches from the bottem. this tube will be the return for your water solution to flow back to res one.
next set a water fountain pump to pump water from res one up into each of the 2 6" pvc tubes holding the plants, this water drains down the tubes and into res two, then through the lower pvc tube back to res one.
this seems like the easiest hydro setup i have come up with, and with the 2 seperate reseviors, the water will stay fairly cool, and you can keep light out with the covers for the tubs. also there is no lifting, moving parts or anything to worry about, just plug in the pump and let it go.

 

[shipinit]

IMO Hempy is the easiest, cheapest, and has a nice speed to it.

I agree 100%, this was actually my fallback method if I didn't decide on a system before my next run starts....+REP

i am in the same situation as you and have decided on a 2 res system. basically it is 2 reseviors(30gal tubs from walmart), 3 6"pvc pipes cut to whatever length, i got 4', and a 4" hole cutter for the basket pots.
Cut 2 holes for the 6" pvc to fit into in the top or res one, then 2 more holes about 1.5-2 inches lower on res two. use the hole cutter to put the holes for your pots in these tubes every 1.5-2 feet apart or so.
next cut a hole on the same side of res two again but make this one about 7 inches from the bottem of the res, then cut another in res one about 5 inches from the bottem. this tube will be the return for your water solution to flow back to res one.
next set a water fountain pump to pump water from res one up into each of the 2 6" pvc tubes holding the plants, this water drains down the tubes and into res two, then through the lower pvc tube back to res one.
this seems like the easiest hydro setup i have come up with, and with the 2 seperate reseviors, the water will stay fairly cool, and you can keep light out with the covers for the tubs. also there is no lifting, moving parts or anything to worry about, just plug in the pump and let it go.

this type of system intrigues me, I have seen all types on here and other sites. They seem fairly straight forward to build, I have all the tools including the hole saw and I know I can get all pieces locally.....bunch of different stops but all locally. .......+REP
Anyone using this type of system currently I would love to hear the pro's and con's.
Would also mention I have a 12k btu spot a/c unit that I can add to the room if needed or build a tent for the rez outside the main tent and add the a/c there.....or buy a chiller I guess if needed.....basically whatever I need to do to make this work I will.

 

[brucetree]

I am currently growing in soil but need to simplify due to health reasons.....bottom line I cannot continue to haul soil and all the additives that go with it.

I have done my research on all the different hydro systems and have concerns and questions....really I would like to hear the pro's and con's of the systems that you all are using and what you would do differently. Let me give some details of what I am currently working with and what will soon be added:

• SunHut XXL (4 x 8 x 7)
• 2-600w digital HPS Air cooled (adding a 3rd)
• I have the space to add a rez outside the tent if needed
• I am not on the ground floor (flooding concerns unless rez is in tent?)
• Think ease of use (physically speaking)
• Currently using FF liquids but open to change
• Mothers stay in soil?

Closest I have come to hydro was a simple ebb flow system for a college project years ago and some hempy buckets last year. I have the tools and ability to DIY as long as it is not too physically demanding. If I am missing any relevent info needed please chime in.....basically I am trying to extend the time that I can care for my garden before having to bring in an outsider or worse resort to others supplying my meds.

Thank you all in advance, rep will be given for participation.

read the get a harvest every 2 weeks sticky thread. enough said....

 

[morrisgreenberg]

you can try the filthy fletch method, rubbermade totes and make a DWC/aero, flood tables and rockwool also appears to be easy although i never tried it, or just get an Ebb and Grow bucket system, comes with 12 buckets and a 50gal rez---this to me seems to be simplest, plus i just ordered a 24bucket set

 

[morrisgreenberg]

i prefer aero but ddont know if you want to do all that building, you can use 4in, 6 inch pcv pipes or stinkbuds fence post method, which i just did myself, square is better, but out of everything i think you get the best performance from aero

 

[shipinit]

read the get a harvest every 2 weeks sticky thread. enough said....

Have been doing the same system in soil now for a while. Would prefer to do a modified version with harvests every 3 weeks to a month....guess that is dependent on what style I pick, stinkbuds is on the top of my list. +REP

 

[shipinit]

you can try the filthy fletch method, rubbermade totes and make a DWC/aero, flood tables and rockwool also appears to be easy although i never tried it, or just get an Ebb and Grow bucket system, comes with 12 buckets and a 50gal rez---this to me seems to be simplest, plus i just ordered a 24bucket set

FF system I have bookmarked and am considering it. Ebb/Flow tables are currently on the top of my list....build tables to fit my 3 gal pots, use chunky perlite....fairly cheap and light to haul/ship.

i prefer aero but ddont know if you want to do all that building, you can use 4in, 6 inch pcv pipes or stinkbuds fence post method, which i just did myself, square is better, but out of everything i think you get the best performance from aero

Stinkbuds thread I have read front to back and some spots over a few times. The build doesn't concern me, flexibility (if anything does). If I stick with a SOG or modified version of it Stinkbuds systems is tops with me. + REP

 

[morrisgreenberg]

i built 2 systems to accomidate to small spaces, one was a small veg system in a 4x4, the other was in a 3x6 just remember you cant get to the last plant withouth yanking the whole tube out, its very doable but not ideal and i didnt have any issues with it, we want more space on the side to get back there for some pruning, i love all perlite in my pots, for the sake of less watering you can add vermiculite this holds water very well, maybe a 70/30 mix would be perfect plus a huge bag weight like 10lbs

 

[shipinit]

i built 2 systems to accomidate to small spaces, one was a small veg system in a 4x4, the other was in a 3x6 just remember you cant get to the last plant withouth yanking the whole tube out, its very doable but not ideal and i didnt have any issues with it, we want more space on the side to get back there for some pruning, i love all perlite in my pots, for the sake of less watering you can add vermiculite this holds water very well, maybe a 70/30 mix would be perfect plus a huge bag weight like 10lbs

I agree 100% on perlite...love the stuff. I have a huge bag of vermiculite (40 lbs? Its huge) as well as a large bag of FF chunky perlite, heading out today to find something pre-made for the tubs.....if not I will just build some custom for the size I want and glass them all in when I am done.

Side note, the wife does not want any rez outside the tent.....she knows that space/heat is an issue concerning the rez. We comprimised, I am going to pick up another sun hut silver xxl and connect the two....or may make an addition out of panda film and pvc.....second option is only if I can find tubs I can use off the shelf....don't want too much DIY going at once or my stoned slacking ass will get about 25% through with each project.

If I get a second tent I will use the divider that comes with it, use 3/4 of the space for flower and the other 1/4 that will be seperate for rez, equip and possibly pre-flower area. I also found a guy locally that has food grade blue 55 gallon containers with or without spigots for 15 bucks each.....they are used but were used to transport and store juice so they will be safe to use......gonna pick up at least 6.....2 for grow and the other 4 I will throw some wood on top of for workspace.....cant pass them up at that price.