DWC vs. Bubbleponics vs. Drip vs. Making my head hurt!!

[SmokeDoggy]

I'm new to Hydro but I get the idea of it.

I get Aeroponics - basically misting the roots and letting them fall into water after they are like 4-5" long or so.

I get the bubblers and oygenation of the roots.

I also get the drip system which gets oxygenated water to the INNER root zone areas which Aeroponics likely won't reach.

So what should I do?

I read a post from 2008 from Al B. Fuct that was DWC but he said NOT to run water lines to the inner root zone (bottom of the net cups).

So which is it? I don't want a mister, I want DWC, and I am thinking I need to run a water pump in addition to my air pump and get the oxygenated, nute-enriched water to the inner root zone - like Roseman says to do.

????

 

[Illegal Smile]

I'm using the SH bubbleponics and doing it Roseman's way. But I have to admit it would be nice to be rid of the pump and clogged feeding tubes. That would mean some alternative or manual way of feeding for 3 weeks. IDK so my post is like zero help to you, sorry.

 

[purpdaddy]

I'm using the SH bubbleponics and doing it Roseman's way. But I have to admit it would be nice to be rid of the pump and clogged feeding tubes. That would mean some alternative or manual way of feeding for 3 weeks. IDK so my post is like zero help to you, sorry.

Dude,every system has its flaws.pumps fuck up shit gets clogged its a part of growing,i promise by the time the tubes get clogged the roots will have been deep in the water. You can check on it by simply removing and sticking back in

 

[Roseman]

I'm using the SH bubbleponics and doing it Roseman's way. But I have to admit it would be nice to be rid of the pump and clogged feeding tubes. That would mean some alternative or manual way of feeding for 3 weeks. IDK so my post is like zero help to you, sorry.

Now does that sound like good help from a real BubbleHead?

You're like saying the Pony Express mail carrier would be faster if someone took his pony!!!

and I didn't think you had even started using the kit yet???

 

[Roseman]

What is Bubbleponics Post # 9835

Thats a good read there.

 

[SmokeDoggy]

Wow, hey Roseman, yes I've been reading all the threads and posts and DIY setups, most of it ultimately from YOU of course.

I'm just trying to think about whether I need a real water pump or not.

Can't I just keep the water level high enough to touch the bottom of the net cups for the 1st three weeks? That will supply moisture and nutes, right? As long as it stays at the bottom of the net cups, it won't saturate the rockwool, right?

And then after I see a bunch of root tips popping up, THEN I can back the water down (enough that the roots are still wet) until it is about 2-3" below the net cups and then keep that constant level... Wouldn't that work?

I just find it hard to believe I can't do this initial root startup w/out the water pump complexity...

Everyone is saying to turn off the water pump once the roots hit water anyways, so it is just for the 1st few weeks...

 

[purpdaddy]

Wow, hey Roseman, yes I've been reading all the threads and posts and DIY setups, most of it ultimately from YOU of course.

I'm just trying to think about whether I need a real water pump or not.

Can't I just keep the water level high enough to touch the bottom of the net cups for the 1st three weeks? That will supply moisture and nutes, right? As long as it stays at the bottom of the net cups, it won't saturate the rockwool, right?

And then after I see a bunch of root tips popping up, THEN I can back the water down (enough that the roots are still wet) until it is about 2-3" below the net cups and then keep that constant level... Wouldn't that work?

I just find it hard to believe I can't do this initial root startup w/out the water pump complexity...

Everyone is saying to turn off the water pump once the roots hit water anyways, so it is just for the 1st few weeks...

oh yes you can do it but who has time to feed their plants like that 3-4 times a day and go to work.impossible for me so i let the pump and tubes do the work for me.

 

[Roseman]

Wow, hey Roseman, yes I've been reading all the threads and posts and DIY setups, most of it ultimately from YOU of course.

I'm just trying to think about whether I need a real water pump or not.

Can't I just keep the water level high enough to touch the bottom of the net cups for the 1st three weeks? That will supply moisture and nutes, right? As long as it stays at the bottom of the net cups, it won't saturate the rockwool, right?

Right, it will work.

And then after I see a bunch of root tips popping up, THEN I can back the water down (enough that the roots are still wet) until it is about 2-3" below the net cups and then keep that constant level... Wouldn't that work?

I just find it hard to believe I can't do this initial root startup w/out the water pump complexity...

Everyone is saying to turn off the water pump once the roots hit water anyways, so it is just for the 1st few weeks...

Lots of people grow with a plain regular DWC setup and get great results.
but us BubbleHeads that use the Bubbleponics system of a water pump and feeder tubes, get it two weeks faster.
The big difference IS the first two or three weeks. and you can't start and germinate a seed in a plain DWC system.

 

[Foolieo]

What is Bubbleponics Post # 9835

Thats a good read there.

Great read so happy i just stumbled upon this. i been asking and searching and looking around for ever for that specific info right there thank you
hopefuly i can count on you to stop in and help me with any problems i have down the road you seem very knowledgeable about this stuff hard to come by

 

[TheFaux]

Lots of people grow with a plain regular DWC setup and get great results.
but us BubbleHeads that use the Bubbleponics system of a water pump and feeder tubes, get it two weeks faster.
The big difference IS the first two or three weeks. and you can't start and germinate a seed in a plain DWC system.

IMO the thing that's so great about DWC is that the roots above water are getting massive amounts of air. People germinate seeds in water all the time by the way.

 

[Illegal Smile]

Wow, hey Roseman, yes I've been reading all the threads and posts and DIY setups, most of it ultimately from YOU of course.

I'm just trying to think about whether I need a real water pump or not.

Can't I just keep the water level high enough to touch the bottom of the net cups for the 1st three weeks? That will supply moisture and nutes, right? As long as it stays at the bottom of the net cups, it won't saturate the rockwool, right?

And then after I see a bunch of root tips popping up, THEN I can back the water down (enough that the roots are still wet) until it is about 2-3" below the net cups and then keep that constant level... Wouldn't that work?

I just find it hard to believe I can't do this initial root startup w/out the water pump complexity...

Everyone is saying to turn off the water pump once the roots hit water anyways, so it is just for the 1st few weeks...

I bought the system so I will do it by the book at least once. I know I can get more out of one grow than I paid for it. But like you, I need to try things different ways for myself. That tendency has served me well this far in life. Besides, I just bought it I didn't give birth to it. I did one grow with the system I had before, paid for it, and dumped it. I hope I am so damn sold on the SH system I'll use it forever, we'll see. If you decide to use a variant let me know, we'll compare notes.

 

[henleyhaze]

ok the best magic about the water pump especially sub pumps is it raises the temp in the res and fosters quick root production. when roots hit and mature you can take it out drop the res temp and boom on to flowering (if you like). you def. want the water pump man its like 16 bucks just get it

 

[SmokeDoggy]

I'm still not sold on the water pump.

My room will likely already be warm (82') and warmer when the lights are on. I don't need a side-effect of my pump to warm my res water.

I also work from home and obsess about this stuff 16/8 so I would be there and able to add nutes 3x a day for 3 weeks. Although it would be a PITA I'm sure. Which nutes are we talking here btw - the micro nutes only?

So is there any other benefit to a submersible pump other than:

- auto nute delivery for until roots hit water
- auto watering for 1st 3 weeks
- warming res water

I just find it annoying that I'm spending about $100 on a hydro setup (including nutes and 2 ~$12 pumps one for air one for water) and then I have to stop using the water pump after 3 weeks. What a waste. That may only be $12-$15 but it's $12-15 more dollars that I'm spending MORE on this, which is like a whole bottle of nutes btw...

 

[purpdaddy]

I'm still not sold on the water pump.

My room will likely already be warm (82') and warmer when the lights are on. I don't need a side-effect of my pump to warm my res water.

I also work from home and obsess about this stuff 16/8 so I would be there and able to add nutes 3x a day for 3 weeks. Although it would be a PITA I'm sure. Which nutes are we talking here btw - the micro nutes only?

So is there any other benefit to a submersible pump other than:

- auto nute delivery for until roots hit water
- auto watering for 1st 3 weeks
- warming res water

I just find it annoying that I'm spending about $100 on a hydro setup (including nutes and 2 ~$12 pumps one for air one for water) and then I have to stop using the water pump after 3 weeks. What a waste. That may only be $12-$15 but it's $12-15 more dollars that I'm spending MORE on this, which is like a whole bottle of nutes btw...

Well i speak from experience and my experience tells me that a pump is a necessity,runniing water is cooler than standing water.

check this out
Afghan Kush-Bubbleponics.https://www.rollitup.org/attachments/grow-journals/505462d1249945234-first-stealth-bubbleponics-grow-img00007-20090810-1853.jpg

 

[SmokeDoggy]

Good point on "running water is cooler water". I hadn't thought about that.

That surely will help also with my temps.

Ok, f it. I'll get the water pump. I want to do it right the first time, right? And I'm already spending $100 why not make it $115.

Now to get the wife's buy-in.. She knows about the bubbles but not about the $115+ cost associated with such an upgrade to my grow lab.

 

[Illegal Smile]

Good point on "running water is cooler water". I hadn't thought about that.

That surely will help also with my temps.

Ok, f it. I'll get the water pump. I want to do it right the first time, right? And I'm already spending $100 why not make it $115.

Now to get the wife's buy-in.. She knows about the bubbles but not about the $115+ cost associated with such an upgrade to my grow lab.

My wife loves her pot and has good business sense. She realizes that no matter what we spend, it is going to pay for itself in a matter of months. That makes it nice . I think you if you didn't try it with the pump you'd always wonder, and if you didn't try it without the pump, you'd always wonder. I'll probably try it both ways, then I'll be able to speak from experience.

 

[closetkiller]

i have tried several differant hydro systems. my first attempt was with a emily's garden, a passive wick system, not much better than soil. then i used a waterfarm drip system and it worked better. my last grow was a 5 gal dwc, it was better still. i am using a ROSEMAN diy set up this time and hoping for better results still. my wife got tired of hand watering with non-oxeginated water until the roots got long enough to reach the water, about 2 1/2 weeks. the extra $20 dollars for a pump and hose will be well worth it for another oz or so. good luck and i hope this helped

 

[Foolieo]

my cuttings in my dwc are 4 days old at this point and i have to spray them at least 6 times aday and i have domes over each is this normal? or do i have something setup wrong in my system? are my feed tubes not aimed at the correct part of the net pot? i have them slipped threw the highest slit in the net pot and going direct to the rockwool. if i take the domes off for almost any time at all they wilt over and look dead.. sry if this is the wrong area to ask... hate to start a new thread when there are so many smart guys in here answering questions and questions being answered i figure this question could help the lookers also.

Side note. water pump is on same schedule as the lights. 11pm off 5am on.