General Hydroponics Waterfarm 8 sites????

IrishDoc

IrishDoc

Well-Known Member
I have a diy waterfarm. It uses the plumbing pieces from the waterfarm. One of the main issues this setup has is salt build up in the plumbing, both in the bottom and on the drip rings. I added air stones to each bucket just in case the plumbing gets clogged and no air reaches the water. On a positive note the energy (electricity) used by this system is alot less then most other systems. I will say that I prefer it over my NFT systems and my flood and drain system.
 
rocpilefsj

rocpilefsj

Misguided Angel
IrishDoc said:
I have a diy waterfarm. It uses the plumbing pieces from the waterfarm. One of the main issues this setup has is salt build up in the plumbing, both in the bottom and on the drip rings. I added air stones to each bucket just in case the plumbing gets clogged and no air reaches the water. On a positive note the energy (electricity) used by this system is alot less then most other systems. I will say that I prefer it over my NFT systems and my flood and drain system.
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That is one of the concerns that I have found while researching it. Would you say it is a good system for a beginner to hydro? I do have soil growing experience, but I am sick of hauling dirt into my place, eventually my neighbours are going to wonder why I use so much soil in my place haha.
 
IrishDoc

IrishDoc

Well-Known Member
Yes it is a good system for a noob to hydro. If you want to avoid the maintenance of cleaning the salt out every 2 weeks or so there is a additive you can add that will keep the salt from building up and they claim that flushing is not needed when using it. But for the life of me I remember what it is. It has been mentioned on the threads a bunch so someone will probably post it here.
 
rocpilefsj

rocpilefsj

Misguided Angel
Thanks for the input! I think I know what you are referring to, kleen something or something of that nature. Want to get all my ducks in a row before making a decision.
 
homebrewer

homebrewer

Well-Known Member
I've heard the pH can differ from bucket to bucket. I got my start with a single hydrofarm waterfarm bucket and after one grow, quickly converted to a DIY ebb and flow system. .
 
SCOTTYBALLS

SCOTTYBALLS

Well-Known Member
IMO its the best system.. Dont try to over do it keep it simple. Ive built $2000 High presure true aero setups running 9bar.. Ive done DWC and ebb and flows... I always end up back with old faithfull here is my last grow.. one waterfarm, one plant, one 400w hps.. 10oz dry and have yeiled 15oz dry with same setup difrent strain... thats pretty hard to beat and have yet to find a system that can do so.
 

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rocpilefsj

rocpilefsj

Misguided Angel
SCOTTYBALLS said:
IMO its the best system.. Dont try to over do it keep it simple. Ive built $2000 High presure true aero setups running 9bar.. Ive done DWC and ebb and flows... I always end up back with old faithfull here is my last grow.. one waterfarm, one plant, one 400w hps.. 10oz dry and have yeiled 15oz dry with same setup difrent strain... thats pretty hard to beat and have yet to find a system that can do so.
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Wow. Nice work. Looks like you have gotten great results with it that's for sure. Did you have hydro experience before using the waterfarm? I am a little nervous to switch over to hydro from soil. What was the learning curve like? Any input is much appreciated.
 
Nitegazer

Nitegazer

Well-Known Member
I have read mixed reviews of the Hydrofarm, largely due to the lack of circulation mentioned above. One other system to consider is the Ebb&Grow. It is a similar system in that it is modular with a master resevoir. I don't use it (passive hydro in Promix is my method), but have strongly considered this system.

Here is a link to a thread on the system that contains loads of useful info:
All Cap Ebb Grow Users
 
patlpp

patlpp

New Member
rocpilefsj said:
Thanks for the input! I think I know what you are referring to, kleen something or something of that nature. Want to get all my ducks in a row before making a decision.
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I think it's House and Garden Drip Clean where you add 1/2 ml /gal throughout the grow.
 
IrishDoc

IrishDoc

Well-Known Member
there is a simple fix to the circulation problem. add one more hose to connect the lower to buckets (the two furthest away from the rez) and then add a small 100gph pump to the rez. let it run for 3-5 min twice a day and the ph problem is solved and it is easier and quicker to get fresh nutes to each bucket.
 
SCOTTYBALLS

SCOTTYBALLS

Well-Known Member
Its cake!! I killed things in dirt lol... GH waterfarm was my first hydro kit.. I followed the directions that came with the kit and had a excelent grow my first time.. over the years I wanted to try difrent things but never with the success that i had with a waterfarm.. so Im sticking to them now... somone said somthing about poor water circulation.. that is not the case with this system... if you want more flow you get a bigger fish tank air pump... however its not a must at all... Ive already done that and had 130 cfm air pump powering dual air stone's in the bottom... no need to go there did not see much difrence at all... Ive been using these systems for 10 yrs now.. just drill many more holes in the bottom of the top bucket ... there are some there but need much more so the roots can get down there...
 
rocpilefsj

rocpilefsj

Misguided Angel
SCOTTYBALLS said:
Its cake!! I killed things in dirt lol... GH waterfarm was my first hydro kit.. I followed the directions that came with the kit and had a excelent grow my first time.. over the years I wanted to try difrent things but never with the success that i had with a waterfarm.. so Im sticking to them now... somone said somthing about poor water circulation.. that is not the case with this system... if you want more flow you get a bigger fish tank air pump... however its not a must at all... Ive already done that and had 130 cfm air pump powering dual air stone's in the bottom... no need to go there did not see much difrence at all... Ive been using these systems for 10 yrs now.. just drill many more holes in the bottom of the top bucket ... there are some there but need much more so the roots can get down there...
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sweet thanks for all ur input. How easy was it to setup and understand?
 
johndoecangrow

johndoecangrow

Active Member
the only problem I have noticed is the drip ring gets clogged with salt build up and plugs the holes,I use a needle to unclog the holes. this is a combo of drip and deep water culture. I prefer more active systems like flood and drain or aeroponics. the difference is inactive systems rely on the plant searching out the nutrients alot like dirt but active systems bring the nutrients to the root so you force feed it.no chance for lazy plants
 
SCOTTYBALLS

SCOTTYBALLS

Well-Known Member
johndoecangrow said:
the only problem I have noticed is the drip ring gets clogged with salt build up and plugs the holes,I use a needle to unclog the holes. this is a combo of drip and deep water culture. I prefer more active systems like flood and drain or aeroponics. the difference is inactive systems rely on the plant searching out the nutrients alot like dirt but active systems bring the nutrients to the root so you force feed it.no chance for lazy plants
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You can stop the salt build up on the ring by covering it with foil its when the water drys on the ring leaving behind salts... stop the evaporation and you stop the salt build up this also stops algee growth...
 

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tman42

tman42

Well-Known Member
I have used this system for awhile now and I use House and Garden nutrients with the drip clean (which has helped greatly in reducing the number of clogs in the drip lines) and also added the circulation kit http://www.hydrofarm.com/pb_detail.php?itemid=8641 and have done some of the upgrades from waterfarm mod threads https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/119479-waterfarm-mods-tips.html#post1461311. I know when I drilled out my top buckets, my roots got a lot bigger and started filling in the bottom buckets. Good luck with your grows and I am a true believer in these waterfarms, I just did my first SCROG with them and got 10.5 ounces from one of the plants (It had alot of screen room).
 
E

EvasiveGrower

Member
This is an awesome thread for info on this system. I just switched from soil to 2 single hydrofarm water farms. Very anxious to see the difference. Thanks for all the great info, wish I read it before input my plant in the bucket, should've drilled some more holes. I think I could drill them from the bottom if I pull the plant up (no roots there yet).
 
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