DWC feeding schedule question.

ok guys. im getting into DWC but im a little foggy about the feeding schedule still. after about an hour of reading ive found no real good answer. but from what i gather i change my rez every week, adding the nutes at that time to the desired PPM. and i only top off the system with ph water until i change my rez again. 7-10 days. allowing the plants to lower the ppms.
Does this sound right?
or do i try and keep the ppms at the desired level until i change my rez. ill be using ionic nutes if it matters.
 

Earlymorninghigh

Well-Known Member
I've found with DWC, keep the PPMs on the low side, don't need to go over 900 PPM, even at the peak in flowering. You'll avoid a lot of issues if you keep the feeding light. It's very easy to over do it. If your using R/O water, get yourself some cal/mag. I have a friend :) that uses Botanicare's, 3-5ml per gallon, depending on flower time. Change the res once a week. Measure the PPM and PH before topping off. If the ppms are the same and the water level is down, your in the sweet spot. Top off and add nutes to get back to that number. If PPMs are down and water is down, they are "eating" more than what you are giving them, add more nutes gradually, and don't boost PPM's more than 50-100 points at a time. If the PPM's are higher than originally, they are drinking more water than taking in nutes. Top off with only water and lower the nute strength 50-100 points until they start feeding again. As far as PH swings, you'll notice that when your in the sweet spot for PPMs, the plant is happy and PH doesn't swing much, maybe a point in either direction. I found when over feeding, your messing up the system and the PH will swing way over 7 in no time, basically overnight. For flushing, it only takes a few days at a PPM of 200-300 for the plant to really start yellowing, so continue to feed till the very end, then a 4-5 day flush. After 3 cycles through, and reading a ton of misinformation, this is what has worked for me, trial and error. Best of luck
 
awesome thanks man, thats just what i needed. another question. anyone use any fossil fuel or nitrozime in there res. i use ionic and they call for both those. the worries i have is when i use those nutes for my soil plants the water is really dark black. is that going to clog the airstone or hurt the roots or stain them. dose anyone else have really dark rez water?
 
ionic is has both soil and hydro nutes. the fossil fuel (humic acid) and nitrozime (marine algae) are both to be used in hydro. but they turn the water black. is this ok or should i consider switching nutrients?
 

Erdericks

Well-Known Member
My Botinacare nutes do stain the water a little, but my feeding suppliment liquid karma REALLY stains the water, and my plants love it.
 
thanks for the feed back Erdericks. i haven't started my system yet but i feel a little better now. ill just start with low doses.
 
how big is your dwc rez im using 5gal buckets 1 per plant i change rez every week and a half to two weeks during veg and every week during flower saves on nutes and seems to work fine good growth and no problems
 

29menace

Well-Known Member
humic will colour ur water plus it can stain the roots if you use alot. nothing happens to the roots but it becomes harder to notice rootzone probz.
ive used it loads of times with no ill effect.

fulvic acid is also great to add to your res..
 

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
I've found with DWC, keep the PPMs on the low side, don't need to go over 900 PPM, even at the peak in flowering. You'll avoid a lot of issues if you keep the feeding light. It's very easy to over do it. If your using R/O water, get yourself some cal/mag. I have a friend :) that uses Botanicare's, 3-5ml per gallon, depending on flower time. Change the res once a week. Measure the PPM and PH before topping off. If the ppms are the same and the water level is down, your in the sweet spot. Top off and add nutes to get back to that number. If PPMs are down and water is down, they are "eating" more than what you are giving them, add more nutes gradually, and don't boost PPM's more than 50-100 points at a time. If the PPM's are higher than originally, they are drinking more water than taking in nutes. Top off with only water and lower the nute strength 50-100 points until they start feeding again. As far as PH swings, you'll notice that when your in the sweet spot for PPMs, the plant is happy and PH doesn't swing much, maybe a point in either direction. I found when over feeding, your messing up the system and the PH will swing way over 7 in no time, basically overnight. For flushing, it only takes a few days at a PPM of 200-300 for the plant to really start yellowing, so continue to feed till the very end, then a 4-5 day flush. After 3 cycles through, and reading a ton of misinformation, this is what has worked for me, trial and error. Best of luck
YUP in DWC/Bubbleponics my plants love 500-600 PPM max in veg in flower I dont go over 900 they respond pretty well to it.
 
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