First Waterfarm Grow: Jock Horror

[Veritas420]

Hello everyone and take this first ride with me. I hope it's a good one! I will try to be as detailed as possible throughout this journey from bean to dream.
Ok now for the details. I have grown in soil for a while but a friend of mine gave me his waterfarm system he wasn't using anymore. "All my links go to Amazon just for the picture and description."

GROWING MEDIUM

Waterfarm : Mods I made to it.
1. Upgraded air pump to Active Aqua AAPA15L plugged 2 of the 4 holes.
2. Drilled a bunch more 1/4" holes in the top bucket.
3. Replaced the column support tube with a 1" PVC pipe.
4. Added 5" round air stone to bottom bucket.
5. Wash the hydroton really really well and soaked it in 1 part vinegar 3 parts water for 24 hours.

LIGHTING

Lumatek 400w 120/240v HPS/MH E-Ballast (Digital)
Lumatek 400w High-Par Output HPS Bulb
Xtrasun 6" Air Cooled White Reflector
Hydrofarm Dual outlet Grounder Timer
1/8" Rope Ratchet Light Hanger - 2 Pack

WALLS

Emergency Blankets - To use as a replacement for mylar. (Just a cheaper way.)

TESTERS, NUTRIENTS, and ADDITIVES

Hanna Instruments 98129 Combo Water Tester
a. 1 bottle of storage solution
b. 2 bottles of calibration solution
c. 1 bottle of cleaner
Weather Channel Indoor Digital Temperature/Humidity Gauge
1 Quart Flora Nova Bloom
1 Quart General Hydroponics PH Down "I have 7.0 neutral water"
8 Ounces Humbolt County's Own "Gravity" Flower Hardener
250ml House Garden Drip Clean
4 Ounces API Algaefix
8 Ounces API CO2 Booster

VENTILATION

Exhaust (Outake) : 4" Active Air In-Line Fan - 165cfm
4" Phresh Filter - Activated Carbon Air Filter
6" Round Duct Cover Plate

Intake (Passive) : Cut bottom of closet door 1" shorter.

Also using 2 empty 1 gallon milk jugs.

 

[Veritas420]

Started germinating the seed 3 days ago and about to stick it in the waterfarm. For germinating I used damp paper towel place it into a ziplock bag and placed it onto my network modem for warmth. Im using tap water to try this hydro grow. I know my tap water sucks but to much money for an RO system right now or to buy distilled water from the store for this.

Tap Water

PH: 7.05
PPM: 197
TEMP: 69.7 F

Oh, I use straight tap water for the first week nothing else added not even PH down. I'll fix PH later for now just want my girlie to meet the world.

I'll put some pics up tommorrow.

 

[AWnox]

Subbed!! Great start Veritas. Also will be starting my first WF soon. Good luck with your grow; definitely will be watching closely.

Cheers!

 

[mr.green123]

sounds good mate i'm subbed

 

[burrr]

Subbed! wish you luck.

What's the theory behind the co2 boost, never heard of it before.

 

[Veritas420]

First let me say sorry for not posting updates got real busy real quick. Today, is the first day im adding nutes. Im only using FloraNova Bloom right now with PH down if needed. Im going to try and sit the PH on 5.8 just to see any swing and see what PH she likes to sit at. Oh, also I use one eyedrop of Drip Clean for every gallon. Stops the salt build up on the rings he said. He swears by it so. OK. Let's take it with us for the journey.


FIXED Waterfarm Water

PH: 5.8
PPM: 353
Temp: 74.8 F

ROOM TEMP.

Temp: 76.6
Humidity: 49%
Light: OFF
Light Cycle: 18on/6off

 

[Veritas420]

Subbed! wish you luck.

What's the theory behind the co2 boost, never heard of it before.

I don't know never tried it but people who have said they yeilded better results but I guess will see. Your suppose to use it in the flowering cycle one eyedrop per gallon. I figuered for the price and the use worth a shot. Guess were all going to find out. Will put it to the test.

 

[AWnox]

She looks great Veritas!. Looks a bit stretchy though, at what height do you have your lights from the WF? Other than that your setup looks very promising. Can't wait to see your results.

 

[mr2shim]

Looks good, pH is a little high for that tiny seedling. I don't think you should be using nutes for at least a week or two. I did that with mine and she got a little nute burn, slowed down growth I think. Nice setup. Are you going to put down a scrog screen since it's only 1 plant?

You can check out my waterfarm grow if you like.

 

[AWnox]

Looks good, pH is a little high for that tiny seedling. I don't think you should be using nutes for at least a week or two. I did that with mine and she got a little nute burn, slowed down growth I think. Nice setup. Are you going to put down a scrog screen since it's only 1 plant?

You can check out my waterfarm grow if you like.

What should the optimal pH be for the seedlings mr2shim? Also something that I have been reading alot lately; if you over feed her she will not uptake as much as she would if you would feed her the right amount or below what she needs right? IMO as I would suspect yours as well, it's always better to "under" feed them as suppose to "over" feed them.

 

[mr2shim]

oh haha i meant ppm! was in a hurry this morning and wasn't completely in the mind set.

Less is always more. As the guy who I think really shot waterfarms into the somewhat spotlight said (scottyballs) keep it simple silly. Less nutes is better than too much nutes.

 

[AWnox]

oh haha i meant ppm! was in a hurry this morning and wasn't completely in the mind set.

Less is always more. As the guy who I think really shot waterfarms into the somewhat spotlight said (scottyballs) keep it simple silly. Less nutes is better than too much nutes.

Yeah SCOTTYBALLS grow was one of the culprits for my WF adventure as well. Can't wait to get started. I have been reading a lot lately, more than I am accustomed to actually and I have found so far that indeed the seedling will not need food for the first week or two because the cotyledons (it's first two rounded leaves) have stored food that will supply the young seedling with what it needs as it's roots form. After some days these leaves run out of food and start to wither, the roots are more established, then seedling is on it's own; that's when you feed her. Tha'ts why also when you try and place 250ppm water and a few hours later it's jumps to 300+ because she does not need it and only absorbing the h20 so the ratio of parts per million increases. Hope it help and if I'm wrong someone please correct me.

 

[mr2shim]

Yeah SCOTTYBALLS grow was one of the culprits for my WF adventure as well. Can't wait to get started. I have been reading a lot lately, more than I am accustomed to actually and I have found so far that indeed the seedling will not need food for the first week or two because the cotyledons (it's first two rounded leaves) have stored food that will supply the young seedling with what it needs as it's roots form. After some days these leaves run out of food and start to wither, the roots are more established, then seedling is on it's own; that's when you feed her. Tha'ts why also when you try and place 250ppm water and a few hours later it's jumps to 300+ because she does not need it and only absorbing the h20 so the ratio of parts per million increases. Hope it help and if I'm wrong someone please correct me.

Yea you're right, but with a seedling being so small it would take a long time for it to take up enough water to change the ppm of the water. That ppm change is most likely due to the hydroton. It tends to take the ppm of the water up a bit.

 

[AWnox]

Yea you're right, but with a seedling being so small it would take a long time for it to take up enough water to change the ppm of the water. That ppm change is most likely due to the hydroton. It tends to take the ppm of the water up a bit.

Thanks for the correction mr2shim; does it ever stop raising the ppm's?

@Veritas: How's your lady looking today? I'ts interesting to see day to day progress of the seedling in the WF.

 

[Veritas420]

Looks good, pH is a little high for that tiny seedling. I don't think you should be using nutes for at least a week or two. I did that with mine and she got a little nute burn, slowed down growth I think. Nice setup. Are you going to put down a scrog screen since it's only 1 plant?

You can check out my waterfarm grow if you like.

Ya. PH is high and I started very small nutes of FloraNova Bloom at day 7. I was worried about that with the PH cause I know hydro grows want a lower PH then soil but she seems to be fine so far. Crossing fingers.

 

[Veritas420]

Ya. PH is high and I started very small nutes of FloraNova Bloom at day 7. I was worried about that with the PH cause I know hydro grows want a lower PH then soil but she seems to be fine so far. Crossing fingers.

Well, the PPM and PH are high so like stated from you guys above I am going very slow with the nutes like 4 to 6 eyedrops per gallon and seeing how she reacts. If there is anything im doing wrong please let me know. I am know means a good grower of hydro considering this is my first time.

 

[Veritas420]

Not really much to report as she is still so young. Shall we give her a name?

FIXED WATERFARM WATER

PH: 6.30
PPM: 350
TEMP: 75.8 F

GROW ROOM TEMP.

TEMP: 86.4 F
HUMIDITY: 23%
LIGHT: ON
LIGHT CYCLE: 18on/6off


PH went up a little but PPM went down a little. I think im at a good ratio with the nutes for now. What do you guys think?

PICTURES!

Oh, also is it ok to spray her with a water bottle with plain tap water right after the light shuts off?

 

[Veritas420]

She looks great Veritas!. Looks a bit stretchy though, at what height do you have your lights from the WF? Other than that your setup looks very promising. Can't wait to see your results.

I had the light around 3 feet away. I took your advice and moved it down to around 1 1/2 feet to 2 feet away. Just afraid to get to close with the light as I had trouble with heat burn on my last soil grow. Thanx mate. Enjoy the advice.

 

[Veritas420]

Yeah SCOTTYBALLS grow was one of the culprits for my WF adventure as well. Can't wait to get started. I have been reading a lot lately, more than I am accustomed to actually and I have found so far that indeed the seedling will not need food for the first week or two because the cotyledons (it's first two rounded leaves) have stored food that will supply the young seedling with what it needs as it's roots form. After some days these leaves run out of food and start to wither, the roots are more established, then seedling is on it's own; that's when you feed her. Tha'ts why also when you try and place 250ppm water and a few hours later it's jumps to 300+ because she does not need it and only absorbing the h20 so the ratio of parts per million increases. Hope it help and if I'm wrong someone please correct me.

Yes, this is a SCOTTYBALLS grow. I read over his journal when I was given the waterfarm to even know how to start to grow from a waterfarm. He has show the way.

Looks good, pH is a little high for that tiny seedling. I don't think you should be using nutes for at least a week or two. I did that with mine and she got a little nute burn, slowed down growth I think. Nice setup. Are you going to put down a scrog screen since it's only 1 plant?

You can check out my waterfarm grow if you like.

Yes, I am going to scrog.

 

[AWnox]

She looks good Veritas! Hell yeah you gotta name her, you gotta do it though you're the parent.

Also I was wondering if your humidity might be to low? On the strain I'm going to grow (Kalashnikova), GreenHouse says to keep her when vegging at a 60 to 70% humidity..? Does this vary from strain to strain? If anyone has any info on humidity levels please share.

Keep it up Veritas, can't wait to see her get bigger. Are you going to top her or do any LST on her?