Need some help with my system, please and thanks yall

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dr.wetthumb

Member
My system consists of 2, 4 foot pieces of PVC pipe (3 inches in diameter) with four holes in each. I have a 396 gallon submersible pump, 40 feet of hosing (some extra), all my needed nutrients, bulbs, reflectors, resevior, ph up and down, and even a pH water tester. I was wondering if my pump is too small or big for the job? My hosing is only half an inch in diameter and I was also wondering if that will be able to provide my plants with enough water and nutrients, thanks! Im a newb here and im looking for any valuable information.
 
matt7835706

matt7835706

Well-Known Member
How are you feeding, drips or misters? If you drip you can go with your half inch and splice into it with 8 smaller lines that run to you plants. Use drip spears and your pump will work fine. Make sence?
 
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dr.wetthumb

Member
I was going to feed a hose at the beginning of my pipes and let it run throughout the system to the end where I would have elbows leading it back into my reservior, what do you think of that??
 
matt7835706

matt7835706

Well-Known Member
Run one hose (outside the pipe) between the pipe, plug the end, splice 8 line into it, these are the feed lines ( one at each plant site ) make sure the feed lines are much smaller. Get drip spears from your local grow shop, use hosesixe that fits them. stick them in your pots and turn the pump on 8 minutes and off for on hour. Easy and simple.
 
hellraizer30

hellraizer30

Rebel From The North
New plants to the system wont have roots to reach the water, so like matt says build a drip system to bring water to them!
 
matt7835706

matt7835706

Well-Known Member
drip.jpgstake.jpg See the main line or manifold between the plants, the feed lines come off it, the second picture is a drip spear it will connect to the feed line and feed the site, you can get connectors that screw into the main line then the feed line will just slip onto the connector. The water is pumped to the site and drain down into the medium and runs out the bottom and will collect in you pvc tube. angle it slightly and the water will all drain back into you res , and the pump takes over and the cycle continues. Put a timer on the pump 8 minute on, one hour off. When your done send me pictures! Good luck!
 
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dr.wetthumb

Member
okay thanks guys, sorry for my ignorance on the subject, but I could use this method while plant is young, until a nice root system has developed right?!
 
matt7835706

matt7835706

Well-Known Member
online or local grow shop. You can use this system for the entire growth cycle. Do you have a tri-meter for you res? Its as important as the light when you dealing with hydro!
 
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dr.wetthumb

Member
I do not, i was unaware of one of these nifty things. I have a pH water tester, ran me about 80 dollars and gives a pretty accurate reading of pH. Are tri-meters usually expensive? The benefits of one are pretty amazing
 
matt7835706

matt7835706

Well-Known Member
I think you can find them for about $150. ph,temp, and ppm all in one. It tells you whats going on in your res with out one your flying blind. Please take my advice and get one, a good one. I have been around the block a few times and wouldn't even waste my time trying to grow hydro without one.
tri.jpg
 
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tibberous

Well-Known Member
hellraizer30 said:
New plants to the system wont have roots to reach the water, so like matt says build a drip system to bring water to them!
Click to expand...
The way around this is to get the pipe exactly level, not sloped. Put an elbow on the end the pump runs into. Then, get one of these: http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbqew/R-202310705/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 and drill a hole near one of the edges. Use it to keep the water level high until the roots are long enough -- or just veg them until the roots are long enough, which is the best option if you are able to.

You could add drip, but it's way more money and fucking around. This way is <$20 and nothing to run / break / setup / get tangled.
 
D

dr.wetthumb

Member
tibberous said:
The way around this is to get the pipe exactly level, not sloped. Put an elbow on the end the pump runs into. Then, get one of these: http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbqew/R-202310705/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 and drill a hole near one of the edges. Use it to keep the water level high until the roots are long enough -- or just veg them until the roots are long enough, which is the best option if you are able to.

You could add drip, but it's way more money and fucking around. This way is <$20 and nothing to run / break / setup / get tangled.
Click to expand...
Thanks man I was looking to hear that, that seems like the most efficient thing I could do given my situation. Nice and simple and the price of low, thanks. I actually was thinking the same thing, bring them off the slop so the water would settle instead of run. What do you mean by drilling a hole near one of the edges?
 
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