flood and drain, got one question

[in the woods]

alright im setting up a flood and drain with a 40 gal res. 3x6 tray filled with hydroton. ive researched mix answers on draining the res and filling with fresh solution. some say every two weeks and others say once a grow. can anyone give some feedback. from what ive gathered you have to drain the res and put in bloom nutes when its time right? or do you just add your bloom recipe with the original solution mix... thanks for any input.

edit: must be stoned forgot to add that flushing a res every two weeks of that size would mean a ridiculous amount of money used for nutes at that rate, wtf?

 

[jojodancer10]

Once a week or every two weeks depends on how many plants

 

[Bigz2277]

depends on what nutes you use as well. some nute lines carry more salts than others.

 

[Mr.Buds]

once a week, monitor your TDS to see what your plants are consuming to the most ( nutrients or water) day by day.

 

[PetFlora]

Q1. why a 40g rez for a 3 x 6 table?
Q2. How many plants
Q3. How tall are the plants going to get?

As plants grow they take what they need from the floodings. Clearly, this reduces those nutes in the rez. By full on veg this can cause a pretty big NPK imbalance.

You should be fine with a 10G rez. Better to replenish more often to avoid NPK imbalances

Lava rock works much better than hydroton

 

[skunkd0c]

personally i do not change out the res anymore for fresh food , when i first started i followed the instructions and replaced the solution every 2 weeks
i got sick of doing this extra work, and all the extra food i was using , so i decided to try it without replacing the solution, and it has worked just the same
i top up with water and food as needed to keep the EC at the max level the plants can handle, they grow fine
i have read the same stories about nutrient imbalances that result from recirculating systems , personally i have not experienced any problems
healthy plants, harvest after harvest lol

peace

 

[Metasynth]

Q1. why a 40g rez for a 3 x 6 table?
Q2. How many plants
Q3. How tall are the plants going to get?

As plants grow they take what they need from the floodings. Clearly, this reduces those nutes in the rez. By full on veg this can cause a pretty big NPK imbalance.

You should be fine with a 10G rez. Better to replenish more often to avoid NPK imbalances

Lava rock works much better than hydroton

10 gallon rez for a 3' x 6' table? I don't think so, not unless you wanna flood like 1 inch. Plus when the girls get into flower and are drinking a lot, you'll be topping off at least once a day, and every time you flood you lose some water to evaporation. I'd say 40 or 50 gallon rez at least.

 

[nick88]

personally i do not change out the res anymore for fresh food , when i first started i followed the instructions and replaced the solution every 2 weeks
i got sick of doing this extra work, and all the extra food i was using , so i decided to try it without replacing the solution, and it has worked just the same
i top up with water and food as needed to keep the EC at the max level the plants can handle, they grow fine
i have read the same stories about nutrient imbalances that result from recirculating systems , personally i have not experienced any problems
healthy plants, harvest after harvest lol

peace

Did the same thing myself.. I think the evry wk or 2 wks is all from the nute manufacturers so you use more product.
I do a complete flush when i switch from veg to flower, And 1 flush mid way thru flowering.. Use Dutch masters gold and have yet to have any def. or probs in last 8 grows since i started this

 

[nick88]

Now keep in mind, i keep water temps at 60 and a dose of peroxide every other day.No algae build up, no slime just clean white roots with a sparkly res..lol

 

[dirtysouth420]

Now keep in mind, i keep water temps at 60 and a dose of peroxide every other day.No algae build up, no slime just clean white roots with a sparkly res..lol

I have a 12g res for my 2x2 flood table, how much of a dose of peroxide are we talking about? My res water has always been clean, but i have noticed a slimy feeling when changing my res. IM guessing the peroxide will prevent this? I also use the canna aqua veg and flores as my nutes.

 

[Bigz2277]

If you choose the Sterile route then pick up the good peroxide. 35% or higher, and food grade. 2mL/gal every 2-3 days. Sparkly clear res.

 

[dirtysouth420]

If you choose the Sterile route then pick up the good peroxide. 35% or higher, and food grade. 2mL/gal every 2-3 days. Sparkly clear res.

Thanks man. Will give it a go.

 

[Mithrandir420]

10 gallon rez for a 3' x 6' table? I don't think so, not unless you wanna flood like 1 inch. Plus when the girls get into flower and are drinking a lot, you'll be topping off at least once a day, and every time you flood you lose some water to evaporation. I'd say 40 or 50 gallon rez at least.

I thought the same when I read that... a 10gal res? I use a 40 gal res on my 3 x 3 tables. I change my nutrient solution every 7 days.

 

[in the woods]

unforunately im going wih 6plants. also incorporating a screen to train my 6 girls to an appropriate size. ill be using botanicare for my main food plus a microbe additive.