Advice for DWC Newbie

Hey everyone,

This is my first post on the site but i've been reading lots of threads on this forum for a while now.
I just started up my first DWC (or maybe it's RDWC?) and just wanted the opinion of others as to whether i'm doing things correctly.
I have a 5gal bucket with netpot lid with hydroton. I have large circular airstone attached to a dual output air pump rated for a 40gal tank. I have a rubbermaid bin (with approx 5 gallons of water) under my shelf that has a powerhead pumping water back up to the bucket which i figured would help aerate the water more and have water trickling into the netpot till lots of roots grow into the water which sits at about 1 inch under the netpot.
I mostly did this setup because i don't have a chiller so i use the lower reservoir to put frozen pop bottles in to keep it cool (stays between 65-70 degrees). I set my ph around 5.7 but it rises up to 6.0 sometimes then i re-adjust.
I have about 500ppm of nutrients in there (I mix my own from dry ferts by dnf).
I used a clone that was in soil, washed it off in tap water then pulled the roots down into the pot. The leaves ended up looking bad, i'm guessing due to shock but i see new roots starting and some new small shoots.

Does this seem like a decent way of doing things or am i screwing anything up? Any advice is much appreciated!

Thanks!

Hey brother man @Xul

Sounds like you're off to a good start and did some reading ahead of time. Hydroguard would be a good product to add if you're running a DWC and battling "higher temps". Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is the active ingredient and it helps combat root rot and other problems that tend to occur when water temps get into the 70's.

Start up a journal man, I'd be glad to follow along if you get some pictures posted up.

Plugs are also great for germinating and starting seeds in DWC's. I personally like to use rapid rooters but there are other brands out there. Just soak the plug in water and drop the seed in there. Keep the plug moist until you start seeing roots and decide to transplant into the DWC bucket.

Yeah a journal might be a good idea! Get some feedback and see my own progress how do you feel about rockwool cubes? That's what I usually use.
I didn't use a fresh clone this time because i had no fresh clones and is more of an experiment for me, i have been growing in coco for the last year with varying results (ran i to issues with gnats and spider mites). I only veg and flower under t5ho bulbs due to my limited space and heat issues.
I used a tiny bit of pool shock (diluted 28 grams into 1 gallon of water then 1ml per gallon), based off info i read elsewhere which i heard helps a little for bacteria and algae.
I also used a white bucket which is no good so i wrapped it in aluminum foil to help prevent light penetration and bounce some of the light energy back (which i believe turns i to heat).

Does this sound good or bad? Love hearing advice, thanks!

Here's a link to my newly started grow journal....any suggestions are more then welcomed!

https://www.rollitup.org/t/dwc-beginner-grow.963817/

Good luck man!
Check out my thread for how NOT to dwc. I guess the main thing ive learned is keep ppm down, from what ive gathered ppm for veg wants to be 600 - 800 or thereabouts. Also lots saying dont stick too much to feeding schedules, learn to read the plant, monitor doses closely and see how she reacts.
Dont wanna come across like im an old pro, im just saying im in the same boat, made some big mistakes and this is what ive learned so far

Thanks! I will definitely do that. I've been reading for years about plants (use to own aquariums that i grew live plants in) and that definitely made the transition easier but there is so much to know and lots of conflicting information out there so nothing beats experience...I appreciate any info\advice anyone gives