Clueless with how hydro works.

I've been to FAQ and read how to build hydro systems... I've tried reading the threads as well. I'm confused though. I don't understand even the basics, and it makes everything else seem so confusing. I've been growing in soil, and I've been doing well with that. I want to look into doing the hydro thing though. I wanna grow just 4 plants in one of the big plastic tubs. I know the basic materials I need... The tub, cut fours holes in lid for net pots. Something called an air stone... (Not sure how big or how many) a pump. (Not sure what kind.) Gotta cut some holes... GEEZ! I'm so confused. Can someone help me out?

HI there. Here is a copy of a post from another forum by one of my mari-heroes, Lucas. Enjoy!

"Lets say someone is interested in starting to grow their own Medicine. Here are some ideas on how to start picking out the components needed.

1. Pick a light WATTAGE based on quantity of medicine needed per month (conservatively estimate 3 months to yield 1 oz per 50 watts)

the following system elements all flow mathematically from the light size, buy nearest real world size approximations.

2. Calculate required exhaust CFM (Watts/4 is a proven ratio)
3. Calculate required GH Micro and Bloom nutrients, and pH down (if using tap water) to purchase. (Watts/400= quarts of Micro required for a 3 month crop cycle. Buy 2quarts of the Bloom for each 1 of the Micro, buy half as much pH down as Micro)
4. Calculate required plant numbers. (this is a very flexible number, Watts/100 is my personal preference.) I suggest you buy twice as many 3" netcups as you have plants.)

Notice items 1-4 are hydro store supplies, while there, you also need a pH meter, rooting hormone, some growrox for the netpots (dont be tempted by 4" rockwool cubes, they are not needed for a bubbler), and a water pump to drain the res,

items 5-8 can be had at wall mart or similar)

5. Calculate required reservoir GALLONS (Watts/25 is a proven ratio)
6. Calculate required airpump watts. (Watts/100 is a proven ratio)
7. Calculate required cloning fluoro wattage. (this is a very flexible number, Watts/20 is a good rule of thumb)
8. Calculate required square footage for canopy. (I love screens. Watts/50 is a good rule of thumb.)

Lets see how it works with an example. Jane Patient has Cancer, and a doctors recommendation to use Cannabis for pain, nausea, and appetite. She requires 2.5 ounces of High Quality Medicine a month.

1. 2.5oz x 50watts x 3 months = 375watts of light. The nearest real world size is 400watts.

2. 400watts /4 =100cfm exhaust blower

3. 400watts / 400 = 1 Quart of GH Micro, 2 Quarts of GH Bloom, 1 Pint pH Down if using tap water. For RO or bottled water, no pH Down is needed.

4. 400watts / 100 = 4 plants

5. 400watts / 25 = 16 gallon reservoir

6. 400watts / 100 = 4 watts of airpump power

7. 400watts / 25 = 20 watts of fluoros

8. 400watts / 50 = 8 square feet of canopy

putting the calculated results into real world equipment would look something like this. Jane would go to a hydro store and buy a
400watt HPS, a
95cfm Dayton Blower,
1 quart Micro, 2 quarts Bloom, 1pint pH down,
1 pH meter, REQUIRED! (no TDS meter needed with GH 0-8-16 nutes strategy)
8 3" netcups (twice as many as plant number),
1 stick of Fifteen 1.5" wrapped rockwool cubes (Four times as many as needed for 1 crop),
1 bottle of Clonex
1 small water pump and matching hose to drain bubbler

then she would go to Wall Mart or similar and buy a
15 gallon plastic tub, a
5 watt airpump, a
14" stone
1 plastic airline
cloner:
1 18watt fluoro fixture, (they are smaller than the 20watt and fit in a smaller tub)
1 nursery tray and dome, or cake and dome (eat the cake ,
1 plastic tub to mount fluoro to lid as cloner

Janes biggest challenge will be to build a grow area that is lightproof yet has free flowing airways. It is best to intake from the house climate, and exhaust outdoors. If the ventilation needs are respected, temperature will not become a problem. Some of the materials I find valuable for lightproofing include Panda Plastic, and Foil faced insulation board. Im a big fan of 2x2 sheet metal corner brackets from Casa De Pot. You can assemble a very strong frame with 2x2" lumber.

I sincerely hope this thread serves to help new people.

Lucas"

I recommend an ebb and flow before you go into aeroponics or deep water culture all are hydroponic.....but ebb and flow doesn't require so much attention to detail.

jcdws602 said:

I recommend an ebb and flow before you go into aeroponics or deep water culture all are hydroponic.....but ebb and flow doesn't require so much attention to detail.

Click to expand...

I agree that ebb/flow is easier overall. Rootrot from high res temps in DWC is a bitch. A lot of beginners go for DWC, though. There are fewer pieces to purchase in a DWC making it a cheaper startup. No table, hoses, extra timer, or waterpump needed.

Day 11 since I put my Two mothers into flowering.Euforia (On the left) is showing more hairs than B-52 at this point.This is my first time growing both strains.B-52 is more sativa and smells sweeter Euforia is also more sativa but not as sweet smelling and wasn't as tall as b-52.I bent branches and tied some down on the B-52 to keep both plants at the around the same height.I topped both plants 6 days ago.Removed a lot of the lower branches and cloned some new babies.I started giving them cO2 three times a day.I just switched to Pro Blend Pro Bloom....... they are still in the transition cycle,In about a 8-10 days I will switch to regular strenght Pure Blend Pro Bloom, Cal Mag,and liquid Karma.Here's some pic of the gurls ,5 clones and 7 babies from seed.

My bad I Posted wrong place........... my mind was in an altered state

Good with soil? Clueless with hydro? Hmmn. Stick with Soil? Avoid the cost, complexities and disappointments associated with hydro for a beginner? Hmmn.
I don't want to be a dick, but there is A LOT more that can go wrong with hydro than there is with soil. While a home system can often be rigged up at cheap, and they will grow well, assuming one already knows about all the bugs to work out. On top of any problems of a soil grow you have to constantly watch the pH, ppms or EC, beyond watching for an obvious deficiency (N-P-K) you have to know every other nutrient that can be locked out or deficient.
Again, I don't want to be an asshole, but I would rather hear about a small success than a huge flop. Whatever you do, Good luck.
SP

Dude I fully agree with silentpartner! I am A Soil/Hydro grower and love hydro and hate soil, but that is me and have done both for awhile now. My buddy is trying hydro and is having A hard time with it, but I love mine! There is alot more to go wrong with hydro so if u are doing good in soil stay with it..... That is only my opion but if u want to do it there are some great DIY systems on here. GOOD LUCK

I started out in soil then moved up to hydroponics......I personally just hate messing with soil its too much mess...............and yeah Hydroponics requires a little more attention in some ways.........A simple top feed setup requires changing water once every 1-2 weeks and check ph daily which is like 1-10 mins...... no messy soil falling on the floor and having to move pots around to water.........and bugs just love soil.....you noticed???Hydroponics is a little more money out the pocket but is more convenient if you hate bending over and watering plants, carrying big soil bags,spilling soggy soil while transplanting......Thats just me...... soil grows are great for outdoors and hydroponic indoors... < just my opinion : ]