DWC DIY advice needed.....badly.

Dan Halen

Dan Halen

Active Member
Hey all. I'm assembling a DWC system and before I make any novice mistakes, I thought I'd ask you guys a couple of quick questions. I grasp the basic concept well enough, it's just a few minor things I can't seem to find out about. Also, I'm on an extremely strained budget, so the cheaper the better.

1. I'm looking at getting some cheap aquarium air pumps to work with. I need enough to support 4-6 plants in a big tote container. How many do I need to get? How many air stones? How many would be best? Where can I get them the cheapest? How many would be too many?

2. I know next to nothing about nutes for hydro systems. I have no idea what strain I will be growing, but by the looks if it, it might well be an indica dominant Ak-47 strain. What kind of nutes should I get? Where can I get them? How much should I use at every stage of growth?

Thanks for your time and help everyone.
 
ManishWayz

ManishWayz

Active Member
I’m a new grower as well and I had to do everything on atight budget. I went to home depot forall the parts to make the water flow system and by a hydroponics store to buythe light, air pump, submergible pump, accessories and nutrients. All together to do my build I spend around$200.00 for everything. I know thatthere are some other things I will be picking up in the future but I have beentold I am well on my way. Check it outand tell me what you think.

https://www.rollitup.org/blogs/357258-manishwayz.html
 
faller200

faller200

Well-Known Member
Dan Halen said:
Hey all. I'm assembling a DWC system and before I make any novice mistakes, I thought I'd ask you guys a couple of quick questions. I grasp the basic concept well enough, it's just a few minor things I can't seem to find out about. Also, I'm on an extremely strained budget, so the cheaper the better.

1. I'm looking at getting some cheap aquarium air pumps to work with. I need enough to support 4-6 plants in a big tote container. How many do I need to get? How many air stones? How many would be best? Where can I get them the cheapest? How many would be too many?

2. I know next to nothing about nutes for hydro systems. I have no idea what strain I will be growing, but by the looks if it, it might well be an indica dominant Ak-47 strain. What kind of nutes should I get? Where can I get them? How much should I use at every stage of growth?

Thanks for your time and help everyone.
Click to expand...

The more air the better I think. I would go with a large commercial air pump. I use a 1400gal/hr pump with an 8 port manifold. I run 2 4" air stones per bucket. I have 4 buckets in flower at a time I do the same for my veg. My pumps run about $100.00 each. $25 per bucket not so bad aquarium air pumps don't seem to put out enough air in my opinion and they will run you about $25 - $45 each.
 
alotaball

alotaball

Well-Known Member
I would run 3 cheapy dual outlet pumps ( 12-15 bucks ) and 6 air stone.. buy 4 pumps incase 1 goes out.. I like the idea of having multiple pumps that way if one fails you dont loose all your air and plants...

I like the GH nutes.. 3 part flora series.. about 15 bucks a bottle so a total of 45 bucks and you have your grow micro and bloom.. GH is reliable and cheap because it is very potent and you dont have to use much per a gallon. I think once you get a few good grows in .. start playing with more exspensive nutes .. but to start off.. General Hydro is really reliable ....

GOood luck bro!
 
faller200

faller200

Well-Known Member
alotaball said:
I would run 3 cheapy dual outlet pumps ( 12-15 bucks ) and 6 air stone.. buy 4 pumps incase 1 goes out.. I like the idea of having multiple pumps that way if one fails you dont loose all your air and plants...

I like the GH nutes.. 3 part flora series.. about 15 bucks a bottle so a total of 45 bucks and you have your grow micro and bloom.. GH is reliable and cheap because it is very potent and you dont have to use much per a gallon. I think once you get a few good grows in .. start playing with more exspensive nutes .. but to start off.. General Hydro is really reliable ....

GOood luck bro!
Click to expand...
I use GH nutes too. Good point about being without air. I still say get the big pump and get a repair kit to have on hand. I still need to get one myself .
 
taipanspunk

taipanspunk

Active Member
...there is a stg dwc do it yourself video on you tube you can watch... > the rule of thumb is to try for at least 15 liters (28 liters preferred) of air for ever 1 gallon of working water

... on nutes, i use dyna grow: foliage pro, protec, and magpro (1 tsp of each for every gallon of water except magpro (3/4 tsp per gallon))
 
alotaball

alotaball

Well-Known Member
Ya I like the big pumps.... but for just starting out I would get a few cheepy ones.. then later upgrade to a real nice pump and you will have the cheepy's to keep the plants alive if your big pump fails...
 
faller200

faller200

Well-Known Member
Ya growing your own is cheap but it ain't free. You can spend the money now or later but your going to want the bigger pump. That's just my opinion drawn from my own experiences.
 
F

fallinprince

Active Member
Honestly if you go heavy on the airpump and get 4 airstones Bubble curtain from walmart

get one of those commercial grade air pumps http://www.hydrofarm.com/pb_detail.php?itemid=7646 as such no need for the sprayer assembly which could clog.

Invest some thought into beneficial microbe tea to go with your DWC so you dont have to buy an expensive chiller or be obscenely sterile.
https://www.rollitup.org/dwc-bubbleponics/361430-how-breed-your-own-beneficial.html

Then nutrients i would totally go with DYNA-GRO. with pro-tekt so your ph will be super stable. Mag-pro if your using R/O water

Dont forget a good Ph/TDS meter
 
alotaball

alotaball

Well-Known Member
faller200 said:
Ya growing your own is cheap but it ain't free. You can spend the money now or later but your going to want the bigger pump. That's just my opinion drawn from my own experiences.
Click to expand...
Ya but I would wait till you can afford two.. because if it fails ... then what?
 
Dan Halen

Dan Halen

Active Member
Well thanks so much everyone. You've all helped me out a great deal, and given me much more to think about. Thanks again.
 
BendBrewer

BendBrewer

Well-Known Member
Save money on nutes and look into the Lucas Formula. You can do a one part FloraNova solution and forget about all the fancy packaged additional things they want to sell you.
 
VoidObject

VoidObject

DWC/Bubbleponics Mod
faller200 said:
Ya growing your own is cheap but it ain't free. You can spend the money now or later but your going to want the bigger pump. That's just my opinion drawn from my own experiences.
Click to expand...
Or think about doing a multi-rez grow with one plant per rez. I do it that way and therefore maintain each according to their own specific needs. You can also grab a couple small dual outlet pumps for $10 a piece this way. I'd suggest 1.5+ gallon rezs.
 
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