HBBum Going Hydro - F*cking Incredible OG

I have read and been told the silica is a good idea to add, trying to keep it simple this first time around and not go crazy buying supplements for hydro until I figure out if I will be sticking with hydro and not going back to organic soil. It may take awhile since I like to let my bud cure for 2-3 months after harvest.

If I can avoid any major hurdles, I may add silica into the regiment on a second round to see how it goes.

Res change tomorrow, then out of town for the entire week. Will swap out the 90w LED for a 400W MH when I return. Outside temps been high this last week(up to 99F), been able to keep tent temps to 66-82F, should be getting cooler outside after this next week so temps shouldn't be a problem. I should probably get something to measure my water temps but it "feels" cool for now.

Res changed, ph at 5.6. Will not be able to check again until Thursday night. Wife can top off water Wednesday.

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Was gone most of the week. The covers over the hydroton drastically changed how much water was being added, also likely had a positive affect on humidity since no water needed to be added (about 7g total circulating) since Monday. Ph rose to 6.4 and PPM dropped to 841 but that seems pretty nominal, adjusted ph to 5.8.

Seems to be some nominal top growth, still no roots poking out from the 10" net pots, not sure how long it should take before they begin coming out. Was thinking I would wait for the roots to begin popping out of the pots before I put in the 400MH, but I may do it earlier.

Blurry and under LED lights, but here is where they sit right now. There is just a hint of nute burn on the tips on the left, I don't think its enough to cause issues, but I will hold the ppm steady for now.

Went in to get some better pics with lights off and without several shots of tequila and also checked the res for roots again (I had only checked the one on the right previously. I don't know how I missed it but the one on the left has 1 tap root that is hanging out about 5-6" and I checked the right and there are a bunch of little ones sticking out about .5-1" so I am much further along than I thought. I prepped the MH but kept the LED for now since lights off will be in about an hour anyway. Plan on switching to the MH within the next couple days, maybe when I do the res change on Monday.

they have done a fair bit in a week

I didn't think they did until I looked back at the pics from 10/4 and I am actually pretty happy considering this is really the rooting phase. Will top soon now that the roots are coming through, not sure if I want to wait for them to adjust to the MH, or just do the topping and switch at the same time.

I don't think it matters, but any opinions on if it is better top right after lights on, or right before lights out?

Personally I try to perform only one stress inducing process at a time with a few days recovery but I don't think changing to mh would qualify. I also top any time but thinking about it just before lights out sounds better.

Thanks, yeah not sure if going from 90w to 400 qualifies, but it might

it probably will a bit

Swapped in the 400MH at lights on, will give a couple days to adjust, and see how my temps hold before topping.

Got rid of about 3 turns in my exhaust which should help airflow. Also found a kink in my return water line so rerouted a little bit and removed a valve I had in the line. This small change nearly doubled my water recirculation rate which I assume will be a good thing. Did notice the water has a lot of debris, not sure if this is normal but it does not smell bad. Will change out the rez and clean all buckets Monday.

Topped yesterday and cleaned buckets and swapped res today. Light swap didn't seem to set anything back, in fact already have quite a bit of new growth.




Res swap details:
7-8Gallons
PPM 733

25ml Gro
20ml Micro
13ml bloom
2.5ml Flora+
2.5ml Cal/mag
5ml SZ+

Subbed for the ride.

hey hbbum good to see youre sampling the spice of life & changing things up a bit i think youll like hydro e&f in 2 gal smart pots being my prefered method & ill be going back to it when i start up again got my house up for sale right now gonna move to the hills but should be up again soon

Good to see you again Herk. Trying to decide if I want to keep the pump flowing 24x7 or if I should cycle it. I have air stones now in every bucket(2 in the res). If I cycle, a good portion of the roots would be hanging in the air as it drained back to the res.

As it sits, I have some concerns with the current config. Like if my roots block the return tubing. I may need to figure out a way to put a screen over the returns in the bottom of the grow buckets.

Ebb and flow is interesting also. I want to keep the res outside of my tent, but think that should still be doable. I could certainly get a few more plants in there if I put in a 2x4 container, probably fit 6 x 6" net pots and just do a lot less veg time and less training. Maybe if I get a proper place to prep clones

Coming along, lots of new growth. pH came up to 5.9, ppm came up to 864.. I think I have an issue with a couple of the clips I have rusting so I need to replace those with plastic tomorrow.

Made some adjustments to the space. Built a 12" tall table with 1" holes in each corner and then put together a PVC scrog screen that fits into the 1" holes. The screen can be adjusted up and down as needed but right now I have it 9" from the top of the grow buckets.



The towel is just covering some of the tubing that is blue and clear, I was just worried this may cause growth in the water. This table will gives me a little better flow back to the res and I am thinking next grow I may do a flood and drain system with 4-6 six inch net pots, if this hole hydro thing works out for me.

Replaced the metal coat hangers I had pinning the water rings on top of the hydroton with plastic pipe hangers that are J shaped.

Moved the fan below the screen instead of hanging above it blowing down. Will be interested to see if this helps temps a little, I have been creeping up to 85F.

You can see the 3/4" PVC coming out of the bottom of the table for adjustments. For now the holes are snug enough to where it takes 2 hands to adjust, if they loosen over time, I will need to put clamps to maintain the height.


PH is 6.0, adding 2ml StressZyme+ and adjusted pH to 5.8

Swapping res tonight instead of in the morning because of my schedule. Full strength for the first time which puts my water at 1310 ppm. PH is 5.6.

I have to use a bunch of ph down to get there, but I suppose I am used to just doing 2 gallons at a time for soil.
Will check in a couple hours to see if I need to dilute some, since 1310 seems high.

i will second silica products stabilizing pH. used to run coco with drippers
and it made a big difference in the res.

looks like you're doing well for your first hydro experience, good luck with
the rest of the grow!