Hydroponics

My first venture into hydroponics was fairly easy because i had an automatic grow box. I personally didn't have time learn the whole process but within one full harvest. You pick everything up pretty quickly and realize that there really isn't that much to learn.

potroast said:

All right! Hydroponics is what I know, and hydroponics is the way I grow!

This forum will be great, we can discuss anything hydro. No dirtbags here, We haul water!

We can compare the different nutrient salts, and all of the additives. Plus the kinds of soilless media and what irrigation system is best for each. And of course, pH and TDS measuring equipment, feeding and flushing, etc.

And all the while, we'll make fun of those guys hauling big bags of dirt!


I can't think of any questions right now, what do YOU want to know?

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I have been growing in soil for a long time. And it is messy and not at all convenient. I am transitioning to hydro right now.
Before I buy anything too big, I bought a small system, just to get the hang of it.

I set up my new system yesterday, seeds are germinating right now. I'm pretty excited to not have to find ways to get rid of
old used dirt, I live in a big city, and finding a place to dump soil is not as easy as I'd like. I'm hoping to be 100% hydro in the
next months.

Is it true that hydro will yield more, and finish faster? Is the flavor different? Potency the same?

Hey Pot roast

All right! Hydroponics is what I know, and hydroponics is the way I grow!

This forum will be great, we can discuss anything hydro. No dirtbags here, We haul water!

We can compare the different nutrient salts, and all of the additives. Plus the kinds of soilless media and what irrigation system is best for each. And of course, pH and TDS measuring equipment, feeding and flushing, etc.

And all the while, we'll make fun of those guys hauling big bags of dirt!

I can't think of any questions right now, what do YOU want to know

Click to expand...

We have been having problems with watering...

We are running a 20 bucket system, with the little girls going into rock wool cubes then into 17 ltr buckets.

We are using clay balls as our medium called hydrotron, they from Germany.

Have a 13ml top feed tube running around the reservoir bucket feeding two 13ml feeder hoses that run on to the girls then in to the top bucket that is sitting in the reservoir bucket.

Run the water system from to tanks that get pumps water through the system over the girls then back in to the tanks.

We are currently growing white rhino.

Have you heard of girls becoming susceptible to over watering?

We were watering every two hours last crop and over watered them and only realised when we were getting algae on the to and root rot.

Have since pulled the girls out and put them in a smaller tub and cut the algae off the top they seem to be coming back all right..

Really don't want this to happen again!!!!!

What are you watering cycles like?

Do you water on smaller cycles when the girls are smaller?

Please let me know as we about to put some more down and would love to have your answer first!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone,

I am currently putting together a hydro system for the first time. Ebb and flow with 4 small tables and 4 independent reservoirs for SoG. I am looking for an appropriate reservoir. I live in the midwest and my grow space tends to get cool in the winter (55 during coldest months) and warm in the summer with the HID lighting. I would like to upgrade to 1000w HPS but may keep my 600w HPS and add a 400w CMH. I am in a confined space and would like to keep my reservoirs inside the space.

Anyways, I am wondering if anyone here has used an insulated cooler for their reservoir to keep their nutrient solution cool in the summer? I am confident it will keep the res temps perfect in the winter. Just looking for someone that might use insulated coolers to offer some information since they run about 40-80 bucks each.

ShwagBag

Any suggestions for some economically priced timer options? I need 2 different timers. I'm setting up 4 ebb and flow trays that will run on the same cycles and I also need a repeat timer for my aeroponic cloner. I'm running the cloner constant right now and I'm having horrible success! i'm hoping this might be the reason why.

Thanks in advance,

Shwagbag

I use a aero cloner that runs 24/7. It is about 98% in 7 to 10 days. Usually if it takes longer water temps are off. If stems are rotting its to warm, if they're just sitting there, not warm enough. If its to warm check your heater, and water level. The pump will sometimes heat the water to much, if this is the case add water. I run mine in about 4 gallons. In my link I should have pics of mine.

hey tails111, where did you get the "hydrotron" clay balls??

never mind haha found 'em

I have a few questions....I am using co2..should I shut off 2 weeks prior...I am into week 9 on a 70 day plant. My trichomes are milky with very few amber and I thought they would be more amber by now. What temp should room be? When I do my 3 day flush I was going to top off and still let bottom buds turn or will they all turn at same time?...when I do my 3 day flush should I use new water daily or use same water for 3 days? Any info would be great...

I have just built a grow room and now it's time to set up my hydroponics but i am having a hard time desiding which system to use. I bought materials to build a drip system but now i am hearing that no matter what you do the drip system will give trouble with the drippers clogging. Soooo, i am looking for advice before i build. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

hey tails111, where did you get the "hydrotron" clay balls??

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Hey bro

Just grab the balls up from my local hydro shop I live in auz not to sure where you are but il ask the guy we get them from and let you know where he orders them from.

never mind haha found 'em

Click to expand...

Ha all is well then just read your other post

Chur

Hey guys, just like to say thanx to the o.p for creating this thread. Im just starting to put together my third grow and ive decided to give hydro a try this time. I wana try the ebb and flow system which im going to make at home. Ive been down to my local hardware store and cant find any trays big enough for the 16 plants i wana grow. So what i was thinking of doing was cutting holes in some big pvc pipes and placing net pots into the holes, than put caps on the ends of the pvc piping and connecting a line from the pump to the pipe, would this work? Well, i no it will work but will it work very well?? The biggest problem i can see with it is the space, from wat ive heard root restrictions arnt really a problem for hydro like they are with soil is this true?

Also what size pump should i get? I wana have 4 lengths of pvc pipe at approx 1m long, so ill need a big enough pump to pump through 4 water lines at the same time.

And would introducing an air stone to the reservoir benefit the plants at all with delivering oxygen??

Thanx to all who can help + rep for those who do, peace

hey all
. i am running a power grower from g.h. it is a recirculating system and i am having problems keeping the ph down. i do a complete res. change set the ph at 5.5 and within two days it is drifting back up and when i check it it is anywhere from 7.0 to 7.5. i am not a rookie at this but am confounded by the rapid rise of the ph can any help me with this thanks in advance. peace

hey whats up guys i got a couple questions . . i just ordered 10 Big Devils and 5 Fast buds and this is my first grow .. this is my set up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbqPuZswRhc so does anyone know when i should change the if i should at all since there autoflowers? and what about the water temp? any other tips/advice would be appreciated..

hey whats up guys i got a couple questions . . i just ordered 10 Big Devils and 5 Fast buds and this is my first grow .. this is my set up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbqPuZswRhc so does anyone know when i should change the if i should at all since there autoflowers? and what about the water temp? any other tips/advice would be appreciated

let me tell you something about that system, Yes it looks bad ass, and its a great concept. But how in the hell would you clean it, do resevoir changes, tend to your plants, etc etc etc?

found the possible culprit. looks like bad water to me. i was able to find an artesian well close to home here in sc and since i started using it, no problems with it rising. the well water ph was low. about 4.5 and added base ph up to 6.1 and has stayed there for two days. will check it tonight and where we stand. peace. out

Shwagbag said:

Any suggestions for some economically priced timer options? I need 2 different timers. I'm setting up 4 ebb and flow trays that will run on the same cycles and I also need a repeat timer for my aeroponic cloner. I'm running the cloner constant right now and I'm having horrible success! i'm hoping this might be the reason why.

Thanks in advance,

Shwagbag

Click to expand...

I'm using the Sentinel MDT-1 and couldn't be happier. Especially in your situation where you have a few pumps running on the same cycle as it has two outlets for pumps that can be set down to the second. I got mine for right around 150 with shipping, which may seem expensive, but if you add up all the features in the timer is it much more affordable than buying them seperately.
Becareful with cheap timers as they have been known to fail and sometimes failure equals fire or damage to other equipment

Hope that helps...

I read on another thread that drip emitters didn't do well in combination with clay pellets because the water column would tend to flow straight down through the pellets. As opposed to a spray delivery. I know you can get algae growth on the top of the cube if it is exposed to light so they sell those white reflective covers. I personally had some 1/8 in. rubber sheeting that was black on one side and white on the other in attempt to prevent algae growth.
Love the size of those containers did you make them? It almost looks like a bucket flipped over with another on top....

I've been playing with cycle times and at the moment I've been giving my seedlings 3 waterings a day for 15 min. The cube is wet to the touch but not saturated. Noticed some t-bone roots this morning.