Newbie DWC Maintenance Questions

Farmer Floyd

Farmer Floyd

New Member
Hey there everybody. Like the thread title says, I am a noob to DWC, but not to growing cannabis. I am, i guess, at the intermediate stage. I have been doing primarily soil, and am now ready to step up to DWC. After extensive research of forums and youtube, I believe that I am ready. However, a couple of questions abound.
First, if it is a terrible, terrible thing to expose your reservoir water to light, so much so that even your air pump tube must not be clear, then how does one go about checking the temp, ph, or even the level of the H2O without exposing the rez to light and creating the dreaded pythium? (I am using a black, 5 gal bucket bubbler with a net pot lid. standard stuff).
I throw myself on the mercy of the THC farming community. TIA guys and gals!!!
 
neckpod

neckpod

Well-Known Member
Farmer Floyd said:
Hey there everybody. Like the thread title says, I am a noob to DWC, but not to growing cannabis. I am, i guess, at the intermediate stage. I have been doing primarily soil, and am now ready to step up to DWC. After extensive research of forums and youtube, I believe that I am ready. However, a couple of questions abound.
First, if it is a terrible, terrible thing to expose your reservoir water to light, so much so that even your air pump tube must not be clear, then how does one go about checking the temp, ph, or even the level of the H2O without exposing the rez to light and creating the dreaded pythium? (I am using a black, 5 gal bucket bubbler with a net pot lid. standard stuff).
I throw myself on the mercy of the THC farming community. TIA guys and gals!!!
Click to expand...
Just check it as normal and re-cover, you will not have exposed it long enough for it to cause an issue.

algae needs light to grow just like a plant does and for many hours a day for it to grow and spread, So a few mins here and there will not be enough to have problems. i have green air tubing and clear tubing never had any issues with it as it only has air in it no water.

temps are more of an issue imo in dwc.

Happy Growing
 
dirtWeevil

dirtWeevil

Well-Known Member
add some beneficial organisms to the res, i use myco grow soluble. An ounce lasts me a while, i use an 1/8 tsp for each tank change. I don't even wash my res anymore, haven't in years, and i have no idea what my water temp is lol. Here's the entirety of what i use:

Advanced Nutrients grow micro and bloom: 1 liter set 40$ shipped
big bud powder: 20$
gnatrol wdg: Around 10$
myco grow soluble: 8.95$ shipped
flawless finish: 20$

these are things i don't worry about:

deficiencies
gnats
washing the res
checking ph(don't even have a pen)
ppm or ec
pythium

good luck on your DWC adventure, it's my favorite method so far
 
Last edited:
Farmer Floyd

Farmer Floyd

New Member
yes i have read that the beneficial bacteria is the way to go. so if i use that, i dont gotta even check the temps eh? nice. Definitely gonna give it a shot. thanks dirtWeevil!
 
dirtWeevil

dirtWeevil

Well-Known Member
that's been my experience at least, I'd keep an eye on it for a bit, i checked mine for a while, but before long i could see it was working out
 
GrnMonStr

GrnMonStr

Well-Known Member
What are the sprouts grown in and then after what medium do you guys use? I been wanting to try DWC for a while now!
 
Farmer Floyd

Farmer Floyd

New Member
i am planning to use rockwool cubes for the sprouts and hydroton as the medium, although there are many other options that will work just as well. the two i mentioned seem to be the most popular method.

^will do dirtWeevil
 
dirtWeevil

dirtWeevil

Well-Known Member
i have used perlite, vermiculite, hydroton, jiffy mix, promix, common gravel, coarse diatomaceous earth(oil dri) and fullers earth(cheap unscented cat litter, off brand oil dri). Oil dri makes for a really good seed starting mix as well
 
dirtWeevil

dirtWeevil

Well-Known Member
look for fullers earth on the label, at wal mart its seven pounds for a dollar, i can't recall the brand, give it a good rinse and don't mash it
 
neckpod

neckpod

Well-Known Member
dirtWeevil said:
add some beneficial organisms to the res, i use myco grow soluble. An ounce lasts me a while, i use an 1/8 tsp for each tank change. I don't even wash my res anymore, haven't in years, and i have no idea what my water temp is lol. Here's the entirety of what i use:

Advanced Nutrients grow micro and bloom: 1 liter set 40$ shipped
big bud powder: 20$
gnatrol wdg: Around 10$
myco grow soluble: 8.95$ shipped
flawless finish: 20$

these are things i don't worry about:

deficiencies
gnats
washing the res
checking ph(don't even have a pen)
ppm or ec
pythium

good luck on your DWC adventure, it's my favorite method so far
Click to expand...
Just started Advanced Nutrients this grow but im doing sensi grow and bloom along with b-52 voodoo juice and in flower gonna add bud factor x, bud candy, overdrive, and a couple more maybe not fully decided.

I do think most problems in DWC comes from having high nutrient temps, I like mine chilled to about 17C not had any issues with rot or any other root problems (Used Root Excelurator last grow for bacteria 1/4 strength). i did used to do the frozen bottle run but got bored of it really quickly and just bought the chiller.

Anyway whats your take on the advanced nutrients range for dwc or Rwdc?
 
dirtWeevil

dirtWeevil

Well-Known Member
I've only used em in DWC, for some reason I've seen a couple folks have problems using them in RDWC but i have no exp with that it could be a different animal like coco lol
 
Farmer Floyd

Farmer Floyd

New Member
ah, the frozen bottle method. that reminds me of another question i have been pondering. do the frozen ice bottles shock or kill the roots if the two come in contact? i assume that it would. guys?
 
WeedFreak78

WeedFreak78

Well-Known Member
dirtWeevil said:
checking ph(don't even have a pen)
Click to expand...
Unless those AN nutes are in the PH perfect line, or you've run them long enough and have checked in the past and know them now, you should really be checking PH in hydro. I used to be real lax on it, once I started regular checking and adjusting back into the 5.8-6.2 range, depending on plant stage, my grows got significantly better.
 
WeedFreak78

WeedFreak78

Well-Known Member
Farmer Floyd said:
Hey there everybody. Like the thread title says, I am a noob to DWC, but not to growing cannabis. I am, i guess, at the intermediate stage. I have been doing primarily soil, and am now ready to step up to DWC. After extensive research of forums and youtube, I believe that I am ready. However, a couple of questions abound.
First, if it is a terrible, terrible thing to expose your reservoir water to light, so much so that even your air pump tube must not be clear, then how does one go about checking the temp, ph, or even the level of the H2O without exposing the rez to light and creating the dreaded pythium? (I am using a black, 5 gal bucket bubbler with a net pot lid. standard stuff).
I throw myself on the mercy of the THC farming community. TIA guys and gals!!!
Click to expand...
Farmer Floyd said:
ah, the frozen bottle method. that reminds me of another question i have been pondering. do the frozen ice bottles shock or kill the roots if the two come in contact? i assume that it would. guys?
Click to expand...
I've left the lids open for days before, accidentally, never had problems. Keep the res clean, I have a small fish net I use to scoop out leaves and dead root material, that's what the Pyth feeds on, dead organic materials. Over feeding is another reason for Pyth blooms, they feed on the nutes the plant can't use. I run Botanicares hydroguard as bennies also.

I've run ice bottles without issue, I think as long as you have enough water movement in the bucket the roots never actually see direct freezing temps. With 75F water and a 32F bottle, I'm guessing around mid 40s immediately around the bottle, and rising quickly as you move away from it.
 
be4meliz

be4meliz

Well-Known Member
Farmer Floyd said:
Hey there everybody. Like the thread title says, I am a noob to DWC, but not to growing cannabis. I am, i guess, at the intermediate stage. I have been doing primarily soil, and am now ready to step up to DWC. After extensive research of forums and youtube, I believe that I am ready. However, a couple of questions abound.
First, if it is a terrible, terrible thing to expose your reservoir water to light, so much so that even your air pump tube must not be clear, then how does one go about checking the temp, ph, or even the level of the H2O without exposing the rez to light and creating the dreaded pythium? (I am using a black, 5 gal bucket bubbler with a net pot lid. standard stuff).
I throw myself on the mercy of the THC farming community. TIA guys and gals!!!
Click to expand...
If your using solid lid bubble buckets, drill an access hole 1 1/4"(with holesaw) between netpot and lid and use this to draw water samples and fill and drain-https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HE9YEM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
At a certain point, the root ball and plant will get too large to remove lid-easy peasy- get a decent ppm and ph meter and take daily water samples and check-for feeding draw out 1/2 gal.from res., mix nutes, and pour back in-good airstones and pump are important along with hydroguard or any other good bacteria product.Try to keep ppm ~ 850-959 in full veg. If PH crashes, good time to change res.Have had no issues & getting 14- 26 Oz. off 4 plants.- MOST critical is good light-don't scrimp.Hope this helps.The cardboard covers access hole
 

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Farmer Floyd

Farmer Floyd

New Member
thank you guys for the replies! solid info that i will definitely heed. about how far into the grow should i start adding the hydrogaurd?
 
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