newbie help

Hi I'm new to growing hydroponics style but a couple days ago i decided to set up a makeshift ebb-and-flow type system alot like this:


Unfortunately I couldn't find net cups anywhere so i cut off a clone and tied it to two sticks that made a 't' shape and attached that through a hole in the lid. Anyways, that's just temporary until i get some net pots. I have a few questions though..
1. Can i use coco coir in a continuous system like this or will it degrade/rot? (and no i can't do a drip system right now..i know that is best with coir)
2. What's the best medium for hydro in your opinion and why?
3. Is it better to drain all water into the reservoir a few times a day and expose the roots to air or should the roots always be in water? If so, then how long of intervals should they be 'dry'? Right now i have the pump going 24/7..
4. I've already invested a lot in my soil grows and i don't have any real hydro nutes. I know you're not really supposed to use soil nutes in hydro but i have a bag of 'Foxfarm American Pride' (not completely organic) and its NPK is 9-6-6. It also has micronutrients like Ca, Mg,S, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn. Can i crush it into a solution and use that in my system, at least for now?
5. Can i get a seedling that's in soil, carefully wash the dirt off its roots, and throw it in a net pot with some medium?
6. One more question. Would those pills that test for pH and nutes in soil, give a proper reading in hydro?
These -->
Would a non-digital pH meter for soil work in hydro?
Thanks if you can answer any of these questions!

Come on kiddo, do a bit of self study. THere are probably over 100 threads on each of your questions. All here to help, not spoon feed ya.

I have a spoon. It's covered in resin like the 5 pairs of scissors laid out in front of me but I'm feeling generous.

Here are the answers to your questions..

1. No you can't use coco the plant roots will suffocate. Oxyegen is a plants best friend
2. Grow rocks, hydroton, or perlite. I just switched back to ebb and flow as I'm going to take lots of time off. My substrate in my buckets is about 85% course perlite, 10% coco, 10% hydroton and 2% ancient forest. Why? Because I know what the fuck I'm doing.
3. Ok. That is just fucking stupid. It's not DWC. Flood the table 3 times a day when young and twice a day when they get bigger.
4. Don't be cheap. Blow fat old guys from Craigslist if you have to and get some decent hydro nutes. Botanicare or DM are my favorites. People kill it with dyna grow as well
5. This isn't soil dude. You need a GOOD ph pen and a ppm meter. Your fuckkng lost without them. People that say "use the strips" are fucking retards. Would the one you stick in the soil work in water? The thing in the picture is garbage

..the question you didn't ask "hey do I need some material outside of the net pots so that the roots don't bask in the light and air and shrivel up and die?" Yeah dude..where the hell are the roots supposed to grow?

You don't need net pots, fill your basin with substrate and stick the plants in them.

Cheers.
LF

here my setup its not real complicated

That's pretty much it right there. Love those sticky traps...till I bump into them.

Daang I thought bash on the noob day was next month!

Come on kiddo, do a bit of self study. There are probably over 100 threads on each of your questions.

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None of the specific info ive searched for about hydro is very clear, because theres so many ways to go about doing it!

Ok thanks legal but i'm still a little confused on this part:

It's not DWC. Flood the table 3 times a day when young and twice a day when they get bigger.

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Could you give me a rough schedule for the clones i'm about to put in?... like pump on at 6am, off at 6:30. on at 12,off at 12:30...something like that would be great!

Grow rocks, hydroton, or perlite.

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Is vermiculite too grainy to use?

Don't be cheap. Blow fat old guys from Craigslist if you have to and get some decent hydro nutes.

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Haha. Struggles!

..the question you didn't ask "hey do I need some material outside of the net pots so that the roots don't bask in the light and air and shrivel up and die?" Yeah dude..where the hell are the roots supposed to grow?

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I was planning on putting the medium in the net cups with the roots so they wouldnt dry..

You don't need net pots, fill your basin with substrate and stick the plants in them.

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like how bigworm has it?

3 times a day..for about 5 minutes each time. You want a schedule. Divide 24 by 3

No vermiculite

Who the fuck is big worm?

You can just have net pots dude..the plant roots will grow out of them.