Starting and Maintaining Bubbleponics - Help Please

DeMoNeye

Well-Known Member
I've getting in close to finishing my first closet grow in far too many years. I've grown 4 plants in a 60x60 tent that scrogged. Very happy with the results. Growing in coca/pebble 60/40 and feeding with Canna nutrients every other day. I just mix up the nuts in a bucket and water with a watering can. At the moment I just mix the nutrients as specified on the Canna website grow guide - quantities adjusted slightly because I'm in a hard water area,

I'm looking to maximize my next grow by looking at a large 1 pot system and lavishing all my attention on one plant.

I've looked at a few systems, like these...

OxyportXL - http://hydroponics-growshop.co.uk/products/oxypot-xl

1 Pot flood and drain - http://hydroponics-growshop.co.uk/products/1-pot-flood-drain-system

Couple of questions though.

Would I have to go all out and get a Ph meter, EC meter, Ph+ and Ph- to maintain the nutrients in the small tank - seems a lot of work for a gallon or two of water!

Do you drain and refill the reservoir regularly?

Would I need to maintain the temperature of the reservoir?
 

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
i spent $30 on EC. HM brand

i spent $100 on pH. milwaukee brand

pH is way more important in hydro than EC.

but you'll need both meters
 

firsttimeARE

Well-Known Member
The fact you have only 2 gallons means yourw going to have crazy pH drifts. So yes a pH meter is essential.

EC meter is good for starting off so you know which nutrients at which quantity raise the feed X amount.

Once you know that an EC meter is needed to see if your mix is too hot(EC rise with water uptake) or too weak(EC drop with water uptake)
 

Gregor Eisenhorn

Well-Known Member
Definitely listen to firttimeare and build your own system. The ready ones are usually WAY overpriced, and while they look "professional" they usually come with rubbish air pumps.

All you need for a DWC is a bucket, good air pump (I've noticed that the ones sold in shops are pricey and have a much lower power than the ones sold on for example ebay/amazon etc.), net pot and some air stones and medium of choice.

Also you can get yourself the cheapest Chinese pH and TDS meters. A lot of peeps here use them (including me) and we have no problems. You can save up and buy some professional ones later on.
 

DeMoNeye

Well-Known Member
OK - I'm looking to grow a single plant on a 60cmx60cm scrog. What sort of reservoir size would you recommend? I assume depth is more important than width? I assume the larger the reservoir the easier it is to maintain PH/EC?
 
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Gregor Eisenhorn

Well-Known Member
Depth isn't necessarily better, you can fit more reservoirs in one tent, but the wider you go the less height you will take. For a single unit you can go with 5+gal. Also take into the consideration the height of the netpot, I bought a huge ass one for my 5 gal reservoir, but I can only fit 10l in there as opposed to 15l.
 

Anon Emaus

Well-Known Member
You've got great advice so far, i figure i'll throw my 2 cents

As suggested, screw the premade systems(shitty air pumps indeed). Buy a 5 gal bucket, 4 or 6" net pot, 2 air stones, hydroton, some air hose, air pump(tetra whisper 100 is great), $25 HM digital EC/PPM meter and a $20 yellow chinese PH meter and some PH calibration solution. The HM digital aquapro is amazing, i never have the calibrate. The chinese PH meter needs calibration every few days, so yeah if you wanna spend the money to save some time buy a good one.

Bigger area you give the roots the bigger plant you can sustain. I wouldn't recommend a 2 or 3 gal res for your situation. If heat is an issue i suggest Hydroguard.

For a sweet scrog net that attaches to the lid of your bucket check out either mine or firsttimeare's grow journal's, we both make pvc ones that attach.

Best of luck man!
 
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