Top Fed DWC Bubbleponics Newb Question?

Anon Emaus · Apr 3, 2015

First off, new here, so I apologize if this has already been answered or this is in the wrong place.

So I've got a system set up and it's basically a black 5 gal bucket, air pump with air stone at bottom, and water pump, water pump is feeding up a tube into the net pot thats filled with hydroton. Currently have a newly sprouted in a Rapid Rooter, Rooter is sorrounded by the hydroton. Now here's my issue, when reading Nebula Haze's stuff I was under the impression that I wanted my water pump to be running water against the side of the Rapid Rooter forever basically. Well I realized then after a few seeds not popping and one clearly dieing, that you do Not want the Rapid Rooter saturated, you only want it moist. So I'm confused why Nebula's articles, growweedeasy.com, explained that I should be flowing the water continuesly forever onto the germ medium. So I had shut the pump off and just allowed the Rooter to stay moist and wha-la got my first sprout on time at about 5-7 days. So now I'm worried about when and how I should institute this water pump or if I even should.

Questions:
When should I start to flow the water continuesly so that I don't drown out my new baby?

Also where should I have it flow to? Such as against the side of the Rapid Rooter?

What should my flow rate be of the water from the tube? I've seen 100% flows, but then I've heard of "drip systems" so I'm quite confused there.

I am understanding that you don't even need a water pump, but if so how does the plant get water up until the point that the roots finally reach water? How long until roots hit water, in my system the bottom of the rapid rooter is probably 2 inches or so from the water with Hydroton in between?

Thank you in advanced, I really appreciate it!

Redvirgo · Apr 3, 2015

Anon Emaus said:
First off, new here, so I apologize if this has already been answered or this is in the wrong place.

So I've got a system set up and it's basically a black 5 gal bucket, air pump with air stone at bottom, and water pump, water pump is feeding up a tube into the net pot thats filled with hydroton. Currently have a newly sprouted in a Rapid Rooter, Rooter is sorrounded by the hydroton. Now here's my issue, when reading Nebula Haze's stuff I was under the impression that I wanted my water pump to be running water against the side of the Rapid Rooter forever basically. Well I realized then after a few seeds not popping and one clearly dieing, that you do Not want the Rapid Rooter saturated, you only want it moist. So I'm confused why Nebula's articles, growweedeasy.com, explained that I should be flowing the water continuesly forever onto the germ medium. So I had shut the pump off and just allowed the Rooter to stay moist and wha-la got my first sprout on time at about 5-7 days. So now I'm worried about when and how I should institute this water pump or if I even should.

Questions:
When should I start to flow the water continuesly so that I don't drown out my new baby?

Also where should I have it flow to? Such as against the side of the Rapid Rooter?

What should my flow rate be of the water from the tube? I've seen 100% flows, but then I've heard of "drip systems" so I'm quite confused there.

I am understanding that you don't even need a water pump, but if so how does the plant get water up until the point that the roots finally reach water? How long until roots hit water, in my system the bottom of the rapid rooter is probably 2 inches or so from the water with Hydroton in between?

Thank you in advanced, I really appreciate it!

So I was a little confused as well after reading her description a while back. The difference between a continuous flow and a drip system is a having the water pump set on a timer. After further investigation I believe that either putting the water pump on a timer for feeding the rr (against the outside of rr) only 3 to 4 times a day for the first 2 weeks or just not using the pump for the first 2 weeks and hand water the rr until you see the taproot come out of the bottom of the rr. Once the root has come through the bottom of the rr then it is time to start the top feed part, put the line against the stem into the top of the rr. From a lot of stuff I have read it is ideal to run the air stones and water pump 24/7. As far as the net pots go, put a small layer of rock then the rr and then fill in around the sides of the rr and net pot, as the plant begins growing then fill in the top of rr and continue to fill net pot the rest of the way up as pant grows up.

I'm actual planning on popping some seeds here this weekend into a 16 site top feed bubbleponics setup and plan on doing the exact same thing I just explained.

rkymtnman · Apr 3, 2015

I pop my seeds in rapid rooters too in a 3 site aeroponic unit that sprays onto the RR's all the time and I never had problems. I'd keep them in the aero unit until they had a bunch of roots and then I've transplanted into everything from soil, DWC, hempy bucket etc.

my sprayers were towards teh bottoms of the RR though. were yours more towards the top of the RR? maybe that slight difference is the problem.

Anon Emaus · Apr 3, 2015

Thanks for the quick responses. Sounds good, so it sounds like I'll just hand water for a couple weeks, then once root is out of the bottom of the RR I will institute the 24/7 flow of water onto the rapid rooter, Correct? I just want to make sure I run no risk of "drowning" the plant, but by the sounds of it, that risk is gone once that root as pentrated the bottom of the RR?

So also your explanation of how to set up the netpots Hydroton and RR, I have too much Hydroton between my RR and bottom of the net pot, Correct? I should get it down to only one layer of Hydroton in between the bottom of the netpot and the RR?

rkymtnman - Yeah sounds like with yours just being a "sprayer" you weren't oversaturating, as I was full flowing water immensly onto the RR causing the RR to basically just act as a glass of water so my seeds were just "under water" per say for several days. I actually had one pop and begin to show root but it just stopped at that and did not progress any further. It's been a month so far and I finally have one about to grow its first leaves so its been quite the learning experience!

rkymtnman · Apr 3, 2015

I would maybe try to find a drip ring or something similar to feed around the top of your netpot but I would not constantly keep the RR wet all the time even when they have roots because you can cause problems with the stem rotting if it's constantly wet. rockwool is really bad about that too.

or you can put your feed line at the bottom of your netpot and do more of a side/bottom feed system. as long as you have water running down the roots and not the stem you should be fine.

Redvirgo · Apr 3, 2015

Yes all sounds right, and correct about not running along the stem just at the base of it at the top of the roots. Yes if you have enough depth you may wish to use 2 layers of rock between rr and bottom of net pot. On another note if you don't run your water pump and airstones 24/7 then your chances of root rot are going to become more and more likely because when the movement of water and oxygen stop in your rez then the bad bacteria and slime will begin to develop and overtake your rez and your roots very quickly.

Anon Emaus · Apr 3, 2015

Ohkay gotcha that all makes sense. I think I'll move the tube to flow below the RR and just wait to turn it on until I have roots down through.

Thanks for the help and information

Top Fed DWC Bubbleponics Newb Question?

Anon Emaus

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Redvirgo

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rkymtnman

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Anon Emaus

Well-Known Member

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member

Redvirgo

Active Member

Anon Emaus

Well-Known Member

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