want to try hydro

hydroMD

Well-Known Member
Once they get bigger maybe check water levels. Once the pH levels out it usually doesn't need checked every day.
All depends on your methods. If your using organics and microbiology there will be a natural ph swing.

If your using synthetics then yes it will even out after 24-48 hours with a few lines. Again certain products will still promote a swing.


Also checking ppm every day is a good idea. One hot day and your girls have raised ppm to burn levels. Also any number of things can go wrong in a 24 hour spree. Always beneficial to spend time in your garden every day. Especially with hydro and aero
 

Heavy Consumer

Well-Known Member
Hey mate, I actually started growing with hydro and have recently purchased an Alien RDWC system. Can't speak highly enough about it tbh. When it comes time to upgrade in size I will 100% be going back to them. I have a 6 pot one but I'm certain they do 2, 4, 6 and tonnes more

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That's the same system I've been looking at (except probably 8 buckets). Was it straight forward to assemble? Did you also take a water chiller from them? They push the chiller quite hard when speaking to them, but it's very pricey. Still, seems about the going rate and everyone I've asked HAS agreed that in RDWC water temps are a key element of success. I was thinking of going with the chiller. They offered a discount on the order if I did.
 

Jimmyjonestoo

Well-Known Member
All depends on your methods. If your using organics and microbiology there will be a natural ph swing.

If your using synthetics then yes it will even out after 24-48 hours with a few lines. Again certain products will still promote a swing.


Also checking ppm every day is a good idea. One hot day and your girls have raised ppm to burn levels. Also any number of things can go wrong in a 24 hour spree. Always beneficial to spend time in your garden every day. Especially with hydro and aero
I definitely check my garden every day. But I don't have to. No hot days where a ton of water is used up. I agree that things could go wrong but generally speaking if you have your system dialed in and have been doing it a while it isn't necessary to check it every day.
 

Heavy Consumer

Well-Known Member
I definitely check my garden every day. But I don't have to. No hot days where a ton of water is used up. I agree that things could go wrong but generally speaking if you have your system dialed in and have been doing it a while it isn't necessary to check it every day.
This is sort of the reason that Alien advised me to go with RDWC instead of E&F. I mentioned I may need to be away for a couple of days at a time here and there and they said "in the event of a power surge/cut flood and drain plants will die in hours whereas RDWC will survive days". While not connected to PH drift, still a maintenance related issue - And as the RDWC system is not more expensive, I assumed this was true. Of course, they do get to push a bit harder for me to take a chiller with RDWC though.

In the past, I've seen videos where a Current Culture rep was promoting the idea of going full cycle without changing the res' at all, as the plants take up so much solution that in effect you end up doing complete change-overs anyway just by topping up. This also led me to believe that RDWC would likely be lower maintenance as timing res' changes perfectly may not be AS important as in other systems.

I don't NEED low maintenance necessarily, but for a noob' it would make sense to go with something less intensive to care for.
 
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hydroMD

Well-Known Member
This is sort of the reason that Alien advised me to go with RDWC instead of E&F. I mentioned I may need to be away for a couple of days at a time here and there and they said "in the event of a power surge/cut flood and drain plants will die in hours whereas RDWC will survive days". While not connected to PH drift, still a maintenance related issue - And as the RDWC system is not more expensive, I assumed this was true. Of course, they do get to push a bit harder for me to take a chiller with RDWC though.

In the past, I've seen videos where a Current Culture rep was promoting the idea of going full cycle without changing the res' at all, as the plants take up so much solution that in effect you end up doing complete change-overs anyway just by topping up. This also led me to believe that RDWC would likely be lower maintenance as timing res' changes perfectly may not be AS important as in other systems.

I don't NEED low maintenance necessarily, but for a noob' it would make sense to go with something less intensive to care for.

I have known people that top off instead of change water. Some have been very successful and believe they are keeping more healthy microbes by doing this. But there can be issues if any of your nutrients contain solid organics. Things can settle and accumulate in the bottom of your buckets and cause some burning.

Not to mention if you do this without beneficial bacteria and enzymes your just asking for a pathogen
 

hydroMD

Well-Known Member
2 black 5 gallon buckets ($3 each), 2 net pot lids ($4.50 each), 2-4 air stones ($1 or less each), a 2-4 outlet air pump ($20), air tubing ($3), nutrients (maxigro/maxibloom, $30), ph up/down and test kit ($15), and hydroton ($8.)
And dont forget a ph pen and ppm truncheon!

Whats the point of doing DWC if you cant keep things perfect
 

purplelicious

Well-Known Member
Do yourself a favor and run PH perfect sensi bloom and sensi grow. Also the general hydroponics hydrofarm bucket system is the pro way to go. One bucket systems are cheap enough. The 8 pack is even a good deal. The system uses only air pumps to circulate water and has a top feed drip ring on each pot.. No water pumps or air stones or water chillers. I have been growing for 20 years and just recently was told about these and made the switch. Anyone else use these?
 
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