Want to make the switch

[New_2_Chronic]

Im growing in soil and am toying with the idea of hydroponics for my next grow. The reason being is Im starting a new job which will require me to travle and I have heard that hydroponics can go longer without attention than soil.

So basicly I just want to know where to start. What type of hydroponic system is best to learn with?

The growing area will be 4X4X5ft lighting is a 600 watt mh and 600 HPS. I have all Fox Farms Nutrients. Im looking at maybe buying a tent for the next grow.

I fugured I have two months or less to get this going.....

 

[New_2_Chronic]

Bueler.........Bueler.......

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

IMO, DWC is the easiest most reliable system--a 5 gal bucket, lid, net pot, medium, a couple of air stones, and an air pump. Unless the plants are large, you can generally go a week without having to add water/nute solution. You will need an EC meter to measure ppm and a pH meter to measure Ph. You will probably need pH up/down to adjust your ph.

 

[Dexter]

I'm biased towards DWC also. I use rectangular tubs that hold 80lts (21.1us gallons) , each with two plants.

The larger your buckets the more stable they will be...or add a res. Have left mine for 2 weeks at a time with no problems. Use Canna Aqua and forget about it :bongin:

Dexter

Dex's White Widow
1 WW plant DWC 35 days flowering

 

[city]

Im with ya. DWC. easiest hydro out there for newb's after that i would step up to something else.
i founthat its best to clean and change water 10-14 days. so hopefully you will be there to do it.. wrap your bucket. no light....
Boisehydroponics sells net tops for your bucket and black buckets to.
i like to start mine in 3" nets then set it inside the 5" bucket net top. makes it pretty much light tight.
I have 6 2 bulb flours on 1 tub.
also have a 20 gal. tub for 6 3" nets when i clone(if it ever works for me lol) on a drip/bubbler.
best of luck.. Ionic chems work great and easy

 

[andy52]

dwc is the way to go.fully agree with the hemp goddess

 

[Weeddog]

I agree, DWC. I recirculate my DWC during flower using a pump from the reservoir to all the buckets and drains all hooked together and back the the res. Makes it easy to maintain with a reservoir.

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

Im with ya. DWC. easiest hydro out there for newb's after that i would step up to something else.

What is wrong with staying with DWC--why would you recommend that someone "step up to something else"? Just curious...

 

[Tater]

Because there are a lot of other options out there that can out perform dwc.

 

[New_2_Chronic]

would you reccomend building your own, or going and buying a dwc system?

 

[andy52]

no system,soil,aero,hydro coco,what ever can out grow the other in my opinion,its the grower and the experience you accquire over time.

 

[ugmjfarmer]

I'd agree with andy's last statement.


From what ive seen DWC people start chasing PH, nutrient levels and water level a bunch. It seems high maintenance to me. In the last few weeks the plants consume tons of water so topping them off might be a couple times a day thing. Just a thought, its not always the best solution.

My self, the easiest to do would be a top feed drain to waste setup. No PH chasing, mix nutrients and grow. If you use a media that holds enough water like rockwool or coco you will be fine with small amounts of irrigation to keep the medium wet.

I myself, going top feed w/ coco media. I'm still debating drain to waste or constant circulation.

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

From what ive seen DWC people start chasing PH, nutrient levels and water level a bunch. It seems high maintenance to me. In the last few weeks the plants consume tons of water so topping them off might be a couple times a day thing. Just a thought, its not always the best solution.

Yourre making it much harder than it actually is. After you have been doing this for awhile, you get things tuned in and the system can take care of itself for a week or so. If I have large plants (4' or so), I need to top up the 5 gal buckets occasionally between reservoir changes late in flower. But it is more like an every 4-5 days thing than a couple of day thing.

There is no one "best solution". Different circumstances and personal preferences dictate different growing methods.

 

[TURKEYNECK]

I agree that DWC is cheaper, but I have to point out that with ebb&flow or Drip you will only have to maintain/clean ONE Res.. instead of several..
Which makes it much easier to maintain and clean.. IMO.

Either way, Hydro is the way to go..

 

[Elven]

I from my most unexperienced but well read opinion. I believe that as for systems that can take care of themselves its all about the quality of parts if you buy good quality parts and use a decent battery backup most systems will at least not require mechanical tinkering. As for nutes and such listen to the guys who have grown good smoke. I just see so many people skimp on quality parts and have breakdowns.

 

[cdmharley]

I could not agree more!!! you cant skimp and save on nutes!!! you put the best in get the best out... i heard somewhere mirical grow is not a good medium to use?? i use Canna terra professional soil, hydro-clay in bottom of pots.. Wilma dripper 10 pot system, advanced nutes.. voodoo, sensi AB grow,Sensi AB bloom, big bud, hammer head, over drive & final fase..
CDM

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

I from my most unexperienced but well read opinion. I believe that as for systems that can take care of themselves its all about the quality of parts if you buy good quality parts and use a decent battery backup most systems will at least not require mechanical tinkering. As for nutes and such listen to the guys who have grown good smoke. I just see so many people skimp on quality parts and have breakdowns.

Thanks for this post. You have brought up a very important point. However, IMO, it goes beyond just using quality parts for your system. You need the correct lighting, the right nutes, good ventilation, and the ability to control temps and humidity. There are so many newbies out there that think they can put a bagseed in a pot with outside dirt and a CFL and grow dank bud. When you are trying to produce a product that costs $300-400 an oz on the street, you should expect to have to invest some real money, time, and energy.

 

[JBonez]

^^^you get what you put into it, and you just hit the nail on the head.

 

[Elven]

Thanks for this post. You have brought up a very important point. However, IMO, it goes beyond just using quality parts for your system. You need the correct lighting, the right nutes, good ventilation, and the ability to control temps and humidity. There are so many newbies out there that think they can put a bagseed in a pot with outside dirt and a CFL and grow dank bud. When you are trying to produce a product that costs $300-400 an oz on the street, you should expect to have to invest some real money, time, and energy.

Totally I was just commenting on a hydro system that does not require every day attention. I was commenting on hardware only, thats why I said Battery Backup something that most people dont seem to use. btw Goddess could you take a look at my build and give me some advice

 

[New_2_Chronic]

Thanks for this post. You have brought up a very important point. However, IMO, it goes beyond just using quality parts for your system. You need the correct lighting, the right nutes, good ventilation, and the ability to control temps and humidity. There are so many newbies out there that think they can put a bagseed in a pot with outside dirt and a CFL and grow dank bud. When you are trying to produce a product that costs $300-400 an oz on the street, you should expect to have to invest some real money, time, and energy.

I am not scrimping in any aspect for my grow. In my soil growing I use all Fox Farms Soils, All Fox Farms Nutes, Distilled Water, a 600 watt MH/HPS Lighting system with an aircooled hood, 380CFM inline Ducting fans for intake and exaust, Air conditioning unit to keep temp at 70-75. Mylar reflective material on the walls, BANG organic pesticides and micronutrients..

So as you see im doing it as bout as good as you can.....

I do not want to scrimp on my Hydro Growing either, Thats why I asked this post. I like the DWC idea for my first hydro and am going to the hydro store to check them out....