n00b Bubbler Question

[doco]

Ok, I know this is as dumb a question as they get: When I suspend the Rapid Rooters in the netpots with hydroton, how much water goes into the bubbler? I had it up to just 1/4" below the RR but they keep drying out...should they actually be sitting in the water? I guess I was thinking the bubbles would moisturize the RR but it doesn't seem to be happening. I added more water and now the RR are damp all the time. Is this right??

[latewood]

I start with the water right at netpot bottom, but I also have enough bubbles to wet the hydroton even if water level is lower.

maybe airpump is weak???

[doco]

Thanks for the reply. Thats exactly what I was doing but the rapid rooters were drying up. I think part of the issue here is that these are from seed, not clones this time, so they have no roots, or just one root anyway and it's not protruded out of the RR yet. I'll leave the water level where it's at and as it gets some roots, lower the water level some.

Obviously Im stumbling along here so thanks again for taking the time to respond..

[bongerstonerd00d]

DOC......I agree with LW. Bigger airpump, or more airstones. Cant make too many bubbles. You want those bubbles as they burst to sort of "spray" just a little from each one on your medium-roots. Dont overfill and sit plants in water. Remember, roots need air, too. Idea is to hydrate, not drown em.

You'll do just fine.

Keep pH in check, too.


b0nger

[JGQuality]

How about drowning the roots, but adding a bunch of fishys to the DWC to feed the plants there CO2, any attemps?

[LOC NAR on probation]

Good question, listen to these guys. I would of vegged under fluro's untill good roots are showing before going into system. Just works better and seems faster once they are in the system. Just my 2 cents.

[doco]

Well I managed to get them to root just fine and they were perking along under the T5 lamps but this past weekend I changed the res out and PH'd the water to 5.8, added a bit of hydroguard and two drops of SuperThrive...now the plants are taking a nose dive, getting very pale and developing some brown spots.

5.8 is what I want the PH to be right? I used Hydroguard and SuperThrive in the first res so PH is the only thing it could be? Maybe they need some nukes but I doubt it this early.

guess I should have used bagseed for the first hydro trial :(

[Cornelius]

5.8 should be fine, make sure your ph meter or whatever you are using is accurate and calibrated. i'm not real sure what it could be, how old are they? if they are a few weeks old they might need some food.

[doco]

They've made a nice recovery since I changed the res right after I saw them begin to have problems. They have lots of long roots now and color looks good, nice & white. Added 5ml GH 3-part and they seem to like it fine. Ready to get transplanted into the waterfarm next week and on to the WF thread so this is the last entry here. Thanks for the help from everyone.