keep the water running 24/7?

[k1ng87]

I just got finished with my first hydro system. I used a rubber maid bucket(holding 6 plants), cups, perlite, and some hose. I was trying to use foggers/misters on the bottom but couldn't really get them to work well at all so I just added watering houses to the top of each cup and am letting the water go down from there. My question is, what kind of timing should i have the water on or run it 24/7? The seeds are also just germinated.

[k1ng87]

anyone?? I dont want to end up drowning my plant already. I've put plenty of holes in the cups and used only perlite as a growing medium so i'm guessing over watering shouldn't really be a concern...just checking though

[herbie the love bud]

I personally wouldn't germ a seed in your system. You need a cloning tray and dome until it establishes a root system. Other than that some people run their top feed drip 24/7

[k1ng87]

so I can run the water constantly as long as its draining through?

[stinkyattic]

Yes, that is actually a type of NFT. Your goal will be to provide lots of oxygen. I would use something with a slightly larger particle size, like hydroton, unless you are using the ultra-coars perlite that is super awesome and unfortunately super expensive along with.
Remember that your pH and EC numbers will need to be monitored with this.
Search 'containerized NFT' for threads on this style of hydro. The fine particle perlite is too small, and if that is what you run, do an automatic drip-to-waste instead.

[FlyGuyOU]

thanks stink, i was wondering along similar lines