Help with hydro drip system

[texashustle]

I made my own drip system. Should I just let the water free flow onto the roots out of the 1/4 inch tubing or should I install drippers on the ends and let it drip onto them? The water is flowing out of little nozzles right now so its close to full power, its more like a constant even trickle. I think it looks great but scared of over watering. What do you guys think? Install drips or just keep the constant trickle? Thanks!

[420barista]

Ok tex I'll Bite,

Your running a drip system

What Are you growing? (as if we didnt know) but What? seedling, clone?

You say your Free Flowing on the roots how much air is getting to them?

Its My understanding that the roots need air as much as they need water?

off hand I would recommend a Cycle timer and dependent of how old your ladies are the young get a short cycle like on for 5 min off for 20. so every 25 min you will hear the pump turn on for for 5 min and then be off for 20 allowing the roots to breath, the older get A longer cycle.

But Dont take my word for it I am new to growing in general, but I have been lurking and reading for months trying to get a better understanding so when i start i hope to have 0 Problems. Hope fully one who has more experience in this can give you the best advice.

[texashustle]

Ok tex I'll Bite,

Your running a drip system

What Are you growing? (as if we didnt know) but What? seedling, clone? Seedling, Short Rider which is an auto and I bought all fem. They are in a humidity dome right now and im not going to put them in my hydroton till I see a lot of strong roots coming out the bottom.
You say your Free Flowing on the roots how much air is getting to them?

Its My understanding that the roots need air as much as they need water? Yeah but thought Id be ok with 3 fans in a tubberware lol.

off hand I would recommend a Cycle timer and dependent of how old your ladies are the young get a short cycle like on for 5 min off for 20. so every 25 min you will hear the pump turn on for for 5 min and then be off for 20 allowing the roots to breath, the older get A longer cycle. That sounds complicated, maybe I should just do drippers? I have them, just wasnt sure if I should use them.
But Dont take my word for it I am new to growing in general, but I have been lurking and reading for months trying to get a better understanding so when i start i hope to have 0 Problems. Hope fully one who has more experience in this can give you the best advice.

Cool thanks man!

[disrupt86]

whoa killer hang on,lots of things are going to make up your answere.1.what kind of media are u using.2 age /general info about the plants. 3 describe the system you have built "it will make a tone of difference in your watering choices,4 what kind of lighting are u using "hps lamps tend to dry our rw much faster than say cfl's" all of these things are factors.most people water 3 times a day in 15 min intervuls,some people only require once or twice,but you will def need to up your water schedule as the plants mature.generally i would use drip nossles to put back pressure on the diaphram head"were all your lines connect 2" to make sure that all of them are producing the same amount of water trust me it will happen.u have 15 lines and 2 of them have nothing coming out"pain in the ass"soooooooo anywhoooo those are the questions that need answering 2 get you the correct answers.

[martyrprojekt]

most people water 3 times a day in 15 min intervuls,some people only require once or twice,but you will def need to up your water schedule as the plants mature..


I am in firm agreement. In a drip system you can not do a constant drip. Needs to have down time. Check out my grow log man...I use drip.

[SpaceNeedle]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:The secret is the media:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
I run my drippers full blast without drippers. In other words just the 1/4" tube stuck directly into the pot. The secret is in the media. If you use ANYTHING besides clay pellets or some other rocks you will drown the plant.
I run a tray of 15 plants under a 1000w light with a 400gph pond pump running those 1/4" tubes and they love it.

SN

[LOC NAR on probation]

We have ten gallon tubs with 6 plants in each. 1/4 inch lines use to run 24/7 BUT we found that 15 minutes on and 45 minutes off was the trick, just set it and forget it. Once the roots have made it to the water the drip can be cut off and airstones keep it going.

[texashustle]

I am in firm agreement. In a drip system you can not do a constant drip. Needs to have down time. Check out my grow log man...I use drip.

Yes, you suggested it to me bc of my high temps in my closet. Thanks! :thumbsup:

[texashustle]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:The secret is the media:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
I run my drippers full blast without drippers. In other words just the 1/4" tube stuck directly into the pot. The secret is in the media. If you use ANYTHING besides clay pellets or some other rocks you will drown the plant.
I run a tray of 15 plants under a 1000w light with a 400gph pond pump running those 1/4" tubes and they love it.

SN

So you run them 24/7 and do well? Im using hydroton, thats clay pellets right?

[texashustle]

We have ten gallon tubs with 6 plants in each. 1/4 inch lines use to run 24/7 BUT we found that 15 minutes on and 45 minutes off was the trick, just set it and forget it. Once the roots have made it to the water the drip can be cut off and airstones keep it going.

Hmmm where do I get a timer that goes on for 15 and off for 45? Or what is that kind called? :D

[texashustle]

whoa killer hang on,lots of things are going to make up your answere.1.what kind of media are u using.2 age /general info about the plants. 3 describe the system you have built "it will make a tone of difference in your watering choices,4 what kind of lighting are u using "hps lamps tend to dry our rw much faster than say cfl's" all of these things are factors.most people water 3 times a day in 15 min intervuls,some people only require once or twice,but you will def need to up your water schedule as the plants mature.generally i would use drip nossles to put back pressure on the diaphram head"were all your lines connect 2" to make sure that all of them are producing the same amount of water trust me it will happen.u have 15 lines and 2 of them have nothing coming out"pain in the ass"soooooooo anywhoooo those are the questions that need answering 2 get you the correct answers.

Ha killer! Not me. 1.Media is rock wool and Im going to put them in hydroton once the plants have a good root system emerging.
2.They are just sprouts now and are short rider, an auto flowering and all fem seeds.
3.System is a rubbermaid 10 gallon with a 70 gph pump that takes the water from the res to the net pots that hang down in the solution the water is about 4-5 inches from the pots the way I have it. Not telling my building secrets though. :rastasmoke:

4. 2 27 watt cfls now then going under a quad band 90w ufo

They all flow the exact same right now. Four measuring cups proven. :thumbsup:

[TheDuck]

Hmmm where do I get a timer that goes on for 15 and off for 45? Or what is that kind called? :D

your local grow shop or home depot should have one that works. if not, i use this one. EcoPlus 24 Hour Timer (http://www.bestgrowlights.com/site/403863/product/SSI734100)

[420barista]

you need to find an outlet timer. thats what its called. but if your following loc-nar's recomendation of 15 on 45 off then it needs to be a timer you can make alot of settings(programs)on. for instance if your running 18/6 lighting, the you need to be able to make 36 programs on it to achive that.
lights on
hour 1 15 on 45 off = 2 programs
hour 2 again 15 on 45 off = 2 more programs get it?
if your running 24/0 lighting then the timer needs to be at least 48 programs
Now an outlet timer at home depot or lowes or wallmart will be anywhere from under $10 but probably wont have enough programability for you.
look to spend closer to $20 if you can find one with the amount of programs you will need.

I believe i mentioned earlier but that could have been someone elses thread but I found that a cycle timer is alot easier to set. since your repeating the same cycle over again 15 on 45 off for either 18 or 24 hours.
if your running lights for 18 hours I would get a cycle time that will operate when the light is on, it has a little photocell in it and when switched to daylight only it will operate only when your light is on.
if your running 24/0 lighting then for now till ya start to flower ya dont need the daylight only function.
anyway this cost a lot more than an outlet timer anywhere from $75 to $120

[420barista]

your local grow shop or home depot should have one that works. if not, i use this one. EcoPlus 24 Hour Timer (http://www.bestgrowlights.com/site/403863/product/SSI734100)

I just checked it out and this should do what ya need for 15 on 45 off its adjustable in 15 min increments. and has 2 Grounded outlets on it.

[TheDuck]

you need to find an outlet timer. thats what its called. but if your following loc-nar's recomendation of 15 on 45 off then it needs to be a timer you can make alot of settings(programs)on. for instance if your running 18/6 lighting, the you need to be able to make 36 programs on it to achive that.
lights on
hour 1 15 on 45 off = 2 programs
hour 2 again 15 on 45 off = 2 more programs get it?
if your running 24/0 lighting then the timer needs to be at least 48 programs
Now an outlet timer at home depot or lowes or wallmart will be anywhere from under $10 but probably wont have enough programability for you.
look to spend closer to $20 if you can find one with the amount of programs you will need.

I believe i mentioned earlier but that could have been someone elses thread but I found that a cycle timer is alot easier to set. since your repeating the same cycle over again 15 on 45 off for either 18 or 24 hours.
if your running lights for 18 hours I would get a cycle time that will operate when the light is on, it has a little photocell in it and when switched to daylight only it will operate only when your light is on.
if your running 24/0 lighting then for now till ya start to flower ya dont need the daylight only function.
anyway this cost a lot more than an outlet timer anywhere from $75 to $120

wow thats taking the waaaay less efficient route. a $20 timer with 15 min increments would do the same task.

[texashustle]

Also, I have a air pump connected to a 6 inch air stone to areate (sp)? the water.

[TheDuck]

instead of the direct 1/4" direct line, you might want to try the hydrofarm halos. ive had great results with them.

[disrupt86]

ok, so essentially you have a dwc /drip setup with the plants hanging over the whole res and the plants are directly above it with the feeders? if thats the case, i would start them with the drip like loc sed and once there is enough rootmass i would let the dwc do its thing,keeping the rw wet isnt important in a set up like this because your roots are not going to be housed there 24/7,after time there going to stretch for the main water source. and they will be pulling every thing they need from below and wont need it from the feed system.if your temps are low like 70's i would start with twice a day with 1/4 strength nutes.feel how wet the rw is in between waterings, if the plant looks like its drooping over and the rw is soaked right before the next feeding than chances are you are over watering,if it show the same droopy simptoms and the rw is wayyyy to dry than you need to add a feeding schedule.

[texashustle]

ok, so essentially you have a dwc /drip setup with the plants hanging over the whole res and the plants are directly above it with the feeders? if thats the case, i would start them with the drip like loc sed and once there is enough rootmass i would let the dwc do its thing,keeping the rw wet isnt important in a set up like this because your roots are not going to be housed there 24/7,after time there going to stretch for the main water source. and they will be pulling every thing they need from below and wont need it from the feed system.if your temps are low like 70's i would start with twice a day with 1/4 strength nutes.feel how wet the rw is in between waterings, if the plant looks like its drooping over and the rw is soaked right before the next feeding than chances are you are over watering,if it show the same droopy simptoms and the rw is wayyyy to dry than you need to add a feeding schedule.


No thats why Im doing drip. My temps are 83-93 degrees in my box. Hopefully switching to leds will solve my heating problem.

[TheDuck]

looking forward to seeing how much the leds cut down the temp. im seriously considering buying an array.

[texashustle]

looking forward to seeing how much the leds cut down the temp. im seriously considering buying an array.

Me too it should be here soon. I'll post results asap!