need help with hydro

[SoHigh420]

im currently growing in soil and i want to get to know hydroponics for future grows. i dont want to spend an ass-load of $$$ for a system either so if anybody could hook me up with some links on building hydro systems step by step and how to use them properly and all that other good stuff i need to know to get me going(list of supplies, how to feed, etc.)

thanks a bunch in advance:thumbsup:

[bronc76]

To get into hydro you would probably be best off useing a store bought system because it takes out all the design variables that could mess you up. That being said an eb and flow system would probably be easiest. I have made two myself almost entirely frome home depot. I believe i spent about $100 on each pumps and all. :rasta:

[SoHigh420]

ive been watchin a shit load of youtube vids on how to make diff. systems. im pretty crafty and really ocd bout making shit work PROPERLY especially if I build it

[SmokeMyPiece]

DWC/SWC is the easiest to set-up. *Just to get you started*
"Instr. for One Plant; using least parts necessary"

Bucket/Tub - be creative
-that holds at 'least' 2 gallons.

-Hole in the lid for a netpot- which can be can easily be made from anything to fit your custom size tub.

-A growing medium is only necessary if starting from seed. If From clone, its stem just needs to be supported within the netpot; (foam or an old coozie can be cut to fit your netpot, and slit down the middle to hold the clone)

Oxygen
-1 aquarium air pump (under 10$)
-1 line of air tubing (2-4$)
-1 Air stone (3-5$)

Nutes
-GH Micro
-GH Bloom
-method to check PH levels wanting around 5.5-6, after adding nutes.

Use the lucas formula with only GH-M & GH-B and it couldnt be easier.

VEG
Micro- 5 ml/Gal
Bloom- 10 ml/Gal

Flower
Micro- 8 ml/Gal
Bloom- 16 ml/Gal

*Top off with ph adjusted water when necessary, and change completely every week.

Good Luck, Keep researchin' :thumbsup:

-Ex of my tub and DIY Netpot

[SoHigh420]

DWC/SWC is the easiest to set-up. *Just to get you started*
"Instr. for One Plant; using least parts necessary"

Bucket/Tub - be creative
-that holds at 'least' 2 gallons.

-Hole in the lid for a netpot- which can be can easily be made from anything to fit your custom size tub.

-A growing medium is only necessary if starting from seed. If From clone, its stem just needs to be supported within the netpot; (foam or an old coozie can be cut to fit your netpot, and slit down the middle to hold the clone)

Oxygen
-1 aquarium air pump (under 10$)
-1 line of air tubing (2-4$)
-1 Air stone (3-5$)

Nutes
-GH Micro
-GH Bloom
-method to check PH levels wanting around 5.5-6, after adding nutes.

Use the lucas formula with only GH-M & GH-B and it couldnt be easier.

VEG
Micro- 5 ml/Gal
Bloom- 10 ml/Gal

Flower
Micro- 8 ml/Gal
Bloom- 16 ml/Gal

*Top off with ph adjusted water when necessary, and change completely every week.

Good Luck, Keep researchin' :thumbsup:

-Ex of my tub and DIY Netpot

short, simple, and very informative:thumbsup:
just what i was looking for!!! lol
seems simple enough i deff. think im crafty enough to handle the project.
just one more question, if i wanted to incorporate more plants using this method, say ten plants total, would i have to make each plant its own system?
and do the tubs stay full 24/7 or do they have to drain?
i just know in soil if the roots stay too wet they can rot but is it different because they get so much oxygen this way??

[tinytoon]

In DWC the roots live in the water and survive by the O2 that is pumped in by the airstones. If air supply stops eventually the plant will drown. Seperate containers for each plant is highly reccomended for the simple reason of if you ever needed to pull a plant you wont have to fight to untangle roots to get it out, also in seperate containers you dont have a bigger palnt "stealing" nutes from a smaller one. All plants get the same stuff. Google DWC and you will be amazed at what you will find. :thumbsup:

[SoHigh420]

yea hydro is some pretty cool shit:thumbsup:
i know not to put them into the same containers im just using my imagination over here. im probably just get some 5gal buckets and run some air line to each.
would i be safe in assuming that i could run 1 really powerful air pump to air stones in all the buckets like a series circut? or would it be better if each airstone had its own pump. sorry if i sound retarded lol i dont wanna take shortcuts or anything and i dont wanna spend alot of $$$ on pumps and stuff.
hell if it comes down to it ill just do a couple of plants until i get some hydro experience under my belt.
you guys are the shit! thanks for the help:D

[SmokeMyPiece]

Google FTW :thumbsup:

About the water level, they wont drink much when young, but just check every day and top off to just below(1/4"-1/2") your netpot.

Empty, scrub, and refill with fresh nutes at the end of each week.

Only reason i use multiple plants in one tub is cause i cant find individual tubs that are small enuf for my box. Otherwise, I would deff get each plant its own bucket.

*The pumps come in different sizes, and rated for different amounts of water.
the smallest i think is rated for 2-10 Gal. and is the one i mentioned.

if using the 5gal buckets, could get a cpl medium sized pumps and link them like you said :thumbsup:

[SoHigh420]

ok 1 more thing......
what are PPM's????
i hear everybody talking about it so it must be important

[bronc76]

PPM's = Parts Per Million a way of measuring the amount of neuts in water. :rasta:

[SoHigh420]

thanks
i wonder if theres a hydro for dummies book i need to invest in lol
would someone mind explaining "PPM's" with a little more detail?
and possibly a recommendation for a good meter to test with?

[supchaka]

Go on piratebay and search for hydroponic. Theres a few ebooks on there. If you dont know what piratebay is or how to use torrents, then you can learn that through google alot faster than everything you need to know about hydro.

[tinytoon]

Air pumps come in all sizes, depends on how much you want to spend and how long you think you can depend on it. General Hydroponics makes a pump that they advertise as being the first and only pump designed for Hydro. If I remember correctly it has 4 outleats which you can also "T" off of if need be. Then you have the type of pump mentioned here that is used for aquarium purposes, which can also work fine I am using 4 of the fish type atm until I can afford a larger pump. Keep in mind that the more O2 you can pump into the water the happier your DWC plant will be. I'm also checking into Nebulizer pumps as I have seen numerous children need these when they are really young but as they get older they kinda grow out of whatever was causing the need for the Neb. Craig's list here I come and I bet you could find one for about $15 which is just about the same price as the fish air pump.

[bigtopsfinn]

Check out the first link in my sig, plenty of info about hydro, setups, measuring ph, ppms, etc. :thumbsup:

[SoHigh420]

Check out the first link in my sig, plenty of info about hydro, setups, measuring ph, ppms, etc. :thumbsup:

great info as always:thumbsup: thanks to all for pointing me n the right direction!

[SoHigh420]

and wat is tds? can i get a good link for a tool i can use for everthing during my hydro grow ? id really appreciate it. and what are some good nutes to use for hydropinic plants? thakns guys every response ive gotten so far has been very helpful. i feel pretty confident that i will have a very sucess hydro thanks to u guys:thumbsup: + rep 4 every1

[tinytoon]

TDS=Total Disolved Solids, PPM and EC are all pretty much about the same thing just depending on where you are is which one is used more. Just like some peeps have a Roof over their heads while others have a Ruff overhead. Tomatoe and Tomata, Soda and Pop and for the Mass peeps car and caaaaar. Hopefully you will understand why I spelled things the way I did :thumbsup:

[SoHigh420]

TDS=Total Disolved Solids, PPM and EC are all pretty much about the same thing just depending on where you are is which one is used more. Just like some peeps have a Roof over their heads while others have a Ruff overhead. Tomatoe and Tomata, Soda and Pop and for the Mass peeps car and caaaaar. Hopefully you will understand why I spelled things the way I did :thumbsup:

at first it didnt but after thinking bout it for a sec i totally understood. i was a lil uplifted when i was reading so you know how that goes:jointsmile:

[medicatedman]

Best thing to do is ask question and a whole lot of reading. All the advise I've seen giving to you is right on especialy tiny toon. I am a newbe and did a lot of studing about what the plants need to grow to their potenial. I am a carpenter so building something for the plants to grow was my least worries. For learning about the plant frist made it easy to build, must say this website makes me even patt myself on the back. I am going crazy to fix my computor so I can download my pictures, but in third week of flower and plants are about three inches from light and this site has help by advising me what to do. So alot of studing and asking questions will really help you. Good luck.:stoned: