AQUA-Ponics my step by step

[Gatekeeper777]

Since there is little information of the topic. I am going to post my results.
I have 2 small 28 Quart/ 27 liter plastic bins from walmart. I choose plastic over metal so there is less risk of chemicals reacting with container. and releasing toxins into the water. I am using Natural solutions flora micro and flora grow at 1/2 strength ( due to clones and natural variables) I am also using one cap full of super thrive every week.

[Gatekeeper777]

I am using a poor mans CO2 set up with one gallon of warm water with one pack of yeast mixed with 1 1/2 cups sugar with a hose running to my plant tank. I also took a cheep plastic cake lid and made a clone dome. and burred it in rocks. I am using river pea gravel from Lowes 40# bag $ 4.00
The the timer kicks and the tank floods the water creates a seal and saturates the leaves in CO2. the timer kicks on every hour for 15 minutes.

[Gatekeeper777]

About 2 weeks into my hydro project I noticed heavy algae build up.
I went to walmart and purchased 6 algae eating fish to throw into the reserve water tank.
Also any clippings I take from the plants. burnt leaves. dead leaves etc etc.... I place them into the water reserve tank.

[Gatekeeper777]

as you can see by my the pics the algae is in the tank with the babies and well established.

[Gatekeeper777]

these clones are less then one week old and gong very well.

[Gatekeeper777]

these 2 clones are 2 1/2 weeks old and are exploding in growth.

[Gatekeeper777]

and you can see all 7 babies are doing very nice in this pic.
They will stay in this container for their whole life.

[Gatekeeper777]

When they are ready to bloom I will take out the flora micro and replace it with flora bloom.
I have a total of six algae eating fish in my water tank.
If the fish eat all my algae the algae water is replaced fresh every hour with new algae spores thanks to the tank with the plants.
So it all ends up being a self sustaining project.

I will keep all informed as to the progress of the plants with pics and commentary and welcome comments tips and tricks.
2 weeks before I harvest I will pull all flora products and rely on the nutes in the water . I will then restart using no flora micro or flora grow for a radical new method of growing .

Props to all those brave enough to go before me.

[martyrprojekt]

Wow man...It's like Aqua ponic herb has a soul mate! We should get you guys together...he has done all the leg work that you are just now figuring out.

Have fun with all that man...I do not have the patience for it.

[Gatekeeper777]

Yes, Props go to him. Actually i fell into this by accident so I figured I would give it a shot. Props to all the POT PIONEERS.

[Gatekeeper777]

I am also working on a watt to run a 400 watt grow light off the grid.

[Gatekeeper777]

I found out today the mom is a strain called " Penn state" if anyone knows anything about strains. Since this is my first grow from scratch in over a year and 6 of 7 cloned confirmed rooted I decided to move them to my bloom room so they are not stressed when it comes time for them to mature. They are on a 2" X 8" piece of ply wood and i have 16 cfl's 34 watt=100 watt and a Mylar wrapped room, They will be used to the switch well before flower. ( same light just different room and much brighter.)
During the move I spotted 4 of the 6 algae eaters in the res tank doing fine. Also I noticed the bottom of the tank had a lot of fish turds on it. ( Someone in the tank must have diarrhea:stoned:
I folar sprayed with liquid light/water mix and put one full cap of super thrive in the res.

[Gatekeeper777]

OK I took a lil trip and checked on the girls. They are not happy. I took a water sample test and found that the water was way to alkaline. Not sure by how much because I lost the chart. The water was blue when i put the drops in so i know its way alkaline. If I had to guess 8.0- 8.5.
I am going to go to walmart and I will pick up a bottle of lemon juice. to sour the water up and make them happy again. I have to stop at the pet shop or pool supply store for a new water test kit as well.

I caught what could have been a serious disaster.

One dead algae eater. But hey they are from walmart that could mean anything.

[Gatekeeper777]

OK I dumped 1/4 cup lemon juice into the res. tank And checked the ph. The Ph was about 6 and the plants look like they are doing good again.
Pictured with them is mama. The two in the shot are about 1 month old. Light was kept low on them till now.
MAMA will be sacrificed soon too..
My observations are as follows.

The PH is difficult to keep in range.
1/4 cup lemon juice brings it back to 6.0 ( the algae must be eating the Nitrogen and changing the PH) * Must keep close eye on pH*
One dead algae eating fish left to decompose in the water. ( ion generator on so no smell can escape....Cant even smell it in room. Turn off ionizer and room smells like the back of willy nelson tour bus.) Ionizer recommended.
Plants seems to be growing very vigorously.
small amount of scum forming on water surface. ( most likely due to decomposing algae eating fish.)

[Gatekeeper777]

The main tank with all 7 sisters in it.
They are bathed in algae. This algae keeping vital supply of food to small 2" algae eating fish into res tank every 45 min.

[Gatekeeper777]

Bloom room lights with 23 watt = 100 watt cfl bulbs and a pic of the wiring. I used an old outside extension cable to wire this with because of voltage concerns.

[Gatekeeper777]

As you can see I have good strong root growth .

[Gatekeeper777]

fish are dead. Could be due to a number of things from dirty water to ferts. I will try to figure things out.

[nutrientmix]

This is the first time that I actually read someone used aquaponics to grow cannabis. Pretty interesting I would say. I noticed that you used other nutrients, too, aside from fish waste, how's the result so far? Do you think that using other nutrients may have caused the fishes to die?

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Hydroponics rocks! (http://www.hydroponicssystems.homehydroponics.info)