Newbie Areo setup

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Hello all. This is a great website with tons of info. I've been learning a lot from you guys.

This is my first experiment and I have a couple questions regarding my setup atm:

1. How long should I keep my water pump running? (hydroton and rockwool medium) Concern of overwatering the rockwool.
2. How often should I replace water?
3. Can I add nutrients to water every few days or should I just replace water and re-ph & add new nutrients?

About my setup:

5 gal bucket - aeroponics. 1"rockwool cubes set inside 3"netpots with hydroton rocks.
3 gallons of tap water ph'd at about 5.5-6.5 (hard to tell precisely with out digital reader)
Nutrients applied according to bottle (1tsp per gallon)- bought at local hydro store. -No nutrient measure tools at this time.
3 Compact flourescent lights (4000 lumens worth of 6500k and 1600 lumens of 2700k for now.)
18 hours light/6 hours dark.
So far water is running 24/7. Current plants only 3 days old.
Also experimenting with bell pepper and tomato clone in couple of the netpots- rooting hormone (is this bad for system?)
Temperature - is probably around 75 - 85 depending on time of day (in garage)
Seeds/strain? Who knows - probably not very good - got them from someone from so-so stuff - since there were seeds in the bag I am also assuming it was outdoor stuff since most indoor growers probably eliminate males asap.

I understand my setup has a LOT of room for improvement, especially the lights, but its a work in progress and I'm in no rush - just having some fun. Any other suggestions is greatly welcomed and appreciated.

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Here are some pics. It is an aeroponics setup, but its not a mist, more of a sprinkler head inside that rests in the middle of the 4 net pots.

[hempsmoker25]

i saw it without reading and was like. what the hell is he growing..

[latewood]

you can do what you are doing, it won't hurt for you to root your pepper cuttings in there, but you should only have 1 plant in a system like that, unless you are growing lettuce. when they root and your seedlings start to expand their roots, you will have to seperate all plants to their own system, or roots will get5 tangled, then you are screwed.

that sprinkler head...does it provide so much water pressure that you could damage your roots?

good start. ck back later. lw

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Latewood - thanks for the feedback.

The idea is that once the plants start growing, two of em will get the boot to another hydro system Im putting together - so two will be on opposite sides and I think this should be enough room for a couple of small/medium plants without roots touching.

As far as the pressure from the sprinkler...good question - I am not sure if they will hurt the roots - as I have no experience with this. The sprinkler is lined up at the level to shoot the middle of the net pots so the hydroton rocks will take the brunt of it I think. I wonder if I could put some kind of Screen to deflect the jet of water a bit but still allow the water to splash all over the place in smaller droplets...

Thanks!:thumbsup: