my first time! basic advice needed please.

now im sorry if this makes me sound real thick but i need to know these things as if u dont get the basics right then what chance have u got?

Ok my set up is a cupboard 208 (high)x 124 (wide) x 54 (deep)cm in it i am putting a NFT tank that is 101 x 48.5 x 20.5. my light is a 400watt grolux.

What i am hoping you chaps can help me with is the timer settings for the various appliances. I am going to put my light on 18-6 as its going in my bedroom and i need a period of silence so i can sleep! So is the pump on continuosly with the light or does it have to be intermittant (30 mins on, 30 mins off, etc. for example)?
What about my fan? (no idea of its power but it kicks out cold air nicely) and i have roughly 23 x 62 cm of vent in roof. Do u think the fan should be on all the time the light is or less? I want the temp about 20-25 C in there?

thank u for ur time

wast

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wastwhg

now im sorry if this makes me sound real thick but i need to know these things as if u dont get the basics right then what chance have u got?

Ok my set up is a cupboard 208 (high)x 124 (wide) x 54 (deep)cm in it i am putting a NFT tank that is 101 x 48.5 x 20.5. my light is a 400watt grolux.

What i am hoping you chaps can help me with is the timer settings for the various appliances. I am going to put my light on 18-6 as its going in my bedroom and i need a period of silence so i can sleep! So is the pump on continuosly with the light or does it have to be intermittant (30 mins on, 30 mins off, etc. for example)?
What about my fan? (no idea of its power but it kicks out cold air nicely) and i have roughly 23 x 62 cm of vent in roof. Do u think the fan should be on all the time the light is or less? I want the temp about 20-25 C in there?

thank u for ur time

wast

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Good set-up...
1. nft runs all the time...(I use every method but, nft), I think that is what I read. You see, circulation of nutrient solution is what provide's Oxygen to your root system...without O, your plants suffocate.

2.run oscilating fan 24/7...exhaust fans intermittently...Only when the lights are "ON" to remove hot air, which in turn, lowers temps. NOTE: In extreme environments :mad:HOT:mad:HOT you would most likely benefit from continued cycles of exhaust...AC, if possible is a great grow TOOL
...MY thoughts here are; In regards to AC/co2 needs? Although it is a fact that the proper sterile grow environment, with optimum condition's ..nutes...big light/s...temp controls//for; res...canopy...room...and co2 enhancement, all the meter readers, Bells and Whistles to Boot...
I feel that if you can keep your environment cool all around the plants, have and let the biggest light you can deal with; whether it be space issues/or just what you can afford...provide the warmth, but not HOT Heat, you don't need co2. Because the cool environment doesn't allow all co2 to be burned from grow room.Imho
I welcome any question's or comments you have on this theory; I am no expert, just a well studied conneussieur of our common interests. Imho.lw

3. I try to keep my temps at 70F...It is OK, not optimum, but OK up 85F, and Bad above 90F...hermies, :( root rot,:eek: bugs...OH the bugs :eek:
You can't really get TOO Cold, but you don't want to freeze them.

Hope this helps.lw :smokin:

Sorry wastwhg, I didn't mean to hijack your thread for discussion, but looking back, I did just that...later

Latewood is absolutely right :thumbsup: NFT's irrigation is constant,24/7, roots receive virtually all the oxygen they need to absorb the nutrient solution. Growth is super fast when everything is right on the money. NFT offers no buffering ability. Since there isn't growing medium, roots MUST be kept perfectly moist by the nutrient solution all the time. If a pump fails, roots die. It's a good system but make sure evrything is funtioning properly.

cheers for ur help guys

Having used NFT for some years now, I've found that the best watering regime is 15mins on 15 mins off. Another tip is: clones, seedlings must be VERY well rooted when first introduced to the system, or you'll find they can't cope to well. Start them off gently...ie 30 mins on 30 off, to coax the roots out first. After that, NFT is reasonably trouble free.