Hydro top feed system.

Folks,

Went to the hardware shop today and picked up everything I think that I need to get a hydro system rollin and would like some advice.

I am planning on starting off with just a couple of plants to get my feet wet.

I picked up the following items

10 gal res
water pump 1" adapter 200 gph
air stone
nutrients
1" tubing 10'

I got some wood slats and made a lattuce to where the pots will fit in and just hang suspended above the res. what I would like to do is run the 1" tubing over each pot and cut a small hole using a hole punch into the tube and insert these irrigation parts I bought that drip 2 gal per hour and run the system 24/7. My medium will be 50/50 ver/per. The pots I am using are about 5.5" wide and about 7" deep with 6 holes drilled in the bottom. I took some knee highs and slipped them over the pot to prevent any of the medium from getting into the res.


I am not sure how much water I need to use to start. Any ideas? I will also be using a 400 MH/HPS conversion light set up.

Thanks in advance for any replies. Please add comments that I could better this system.

How long do you want to drip with the verm in the mix?? I would think about using hydro rocks and have a 24-7 drip schedule. Water, if your using an air stone to bubble the water then allow the water level to be where it is touching the roots of the plants.
Adieu

First of all I am new to this so please allow for some ignorance regarding building a Hydro System. That post from Lakewood on building a hydro system was mind blowing. I tested my water pump in the sink and I am beginning to think I went overkill having only a 10 gal res. Basically the pots will be hanging about 8 to 10 inches above the top of the res. Do you think that since I cant release the water to the plants at the force the pump is pushing the water will that have adverse affects?

Well, I could suggest a couple of things.

if you are starting with just a few plants I would suggest that you either

a. build a simple ebb and flow table, - very easy, very easy to maintain - http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=93511

b. build a series of buckets that are all connected in a line, then pump water out of the last bucket back into your res and that will inturn fill up the first bucket and so on, making a circulating system, only 1 low flow water pumpis needed, and only 1 good 6 inch airstone in your res. very cheap and easily expandable.