Waterfarm hydro system?????

WH: I keep my res is empty and elevated 7 inches off floor, while buckets are full. To check ph I lower res to floor and let nutes drain back into res until buckets and res have same amount of nutes, then I check ph, adjust if needed, and add more nutes or water (if needed). Then I raise res again and let nutes drain back into buckets.

When I first got waterfarm, I too filled res w/nutes. I discovered I was wasting nutes because when I changed out nutes w/fresh (every 6 or 7 days) I was losing nutes already in res. that didn't get used.

When I change I use 2 gal per bucket (16 gal for 8 buckets). I mix nutes into 20 gal. rubbermaid, then pump (w/cheap pond pump) into res and let them drain into buckets, then raise buckets again 7 inches onto 7 inch high bench and let nutes left in res drain into buckets. That way I only make enough nutes for whats in buckets.

This system works great for me. Babies are green, very fruity and very healthy.

Sorry man, I don't have an answer for drip rings. I too have to clean every couple weeks. I use GH floranova w/enhancements. I never have severe clogging, but a couple holes in drip ring get plugged.

Peace, PIF

Do appreciate the input....never thought of doing it that way.....

i've had only a few probs. w/ farms so far , but i do forsee more in the future . my first complaint is roots actually grow up the white drip coloum and plug up the lil hard plastic airline that pressurizes the drip ring , thus no dripping . lol .
ph so far hasn't been an issue yet they all stay between 5.6-5.9 but i've found the ppm is different in all cells all the time . i haven't flowered in the farms yet , still just vegging . if all these probs. ppl. have do arise i'm gonna shitcan the drip function and buy the controller bucket from the multi flow sys. and make all 8 farms an ebb n flow sys. and use the w/f supplied pump and run airlines down the white coloum and put an airstone in the bottom of ea. cell . then i'll just have to ph / ppm the res. every now n then .
peace

I have a couple of question's for Pay It Forward.

How often do you run your pump and do you use rockwool cube's or net cup's?

Because i think my rockwool is spiking my Ph even though i conditioned them.
Any grow tip's would be appreciated using waterfarm.

hey ace ,
i start my girls in 2in. sq. of rockwool pre soaked at proper ph then put em in hydroton once in cells . i water once for 15min. then off for 30min. while lights are on , then once for 15min. then off for an hour while lights are off .
peace

Hey Ace, I used to use rockwool, now I clone in Rapid Rooters (thank you Zandor), in coco fiber and transfer to buckets when they and I'm ready.

I run 15 min. on, 1.5 hr off 24/7 at least (it works for me).

PH is tricky, I usually have to adjust daily, sometimes twice daily. PH seems to stabilize around 5.6 - 5.9 about 3 days after nute change. I change nutes every 6 - 7 days, and add alittle after 3 -4 days.

I also use 5 in. round airstones in bottom of buckets.

Peace, PIF

Do you add an extra air line per bucket and another pump Pay It Forward?
Also where do you get your air stone's?

I forget to ask about coco fiber.Do you put rapid rooter's in coco fiber?

Thank's for advice Pay It Forward

I run a separate air pump for stones. I bought pump (100 gal. model) and stones at Pets Depot. Pump - $29.99, Stones - $4.99 ea.

Yup, after I cut and treat clones I place in Rapid rooters and into coco. I built my own cloner w/2 bus pans 4 & 6 in depths, w/small pond pump in bottom of 6 in w/nutes, bought 1/2 in. pvc to bring water to top, more pvc to build square (ring) w/holes and timer is set for 15 min every 6 hours.

Hope this helps

Peace, PIF

Thank's for all your advice Pay It Forward,get back with you if i need any more help.