Help setting up my first hydro systme

[farmerguy]

I have been growing for several years now and have decided I want to try a hydroponic system. I have done some research, but am looking for some ideas for a set up. I have a bathroom I never use, so I was thinking about making it into a grow room, using the bathtub as part of my hydro system. I have never set up a hydroponic system before, is the bathtub a good place for one? This is a first for me, so any info on the setup of a system would be great! Thanks for any input.

farmerguy Reviewed by farmerguy on 10-07-2008. Help setting up my first hydro systme I have been growing for several years now and have decided I want to try a hydroponic system. I have done some research, but am looking for some ideas for a set up. I have a bathroom I never use, so I was thinking about making it into a grow room, using the bathtub as part of my hydro system. I have never set up a hydroponic system before, is the bathtub a good place for one? This is a first for me, so any info on the setup of a system would be great! Thanks for any input. Rating: 5

[macnasty]

the bathtub sounds like a good idea. that way you'll never have to worry about drainage issues of your res. simply pull the plug and off it washes into the tub (that is, if you don't intend on recycling the solution). i take it your bathroom has an exhaust fan? the problem with those is that they are generally far too weak for a hydro grow, so you might want to consider upgrading it. and having your water supply near the grow environment can't hurt either. but you should be more specific with what you intend to grow. how many plants? whether or not you're going sog or scrog? you can also use the bathroom cabinent under the sink as a clone/veg area, with the rest of the bathroom designated for flowering. mind you i have very little experience, but just thinking about it intuitively, the bathroom sounds like an ideal growing area. i'd like to help you out but you'll have to be more specific. just think about it, almost ANY indoor environment is suitable for growing as long as you have the RIGHT EQUIPMENT. what's your budget? things to consider...later

[farmerguy]

I am wanting to go the SOG route, starting with 2 clones and introducing 2 new clones into the system every month or so, eventually harvesting a couple plants a month and replacing with clones(dont want to get to many plants, just enough to support my habbit:jointsmile. As of right now I have 1 400w HPS lighting system and 1 400MH lighting system. Both would be in the new grow room. I will be buying another 400w combo light for my mothers which are in their own room. I have an old phototron that is great for starting youngsters in. So I think ive got the lighting covered. So what kind of hydro system do you all recommend for a beginner hydrogrower? As far as my budget goes, I dont want to spend a ton of money, just enough to set up a home made system.

[FlyGuyOU]

I'm currently doing my first hydro, its a constant drip system using a 35gal rubbermaid rez. I like it alot, the plants are growing strong as hell. using the tub is a great idea IMO. i flooded my floor once due to a faulty hose, so being in a tub would solve that. a lot of people say that DWC is the easiest way to get into hydro, you might want to look that way. my biggest issue is with overcrowding, i wish my plants were in containers so i could space them out and move them around more.

it sounds to me like you've got plenty of lights so thats good. i wouldn't think you'll have to spend too much money, i'd bet you can get some containors and hydroton, pumps, hosing, and ph up/down for $100.

good luck

[d4twamp]

farmerguy, the bathroom sounds great, the tub sounds even better... you got your drainage, your water for refills and res changes already there. I'd kill for just a sink in my grow space... if your just wanting to grow a few clones at a time You could go with ebb n flow sog...you can put together a system for cheap. and the 400 watt hps and mh would fit in the tub surround nicely..panda film on the walls AAAAAH I can see it know... I want pics of this thing put together...let me know if you need any help if you go with ebb n flow I've got some experience w/ it..but there are others who know more about the DWC.. I'm actually setting up a DWC system myself

Later D:S5:

[farmerguy]

I was actually thinking of doing the DWC setup, using the tub as the reservoir. What do you guys use to keep your plants aflot? The write up that I read says to use styrofoam but Im not sure if that will work very well. Plus it will be awfull hard to find a piece of styrofoam big enough for my tub, its one of those big oval shaped tubs with full wall mirrors around it. Anyone have any ideas on how to go about this? Should I just make a reservoir and set it in the tub? Just looking for some more ideas. Heres the link to the write ups I have found on different systems just so you know what im looking at. Simply Hydroponics - System types
Thanks

[IndyMed]

Any of the large Box stores will carry foam large enough to cover your tub

[farmerguy]

Ok so I decided to go with 5 gallon buckets inside the tub, I will be doing the DWC setup. I think I got everything I will need to start my venture into growing hydroponicly, tell me if I got everything I should need to start learning. For nutrients I went with General Hydroponics Flora series Micro, Bloom, and Gro, a gal. of each(I assume I just fert. according to their specs?). I got 2 GH ph control kits, 20L of hydroton, and 5 1/2" heavy duty net cups. I also ordered a TDS tester, although Im not exactly sure what it is for. It tells you how much nutrients you have in your system or what exactly? I suppose you just add fresh water or more nutrients to adjust to the proper lvls? I found somewhere that the readings should go from 500-600 as younglings up to 1000ppm at heavy flowering then back down to 400 last 2 weeks, does this sound correct? I figured I would get a digital ph tester a little bit later down the line. So do I have everything covered?

[d4twamp]

FG, you could get 4x8 sheets of foam isullation at Home Depot or Lowes...

If going DWC are you gonna recirc the buckets with a res...

The tds pen tells you the ppm of the salts or how much electricity can be conducted in the nutrient solution...As for how many ppms to use at any given stage of plant growth, is dependent on the specific strain..So I'd say just start off lower than what the bottle says and go up gradually with the nutes, watch the plants let them tell you if their starving, give em more. If their burning then your given them too much...

Experience with the strain your growing is the only way you'll find that sweet spot for how much nutes to give that given strain...Just remember to keep records of what you gave each different strain you grow for future reference

sorry for the long ramble..hope this helps

D

[farmerguy]

I wasnt planning on recirculating the water, mainly because Im gonna have different strains and plan on having setting it up where im harvesting about once a month so each set of plants would be at different stages. Is it important to recirculate? If so I might have to rethink. As far as my earlier post goes does it sound like I got everything I need to get started? Thanks for the input!