Zandor...Need alot of Input

[reefbeaver]

I figure your the best person to ask since you seem to be the guru around these parts...and I want results like I here you have.

I just started my first hydro setup... I pretty good with water cause I have been into aquariums for a long time. I just need to know some basic info...

I'm using the drip method, I have about a 30 gal. Res. for 4 plants, I,ve got 3 180 degree misters on each unit, they all have ball valves for flow adjustment. I have a 400 W MH, Fans, ect. I only use RO/DI water. and I will be growing white russian

my questions are...
1. How much flow do I need to each plant, each basket has about one gal of hydroton, and I plan on using 1"x1" rockwool for the seedlings. Do I need direct water flow on the block of rockwool or just near it, I feel like I gonna flood these guys.

2. Whats average H20 temp need to be.

3. What nutrients do I need to buy for veg/flower/flush/RO water ect.

4. How often do I need to do a h20 change, once a month, more/less and do I need to flush every time I change h20

5. Off subject question...do you tie down your plants or prune.

Thanks for the help, I will try to post some pics of the setup soon my digital camera is not working at the moment.

reefbeaver Reviewed by reefbeaver on 09-27-2005. Zandor...Need alot of Input I figure your the best person to ask since you seem to be the guru around these parts...and I want results like I here you have. I just started my first hydro setup... I pretty good with water cause I have been into aquariums for a long time. I just need to know some basic info... I'm using the drip method, I have about a 30 gal. Res. for 4 plants, I,ve got 3 180 degree misters on each unit, they all have ball valves for flow adjustment. I have a 400 W MH, Fans, ect. I only use RO/DI Rating: 5

[turtle420]

reefbeaver,

Please keep this post updated, as I'm on the process of starting my first grow with non other than White Russian also... it would be really helpfull to see how you did and how it turned out for you.

I'm planning on doing a hydro NFT setup... so I'm not up-to-date with the drip method. But I can help you out with changing your water: I THINK 5-7 seven days you shoud change your water... This new water should be pH corrected and with the right level of nutrients.

You gotta go hit the FAQs in overgrow.com... Oh, and start a 'Notebook' in MS-Word or something... definitely helps a lot.

Wait for the input from the experienced growers, as I'm telling you right now that I haven't done this. Anyways, there's some info there... hope it helps.

And please keep this updated... I really want to see how you do as I'm planning on running that same strain...

Over and out,

-turtle420

[Zandor]

my questions are...
1. How much flow do I need to each plant, each basket has about one gal of hydroton, and I plan on using 1"x1" rockwool for the seedlings. Do I need direct water flow on the block of rockwool or just near it, I feel like I gonna flood these guys.

2. Whats average H20 temp need to be.

3. What nutrients do I need to buy for veg/flower/flush/RO water ect.

4. How often do I need to do a h20 change, once a month, more/less and do I need to flush every time I change h20

5. Off subject question...do you tie down your plants or prune.

Thanks for the help, I will try to post some pics of the setup soon my digital camera is not working at the moment.

A-1: You are using Rockwool so be careful of over watering. You don't need to water directly on the Rockwool. Rockwool is more for fill & drain type systems drip systems have a tendency to over water them. Instead of regulating your flow you should try to regulate your water cycle. Grow rocks will not hold much water but the Rockwool will so be careful. Try to feed them 15 on 45 off to start that may work out better for you.

A-2: The cooler the water is the more oxygen it can hold, 68f is right on the best temperature not to cold and not to hot but will hold a lot of oxygen. You don't have a chiller to keep the water that cold so just do your best. If the water temperature gets to hot (like over 79f then at least add some air stones to raise the oxygen level.

A-3: Nutrients depend on how much control you want to have. No matter what you use you will need a good Ph pen and TDS pen they are very important. I like to use the GH 3-part NPK nutrients. Blood bud the first week and then again the last 2 weeks of flower just to make big buds. You use Big bud after the first week and stop it the last 2 weeks then use blood bud again. Maintain the proper temperature and RH levels then use enhanced CO² and you will finish faster and grow larger.

A-4: You do a full water change every 7-10 day's with out fail or you will fail. If you run low on water you just add PH adjusted water to bring the level back up to normal until you change it again. You don't need to start with 30 gallons try 5 at first but you will probably use up about 10 to start then add back another 5 gallons to make it to the 10 day mark. That will save you nutrients and water cost.

A-5: those are techniques for growing to control height issues. A cropped plant will have more bud areas then a single cola plant but they will be smaller. You will get more weight in the overall if you crop but you will also need to veg longer to give the plant time to recover properly.

Don't forget if you are using only RO water then you need CalMag Plus to make up for what the RO process removes from the water the plant still needs and does not get from a full NPK formula.


Happy growing.

[reefbeaver]

thanks man...you really know your shit....one more quickie....do I need to do a complete water change or can I do like a 20-50%...am I just looking to lower the pH due to all the nutrients in the water....on a tangent here but in the aquarium business I can buy a monitor system, you can hook up a pH probe to it and a controler on a CO2 system if the pH jumps to high you could dose CO2 through a reactor to lower pH automatically...This method is not for me way to much $$$ but if you have the means it would be sweet.

[reefbeaver]

Turtle I will keep you up to date...I still have not yet got my seeds they are in route.

[Zandor]

thanks man...you really know your shit....one more quickie....do I need to do a complete water change or can I do like a 20-50%...am I just looking to lower the pH due to all the nutrients in the water....on a tangent here but in the aquarium business I can buy a monitor system, you can hook up a pH probe to it and a controler on a CO2 system if the pH jumps to high you could dose CO2 through a reactor to lower pH automatically...This method is not for me way to much $$$ but if you have the means it would be sweet.

No you do a full water change every time. The plants will change the Ph of the water them self's so you will need to check it twice a day and keep it balanced.

We use CO² to enhance the grow by filling the room with CO² at high levels and keeping it there for hours at a time. Those controllers are around and are not very expensive but you would need to build a relay and a drip system the relay turns on and off. We use acid to bring the Ph down and you only use a few drops at a time the check it again then add a few more drops then check it again. Until you get it right you don't want to plant the Ph up / down game it a loosing game to play.

Raising fish and keeping fish is not even close to growing plants in hydro. In hydro the water is only a part of everything you need to know about growing quality in hydroponics.