Waterfarm hydro system?????

[Pay It Forward]

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

Pay It Forward Reviewed by Pay It Forward on 11-17-2006. Waterfarm hydro system????? Do u guys think this is a good beginner hydro setup? is it easy to use? please any info would be appreciated. thank you. kronz Rating: 5

[Weedhound]

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

[xcrispi]

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

[ace70568]

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.

[xcrispi]

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

[Pay It Forward]

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

[ace70568]

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

[ace70568]

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

Thank's for advice Pay It Forward

[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

[ace70568]

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