starting over with new system

[socialistpete]

Hey guys I'm new here and could use some ideas. On my last three crops(which were my first three) I used dutch trays with 1 gallon pots inside them about 4 a tray, which drained into a res and the nuts were pumped from the res to drip stakes. my medium I belive was hydroton(sp). That system was to large and cumbersome, time to start over. I searched around here and seen Latewoods pics of the tote set-up and this is basiclly what I'm going to do. When I see pics of systems this way they still incorporate the covers, is this because there using net pots? I was just going to fill my 18 gal totes with medium and put 2 plants per tote and use the drip stake system with each tote draining into another tote wich will act as the res. If your wondering I'm going to do 5 totes on top for 10 plants under 1000w swithcable. any comments, suggestions or ideas would be very helpfull.

Latewood if you read this I want to say thank you for sharing so much of your knowledge you have allowed mine to grow by 10 fold.

socialistpete Reviewed by socialistpete on 01-09-2007. starting over with new system Hey guys I'm new here and could use some ideas. On my last three crops(which were my first three) I used dutch trays with 1 gallon pots inside them about 4 a tray, which drained into a res and the nuts were pumped from the res to drip stakes. my medium I belive was hydroton(sp). That system was to large and cumbersome, time to start over. I searched around here and seen Latewoods pics of the tote set-up and this is basiclly what I'm going to do. When I see pics of systems this way they still Rating: 5

[socialistpete]

clarification: I will only be using one res.

[socialistpete]

Anyone? ALso wondering what GPH should i use?

[latewood]

I think it would be awsome, but you are going to spend a"chitload" for hydroton. Zandor always talks about a bubbler with a 5g bucket inside another bucket w/million holes and filled with hydroton to grow monster trees.

Good idea. You might consider busted up and rinsed lava rock, and 1/2 way down a coco mat to lure the adventurous roots, and keep them from chasing the stream. It would take probably 30liters (3 small bags) of hydroton...that's 36 bucks.

So you didn't like using the leach trays. I still have four and have been debating using them again. I am now rooting my hydro clones in a modified ebb and flow. Kinda the same as a leach tray set-up, then I am vegging in the tub drip system, I am thinking aobut vegging netpots side by side in the trays and moviing the tubs into the flower room with the 5g bubblers I currently flower in. Jus tfor fast flower clones. I will still grow 3/4lb yielding bushes in buckets. It's just too easy.

[socialistpete]

Thanks for the advice! I'm gonig to photo document the whole thing so I can share my experience.

[MisterE]

Would it be better to use maybe 2 tall, narrow garbage cans (maybe taped together solidly)? That way no root tangle, but 2 drains?

Sounds pretty cool to me really.

[socialistpete]

Do you think I'll have bad root tangle? And if so what harm if any can that do to the plants?

[latewood]

2 plants per 18 gallon tote...don't worry about root tangle. Roots grow staright down and hang for quite awhile before you would have tangle issue. At least througout veg cycle.

from seed: you can manage the roots gently to keep them from tangling until you "sex" plants.
from clone: No worries. Peace

[socialistpete]

I'm buying fem seeds so hopefully, as in the past they'll all sprout females. I bought the totes today I ended up getting (5) 15 gallon totes and a 30 gallon res.

[latewood]

Oh from seed...If you get a male...you just chop it off no problem...

Hell I want to see it.