1st DWC Bubbler Grow.

BloodShotI'z

Well-Known Member
Since Im just starting this project I thought I'd document it along the way.
I built a bubbler yesterday with a RubberMaide tub (30 gal.) that holds six pots. I have two air sticks like the one used in the "How can I build a DWC cooler tub?" in the growfaqs. I have a Tetra whisper airpump for 30-60 gal. aquariums. It has two airlines so thats why Im using two airsticks. My grow medium is hydroton rocks. Ill be germinating seeds them placing them in rockwool and planing them straight into the bubbler.

My lighting consists of 1 400w HPS light along with 6 cfl bulbs. Each bulb is only 23 watts I believe. Hopefully the HPS will handle most of the work. For circulation I have 1-10" oscilating fan blowing on plants and 2-9" HIgh Velocity Fans (HomeTrend) from Wal-Mart. One @ one closet door blowing hot air out (located on top shelf) and the other @ the other closet door blowing cool air in (placed on the floor).

Nutrients Im using will be FoxFarm GrowBig...And TigerBloom. Im trying them out since I wanted to stay as organic as possible. Ive heard the horror stories with using organic nutes in a hydro setup. But ya know how hard headed people are. I also purchased a digital ph meter. I dont have a ec/tds reader yet. I hope I can make it til next payday without it. I think I should be ok though. I'll start the nutes @ 1/2 rec. amt. and work my way up depending on the plants' response.

Seeds...Ho hum...Im in the states and havent gotten my skills up to par yet so I'm using some bagseed from some good smoke I had a few months back. I tried my best to use the guide rovided by fdd2blk (see link below) in selecting my seeds. I wish I would have taken a pic of them before I started germing them. Hopefully, Ill get more females than males. Im sure I wasnt perfect in my selections...but at least I had something to go on. Before...I'd just use the healthiest looking seed to germ.

Anyway...I'll keep updating with pics/posts as developments demand. More pics in my gallery.

Smoke on...:joint:
 

BloodShotI'z

Well-Known Member
Ok I made an adjustment. I took some weaker plants and moved them to the side of the lighting. I then went ahead and put the seeds in the presoaked rockwool cubes and put them into the net pots. I wanna see if I can germ and go without waiting with the normal process.


BTW...If anywone sees me making a mis-step please feel free to chime in. 1st grow on both. Yeah yeah yeah I know....but I go hard or dont go at all. Both the soil/bubbler grows are going @ the same time. The soil plants are about 2.5 weeks from seed.


Temp: 81F Humidity 47% under light.
 

jimbo_jim

Well-Known Member
Those cfl's look a bit far away from the plants, especially the plant next to the DWC. You wanna move them bout 2inches away to stop them stretchin
 

BloodShotI'z

Well-Known Member
I hear ya...but actually the whole closet is covered by the HPS light. I had just made the cfl rig and was just seeing what it looked like. When/if I do use them...they'd definitely be alot closer to the tops of the plants.

speaking of that light rig...I dismantled a 3 bulb light stand....cut the cord...removed the lamps and covers (non reflective so I tossed em)...bought 3 y splitters....and 2 cords. In short....now I have 6 lights taht cost me $13 and some labor. The things we do just to get a lil more.
 

SmokerE

Well-Known Member
Your good....I just read it wrong. The big bloom was the one I was thinking, it's the bat guano and earthworm castings formula. You can do without it i'm sure.
 

stickstones

Well-Known Member
Ok...you're getting me stoked. I want to make my own bubbleponics system. How did you cut the holes in the top of the lid? I've read that can be a bitch.
 

stickstones

Well-Known Member
I'm no pro, and i've never grown indoors, but from all I see and read you might do well to get some reflectors for your cfls. I would think one cfl with a good reflector would be better than two cfls without.
 

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
Hey, what did you use to get the pumped bubblebly water to each cup from the pump? I know you used a tube, but how wre they connected to get equal amounts of water to each cup? That and free advise is what kept me from building my own kit.

did you remember to use some bugspray around the grow area before your plants sprout? Them danged spider mites love pot as good as we do it seems!
 

SmokerE

Well-Known Member
Hey, what did you use to get the pumped bubblebly water to each cup from the pump? I know you used a tube, but how wre they connected to get equal amounts of water to each cup? That and free advise is what kept me from building my own kit.

did you remember to use some bugspray around the grow area before your plants sprout? Them danged spider mites love pot as good as we do it seems!
I'm sure you could buy a flow valve of sorts.
 
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