For all you newbie hydro growers...

cocodreams

cocodreams

Member
Hey everyone,

I've noticed a lot of newbie hydro growers with great ambitious DIY hydro projects. High pressure aero, low pressure aero, NFT, DWC, etc are all great ways to grow in hydro-- but they all have a learning curve, especially if you have never grown in hydro before.

If its your first time growing in hydro, high pressure aeroponics and the like can seem like a great idea, but the initial investment added with the steep learning curve can make things difficult for the first time hydro grower. You need to learn the basics of hydro before you take a big plunge like that.

My advice... Keep It Simple!

Try something like Hempy buckets and Lucas formula FIRST and learn from your mistakes.

A simple Hempy system only requires the following...

A bucket
A drill
Some perlite

Search for "hempy buckets." Do some research, and pick a design that you like, but Keep IT Simple!

Advertising link removed by Panhead,hydro/Aero Moderator,have a nice day.

With proper lighting, genetics, ventilation, climate control, security and a bit of a green thumb, an incredibly easy Hempy/Lucas system can give you great results with minimal room for error, and allow you to learn as you grow. After you have a couple Hempy grows under your belt, start experimenting with the endless combinations of DIY systems and nutrient formulas.

Another great system for beginners (or anyone else) is 100% coco coir in smartpots, hand watered with Lucas formula. Again, incredibly simple, cheap, and lots of room for error.

Don't blow $500 building a DIY hydro setup until you have the basics under your belt. Spend that money on a good light and ventilation system instead.
 
V

vradd

Active Member
X325235T324T324214!!!!

i attempted a small nft and aerospray hydro setup and gave up on both just because the investment and said learning curve. i ended up just doing a bucket with an airpump/airstone and couldnt be ANY happier!
 
panhead

panhead

Well-Known Member
Some mighty fine info there brother,hopefully you stick around the forums for a while,we could all use more experienced hydro growers,especialy those who teach & take time to write up tutorials.

Do me one favor though,please dont post advertising links as its a violation of the user agreement,its ok to be a fan boy of your favorite stuff just refrain from the advertising links.

Thank you,Panhead.
 
B

bump1987

Active Member
DWC ftw! My first ever system is growing a beast of a tomato plant as we speak. Aside from not having any idea how to train it in the place I have it....everything is perfect. There is really no need for anything more advanced than a simple ebb/flow IMO. Especially when beginning!
 
BobCajun

BobCajun

Well-Known Member
I've grown with something similar to hempy buckets. Just bought a bunch of 1 gallon pots, the kind you get in bulk and are black plastic with kind of big holes on the bottom edges. I would put plastic freezer bags inside them and poke holes through the bags at the tops of the holes, which kind of wrapped around the bottom edges and the bottom, like if you drilled big holes centered on the edges. So the poked holes were about 3/4" up from the flat bottom. This allowed a small reserve of water, which would be enough for 1 day.

To make watering to run-off convenient, I built platforms from 1/4" plywood, shellacked, 3'x3' square. I made the platforms about 1' off the floor, legs 1'x3' on each side and one laterally across the middle between them to prevent sagging of the platform. I also put strips of 1"x2" wood along three of the four edges of the tops of the platforms, sort of a framework. Then I covered the platforms with thick poly film so that the film was stapled to the tops of the 1"x2"s and was resting on the flat platform, making sort of dish. The third edge just had the film folded down where it led to a Rubbermaid container reservoir which fit nicely under the front part of the platform. I made a catchment out of vinyl rain gutter 3' wide with end caps and a downspout in the middle, which fit into a square hole I cut in the middle of the lid of the container. The trough just sat on the lid's outer edges. I pushed the middle down a little so it was slanted from both ends toward the middle to aid draining. You have to seal the caps and spout with silicone because they tend to leak.

Then I put small fountain pumps in the containers (smallest ones available) with the wire and hose going up through the trough downspout. I attached a 3' metal rod to the hose, one of those shelving support strips with the little slits in them. A poly hose fits nicely in the groove of those rods and I twist tied the hose to it through a couple of the slits. So then I just turned on the pump and manually watered the pots one at a time with the hose, being able to easily reach the back pots. I put 9 pots on the platforms. Had a 400 watt HPS over each one, five platforms so I could get a harvest every two weeks. Worked very nicely. You really need platforms to easily be able to water a bunch of pots to run-off. I propped the backs of the legs up a little to facilitate run-off. You could automate it with small tubes to each pot. It was actually a pain to water them all manually. Later I just used the same vinyl troughing to make a deepwater NFT type setup, using the same platforms to support the troughs and same containers for the nutes, same pumps too, just then they had small tubes going to the backs of each of the troughs, which had end caps and a hole drilled in the front end so the water was about an inch deep and then came out the holes and down into the trough. They would fill right up with roots. I would pull the mats of roots out after harvest, roll them up and chuck them. Good healthy roots. The water dropping into the containers served to aerate the water. I tried aquarium aeraters for a while but it didn't seem to make much difference and they were noisy.
 
cocodreams

cocodreams

Member
DWC is great, but for how simple it is, there is still quite a bit of room for error, especially when it comes to pH flux and nutrient uptake. IMO, hempy or hand-watered coco have much less room for error, mmuch less tinkering with nutes, and much more wiggle room. When you're just getting your feet wet, room for error is important.
 
cocodreams

cocodreams

Member
BobCajun said:
I've grown with something similar to hempy buckets. Just bought a bunch of 1 gallon pots, the kind you get in bulk and are black plastic with kind of big holes on the bottom edges. I would put plastic freezer bags inside them and poke holes through the bags at the tops of the holes, which kind of wrapped around the bottom edges and the bottom, like if you drilled big holes centered on the edges. So the poked holes were about 3/4" up from the flat bottom. This allowed a small reserve of water, which would be enough for 1 day.

To make watering to run-off convenient, I built platforms from 1/4" plywood, shellacked, 3'x3' square. I made the platforms about 1' off the floor, legs 1'x3' on each side and one laterally across the middle between them to prevent sagging of the platform. I also put strips of 1"x2" wood along three of the four edges of the tops of the platforms, sort of a framework. Then I covered the platforms with thick poly film so that the film was stapled to the tops of the 1"x2"s and was resting on the flat platform, making sort of dish. The third edge just had the film folded down where it led to a Rubbermaid container reservoir which fit nicely under the front part of the platform. I made a catchment out of vinyl rain gutter 3' wide with end caps and a downspout in the middle, which fit into a square hole I cut in the middle of the lid of the container. The trough just sat on the lid's outer edges. I pushed the middle down a little so it was slanted from both ends toward the middle to aid draining. You have to seal the caps and spout with silicone because they tend to leak.

Then I put small fountain pumps in the containers (smallest ones available) with the wire and hose going up through the trough downspout. I attached a 3' metal rod to the hose, one of those shelving support strips with the little slits in them. A poly hose fits nicely in the groove of those rods and I twist tied the hose to it through a couple of the slits. So then I just turned on the pump and manually watered the pots one at a time with the hose, being able to easily reach the back pots. I put 9 pots on the platforms. Had a 400 watt HPS over each one, five platforms so I could get a harvest every two weeks. Worked very nicely. You really need platforms to easily be able to water a bunch of pots to run-off. I propped the backs of the legs up a little to facilitate run-off. You could automate it with small tubes to each pot. It was actually a pain to water them all manually. Later I just used the same vinyl troughing to make a deepwater NFT type setup, using the same platforms to support the troughs and same containers for the nutes, same pumps too, just then they had small tubes going to the backs of each of the troughs, which had end caps and a hole drilled in the front end so the water was about an inch deep and then came out the holes and down into the trough. They would fill right up with roots. I would pull the mats of roots out after harvest, roll them up and chuck them. Good healthy roots. The water dropping into the containers served to aerate the water. I tried aquarium aeraters for a while but it didn't seem to make much difference and they were noisy.
Click to expand...
Right on man. Start simple, and build on that with what you know.
 
jhod58vw

jhod58vw

Well-Known Member
so what you think about a flood and drain system? just built one with 2 big concrete mixing tubs with a res. underneth it. be under a 600 switchable lumatex in a 5'x3' grow box i built. this will be my 1st time hydro and i know the 1st time will defianetly be a learning curve for me.
 
cocodreams

cocodreams

Member
flood and drain is a great way to get your feet wet with hydro. It's where I started.
The primary difference between flood and drain and drain to waste like hempy or coco, is the need for adjusting your nutes. Flood and drain requires a bit of knowhow when it comes to tinkering with DIY projects, but the main thing you will have to watch out for is your nutrients.
As plants absorb nutrients from your solution, the ppm and pH fluctuate. Too much of either can cause nutrient deficiencies. In any recirculating system like flood and drain, monitoring nutrients daily is highly important-this is the most difficult aspect to learn.
Drain to waste systems eliminate the need for daily monitoring, which is why I ereccommend them to newbies.
But flood and drain isn't a whole lot more difficult. Just make sure to keep it simple, when it comes to modifications always lean towards simplifying, and monitor your system and nutreients regularly.
 
jhod58vw

jhod58vw

Well-Known Member
cocodreams said:
flood and drain is a great way to get your feet wet with hydro. It's where I started.
The primary difference between flood and drain and drain to waste like hempy or coco, is the need for adjusting your nutes. Flood and drain requires a bit of knowhow when it comes to tinkering with DIY projects, but the main thing you will have to watch out for is your nutrients.
As plants absorb nutrients from your solution, the ppm and pH fluctuate. Too much of either can cause nutrient deficiencies. In any recirculating system like flood and drain, monitoring nutrients daily is highly important-this is the most difficult aspect to learn.
Drain to waste systems eliminate the need for daily monitoring, which is why I ereccommend them to newbies.
But flood and drain isn't a whole lot more difficult. Just make sure to keep it simple, when it comes to modifications always lean towards simplifying, and monitor your system and nutreients regularly.
Click to expand...
thanks bro, i do appreciate the info ive learned quite a bit the last few years, so i figured this would be my next step. i'm ready i pretty sure i do understand it my system is pretty simple and i've kicked ass with cfls in soil people think my shits awesome very tight dense buds so thats why i'm trying the 600 now move up alittle & also try some hydro. i know this will be a great trial for me.
 
John Jacob

John Jacob

Active Member
cocodreams said:
Don't blow $500 building a DIY hydro setup until you have the basics under your belt. Spend that money on a good light and ventilation system instead.
Click to expand...
Orr an Oz of some fine ass grass.. then envision your setup.
"fail to plan...plan to fail" blah blah
 
cocodreams

cocodreams

Member
grower834 said:
For building cost effective hydroponics system , reuse the nutrient solutions by collecting the nutrient solution drained out from the bucket in a separate container. In case you are growing plants which have long roots, use more than half of the bucket to fill with inert medium.
Click to expand...
This is a common misconception. Drain to waste in coco or hempy only wastes a small amount of nutrient solution with each watering. If you compare either to a recirculating system and do the simple math, recirculating systems with a fresh res every two weeks or so use MORE nutes.

Think about it... you waste a few ounces each day per plant... or you dump your entire reservoir down the drain every two weeks.

Drain to waste systems also maintain pH and PPM levels relatively consistently with little maintenance. This in turn will greatly increase your yield and overall chance of success, even for the newbie.
 
Hydropologist

Hydropologist

Member
So let me see here,& cut me some slack,but I'm about to start a 24 site true NFT system so to speak with auto's(believe me I've been wanting to do soil for sake of ease)just for the yield factor and as well as a 1 1/2 year education on hydroponics? Pardon me for a bit if u will,but I was so close to fighting my other side and doing the NFT the first time! I've a good 5mm flow on 4 58" long 6" PVC post,runs great with a 1267gph pump & 2 airstones in a 45 gal res! Educate me if u will,I think I have a true & simple knowledge of the NFT,but a few things still make me wonder,like parallel coagullation if u will of another form of propagation simultaneously to ensure all sites in the NFT system will be maximized to grow all females? I've a dream on my next grow to harvest high quality autos under 1000watt/co2 conditions,only the learning curve & lack of experience keep me from going through with it!
 
S

silasraven

Well-Known Member
Roots prefer an even temperature about 210°C (7000°F), day and night. found that on a hydro supply site. that isnt realistic at all. even if its true how the fuck am i supposed to get that hot in one room without setting fire.
 
cocodreams

cocodreams

Member
silasraven said:
Roots prefer an even temperature about 210°C (7000°F), day and night. found that on a hydro supply site. that isnt realistic at all. even if its true how the fuck am i supposed to get that hot in one room without setting fire.
Click to expand...
WTF?

Obviously a typo.

I would venture to guess that they intended to say 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit)
 
cocodreams

cocodreams

Member
Hydropologist said:
So let me see here,& cut me some slack,but I'm about to start a 24 site true NFT system so to speak with auto's(believe me I've been wanting to do soil for sake of ease)just for the yield factor and as well as a 1 1/2 year education on hydroponics? Pardon me for a bit if u will,but I was so close to fighting my other side and doing the NFT the first time! I've a good 5mm flow on 4 58" long 6" PVC post,runs great with a 1267gph pump & 2 airstones in a 45 gal res! Educate me if u will,I think I have a true & simple knowledge of the NFT,but a few things still make me wonder,like parallel coagullation if u will of another form of propagation simultaneously to ensure all sites in the NFT system will be maximized to grow all females? I've a dream on my next grow to harvest high quality autos under 1000watt/co2 conditions,only the learning curve & lack of experience keep me from going through with it!
Click to expand...
I'm not sure i completely understand the question. Are you asking for ways to propagate to ensure all plants are females?

If so, cloning is the way to go. All of the clones will share the same genetic makeup as the "mother." Search the forums, and you will find lots of info on cloning. If you want to keep taking cuttings from a plant, you will need to keep a "mother" alive-- the plant that will continuously grow in veg and provide you with cuttings. This requires that your mother and your flowering plants have differing light schedules and need to be isolated.

It sounds from your post that you may be growing autoflower strains. If this is true, I have heard that cloning will not work. (I've never tried it myself, as I haven't experimented with autoflower strains. But it makes sense)
 
lordjin

lordjin

Well-Known Member
Hey great advice on that first post of yours.

I've had quite a bit of experience with conventional hydro and that hi-pressure thing still seems a little daunting to me. Very tech-driven, expensive.
 
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