Opinions please on which hydro system to go for?

How are you disposing runoff and keeping reservoirs filled? One of the things you said that intrigues me is that you left your system for 14 days.

I have 16 plants in Coco DTW and am going through 30 gal of feed water every 24 hours. I have automated draining to a floor sump, but the need to refill reservoirs so often makes me a slave to the system.

so my hempy buckets are in my old rdwc tubs (27 gal black/yellow ones) which have a drain installed that goes to a floor drain next to my hot water heater.

the res is a 30 gal trashcan. i usually use about 10 to 15 gals a week so if it's filled and the timers are correct, it will last 2 weeks. i could go up to a 55 gal barrel if i needed more time. it just took a week or so of testing while i was home to prepare to go away for that long.

Hey bro and good luck with the transition from soil to hydro
Youre going to hear/read lots of opinions, experiences and ideas. Those worked for us and it doesnt mean they have to work for you. Youll be the final judge.
I just transitiined from water farms to no till organic soil
I live the water farms and id run 3 or max 4 in a 1.2x1.2. Though, my waterfarms qere all connected together in a recirc fashion (water pack acs .... by GH ... check it out)
Now those waterfarms (when modified to also becomr DWC) will grow massive plants that the tent may not suppirt them ... start with fewer water farms and expand when you get a sense if how the groom will be after the plants stretch
Giid luck brother and let ne know if theres anything in particulr i can help ya with!


Check out my current Organic Fruit Garden:
https://www.rollitup.org/index.php?threads/945580/
and my previous Organic Run:
https://www.rollitup.org/index.php?threads/930415/
and my previous QuadStrain grow :
https://www.rollitup.org/index.php?threads/916619/
and my previous TriStrain grow :
https://www.rollitup.org/index.php?threads/883569/

Thanks, @rkymtnman

I'm guessing you go through less feed water simply because the grow stones don't hold as much water as Coco so you get to the point of runoff quicker.

mackdx said:

Thanks, @rkymtnman

I'm guessing you go through less feed water simply because the grow stones don't hold as much water as Coco so you get to the point of runoff quicker.

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supposedly growstones hold the most air and water of any media. it's really cause of the design of the hempy bucket. you can use basically any container: it just needs a drain hole (7/16") about 2 inches up from the bottom. so in a traditional 5 gal bucket hempy, your res amount is whatever volume of water is in the bottom 2 inches of said bucket. and then allow for about 20% runoff.

you can do hempy buckets with coco/perlite. maybe give one or 2 a shot and see how you like them.

I've done nothing but soil before this grow. Now I'm running coco perlite hand fed in 3 gallon smart pots. Going to a drip system next. No run off, no problems. I was a fan of this approach because I could slowly go from something soil like to something more hydro like. Next running I might change my pot size, add more perlite, etc.

Regarding the blumats, if they slowly let out water and keep the coco perfectly moist, will you get salt build up as i assume there is little to no run off?! Or is this fine?

xtsho said:

Blumat automated drip watering systems
https://blumatsystems.com/

Set them and forget them. I've done flood and drain and DWC. Those systems work great but I like the simplicity of coco and blumats.

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I assume you dont get any run off with these? Is this fine throughout the grow?

PetFlora said:

Yep simple F & D or low pressure aero on a deep cycle timer (~ 3/10) for the win

Pics are my DIY set up. I replaced air stones with a second pump for flooming. In a small rez it needs to be on a separate timer as running 24/7 will overheat the water. I run mine ~ 4 minuteView attachment 3988203 View attachment 3988208 View attachment 3988209 s/30

Hail Hydro

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How are you stopping the roots from going into the drain tubes when pump is off? Is there issues with your roots? The plants are looking a bit sickly with the bleached leaf tips, can you show a pic of the roots and how old are they?

Budley Doright said:

How are you stopping the roots from going into the drain tubes when pump is off? Is there issues with your roots? The plants are looking a bit sickly with the bleached leaf tips, can you show a pic of the roots and how old are they?

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Here.s a pic of what controls the roots. There's sufficient moisture among the rocks between floods to keep roots content.

The burn was caused when my pH pen was dieing. and reading way wrong I was adding too much down. I dumped the nutes, and ordered a new pen, but the damage was done.

PetFlora said:

Here.s a pic of what controls the roots. There's sufficient moisture among the rocks between floods to keep roots content.

The burn was caused when my pH pen was dieing. and reading way wrong I was adding too much down. I dumped the nutes, and ordered a new pen, but the damage was done.

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That's a bummer. Your plant has typical root damage signs. So the roots got damaged from PH? I keep notes ( well used to) and know how much to add and it is pretty close each time, if it's changed then I check the pen. Also for about $5 you can use calibration solutions to keep it in check.

Dr. Who said:

Builds up salts and needs to be leeched from time to time..

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If you always feed to substantial run off there will never be salt build up and you won't have to leech from time to time. I feed once a day from sprout and twice a day in flower and have never had to leech salts.

MickFoster said:

If you always feed to substantial run off there will never be salt build up and you won't have to leech from time to time. I feed once a day from sprout and twice a day in flower and have never had to leech salts.

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True! But, I have this odd aversion to watching things I pay money for,,, go to waste. One thing my farmer parents that lived though the great depression. "Depressed" deeply into me....

I never liked Coco for the added issues.....BUT, to each his own!

We should note that any inert media will work as well as coco. They each tend to have their own little thing about use...

Dr. Who said:

True! But, I have this odd aversion to watching things I pay money for,,, go to waste. One thing my farmer parents that lived though the great depression. "Depressed" deeply into me....

I never liked Coco for the added issues.....BUT, to each his own!

We should note that any inert media will work as well as coco. They each tend to have their own little thing about use...

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I use the KISS method - no expensive additives - tap water - MaxiBloom cost $0.11 per gallon - $16.95 for the whole grow. I dump most of my waste on my outdoor plants.

MickFoster said:

I use the KISS method - no expensive additives - tap water - MaxiBloom cost $0.11 per gallon - $16.95 for the whole grow. I dump most of my waste on my outdoor plants.

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My feeding CDO (OCD in alphbetical order) still picks at my brain.

Now the waste to garden thing soothes the CDO!

My RO waste water goes to animal watering tanks...

MickFoster said:

I use the KISS method - no expensive additives - tap water - MaxiBloom cost $0.11 per gallon - $16.95 for the whole grow. I dump most of my waste on my outdoor plants.

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I thought the KISS method was an organic type approach of building soil so one would have no need for salt ferts ?

chemphlegm said:

I thought the KISS method was an organic type approach of building soil so one would have no need for salt ferts ?

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No it's a method of using only GH MaxiBloom mixed at a ratio of 7 grams per gallon of tap water. No grow, and no additives - Lucas Formula.

MickFoster said:

No it's a method of using only GH MaxiBloom mixed at a ratio of 7 grams per gallon of tap water. No grow, and no additives - Lucas Formula.

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thank you.
the KISS dirt mix confused me somewhere along the line

Water Farms are beast

Yodaweed said:

Water Farms are beast

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Agreed - as long as you can keep the temperature of the reservoir low enough.