Any suggestions on this setup?
- Thread starter untitled1
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marchold
Well-Known Member
Why not do an ebb & flow in the same 2 buckets. It will work better because you will have less problems. I have never seen this garden hose aero system but my experience is home made aero spells problems as the setup is tricky. Get some rockwool or coco coir and a pump and a timer. You will have better success.
Also why not use a HPS? Those T5 fixtures are expencive and most people use HPS for a reason. Also if you do not get the right number of starts for a SOG operation you want to leave the option to grow lesss plants bigger if somehow you do not get the large number of plants all the same size that is required for SOG.
Also why not use a HPS? Those T5 fixtures are expencive and most people use HPS for a reason. Also if you do not get the right number of starts for a SOG operation you want to leave the option to grow lesss plants bigger if somehow you do not get the large number of plants all the same size that is required for SOG.
untitled1
Active Member
My original plan was ebb & flow, but then I saw this garden hose thing and it looked so simple.
If I used the same buckets for ebb & flow, wouldn't the plants have to sit very low in the top bucket and be too humid? I guess I could use a smaller top bucket.
I know the plants will take longer with T5s, but I'm worried about the heat of HPS in such a small space.
Will the number of plants be a problem with the screen? I thought even one plant would spread out good with a screen.
Thanks for the input. I'll think about the ebb & flow some more.
If I used the same buckets for ebb & flow, wouldn't the plants have to sit very low in the top bucket and be too humid? I guess I could use a smaller top bucket.
I know the plants will take longer with T5s, but I'm worried about the heat of HPS in such a small space.
Will the number of plants be a problem with the screen? I thought even one plant would spread out good with a screen.
Thanks for the input. I'll think about the ebb & flow some more.
marchold
Well-Known Member
I think if you design it right you can use the 2 5 gallon buckets. Although it is often nice to have a reservoir that much bigger than the tray. If you have a pump with a hole that is barely bigger than the hose pumping water in to the top bucket than the water will drain out of the top bucket slowly. So if you have bigger holes in the lid of the bottom bucket all the water draining out of the top bucket will go in to the bottom bucket. Does that make sense? You can use your garden hose thingy if you use some rock wool or coco as a growing medium. It does not really matter if the whole bucket fills with water I guess, as long as you put it on a timer and soak it and let it dry out a little from time to time. Although I would be nervous about the plastic in the garden hose leaching chemicals or changing the PH. So just a regular tube that pumps water to the top once in a while will be fine. I have done a lot of experimental hydro systems and while the more innovative experimental stuff is a good way to learn and have fun the probability of having dead plants before harvest is high. So ebb-flow with a rockwool or coco (or a drip/occational flow) is simple and low tech and works great so you do not have a lot of unknowns.
Well yes sort of. The problem is that when you bend a plant down it will send up lots of new shoots. So you need your plants to get 4 feet long but not very high. The bottom 2 feet will send out a lot of shoots before the top 2 feet has a chance to grow. Plants seems to get bushy kind of big and round when you bend them a lot. The base will have surly spit out some big branches that are as big as the main stem. If you bend those they will send out a lot of stems. In the end you may end up with lots of stems. You really want to do true SOG with a 4" t5 hood. Maybe you could put the lights at a 45 degree angle so the plants would not neet to try and grow totally horizantally.
You will grow fine stuff with the t5's so t5 v.s. HPS is not that big a deal, exparimental hydro systems typically yield zero grams of pot as the plant dies. So as long as you stick with soil or very ebb-flow you should avoiid the worst case senaro.
untitled1
Active Member
What if I put one or two CFLs under the screen? That way the buds get the good light and the CFLs keep the stem happy.
If I get too many stems does that mean less bud? Honestly, I'd happy with anything more than zero.
marchold
Well-Known Member
Ok you have a good idea about the CFL's, just not under the screen. It is a bit hard to explain, I will try. You can see for yourself though.
Here is a little experiment do this and you will understand my description:
1, Start 1 seed in soil or rockwool under 1 40w CFL grow light.
2, Grow it about 6 inches up until it has at least 5 nodes.
3, Bend it down so it is almost horizontal
4, keep growing it and observe.
Here is the description:
When you bend the plant it sends off, hmm. I don't think I can explain. But the plant still wants to grow up. It will grow against and through the screen.
Your CFL idea is great because it gives you something you can start with now. You can grow a bunch of little seedlings with 1 or 2 CFL's. You do not need a big light until you have big plants. So with the CFL's you can start your plants and then decide what kind of big light you will get.
In that case drop the whole hydro system all together. Use a really good soil mix. Something that drains really well. I have never killed a plant in soil. The first 3 grows in hydro ended in dissaster. This happens to a lot of people. Hydro is faster than soil. Other than that soil is better.
Your T5 setup would be fine. I just think you would get more better buds with a small HPS. In the summer I can not run my HPS for 12/12 because it is way to much heat. I do not want to make any noise venting my light so a big fan or blower is out for me. But something is better than nothing right? I just pick a shorter light cycle for my HPS, like maybe on for 2 hours and then off for 2. Since this would cause problems I maintain my 12/12 or 24hr light cycle with a 2nd smaller light.