New DWC, I need help

S.Mass.P

Active Member
I just got my DWC from stealth hydro, and am almost ready to start my seeds. The kit says to germinate the seeds in the rockwool cubes by just putting the cubes in the net pots with grow rocks. Will the rockwool cubes be moist enough to germ the seeds? Also I realize this is a very dumb question, but the kit says to fill the resovoir up so only the bottom inch of the net parts are submerged, and to let the water level fall till its only a few inches above the pump, then to refill with fresh water and nutes. If the water level drops so water is not touching the pots, how do the plants get water and nutrients? thanks for any help
 

Mundokiir

Active Member
The SH system has a water pump to send water to the rockwool/hydroton rocks. This is the water that will germinate the seeds.

I think you are supposed to measure the water line after you put 6 gallons in, and mark that with a marker. Then just don't fill it past that mark. The roots will grow from the pump water and eventually hit the res water, like a DWC.

I don't have a SH system, I made my own, but I think that's the gist of it. I could be wrong.
 

HomeGrownHairy

Well-Known Member
The SH system has a water pump to send water to the rockwool/hydroton rocks. This is the water that will germinate the seeds.

I think you are supposed to measure the water line after you put 6 gallons in, and mark that with a marker. Then just don't fill it past that mark. The roots will grow from the pump water and eventually hit the res water, like a DWC.

I don't have a SH system, I made my own, but I think that's the gist of it. I could be wrong.
You're 100% correct in your advice. Also, you add water and nutes (pH adjusted) as needed to get your ppm back up.. You dont want to let the water get that low despite what the directions say. When it gets a gallon or 2 low, top it.. Lots of thread info about all this as well as when to flush and how often.
 

Knally

Well-Known Member
I would't put the seeds directly in the rockwool cubes to start with.

When you germinate your seeds, soak them overnight in a little bit of water in a small glass in a warm dark place. Initially, check them in a few hours and swirl the water in the glass to see if any of the seeds are saturated enough to sink to the bottom. Put the glass back in a warm, dark place. Don't worry if all or none of them sink right away.

The next day place a wet folded paper towel between two saucer plates with the top one inverted. Squeeze most of the water out of the paper towel. Place the seeds in between the paper towel, cover the bottom plate with the top plate turned upside down, place the covered plates in a large ziploc plastic bag, partially seal the bag and blow into the bag and seal it when you get a pillow effect. Put it in a dark, warm place and check it after 24 hours and then about every 12 hours thereafter.

Once the tap root sprouts, transplant it to rockwool that you have pre-soaked in a Ph'd water solution. You want the cubes to be moist, not wet.

Then set the rockwool into your net pots with clay pellets and setup your pump and drip system until the roots hit your res level and POW; they'll take off like there's no tomorrow.

Sorry if I provided too much info. I started with a very similar system 5 years ago and have learned a lot through trial and error, but a greater amount of information from the members here at RIU.

Good luck oin your grow. What strain you planning on growing?
 

S.Mass.P

Active Member
I would't put the seeds directly in the rockwool cubes to start with.

When you germinate your seeds, soak them overnight in a little bit of water in a small glass in a warm dark place. Initially, check them in a few hours and swirl the water in the glass to see if any of the seeds are saturated enough to sink to the bottom. Put the glass back in a warm, dark place. Don't worry if all or none of them sink right away.

The next day place a wet folded paper towel between two saucer plates with the top one inverted. Squeeze most of the water out of the paper towel. Place the seeds in between the paper towel, cover the bottom plate with the top plate turned upside down, place the covered plates in a large ziploc plastic bag, partially seal the bag and blow into the bag and seal it when you get a pillow effect. Put it in a dark, warm place and check it after 24 hours and then about every 12 hours thereafter.

Once the tap root sprouts, transplant it to rockwool that you have pre-soaked in a Ph'd water solution. You want the cubes to be moist, not wet.

Then set the rockwool into your net pots with clay pellets and setup your pump and drip system until the roots hit your res level and POW; they'll take off like there's no tomorrow.

Sorry if I provided too much info. I started with a very similar system 5 years ago and have learned a lot through trial and error, but a greater amount of information from the members here at RIU.

Good luck oin your grow. What strain you planning on growing?



Just to clarify, I have a DWC from SH, not a bubbleponics system. Mine is not six gallons, nor does it have pumps or a drip system giving water to roots. There is an air pump and bubble disk, and net pots.

If the water is not touching the pots, I don't see how any plant could grow, so I assume the kit is wrong.

So I keep the water level touching the pots, until the roots come through and then it has to touch them, correct?

thanks for all the help! I bought a classic seed pack with northern lights, bubblegum and big bud. it also came with an afgan cross. I think I'm going to try big bud first, definitely not nl till I know what i'm doing
 

hendry

Well-Known Member
im just curious if anyone knows if there is a subsitute for clay pellets i cant seem to find them anywhere near my house?
 

Knally

Well-Known Member
With aeroponics then you have a couple of choices for watering - hand water from the top or build a simple diy drip system for the lid until your roots take off to reach low enough for your mister to do its job.
 

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poorcrippledkid

Active Member
I bought the same DWC system from stealth hydro and am at the same point you are at. I should have read this first, because I am germinating the seeds in rockwool, and didn't use the plate/mug method. I am actually waiting for them to sprout, its been 2 days and I haven't seen anything so I am starting to worry. I ordered BIG BUD seeds and am using CFLs in a closet. I am very curious to see how your grow goes, since our setups are about the exact same. We could maybe help each other out.

Anyone know if i'll run into problems since I am using rockwool to germinate? I soaked them in 5.75 PH water with nutrients added (I halfed the dosage). I live in very high altitude so its cold as hell still... so I put the rockwool in bucket with the nutes, and have them under my lights to provide good warmth (around 85 - 95 degrees F). Think they'll sprout or will I have to re-germinate using a different method! If anyone knows, that'd be awesome!
 

HomeGrownHairy

Well-Known Member
I bought the same DWC system from stealth hydro and am at the same point you are at. I should have read this first, because I am germinating the seeds in rockwool, and didn't use the plate/mug method. I am actually waiting for them to sprout, its been 2 days and I haven't seen anything so I am starting to worry. I ordered BIG BUD seeds and am using CFLs in a closet. I am very curious to see how your grow goes, since our setups are about the exact same. We could maybe help each other out.

Anyone know if i'll run into problems since I am using rockwool to germinate? I soaked them in 5.75 PH water with nutrients added (I halfed the dosage). I live in very high altitude so its cold as hell still... so I put the rockwool in bucket with the nutes, and have them under my lights to provide good warmth (around 85 - 95 degrees F). Think they'll sprout or will I have to re-germinate using a different method! If anyone knows, that'd be awesome!
You shouldnt be using ANY nutes at all now...ZERO... Just pH'd plain water. Mine crack in 24/48 hrs.
 

Knally

Well-Known Member
Hey ya poorcripplekid,

You should be ok. Make sure your rockwool isn't totally saturated with water. A good way to remove excess water is to shake the cube several times like you do a sponge to throw off water.

But no nutrients for the 1st two to three weeks from germination. The seed supplies all of the energy it needs to grow during that time. It's up to you to provide the environment and media to thrive in (i.e. temperature, humidity, lighting, etc.)

You may want to flush the rockwoll with just ph'd water at 5.6 or so and then shake the rockwool cube several times. Don't squeeze it; you collapse areas for oxygen retention.

Hope this helps.
 

poorcrippledkid

Active Member
Yea I am definitely going to change up my setup now. Thanks for the input, since I am a first timer I am still trying to figure all this stuff out; But luckily I have had this forum to teach me everything so far. Hopefully I'll have some nice BIG BUD sprouts soon! Thanks for the fast replies!
 

S.Mass.P

Active Member
What is the best way to make a simple drip system? can I just keep the water level up until the roots reach the water?
 

poorcrippledkid

Active Member
I to be honest have no idea. I was told to maybe build a drip system as well until the roots grow down. What I have been doing is just spraying my sprouts with a spray bottle with 5.8 PH. I think that this would be sufficient enough until the plant takes root... or at least I hope so since that's what I am doing. Just give it a good misting multiple times a day. I hope that helps! How far along are your plants?
 

Swale84

Well-Known Member
You can make a drip system if you want. Or, you can just keep the water level and inch or so above the netpots...enough to keep the pellets damp and the rockwool damp. Or you can just hand water the rockwool just to keep it moist. You will start growing roots. When the roots reach the water you will have this in no time.....

 

S.Mass.P

Active Member
I haven't even germed the seeds yet. Tomorrow is the big day though I'm very excited. I think I will just spray them and keep the water level higher up until the roots grow. I can not wait
 
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