Rolling Grow Rack - DWC

OK I have had some time to catch up on a few things and I got my nutes...

Here is my journal so far.


Hydro Day 1:
Friday evening 3/14/2008
1)Placed seed in Hydro seed starter without cover
2)Set temp to about 62F and started both bubblers
3)Running 4/200Watt CFL’s
4)Filled seed starter unit with water to fill line (1/4” below netpot)

Hydro Day 2:
Saturday 3/15/2008
1)Placed 2 additional seeds in Net Pots

Hydro Day 4:
Monday 3/17/2008
1)Discovered 1st shoot from Netpot 1
2)Filled Water back to fill line (Approx ¼ Gal)

Hydro Day 5:
Tuesday 3/18/2008
1)Discovered second shoot from Netpot 2
2)Checked water…
3)Placed order for additional equipment and nutrients.

Hydro Day 7:
Thursday 3/20/2008
1)Started 4 new seeds (total of 7 now)
2)Added 1 cup of water
3)Moved tub to back

Hydro Day 8:
Friday 3/21/2008
1)tested tap water – 6.7 PH; 499 ppm
2)Got my nutes order a quart of each
3)Adjusted reservoir PH
a.Res is 7.7ph + 1 cup 4.4PH + 40 drops PH Down = 5.6 Res PH

Hydro Day 10:
Sunday 3/23/2008
1)Measured 2 liter bottles to use as Gallon jugs – used Sharpe to mark line for 1 Gal.
2)Bought measured syringe and measuring cups
3)Began working on how to mix in nutes
a.1 Gal at a time – see feeding chart – mixed 2 gallons
b.Gal 1 - 798ppm & 5.7 PH
c.Gal 2 – 767ppm & 5.7 PH – used 16oz for starter refill
4)Moved # 3 to end of tub – doesn’t look good
5)Rearranged tubs and added mother tub for spacing and to hold camera

Hydro Day 11: Monday 3/24/2008
1)Checked PH and it was waaaayyyy off 8.1
2)PPM at 1702??
a.Not sure why these things were so off since I had just spent so much time the day before getting everything perfect J
b.I have a water softener but it doesn’t seem to be working since my tap water is at 499ppm.
c.Anyway checked the ppm and found that it was really high 1720?? Am I crazy??? I just checked it the day before.
d.I had to add another 8 oz of water… Can it be concentrating the ppm that much thru the use of 8 oz of water?
e.I could really use some help on this…
f.I balanced the PH back down to 5.2 and added 8 oz of tap water.

[FONT=&quot]I am attaching as many of my pics of the seedlings as I can. They seem a little droopy to me and I would appreciate any advice anyone has ... I have already formed an attachment and would hate to see them die!![/FONT]

Hydro Day 12:
Tuesday 3/25/2008
1)Checked PH & ppm; Started with a PH of 6.7 and ppm of 1320
2)Leaves almost seem to be rolling under they are sooo droopy
3)Picked up some distilled water today to try to fix my problem.
4)2 more popped up so I have 4 going. I think it is time to pull #3
5)Used just distilled water to refill containers and set PH to 5.1
6)Move #1 to it’s own container to complete grow.
7)I was astounded to find the tap root 1.5” thru the bottom of the netpot.
#2 seems to have some burn as well. Nothing showing on #4 or the new #3
9)Now have 4 going; 1 in it’s own container the ret in the starter and 3 more I can see starting. I have seeds in all 8 netpots in the starter and 1 in it’s own 5”netpot. I hope that this will give me at least 1 to go to completion and 1 I can use as a mother.
10)I still have drooping on #1 & #2


Hydro Day 15:
Tuesday 3/28/2008
1)The distilled water seems to have helped…
2)Pics ; #1 & #2 you can see some burn on but they look much happier and the new leaves don’t seem to have the problem…
3)Added a 4” breeze fan for my babies
4)Picked up some more distilled water…

I haven't heard anything for awhile from anyone... I have made some progress since the water problem. I know that using distilled may cause me a problem later and am working on getting a RO system.


Other than that things seem to be much better since I went thru the past few days with distilled.



Hopefully the pictures will get me some feedback...


I am also begining to smell something funky when I open the cabinet


Hydro Day 18:
Monday 3/31/2008

Starter
ØStarter begin 205ppm 6.5PH
Ø-16oz current water
Ø+ 32oz Distilled water 6.5PH 89ppm
Ø+8oz water at 5.7 PH 608ppm
Ø+5Drops PH Down
ØEnding water in resivour 5.1PH 170ppm

Plant 1
ØBeginning 8.1 ph 586 ppm
Ø-16oz current water
Ø+ 32oz Distilled water
Ø+ 16 oz 5.7PH 808ppm


Hydro Day 23:
Saturday 4/5/2008
ØStarter begin 6.6 PH 345ppm
ØPlant 1 begin 7.5 PH 750ppm
ØReplaced water with Distilled + ¼ nutes 4.8 ph 152ppm


Hydro Day 28:
Thursday 4/10/2008
- Added 1 gal ¼ nute distilled water 4.8 ph 152ppm

More pics...

Here is a pic of #8... I have no idea what is cuasing this but it is very odd. Leaves still seem soft. I just traded it and #6 in the tray to see what I get.

I have also included more pics of #1 and some close pics of a couple others.

Any thoughts???

Here's a closeup of #1 and a pic of #2. Being a newb... I think they look alright...

Thanks...

This is day 33 of the grow. I started these from seed and had a problem with my water. I have changed to distilled water and add 1/4 nutes based on the Flora plan. I am not sure how big they should be at this stage but I am gonna take a look around for pics on teh newbie area and see what I can find. If anyone has some comments ... they would be appreciated. I have some stuff on the way to complete a larger area... I was warned that this wasn't enough space and I am seeing what you mean!! I am very excited to see the growth and want to spend all day working on the larger cabinet. What started out as a single small cabinet is now two cabinets... BTW. I also have a small tent on the way so I can have time to complete the larger cabinet.

The smell is also starting to get pretty obvious... Have 2 ELF filters coming. I plan to hook these up to 4" duct fans as exhuast. The inlet fans will be 120mm computer fans.

Once I get a chance to I will post some pics of the cabinet so you can tell me what you think. I think it turned out pretty good but I wayyy... underestimated what I could get away with. I think it might mke a good clone of mom cabinet... Let me know what you think.

Day 38:

I have kept up the feeding cycle and am now using full strength nutes. They are growing like weeds...

They seem very short and bushy... I have to admit it... I need more space. I have 4 still in the starter. I just don't have the space for them. I have prepared a place and have a tent on the way. Take a look at #2... I think it may be from the res. being too small for 4 plants.

I am not sure what the issue is here but...

I think maybe??
1) Nitrogen
2) Potassium - This is the best match to the pictures I have seen...?
3) Heat Stress - I doubt this because it is happening with the lower leaves first.

Any experts with advice would be appreciated!