hydro newbie... will this work???

[biffmcnielly]

thank you for reading this...


I have a 30 long x 18 wide x 20 tall, rubbermaid tote. I am using an air stone in the bottom to oxygenate the h2o. I have put 6 net pots (rockwool and hydroton in pots) in the lid with the bottom of the pots exposed in the tote. I am watering with a drip system using the water in the tote, the water runs off through the rockwool and back down into the tote. will my budget idea work??

thanks for reading

 

[Haps]

Possibly, do you have a light?

 

[biffmcnielly]

yes I have 2 150w spot type grow lights. I am going to invest in a 600w sodium once I get my room set up. right now my plants are about 6 inches tall

 

[jm420]

abolutely ,you wont need drippers once the roots hit the res.What your doing is DWC.I dont now if i would germinate seed this way.I germinate withe paper towl,put in rockwool,hand water till roots appear, into net pot with an icnch of hydrtron ,fill around cube into res with my water line 1 inch up pots .first water change leave one inch airgap.easy as that
like haps said
nutes ,ph ,ec meter?
if not search lucas formula

 

[biffmcnielly]

trying to keep ph around 5, and I'm using general hydroponics "flora grow"

 

[FreezerBoy]

The dripper is unnecessary. The point of DWC is to flood the upper roots with air, not water. Keep water level in contact with rockwool until roots are long enough to clear a 1" airgap.

Paper towels have no magic powers of germination. The only benefits from their use are increased chances of mold, starvation, root breakage and death. Germ in what you grow in. In your case rockwool. Personally, I use my bubbler, a mini DWC. Seed in the cube, cube in the bubbler. You can wait for roots or, transplant at sprouting, before roots show. That way, you'll never have a chance to break a root.

 

[jm420]

no paper towell arnt magical works for me thats all. i thought you were starting from seed thats why i mentioned it.5.0 seems a tad low I'm surprised F/B didnt give you the let it drift 5.3-6.1 or so, so theres no lockout.sound like your on the rite track.I would get rid of the drippr though. the pump will heat the water and what you dont want is high res temps.btw who said anything on flooding the roots with water?

 

[biffmcnielly]

well I decided to 86 the drip and go with a regular DWC. I have the water just about to the bottom of my rockwool, and 2 12 inch bubblers going. any tips would be appricieated..... thanks a lot

 

[jm420]

watch and wait 4 now,keep ph in check and you should be good