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Wasabi420
I was wondering how big a rez an automated nutrient/PH doser can handle and how big a rez I would need for 4 4x4 ebb and flow tables.
I dont see why there would be a limit on res size on an auto doser unless we are talking about 2000 gallons +. I imagine you would need a good pump just recirculating nutes so the doser can get an accurate reading.
a 4x4 table could probably use a 50-75 gallon rez. I prefer bigger. Also depends on your plans. Bigger if you dont want to top off and want to have more time between res changes. Smaller if you want to top off frequently.
I also dont see a doser being practical on E&F. Once you mix the nutes, they just recirculate. Maybe you could dose PH but most people like to let that drift a little anyway
a 4x4 table could probably use a 50-75 gallon rez. I prefer bigger. Also depends on your plans. Bigger if you dont want to top off and want to have more time between res changes. Smaller if you want to top off frequently.
I also dont see a doser being practical on E&F. Once you mix the nutes, they just recirculate. Maybe you could dose PH but most people like to let that drift a little anyway
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Wasabi420
yea I was thinking of running all 4 4x4 tables off the same rez, and hook that up to a float valve for top offs. How come It wouldn't be practical though?? I want to automate this setup so I can leave for more than a day or 2 without worrying about my babies. What do you guys think I should do?
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Wasabi420
now will I need to empty my rez if im using this doser and if i do, do you think ill have a problem draining a few hundred gallons??
Well, it's not possible by way of a simple float valve because the topping tank would be trying to top off the res every time the system was flooding a table. You'd need to run the automated topping off via electronic valve on a timer which would only allow the valve to open during times when all the tables have drained back to the res. Couple that with a simple mechanical float valve in the reservoir and it would work properly without creating a runaway flood 'on the floor'.
Multiple tables from one res don't need a giant reservoir if you time the floods to not happen all at the same time of course. In this way your four tables can share a res thats smaller than the total capacity of your four trays.
You don't really need an automated "doser" to manage the res. It's just a matter of dialing in the right nute strength for the res top ups. Generally speaking with chem hydro nutes you're looking at adding back a strength of roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of the original starting target reservoir strength. to maintain a res strength of your original target strength.
IME, using multipart gh flora series running e&f, I would top off every day. Once every other day with just straight pH'd water and alternate every other day with a premixed solution that was half of the starting res strength. Of course, I also would change out the res completely every couple weeks to maintain a healthy and undamaged nute solution for the girls. Now if you're going to top off daily with premixed nutes you will be using much less than 1/2 strength...more like 1/4 to 1/3 of target strength.
hth,
10k
ps...
with any multipart chem hydro nute concentrate package, it is an absolute carved in stone rule that the concentrates can NOT be added to an existing mixed solution in concentrated form without causing serious damage to the existing nute solution. Always add back pre diluted or pre mixed solution and the floculation or element precipitation damage will be greatly reduced or even avoided altogether.
Multiple tables from one res don't need a giant reservoir if you time the floods to not happen all at the same time of course. In this way your four tables can share a res thats smaller than the total capacity of your four trays.
You don't really need an automated "doser" to manage the res. It's just a matter of dialing in the right nute strength for the res top ups. Generally speaking with chem hydro nutes you're looking at adding back a strength of roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of the original starting target reservoir strength. to maintain a res strength of your original target strength.
IME, using multipart gh flora series running e&f, I would top off every day. Once every other day with just straight pH'd water and alternate every other day with a premixed solution that was half of the starting res strength. Of course, I also would change out the res completely every couple weeks to maintain a healthy and undamaged nute solution for the girls. Now if you're going to top off daily with premixed nutes you will be using much less than 1/2 strength...more like 1/4 to 1/3 of target strength.
hth,
10k
ps...
with any multipart chem hydro nute concentrate package, it is an absolute carved in stone rule that the concentrates can NOT be added to an existing mixed solution in concentrated form without causing serious damage to the existing nute solution. Always add back pre diluted or pre mixed solution and the floculation or element precipitation damage will be greatly reduced or even avoided altogether.
Yep, I cover that in my thread too, I use simple hose timers that open for 2 hours a day during the dark period.
When using RO it doesn't flow fast enough for it to overflow, but I think any res with a float valve must have an overflow drain to prevent floods. Make sure the line cannot be closed or clogged (tray fittings and screens inside the res work great) and make sure it runs outside or do a sink drain. I use a condensate pump system to elevate the drain water to a laundry sink above it.
When using RO it doesn't flow fast enough for it to overflow, but I think any res with a float valve must have an overflow drain to prevent floods. Make sure the line cannot be closed or clogged (tray fittings and screens inside the res work great) and make sure it runs outside or do a sink drain. I use a condensate pump system to elevate the drain water to a laundry sink above it.
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Wasabi420
thanks guys.....i love IC
I would suggest using 2 4x8's if you are going to run all the same strains. Of course 4x4's have their advantages in that later you can run different strains in each table. Also you can use a smaller res and feed each table at different times. But you could save money on pumps by using two tables.
There is no reason to top off every day. I have run alot of E&F tables and there is no need to check the nutes every day. I never topped off or added back. I just did complete res changes every 10-14 days.
You can get some heavy duty reses at tractor supply. They have a 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank for around $70. That should last a week or so, as long as you give each table time to drain before flooding the next table. You could also get a bigger one or link two of the 100's together
Get a big enough res and you wont have to check nutes for a week.
There is no reason to top off every day. I have run alot of E&F tables and there is no need to check the nutes every day. I never topped off or added back. I just did complete res changes every 10-14 days.
You can get some heavy duty reses at tractor supply. They have a 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank for around $70. That should last a week or so, as long as you give each table time to drain before flooding the next table. You could also get a bigger one or link two of the 100's together
Get a big enough res and you wont have to check nutes for a week.
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Wasabi420
what would you light em with??? 2 1k for each 4x8 or a few 600s??
Wow dtfsux...
Considering the plants daily nute and water uptake, you would have to have ran a damn giant overkill reservoir size, or a very weak starting ec to not have had major drifts upwards in nute strengths. Most hydro systems, especially chem hydro on an e&f system WILL require frequent maintenance in order to stay within a target range both strength and pH wise. By frequent, I mean at least every other day, but preferably on a daily basis.
Ime, e&f systems have a lot of evaporative water loss which even taking nute uptake into consideration will usually still pull the strengths up considerably.
That being said, nothing beats the comfort zone a larger reservoir allows for allowing less frequent pH and ec adjustments...
The drawback is the higher usage of nutes involved in routine total reservoir change outs.
I have never run less than 200 gallon reses. Usually my PPM's would drift up or down slightly but not enough to make a big deal. IMO the plants are taking up different nutes at different rates, so I just let it go, and would change the whole res every 10-14 days.
As far as cost goes, I guess I spent around $400-500 on nutes, bloom enhancers and hygrozyyme. Crop was usually worth 15-18K. Good trade IMO
As far as cost goes, I guess I spent around $400-500 on nutes, bloom enhancers and hygrozyyme. Crop was usually worth 15-18K. Good trade IMO
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Wasabi420
definitely a good trade off d....gotta spend money to make money champ
Latest posts
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One for the newbs: cheap and simple hydro, but very effective
- Latest: propellerhead
Latest posts
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One for the newbs: cheap and simple hydro, but very effective
- Latest: propellerhead
