[JohnBudd]

Been a dirt farmer many years, but finally invested in AmerHydro 3X3 e & f table. My question is this: How to get best results. Have 1" starter cubes. 1.5" starters, 4" blocks, 3' x 6" slabs. I also got the Growell Insert with 36 small holes.
I hate to kill good genetics with a learning curve, so you rockwool guys let me know.
Another thought...would I have better results turning this into big bubbler or WaterFarm type setup with drip rings around plant.

So much info on net, but alot of it conflicting....how many floods a day, how long...and the list of questions get longer. I will and can figure this out...but hoping folks who know rockwool can chime in.

I am not a rockwool fan but I do use a e&f hydro tables. Rockwool is to much like fiberglass, synthetic, and toxic for me to use anymore. I converted.

I use lava rocks and hydrokorrel rocks, no soil, no rockwool, pure hydro. I flood for 15-30 inutes every3-4 hours of the light cycle. I only have one 15-20 minute cycle during lights off. I used to use shorter more frequent floods but have had much better performance doing it the way I am now.

I change my reservoir every two to three weeks(some do everyweek), I watch the ppm instead of following the bottle directions of the nutes. What nutes are you using?

In veg I start at about 400-500 ppm right off of the cloning tray and scale it up over the next couple of weeks to about 900-1000ppm and hold until I go to flower.

In flower I usually start at around 800-900ppm and ramp it up to around 1600-1800ppm at the end. I use a nitro boost at week 3 through weeks 6 or 7 and a Cal-Mag addittive throughout the whole process. I use Pure Blend Pro nutes for hydro and it has a few weak spots that need a little boost for cannabis.

Hope this helps a little

Let me know if I can help any more

Tex

[LaylowClamBaker]

Check out rapid rooter cubes theyr'e 100 organic materials like ground up tree bark etc. You can germinate in them and since predrilled hole is only 1/4-1/2 deep it's perfect for starting seedlings they also drain fast. I use flashlight to look in mine and can see the seed crack open shoot down the tap root all that happy stuff. LOL also with flashlight you can use eye dropper to drop only enough water to sprout seed not too much.Have Fun!!

Rapid Rooters rule!

That is exactly what I use now and they work awesome

Tex

[JohnBudd]

I have Dyna-Gro grow/bloom nutes, and also the GH 3 part. 4" net pots. I am wondering how you get seedlings going? You start in rapidrooters and move rapirooter over to net pots/rocks for life of plant? Is 4" pot enough for duration...ie do they ever float/move during flood drain?
I have heard nasty things about rockwool toxicity...ie breathing in rockwool/overhandling, disposal, ect.
I invested in a nice Hanna ph/tds meter so hope if I keep those dialed in and use your flood/drain schedule, all will be well.
I am going to keep ph between 5.8 and 6.2, hope that is appropriate. Dirt seems so much more forgiving, but the convience/performance of the hydro is awesome.
Still keeping all mothers in dirt, but looking at aerocloners...............the shopping and price list goes on......
I will give rapid-rooters a twirl, and thanks so much for the info
folks.
I will post pics of results here. Cherry AK, bubblegum, afghan, b52.........variety rocks!!
I will also try the additives/extras you mention. Do you ever use epsom salt in the mix?

[LaylowClamBaker]

.......to answer your question about starting yes you can start your seeds in the rapid rooters then transfer to your net pots for duration just dig out little pocket for them in the middle and use HYDROTON gro rocks. Once I see the root at the bottom of the rooters (Easy to see) I put into my net pots in the system.I have read that a restricted tap root results in more males that is why I put them into the net pots right after sprout.Then I hand water with ph adjusted water 5.2-5.8 in an old milk jug ( NO NUTES ) till I see roots hit bottom of net pot and into water channel ( I got NFT ). Once the roots hit the bottom hand water for two more days to get good start then stop and water with your system for ten days then start nutes. It takes roots about four days to hit bottom solution I water about three times a day morning -noon - night just pour good amount in circle across top it will drain into your rez. Texas kid has alot of good info for ya - Have Fun:p

[syko2]

I too don't like rock wool I tried it first round and just trashed it...

I use a soiless mix to start seeds off in after 3 days I remove them and wash off any soiless mix on the roots work's fine never see a problem as long as their washed off. Coco and rr 's are a good choise.

4" net pot's will be fine and if your going to try dwc no need for aero-cloning dwc i the best way to clone just place your cutting into the water with 1" of the cuttings stem submerged. no ph adjusting I use a PH of 7.0, no dome, no nutrience/rooting agent's, no misting...7 to 10 days you'll find root's...

How's the E&F going? Did you find the right flooding times?

[JohnBudd]

I am flooding 4x daily, with first flood immediatly after lights on...and last 1 hour before lights off. And one short flood during dark.
I am going real slow with nutes...1/4 strength. Dirt is so forgiving, hydro takes some practice.
The plants are doing real well....first week or two kind of slow...but last 2 weeks bam....growing like weeds.LOL
I am flooding up cubes 1/4 to 3/8 up the cube. It seemed to wet at first, so I readjusted so it just goes 1/8, 1/4" up the pots.
I am trying SOG set-up, as I have 36 plants in 3x3 area. Once the males(egaads) are pulled, should be plenty of room.
Thanks for the info...one more...do you use epsom salt occasionally?

[Hooked-On-Grown]

I do exactly what texas kid does. Almost to the "T"
It is very simple and easy. It never changes and pretty soon you will be like me and not even use your meter any more. Don't get me wrong I will always have it with me, it is just after doing it for so long, you know what you need to add at what week.
Let your pH drift down or bring it down to at least 5.5 and then let it drift up to around 6.1 before bringing it back down. Magnesium is not taken up after 5.8 pH. If you never let it go down to under 5.8 you are robbing them of needed Mag. Yes it is OK and good to add Epsom salt or epso-grow. Add 1Tbs per gal with every new res change. Do you understand proper topping off techniques? This is when you top off your res every night alternating plain balanced water and 1/4 strength nutes.

Follow this link HERE for some killer info on Ebb & Flow Systems.

Hope this helps!

HOG

Me and Texas Kid have about the same setup. I flood for less time, but might be bumping it up some. Stay aways from rockwool, this stuff is nasty. I use growrocks and have had great results. I use Pure Blend Pro, Cal-Mag Pro, Liquid Karma, and KoolBloom at the end. Flood every four hours of light and nothing when lights are out, but my last cycle is when the lights go off. Gives them one last feeding after the lights go out. The roots are still damp in the morning, so there isn't a problem. I also have the same table as you and love it. You got a really good table and should grow some nice buds.

PS Here's my table with Green Giant, and these buds are only about 14 days of budding. Not by for a 3x3 Ebb&Flo.