Quite new to hydro

[skunk-mad]

Hi Latewood, ive been growing medicinal cannabis for over 10 years now & until 2 years ago i was 100% growing in a soil mix but due to the soil/compost i was using was contaminated with larve i changed to a simple hydro system & ditched the soil mix.

I would like your advice on the system i use & anything i can do to improve my end product would be great.

The system i use is a wilma 4 pot recirculating dripper system with a 30l nutrient reservoir,when brought came it with 11l square pots(ive noe changed to 6l air-pot,s).I use clay pebbles as my grow medium & this run im using canna nutrients & some of the metrop line,amino root & calgreen.

My 1st question is; is there a better system out there for me than the one im already using?? there are so many different type,s of system out there,what system in your experience yeilds them best for a novice hydro grower such as myself.

2nd as im using a dripper system,i have lines & drip stakes.Some times the lines get blocked up by a build up of salt i think??,do you know of a good product that i can add to my nutrient reservoir which will possibly stop my lines from getting blocked?.

3rd i have swapped the traditional 11l square pots to some new 6l air pots,do you have any experience with air-pots & air pruning??

Final question,i have my system on a digital timer giving 4 x 5 minute waterings per day,is this enough,to much or about right??,some people have said because im using clay pebbles as my grow medium then they should be on a 24/7 365 watering as clay does not hold water like say coco,rockwool or a soil mix what is your opinion?? is 4 x 5 minute waterings enough? or should i put them on a constant drip??.

Thank you Latewood are these the sort of questions that you want & can answer?

skunk-mad.

[latewood]

Thanks for asking. Can I see a pik of your system? If not. Will you post a link to the system you have. I think I understand what you have, but it would help me a lot if you give me a link. Sounds like a nice system, but I also need to know how big of an area you have dedicated to growing.

I am whooped, and my eyese are straining. I promise to look into this manana, and give you more in depth answers.

Thanks for your patience. Back at you later today.

lw

[skunk-mad]

Im so sorry i should have included a link to the system i have.

http://www.google.co.uk/m/url?ei=npayTZCPFd2SjAeBl4evAw&q=http://www.somhydro.co.uk/product.asp?pid%3D1268&ved=0CB0QgwgwAg&usg=AFQjCNHpNBLTeDVHFbYUW-AlaUQxbjzg0A

This is the system i have but with airpots instead of the square ones.My grow area is 7ft(l) x 6ft(w) " x 5.8ft(h),i run 1 x 600w hps during veg & this time ill be flowering under 3 x 600w hps.I have 2 carbon filters running with rvk fans i have the 4in blowing cold air back into the room at ground level & my 5in fan & filter venting out at the top.

Thanx

skunk-mad.

[latewood]

Sorry it took so long to get back. I was busy elsewhere at sites that support me. One of which was down for a few weeks.-Right off the top of my head. I say that in that small space, 3 - 600 watt lamps would be ludicrous hot...unless you have one hell of an AC.

That is a closet with not much head room. One 600 on a 4' light mover would be better, and add a couple 250 watt hps for side lighting (or a couple 200 watt cfl). Side lighting will almost double your yield.

If still interested get back to me, or see me at thegrowreport.com

[inkog77]

sk mad

to stop line building up you should put much bigger lines in thats a dead cert which will reduce the pressure in the line but increase a better flow.

the thing i like about your system is that you dont have to go and buy dert.

you just recycle, clean you clay pebble and off you go again...

i think this good. thats what i like about....

3 * 600 with only that little air movment man in summer way to hot,,,,,

all the best

upgrade you lines bet you get better result

[420grower]

hey latewood I have tried to get my partner Skunk to go with light mover for awhile now,hahaha,he like most gets great results with all that power,I use 16 bulb floro,with light mover my electric bill dropped almost to normal,and no real heat issues,great advice,I will probably go to hydro this fall meself,peace all

[skunk-mad]

hey latewood I have tried to get my partner Skunk to go with light mover for awhile now,hahaha,he like most gets great results with all that power,I use 16 bulb floro,with light mover my electric bill dropped almost to normal,and no real heat issues,great advice,I will probably go to hydro this fall meself,peace all


Thats what im going to do is go with a light mover instead of an extra hps ill run 2 x 600w hps maybe 1 on the light mover & the other stationary. I only use 1 x 600w hps for the veg stage & then i kick it up to 2 x 600w for the bloom phase. There is no way that i could have ran 3-4 x 600w hps as this time my temps went crazy.

Great advice as always & yes i should have listened from the start

skunk-mad.

[420grower]

hey we all play the temp game with the amount of light this plant needs,haha,actually looking forward to going back to hydro,should be interesting getting back to a bit of science,peace

[inkog77]

i used to use light movers...... you can buy extre track if you wonna make longer.... so quit flexable.... just have to make sure you dont put to much stress/ tension on cable from ballest to reflector. et it set up right take a little art...

i used to do hydro about in 96 so been a long time...

420 what hydro system you gonna run....

peace

[skunk-mad]

i used to use light movers...... you can buy extre track if you wonna make longer.... so quit flexable.... just have to make sure you dont put to much stress/ tension on cable from ballest to reflector. et it set up right take a little art...

i used to do hydro about in 96 so been a long time...

420 what hydro system you gonna run....

peace


I dont surpose that you still have them around?.

skunk-mad.

[inkog77]

believe or not i dont,,,,,

sorry am think of doing hydro dude could do with a chat.... man

http://www.progrow.co.uk/acatalog/info_4146.html.

what do you think is the best hydro system

i think i would buy a ph/tds/ pump computer... let it do the work.

let me know mad

peace

[inkog77]

controls nutrient EC &PH for main water tank.

then pump to what evers gowning

[inkog77]

blue lab

http://www.getbluelab.com/shop/Bluelab-Dosetronic-Controller.html

http://www.getbluelab.com/shop/Bluelab+Peridosers%99.html

looks like the bomb......

[latewood]

It's all about providing the most light possible, but controlling temps. So Going overboard with too much light can be detrimental.

[latewood]

Great replies, guys... Keep sharing. Friendly cooperation is the only way we pass our knowledge on to future generations. When we attempt to mentor people, we should all err on the side of help!

Thanks. I had a hard day. Seeing you all made my night. Peace

[skunk-mad]

believe or not i dont,,,,,

sorry am think of doing hydro dude could do with a chat.... man

http://www.progrow.co.uk/acatalog/info_4146.html.

what do you think is the best hydro system

i think i would buy a ph/tds/ pump computer... let it do the work.

let me know mad

peace


Hi brother if your looking for a great hydro system you could try the wilma system that i use, they come in varying sizes from 4-24 pots which you can either use square pots or like me the air-pot,s.

Wilma systems (http://www.u-grow.com/acatalog/atami-wilmasystems.html)

If you have a little more money around then i would go with the IWS systems ( Indoor Watering System) they look great & ill be upgrading to just the 6 pot system this winter.

IWS System (http://www.iwssystems.co.uk/)


If you go with the wilma system i would recommend that you change the drip lines from 4mm to 6-8mm as the 4mm lines can get clogged up but ive found that using

atami ata clean (http://www.thebigshop.com/atami-ata-clean-1l-p-207.html)


This has helped to reduce most salt build up in my lines but i would still go with a bigger drip line & maybe swap the 500l/h pump which is standard with the 4 pot system for a 1000l/h pump which does give a better, even water coverage.

hope this helps mate?

skunk-mad.

[skunk-mad]

blue lab

http://www.getbluelab.com/shop/Bluelab-Dosetronic-Controller.html

http://www.getbluelab.com/shop/Bluelab+Peridosers%99.html

looks like the bomb......


Ahh now your talking about my perfect grow room, ive been looking at these for quite some time but cash is tight atm so im using the bluelab truncheon for my ph & ppm.

skunk-mad.

[skunk-mad]

believe or not i dont,,,,,

sorry am think of doing hydro dude could do with a chat.... man

http://www.progrow.co.uk/acatalog/info_4146.html.

what do you think is the best hydro system

i think i would buy a ph/tds/ pump computer... let it do the work.

let me know mad

peace


This looks like a great system & i can firmly say the ghe products are great. I have a small 1 plant waterfarm made by the same company & it has never failed to perform.

I personally would go with a IWS system but i have seen some great results from aeroponics ive just never tried that.

If you need any help choosing a system dont hesitate to pm me as were both in the UK im sure we can help each other. You know me im always happy to help.

skunk-mad

[inkog77]

hi mad.

all good great responce.

i looked at ghe. system,,,, i think i would like get one that would do 8 plants,,,, plus blue lab computer .... see what i could do with it,,,, really an experiment.

will discuss further,,,,,,would be very interesting,,,, plus no more soils to carry..... nothing to get rid of.....

would be very intersting..... very techyee.....pure science....

very good

hope the familys ok

peace,,, its hot today aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[skunk-mad]

hi mad.

all good great responce.

i looked at ghe. system,,,, i think i would like get one that would do 8 plants,,,, plus blue lab computer .... see what i could do with it,,,, really an experiment.

will discuss further,,,,,,would be very interesting,,,, plus no more soils to carry..... nothing to get rid of.....

would be very intersting..... very techyee.....pure science....

very good

hope the familys ok

peace,,, its hot today aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa


Familys fine my friend were enjoying the sun,its going to be another great day tomorrow.

Check ya pm,s mate

skunk-mad.

[inkog77]

IWS System

this syste looks quite good mad,,,, and with the

blue lab food computer would be ideal,,,, although it is quite expensive but will have a chat when next up at the shop

peace.

[latewood]

I am excited by the interest in this concept.

Post some piks of what you have from this idea...Unless you are in an area that would make it a risk to your freedom, or family; Like me..

[skunk-mad]

This is how i aim to get my grow room

I plan on upgrading from the https://encrypted.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.greenshorticulture.co.uk/image_thumbnailer.aspx%3Fi%3Dimages/prods/wilma-4-4-web(1).jpg%26w%3D309%26h%3D309&imgrefurl=http://www.greenshorticulture.co.uk/Hydroponics-266/Wilma-Systems-272/Wilma-4-Pot-System-253.asp&usg=__MNeyul6_3HMN8TQubNq2B17S4nk=&h=309&w=309&sz=29&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1&tbnid=U57KbzPiKAmDGM:&tbnh=117&tbnw=117&ei=9usKTuXKCZCZhQeAjvXqDw&itbs=1

to the https://encrypted.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.homegrownhydroponics.co.uk/img/p/141-235-large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.homegrownhydroponics.co.uk/product.php%3Fid_product%3D141&usg=__GPLB0f-_tRcowBPXJq2pJodj5HE=&h=300&w=300&sz=17&hl=en&start=2&zoom=1&tbnid=GicEJMSP7FU32M:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&ei=sOwKTq-CJoOxhQe02aHwDw&itbs=1 which will give me a lot more control over feeding times & a much larger reservoir.

I will be using 1 x 600w hps cool tube for the veg stage the 2 x 600 w hps for the bloom phase. I,ll be running a 150mm rhino carbon filter with a 150mm fan which the air from will pass through the cool tubes & will then take the excess hot air out of my room.

I have been looking into a klimavator (http://www.growell.co.uk/klimavator.html) which will help keep the temps in the optimal range & also a trimeter (http://www.growell.co.uk/the-tri-meter.html) which will measure the temps,ph & e.c of the nutrient mix.

This is a work in progress, ill be using the 4 pot wilma again next grow with the air-pots but im upgrading 1 reflector to a cool tube

skunk-mad.

[inkog77]

thats it mad sound really good....

like the range meter for ph /tds /temp,,, help fine tune your grows.