First Grow: DWC & White Widow

Originally Posted by shinedog

So, I've setup my first grow with DWC. I have a couple of experiments going on at the moment to see which I like best. I have a soil grow going that started around Feb 14th and a DWC grow that started around Mar 7th. Both are first grows. I thought I would post a couple of photos to see what you guys thought.


My setup is as follows:

• 2 x 400w MH
• 5 total DWC units
• 5 Gallon Bucket single units (from good old HD)
• 5" net pots
• Air pumps from WalMart the dual output ones. One line running to each bucket with one air stone.
• FoxFarm Nutes

I ordered several seeds from Attitude can't say enough about the service from these guys. Started 5 White Widow Fems and 1 Gigabud Fem on 3/7/2009. Don't know much about the Gigabud, but it was free. The seeds germed on 3/7 so moved them to 1.5" rock wool cubes and under 2 x T8 4' bulbs. They sprouted quickly and by 3/9 they were moved to the DWC system. I moved them about the time they started showing roots at the bottom of the rock wool cube.

On 3/9 they were all in DWC system and under 400w MH. I moved the light about 2 feet about the plants. Unfortunately, during this time I lost one of my White Widows. It was a sad day.

I originally built a DWC system in a 55 gallon rubbermaid container with 6 ports for each plant. It had 4 air stones and was powered by two air pumps. I realized something during the setup of this system and made a change.

If you've ever thought of building a DWC system let me advice you on not using a large tub. It is way to cumbersome and heavy to work with. Maintenance was a bitch. Also, I realized that if you had a problem with one plant down the road it could compromise the others. Fortunately, I had the space so I moved each plant to its own bucket on 3/16/2009.

I took photos today to document their progress. Please feel free to let me know what you think.

You may also find a couple of my soil plants in the background. The first one sprouted on 2/14/2009. I'm not really sure what strains they are. I'm fairly certain I have two different strains in soil, but since they were bag seed I have no idea what they are.

nice, looks like you have a good setup and is well organized, which of the fox farms nutes do you use?

Thanks. I'm using Grow Big Hydro and Big Bloom for my DWC at the moment. Same on soil grow just swapping Grow Big Hydro for soil version.

looks like you have your stuff togeather. I totally agree with you about maint with large tubs and seperating plants with their own containter. Probably one of my biggest mistakes with my past dwc. I like using the net cups with neoprene collars. You should look into them b/c if you use them you don't need a medium.

Your soil ladies look beautiful can't wait 2 c how tha dwc ladies come out ...awesome setup u have man I wish I had the space for my own little experiments too hahaha

Looking very nice in there, shinedog, this will be fun to watch!

How do you plan to monitor the levels in your units?<---do you have an easy way to check and add nute/h2o??

great luck to you!!

growinman