hydroton beds

Max Reefer

Member
greetings everyone and welcome to my hydroton bed grow. I did this on a smaller scale about 20 years ago and recently started up growing again.

what I have is three 2x4 foot grow tables with hydroton. they all drain back to a main res and there is a 10 gallon aux res that feeds through a float valve in the main res. I am using general hydros three part nute system and 3% hydrogen peroxide. all reservoirs have air stones in them to keep the solution rich in oxygen and stirred up. it uses about 2 gallons of solution a day, so I can go about 7 or 8 days before having to ad solution. the watering cycle is one minute on and three hours off.

for the nute solution I follow the directions on the label and I don't watch the ppm or ph any more. my tap water is 6.0 ph and is the same after mixing the nutes. the peroxide is 3 teaspoons per gallon.

the res and plumbing all get a thorough cleaning and disinfecting at the veg/flower switch. I vegged these girls only 6 weeks and flipped the switch last sunday. the first pic was taken on the 13th of june, and the last pic was taken on the 28th of july.

for the lighting I am using six 400 watt lgledsolutions grow lights, the 5 watt models.

for cooling I installed a small mini split ac system. the room temp is a steady 70 degrees f 24/7.

I have a ppm-4 co2 controller on a bottle of co2 with a timer to only maintain 1500ppm during lights on.

I use a room dehumidifier to keep the humidity at 45-50%

cheers!
MR
 

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waterdawg

Well-Known Member
Nice setup. If you are using 3% H2O2 and its not a typo then I think your wasting your time as it wont do anything. Its a typo right? I use to use 39% at 150ml per 100l. I now use clear res with great results. Im a real newb fyi so anything I say is just my experience and I know crap lol. Why have two res's? I just built my setup a couple of years ago and always looking to tweak. How big is your CO2 bottle and how long does it last? Again nice!!!
 

superstoner1

Well-Known Member
A couple of ideas: if those plants vegged for 6weeks I would look at what happened because they are tiny. A steady 70 is not good and a waste of electricity, esp when running co2. 80-83 lights on will actually let them grow much easier and use the co2, 68-70 lights off is perfect. They need the temp change to open up and actually breathe correctly. As for pH, its the single most crucial aspect of control you have in hydro, why would you not control it? Different stages of growth require different pH levels for the plants to get what they need easier, allowing them to reach a more full potential. I have many strains and if I vegged any of them for 6weeks they would start flower at 4+ feet. Not knocking your grow just trying to help, things have improved in 20years.
 

Red1966

Well-Known Member
Nice setup. If you are using 3% H2O2 and its not a typo then I think your wasting your time as it wont do anything. Its a typo right? I use to use 39% at 150ml per 100l. I now use clear res with great results. Im a real newb fyi so anything I say is just my experience and I know crap lol. Why have two res's? I just built my setup a couple of years ago and always looking to tweak. How big is your CO2 bottle and how long does it last? Again nice!!!
You were using a 5% solution then.
 
I am very excited to see what you can do with these led lights I have the same light 900 watt and 1200 watt and I have had mixed results usually very high grade herb with low yield. But that could be me not being as effective as I could be. Good luck!
 

waterdawg

Well-Known Member
You were using a 5% solution then.
5% is still to weak! Besides I think there are better products to keep things in check imo. I used H2O2 for the first two years but the zyme products seem to work as well or better and are way cheaper imo.
 

Red1966

Well-Known Member
Yeah, H2O2 is surprisingly expensive for the 39% stuff. At least when you get it at a hydro store.
 

superstoner1

Well-Known Member
Beneficial bacteria is cheaper and better for the plants. H2o2 kills good and bad, bennies help the plant.
 

superstoner1

Well-Known Member
If You're running co2 the lights on temps should be in the 90F.
Never push that much. I have had over 50 strains in the last few years and I don't think any of them ever wanted anything above 84-86 and showed signs of heat stress at those temps. This in a well constructed and very sealed room with very tight control of all aspects including co2. I don't think you will find many that agree with you on that. Advice like that could cause people to lose their grow.
 

waterdawg

Well-Known Member
Never push that much. I have had over 50 strains in the last few years and I don't think any of them ever wanted anything above 84-86 and showed signs of heat stress at those temps. This in a well constructed and very sealed room with very tight control of all aspects including co2. I don't think you will find many that agree with you on that. Advice like that could cause people to lose their grow.
Kinda thought that was a bit excessive! I would poop my pants if my shed got to 90 for an extended period!!! Not to mention I would show heat stress in there lol.
 

SnapsProvolone

Well-Known Member
Metabolic rates increase with heat, to a point... thus adding regulated and increased co2 levels to an environment that has ample supplies of light, water and nutrients requires increased optimal temperature range to be effective.
 

waterdawg

Well-Known Member
Metabolic rates increase with heat, to a point... thus adding regulated and increased co2 levels to an environment that has ample supplies of light, water and nutrients requires increased optimal temperature range to be effective.
But isn't 90 a tad high?
 

waterdawg

Well-Known Member
Wow that opens up the possibility of a summer run! Again nice setup OP!!! With Snaps and SS you've got two guys that have taught me lots in the last 2.5 years!!!
 

Max Reefer

Member
thanks for all the great responses guys. I am feeling a little whooped after a busy and very fun weekend. I will have to address your questions later. cheers!

MR
 
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