First Time Hydroponic Grower

Mitus · #1 03-20-2009, 01:10 AM

So this is my first time growing indoors as well as my first time doing hydroponics... I've been through a little trial/error getting my setup the way it needs to be, but I'm just about ready to pick my clones and come plant them in the system.

Its a homemade system, with inspiration from a few other systems I've seen. It's pretty basic... \
-I have an 18 gal. res on the bottem shelf of this cabinet.
-Inside the res is a submersible pump hooked to a 1/2" tubing
-The tubing runs to the upper shelf of the cabinet where the 6 plant tray sits
-At the end of the 1/2" tubing is a drip sprinkler with eight 1/4" spouts on it
-From 6 of the spouts i run a 12" peice of 1/4" tubing with a driper on the end of it, to each individual plant
-The excess water collects in the tray and runs down two drains i installed
-Both drains have a 1/2" tubing fit to the bottem of them that runs back into the res

I'm using a 1000 watt Lumatek digital ballast... w/ a 1000 watt metal halide bulb (till its time to flower). Off of my duct blower I'm venting the lamp as well as leaving an open duct to vent the room. The exhaust for the blower runs through a duct into the attic.

So... the help I need at this time is a detailed explaination of how to plant my clones when I get them home (they'll have a decent root structre already).

As you can see in some of the pictures there is 6 holes cut in the lid of the 3x3 tray to house the plants. My Hydroton rock is still in the bag...
Lets say I walk in the door with my 6 clones in a little tray ready to go. Whats the steps I go through to get them set up?

How much light should I be giving them at a time and how frequently?How close should the light be to the clones? (remember 1000 watt bulb)
With the nutrients seen in my pics is there any particular recipies that anyone recommends?
I have a big bag of Growcubes as well as the Hydroton rocks... should i be mixing the two together? or just use the Hydroton?

How many times a day should i water them? should i only water when they are getting light? How much water should they get at once?

I know thats like a million questions, but if anyone out there feels like answering it will be greatly appriciated

-Mitus

Mitus · #2 03-21-2009, 11:40 PM

Looking good! all thats left is a little cleaning and to go pick up the clones

-Mitus

ps: the other pics are what we got to

after we finished all the work

. "LA OG" & "Green Crack"

also a pic of the ppm/ph meter i got

fucking expensive... lol

iamgrowerman · #3 03-22-2009, 10:48 AM

Looks like you're off to a very good start, you've certainly picked out a nice set of supplies. You'll be up to your ears in your own hydroponic bud in no time!

I noticed in your supplies you opted to go with GH for your first hydroponic grow. What was your decision-making progress on that?

I'm just curious because that's what I did too, but I switched to Advanced Nutrients and have been much happier since. With hydroponic you can get some amazing results and AN seems better able to deliver what I expect so it is always among my supplies now.

Mitus · #4 03-25-2009, 12:55 AM

After completely setting up everything i came to realize the drip sprinkler/vinyl tubing i was using was not going to work.
I got some advice from the local hyrdro store... so what i did is take 10 foot piece of 1/2" SOFT tubing (vinyl or w/e, not sure of material, but they sell it at aquarium stores) and twelve 1 foot peices of 1/8" tubing. I used this special tool to pop the 1/8" holes in the 1/2" tubing and then shoved a peice of 1/8" tubing in each hole (giving 2 drip lines to each plant, 12 lines total). Each 1/8" peice is mounted into a spike that holds it still and points it in the right direction.

I got a chance to play with my new ppm/ph/temp meter. Its pretty cool, much different then what i'm used to using.

Anyone have any tips on how to clean and take care of my Hanna HI9813 ?

So after 2 weeks of grueling setup, mistakes and obstacles I'm finally looking at 6 little clones... hope these fuckers do their job like i'm doin mine!

Day 1 Complete !

-Mitus

gohydro · #5 03-27-2009, 03:51 PM

You're on your way! Good Luck!

Oh, just follow the directions on the Hanna meter for cleaning, storage and calibration. Be extremely careful with that probe. If it breaks it's almost as expensive as a new meter. I'm on my second probe in about 4 years.

Mitus · #6 03-28-2009, 02:40 AM

My PH seems to climb 0.2 each day. I'm keeping it at an average of 5.9 - 6.0 . My PPM in my 20 gal of res water is about 940 today and it was about 910 2 days ago. Are my #s flucuating normally? Is my PPM too high or too low? I'm not familiar with PPM very much so if anyone feels like jumping in and clearing it up for me that would be cool!.

My 2 OG Chemdawg clones seem to be growing much faster than any of the 4 UK Cheese clones. I'm gonna try to keep daily measurements from here on in.

gohydro · #7 03-28-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitus

My PH seems to climb 0.2 each day. I'm keeping it at an average of 5.9 - 6.0 . My PPM in my 20 gal of res water is about 940 today and it was about 910 2 days ago. Are my #s flucuating normally? Is my PPM too high or too low? I'm not familiar with PPM very much so if anyone feels like jumping in and clearing it up for me that would be cool!.

My 2 OG Chemdawg clones seem to be growing much faster than any of the 4 UK Cheese clones. I'm gonna try to keep daily measurements from here on in.

Drop your PH a little......around 5.6 and LOWER the PPM....940 is WAY too high for new clones. If it is rising (from 910 to 940) either the plants are using more water than nutes (thereby increasing nute concentration) or the combined effect of the plant usage and evaporation is is doing the same thing. Personally I don't go above 300 for new clones.

That PH fluctuation you're seeing is minimal. Be happy with that.

StonerG · #8 03-29-2009, 09:45 PM

Hey this is my first hydroponic grow and i have got everything i need except the PH up and down bottles and the mix's whats a good mix's? how does it all work. All im looking for is what kind of liquid nutrients (example, pure blend gro 1-.5-1 and just take that and add water with the PH level of 7) would that work? But as i said this is my first hydro and just trying to the basics done. i have already had a few harvest of organic.

Mitus · #9 03-29-2009, 11:26 PM

Day 6:

Did my first water change today. I've been steadily keeping my ph between 5.8 - 6.2 . Last week my ppm was around 900ish and the plants are looking great. Lots of new growth and they're getting taller each day.
With this water change I up'd my nutrient portions a little since they've gotten a little used to their enviornment.

Here is some pics of the Chemdawg OG clones !!

I'll post the pics of the UK Cheese clones in a seperate post.

-Mitus

Mitus · #10 03-29-2009, 11:47 PM

Here is the pics of the UK Cheese Clones (Day 6)

-Mitus

one of the four cheese clones was much whimpier looking when I picked it up (compaired to the other 3). It is still keeping its "runt" status, but does have some new growth so not all is lost. The other 3 however are growing a LOT. I can't wait... droooool

Forum	Shop	Market		Seeds	FAQ	Tools
SEE OUR MARIJUANA SEED GUIDE FOR THE BEST STRAINS				Looking for Legal Marijuana look no further!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
First time growing advice	rkm	Newbie Central	3	11-21-2009 11:14 PM
First time grower, any tips/comments GREATLY appreciated	turbogti686	Grow Journals	87	02-14-2008 07:47 PM
first time grower	haveAcigar	General Marijuana Growing	6	08-24-2007 01:28 PM
1st Time Grower Long Time Smoker	vvplatinumvv	Grow Journals	6	08-06-2007 03:12 PM
starting fresh first time grower	emptypackofcigs	Grow Journals	15	02-09-2007 05:50 PM

User Name		Remember Me?
Password

SEE OUR MARIJUANA SEED GUIDE FOR THE BEST STRAINS

Looking for Legal Marijuana look no further!

Thread

Thread Starter

Forum

Replies

Last Post

Posting Rules