New hydro grower, about to start. Need some help. with the following

1) single 5 gallon dwc w/ 10" hydroton netpot. Using 2800cc/m air pump w/ dual outlets to dual 12" airstones, this enough air? makes lots of little bubbles.

2) 10" net pot is a lot of room for roots. For maximum root:yield ratio, think I should plant 2-4 seeds in the hydroton or just 1? Seeds are feminized.

3) TDS/PH meters should be here this week. What should ppm of my tap water be in order for it to be usable. Below 200? 180? 300? What works, what doesn't? Water is pretty clean, low chlorine, failry neutral pH. can't meter it until later but what should I look for? I have no problem buying pure from the stoore, but pretty much shouldn't need to.

4) For an easy start I want to place the germinated seed directly into hydroton, is this a good idea? Is rockwool necessary to create a stable foundation?

5) Do I need a humidity dome to cover the seedlings so their roots may grow through the hydroton or would it be fine in a semi-arid ambient atmosphere?

6) Reservoir water turnover suggestions? Can I leave the water for awhile? Month at a time? Nice black net pot snugly fits on the bucket so no light gets through, good quality plastic hydroponic components from the hydro shop. Do bacteria and algae thrive even in these environments? I just don't want to harm the plants, but I think I could do the entire grow changing the water oh 3 or 4 times (seedling mix, vegetative mix, floweirng mix, flushing mix).

7) Is an EC meter really necessary or is TDS and pH good enough indication of the solution?

Thanks a lot +rep to the help!!!!

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1.) Good enough
2.)You do not put seeds in the hydroton. Grow them in rockwool or starterplugs. Once rooted then you put them in the bucket.
3.)Shrug, my water is 350-400ppm from the tap. I mix it half/half with R/O water
4.)Rockwool or starter plugs
5.)See answer 2 and 4
6.)You will have to play it day by day. Depending on your water temps you will have problems, less problems or no problems. I use a water chiller and keep my water at 68-70. Ive never had problems.
7.)EC and TDS are the same thing. EC is the standard form to read your nutrient strength. TDS was just created to make it a bit easier on people.

Keep in mind I am new to growing and these are just my observations. I have had success with this info though.

1) Sounds like more than enough.

2) I use 8". You should only have 1 plant per bucket. If for some reason you have to pull one the plants the roots will be horribly tangled.

3) Whatever you do do not use tap water! I am telling everyone that asks. Tap water almost killed all of my plants in 2 days. Go to the store and buy a few gallons of distilled ($.99 each). Or go out and buy a RO filter system.

4) I used rockwool. It made my life a lot easier.

5) Get a germination tray, with a cover.

6) Everything I have read says no more than 10 days. I change every 7 and I have never had a problem.

7) TDS and pH are good enough.

Hope this helps you!

Cool, thanks for the confirmations and tips.

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