8 inch rock is what I use. Works fine.

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I start my cuts in 50mm rockwool cubes then raise them in 8" plastic pots filled with loose rockwool, often called 'granulated' or 'floc.' Sold in big 12kg bales. You break it up to suit any pot size. Looks a bit like loose insulation material.

Pots are watered in a flood system, 1x day for 3 mins. If you do take up rockwool, go easy on watering until you get it right. Rockwool holds a LOT of water and it's easy to drown roots.

I've used the expanded clay pellets before and am not fond of them. Heavy, hard to dispose of, drop a handful and you'll chase them around the room.

A 'total loss' watering system in rockwool, where you mix up fresh nutes and hand water as needed, is an ideal newbie intro to hydroponics. It's no more difficult than raising a plant in soil... you'd mix ferts for your plants in soil anyway.

Well Al B Hornschnackled! I've always heard that system called 'drain to waste.' And I think that describes it much better, too.

Besides, 'total loss' just sounds like a complete failure.

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heheheh, if it were an oiling system on a motorcycle engine where the excess went out a tube and on the ground (as many VERY early bikes did), it's be called 'total loss oiling.'

I'll go with 'drain to waste.'

that is to suggest that water distribtued through the rockwool, once drained, can be good to re-use for the plants media for up to 2 weeks stored via resevoir?

rather than start a new thread, i thought id ask here.

in an 8x4 tray ebb/flow, with 6*6 cubes filling the whole tray, sog setup, what would be an ideal watering schedule? ie:how many times a day for how long?

I started with 2 or 4 inch, then put them on top of 6 inch cubes
I dunk mine, and give em nutes every feed. If I notice any build up, I'll flush then feed. I had a drip system set up, but this is just as easy. Recirculating doesn't appeal to me, due to possible ph fluctuations.

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that depends on the strain and what it prefers. you could do a two time watering schedule, 15-30mins when the lights come on, again at 6hrs in, or three times, lights on, 4hrs in, and 8hrs in.

some run a continuous drip. in the end, the choice is yours to make

k.p.

ok, thanks, i guess i just want to make sure i dont over or under water

what do you mean notice buildup? i have white powder that looksd like salt building up on my tray.... is that bad?