NoJailForInhale
Active Member
I would love some feed back on this. I built a hydro set up, because I got sick of getting rid of dirt, using 5ft long 4in PVC I have 6 tubes each hold 4-5 plants. I have a pump that fills the tubes 4 times a day, 3 during the day and 1 a couple hours after lights outs, for 30 minutes at a time. The plant are in 3.5in mesh pot with expanded clay. Im using HESI Hydro nutes .This set up fits nicely in a 7ft X 7ft X 6ft area, this leaves 1 foot around the frame and 4.5 feet above the tubes. Ive only used it once and Im in the beginning stages of grow two. The first time around everything seemed to be working like a champ. The veg stage was incredible they grew so fast I was amazed this thing actually worked. About a month in two flowering everything seemed like it slowed down to a crawl. The roots began to turn brown, but the plants ripened up they just didnt fill out. I think I know why this happened and if Im wrong can someone correct me. First off, I feel I had insufficient lighting, 1- 400w HPS, thats it. I have since then bought another 400w HPS and a 250wMH. I also think the browning in the roots came from over watering. I have read so much on ebb and flow and no where does it give a estimated watering schedule. The drain/fill tubes arent perfectly flush with the bottom of the tubes and cause a very small amount of water to stay in the bottom at all times, Im not sure if there was even enough to do damage but I just want to know. I have made some changes since pulling out every hair on my head. Inside the tubes I have layer of plastic an inch above the bottom of the tubes to prevent any roots from excessive exposure to any water that may not drain. The layer of plastic has multiple holes with screen allowing water up and few roots down. Under the plastic are air stones. So for my second grow, while the tubes are flooded I have aquarium air pumps pumping oxygen in to the tubes. So with these changes and with more lighting Im hoping I will have a bigger yield and less problems. Anybody wanna tell me I should be ok or am I just jerking myself off and making it more complicated than it should be.
