DWC 18g Totes.

Hello RIU,

Just coveted to hydroponics. Decided to go the cost efficient route and buy 2 18g totes with a 80g air pump and 2 huge air stones like the ones you see in all the videos. I am doing 2 plants per tote. I purchased 4 clones the other day from my local dispensary: 2 God's Gift and 2 Spur Diesel.

Today is day 2 in their new homes. I'm currently using my tap water with a ppm of 117. (Just purchased a RO System) was too impatient to wait to install an RO system and get it running before I bought clones and jumped in. So for week one tap water will do. I'm following the Lucas Formula in a way but I'm kind of doing my own thing with some additives.

Their first tote of water which I filled up yesterday was 12 gallons each tote. I used only Micro and Bloom, no additives. I fed 0-2.5-5 for each gallon. pH'd down to 6.3, expecting the pH to drop over time. PPM was 427 on one tote and 423 on the other. This morning the ppm read the same, pH went up to about 7.0. pH'd back down to 6.0 earlier.

Will be adding in some KoolBloom in flower, along with some Diamond Nectar starting next week when I empty their reservoirs.

Plan on main-lining all the clones or just LST them today. Always topping and super cropping.

Any information or help is accepted. New to the hydro game and from all the research I've been doing I feel like it's not gonna be too bad. Still kind of lost when it comes to accounting for PPM of nutes with tap but I plan on using RO anyways. NEED an EC pen ASAP though.

Will keep you updated as the weeks go along.

If you have a TDS (ppm) meter pen, you dont necessarily need an EC meter really. Also, get to r/p quick as possible. Tap can contain spores that will rot your roots. Also, invest in 29% h2o2 from NutriLife and ass as directed (3ml/gal) add to mixed nutes. You need to invest in a chiller. It's obvious you're using HPS and also black totes which suck in heat along with your air pump pumping in hot air. Buy yourself a little thermometer probe for aquariums (less than $5) so you can dial in your water temps to 64-68*F. That's the most important thing a lot of new hydroers overlook.

I agree with airwalker chiller is needed raising temp water means ph high which mean no intake for plants which means dead plants quickly hydro grows plant quickly but also kills plants quickly hydro is not very forgiving like soil soil ects like a buffer

You got to be on form with the EC and PH of the nutrient solution. Also temperature and light on the water issues with the nutrient solution. Environment is key. Check out this video here of Nico Escondido explaining everything you could veer need to know about growing cannabis indoors and outdoors. From building a grow room to growing monster plants with huge yields... http://delta9cloud.com/growingcannabisindoorsguide/grow-like-a-pro/

Finally an update. Today is day 18 of veg from the day I bought my 4 clones and brought them home. I have been changing the reservoir once a week on either Saturday or Sunday. I'm using GH Expert Flora Recirculating line. Ended up not going with the Lucas Formula, was experiencing nitrogen deficiencies. Since switching, my plants habe THRIVED. I'm sold on Hydroponics as long as I can keep it from self destructing.

My water Temps are still a bit warm, usually mid 70s. I throw some ice bottles in there a couple times a day. pH fluctuates daily due to the warner water temps. I'll usually pH down to 5.9-6.1 and 2 days later it will be up to almost 7 if I don't pH it daily. Still using tap water as well. Need to start filling my spare tote the night before (I have a slow 50pgd ro system).

Roots have got some brown on them this week due to the heavier feed of nutrients. Wanting to do a couple day flush this weekend with some type off added nutrient such as H202 or Clearex. (Opinions wanted). Thinking about giving them until this weekend which would be about 23 days then flipping to flower.

Plants on the right are Sour Diesel and the left are God's Gift. Sorry about the HPS light.

If it's not chlorinated city water I don't see the need for an RO filter. I use well tap with 100ppm and never have issues from it. Those RO systems are expensive, so might as well save the money unless you see that you need it. Nice grow tho, i have a very similar setup, I don't worry about the water being in low-mid 70's either, never bothers my girls.

Doesn't matter what luck you've encountered or what you've gotten away with.
Science shows that colder that 70*F water is healthy for plants and ro water is the best thing to use. It's a clean slate and let's you know exactly what's being given to your girls.

Airwalker16 said:

Doesn't matter what luck you've encountered or what you've gotten away with.
Science shows that colder that 70*F water is healthy for plants and ro water is the best thing to use. It's a clean slate and let's you know exactly what's being given to your girls.

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Fer sure, I hear ya. I'm just saying what's best isn't always what's cheapest tho lol I know a lot of guys are on a budget growing so just trying to point out you don't need too spend too much if u don't have the $. OP did mention he was taking the cost efficient route

Hey bro, don't worry about adding water bottles its does nothing and only potentially adds more contams from your freezer (full of food). I run my rez at 75F with no problems, keeping it cool has more to do with DO than contams. Also I'd elevate the airpump above the tub. If your power goes out it could syphon water out of the tub onto your floor. If you put the airpump outside the tent of away fromt he light it will run slightly cooler.

I would be concerned more with the fluctuating PH, 1pH swing is rather larger for a day or two unless it was late flower and they were drinking lots of water.

Also I wouldn't run H2O2 if not needed, 29% peroxide it's VERY caustic and only people who will see benefits are commercial growers with DO probes, etc.

Airwalker16 said:

Doesn't matter what luck you've encountered or what you've gotten away with.
Science shows that colder that 70*F water is healthy for plants and ro water is the best thing to use. It's a clean slate and let's you know exactly what's being given to your girls.

Click to expand...

I love when people say "science shows"...

Sure lower temps allow more DO but a plant only needs so much (7-10mg/L) in hydro.


Even at 25c ~ 77F the DO is 8.6 which basically smack dab in the middle of range.

I know lettuce and cannabis are different plants completely but here is a quick abstract showing no increase in weight of lettuce after DO reaches critical level. In this case 2.1 mg/L.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11541573

Airwalker16 said:

Doesn't matter what luck you've encountered or what you've gotten away with.
Science shows that colder that 70*F water is healthy for plants and ro water is the best thing to use. It's a clean slate and let's you know exactly what's being given to your girls.

Click to expand...

RO is much more unsatable ph wise than tap and NOT something needed by most
Why would you strip free minerals and ph buffers from your water when there is no need to?
Bro, you gotta do some more reading on hydroponic nutrients and and source water before make the RO water recommendation.
You are automatically causing these dudes Cal-Mag problems from the get go

OneHitDone said:

RO is much more unsatable ph wise than tap and NOT something needed by most
Why would you strip free minerals and ph buffers from your water when there is no need to?
Bro, you gotta do some more reading on hydroponic nutrients and and source water before make the RO water recommendation.
You are automatically causing these dudes Cal-Mag problems from the get go

Click to expand...

I've never had ph fluctuation with ro but I use GH flora trio which has a buffer. AlSO H2O2 & MAMMOTH P

Took me an hour to pH a single gallon of distilled water once. I added 5 rockwool cubes and it shot up faster than a heroin addict that just won the lottery.

Tried again with tap water. Single drop of 'down' and done.

Yesdog said:

Took me an hour to pH a single gallon of distilled water once. I added 5 rockwool cubes and it shot up faster than a heroin addict that just won the lottery.

Tried again with tap water. Single drop of 'down' and done.

Click to expand...

If you're talking to asswalker the fraud, he has only been doing this for a few months so he really doesnt know what he's talking about... smh

https://www.rollitup.org/t/input-on-this-discoloration-please.905749/
https://www.rollitup.org/t/flushing-with-pure-r-o-h2o2.901057/
http://rollitup.org/t/rdwc-gurus-need-advice-on-return-line-flow-rate.909495/
https://www.rollitup.org/t/a-question-about-rdwc.909579/

read the dates on all of the original posts

Another update,

Day 29 today. I need to send these into the flower tent tomorrow now that it's the weekend and I have some down time..

I have been begging these under a 600w hps, will be flowering under a 1000w hps in a 4x4 tent. I'll post a picture of my tent and complete setup tomorrow.

Still using regular tap water though, still haven't switched to RO. Ran a final reservoir of grow formula the other day with ppms of 1200. First full dose, have been upping dosages as the weeks go. They seem to be sucking it up nicely, haven't seen any nute burn yet.

Started to bend some branches to create some more space for the stretch that is soon to come. Will probably do a final super cropping before I flower this weekend. Probably trim up some water leaves as well.

Getting some nice root porn going when I pull the tops off for reservoir cleaning.

Looking good! (not sure the root picture worked tho)

That monster to the left looks like she might outgrow the light soon lol

Well today I flipped them to 12/12 as they moved into the flower tent. It's a little 4x4x6.8 or something like that. Just enough space for these 4 girls.

I'm running a XXXL 1000w hps. I have my charcoal filter in the tent which is hooked straight to a Hydrofarm 6" intake fan pulling air through the charcoal filter, through the XXXL hood, out the tent. Using a portable AC unit to keep the tent cool, set at 79 degrees, humidity is mid 40%. These pictures were right as I cleaned the tent down with soap and water and 409. Let it air out and got my environment set then moved the girls into their new home for the next 8-10 weeks.

They got a little light burn on the tops from running out of space in my closet in the house. After I took these pictures I super cropped all the branches down to give them another 2 feet of room to grow. Still need to trim up some water leaves and do some light lollipopping.

Having the AC in the tent should help keep my water temps even lower than before (closet was constantly warm/muggy, didn't have good AC access).

Still havent seen any issues in my roots. I see some brownish due to nute stains. I haven't flushed yet either.

Since I just changed the reservoir about 3 days ago I'm going to run the grow nutrients the first week of flower. Will hit the flower formula running mid next week or weekend depending on how these babies continue to do on this full dose feeding.

Thanks for staying tuned. Will be back with more as the growth continues. Might post a few pictures of this post Super Cropping and lollipopping.

A little post super crop. I had about a foot, foot and a half of growth room in my tent before I laid all the branches over. Should give plenty of space for vertical stretch. This was day 1 of Veg that I super cropped all these branches. Waiting for the first week of flower to end, then I will begin to slowly lollipop and thin out the plants by removing the popcorn bud areas and lower branches that won't receive light.

Love advice on the pruning techniques. Usually I trim water leaves throughout veg but I decided to try something different and let the plant just grow all of its veg stage.

Hoping to pull a LB off these 4 plants under this 1000w XXXL. Way too soon to tell but I'm hoping for the best.

Last grow I did a huge amount of trimming leaves and it definitely stunted my flower growth. Got some airy indoor buds and a lot of small popcorn buds. Trying to not make that mistake this time around.

Got the AC in there set at about 79 degrees. Hopefully once I prune the plant up it will reduce some humidity I get during the day when it's warm.

Another update. 11 days into 12/12, I'm literally out of vertical growth space... I'm going to have to tie down some branches for sure.. I lollipopped about 3 days ago, got rid of all the small shit and useless branches on the bottom 1/3rd of the plants..

Can't wait to see the flowers start forming. They're some thirsty girls for sure.. having to top off with a gallon or 2 everyday.

How much stretch should I still expect?

Never try to grow 4 plants Hydroponically in a 4x4 tent lol. So out of room in that tent it's not even funny lol.

Qronyq said:

Another update. 11 days into 12/12, I'm literally out of vertical growth space... I'm going to have to tie down some branches for sure.. I lollipopped about 3 days ago, got rid of all the small shit and useless branches on the bottom 1/3rd of the plants..

Can't wait to see the flowers start forming. They're some thirsty girls for sure.. having to top off with a gallon or 2 everyday.

How much stretch should I still expect?

Never try to grow 4 plants Hydroponically in a 4x4 tent lol. So out of room in that tent it's not even funny lol.

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Those look nice man. I hear you about the room. I grow 6 in a 4x8 and they are always way too big. I'm sure I could do 3 in there with the same end results. Hard to say on the stretch, it's really dependent on genetics. Most seem done stretching after 3 weeks in flower and I've had some go buck wild stretching in flower in my hydro system as well. I get a decent ph drop in week 5 of flower, so keep an eye on them, and keep those roots healthy! Good luck.