USbeginnerguy
Active Member
My first time using Aqua Flakes A and B also my first DWC my hydro anything lol. How often do i feed them everyday twice a day i have no clue someone help me out please. Thanks.
Dwc Feeding Schedule
- Thread starter USbeginnerguy
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taGyo
Well-Known Member
Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but set up your DWC with whatever base nutes you want.
Then the next day use your PPM meter and if it's lower, add water and some nutes at a slightly higher level, if it's higher, just add water. If your PPM and water level lowers it means your plants are eating the nutrients. If it raises that means the plant is drinking water.
Then the next day use your PPM meter and if it's lower, add water and some nutes at a slightly higher level, if it's higher, just add water. If your PPM and water level lowers it means your plants are eating the nutrients. If it raises that means the plant is drinking water.
torontoke
Well-Known Member
If your using dwc than how would you feed everyday?
Most people ive seen just top up when necessary. And do cleanouts and water changes every couple weeks.
I would suggest using a good ppm tester and trying to keep everything consistent and u should be good.
Good luck sir
Most people ive seen just top up when necessary. And do cleanouts and water changes every couple weeks.
I would suggest using a good ppm tester and trying to keep everything consistent and u should be good.
Good luck sir
torontoke
Well-Known Member
Ya something like that exactly.
What i usually do i say i need 20 liters. I will mix up 30 with my desired nutes. Use the 20 i need then keep a bunch for topping up i know what im adding over the course of a week or two should be relatively close to the original. If the ppm is off i tinker with whats being currently used and try
to keep it as consistent as possible.
Im sure what i do isnt what everyone does but it seems to work for me.
What i usually do i say i need 20 liters. I will mix up 30 with my desired nutes. Use the 20 i need then keep a bunch for topping up i know what im adding over the course of a week or two should be relatively close to the original. If the ppm is off i tinker with whats being currently used and try
to keep it as consistent as possible.
Im sure what i do isnt what everyone does but it seems to work for me.
USbeginnerguy
Active Member
Anyone know how much I should add per liter or per gallon if I don't have a PPM meter, and I'm just starting off? I'm only on day 2...
USbeginnerguy
Active Member
Thanks everyone i will be picking up a ppm meter. How would a ppm meter tell me if they need to be fed? Sorry if that's a stupid question. Is there a certain number im looking to obtain each week? Im guessing it will gradually go up the further she gets? Also do i let my airstone run and make bubbles 24/7? Should my net pot actually sit in the water a little bit or just above it?
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USbeginnerguy
Active Member
I have an electronic ph meter and im using city water. I have the 5 gallon bucket setup.
Dr. Who
Well-Known Member
1 Go to the nutrient makers web site and download a feeding schedule
2 You don't need a ppm meter! (wait for it, more about this later)
3 You will need to dump and refill on a regular schedule for reasons we don't need to go into right now. Just believe us when we say to!!!
4 It's hydro - for gods sake add a Ca/Mg supplement!!!!! THIS IS LAW!
Try this method of DWC and you will remain trouble free
THE 33% Add Back DWC/hydro method
Mix up a batch of 100% strength nutrient's and pH to 6.0
Fill the res to you fill point - REMEBER how much this is!
When the res lowers and you need to add back to top off the res. Use a 33% nutrient solution to add back!
Mix one gallon of your feed mix and add 2 gallons of straight water - pH to 6.0 and top off the res.
Do this until the total amount of top offs would match the amount you used to fill the res at the start. Now dump it out and refill with fresh 100% solution and repeat the whole thing till you change to bloom feed and do the whole thing again till done.
You will NOT need a ppm meter to do this!
As the plant sits in the solution and you add back 100% solution - you will see the ppm's go up and up...This is a bad thing and is why others use a ppm meter and attempt to match the ppm's to the original ppm # at the start.....This too posses a problem of build up of "plant returned" chem's and why you NEED to dump and refill every so often.....
The 33% rule or method is fool proof and you don't NEED a ppm meter to do it!
You will save $ on nutrients too!
Doc
2 You don't need a ppm meter! (wait for it, more about this later)
3 You will need to dump and refill on a regular schedule for reasons we don't need to go into right now. Just believe us when we say to!!!
4 It's hydro - for gods sake add a Ca/Mg supplement!!!!! THIS IS LAW!
Try this method of DWC and you will remain trouble free
THE 33% Add Back DWC/hydro method
Mix up a batch of 100% strength nutrient's and pH to 6.0
Fill the res to you fill point - REMEBER how much this is!
When the res lowers and you need to add back to top off the res. Use a 33% nutrient solution to add back!
Mix one gallon of your feed mix and add 2 gallons of straight water - pH to 6.0 and top off the res.
Do this until the total amount of top offs would match the amount you used to fill the res at the start. Now dump it out and refill with fresh 100% solution and repeat the whole thing till you change to bloom feed and do the whole thing again till done.
You will NOT need a ppm meter to do this!
As the plant sits in the solution and you add back 100% solution - you will see the ppm's go up and up...This is a bad thing and is why others use a ppm meter and attempt to match the ppm's to the original ppm # at the start.....This too posses a problem of build up of "plant returned" chem's and why you NEED to dump and refill every so often.....
The 33% rule or method is fool proof and you don't NEED a ppm meter to do it!
You will save $ on nutrients too!
Doc
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taGyo
Well-Known Member
This is how you calculate if your underfeeding or feeding correctly
You're right Dr, you don't NEED a PPM meter but if you're just starting in hydro I'd recommend one.
USbeginnerguy
Active Member
Dr.Who i was told by the guy at my gardening supply store that i wouldnt need a ppm as well im going to assume this is why. He said something about this but they cant reallllly get into for legal reasons. I am only using House and Gardens Aqua Flakes A and B i was told i wouldnt need anything else. Im going to guess you think i should definitely use a Ca/Mg as well? Not sure if i can have the 33% mixed just sitting waiting to be used or should i only mix it up when i need it can the nutes just sit and chill in the watter until im ready to top off? My apologies again total noob in this field just want to get it right. Thanks for all the support!!
Dr. Who
Well-Known Member
You can have a ppm meter...It will be nice for you to meter it at every top off and record the #'s for thought....
Yeah, you'll need a Ca/Mg !!! Gardening supply store man has head in ass! VERY, VERY few hydroponic nutrients come with the proper amounts of Ca and Mg in them.......H&G Aqua flakes is NOT one of them!
How big is your res? OR how many buckets will you be running? Well, you can make up oversize batch's of nutrient. Simply put an airstone from a line not used to go to your bucket(s) into it.......Oh, he didn't tell you you needed air pumped into your res either?
Yup gotta have that going on too...
Doc
Yeah, you'll need a Ca/Mg !!! Gardening supply store man has head in ass! VERY, VERY few hydroponic nutrients come with the proper amounts of Ca and Mg in them.......H&G Aqua flakes is NOT one of them!
How big is your res? OR how many buckets will you be running? Well, you can make up oversize batch's of nutrient. Simply put an airstone from a line not used to go to your bucket(s) into it.......Oh, he didn't tell you you needed air pumped into your res either?
Yup gotta have that going on too...
Doc
USbeginnerguy
Active Member
Great info. I will def pick up a Ca/MG today. i have a 5 gallon dwc bucket setup. I will probably do the math and just put a third of the nutes in one gallon since i dont think ill need that much since its only one bucket if i cant do this correct me if im wrong please. The garden supply guy pretty much said the same as you about the ppm and not needing it he just left out the part of needing a CA/MG. thanks again for your time and knowledge definitely appreciated