How to check or drain hydro setup?

I am designing a cab grow op and was considering using either the GH Waterfarm or the Stealth Hydro Bubbleponics 6 plant kit. I would like to include an extra reservoir/controller if I can manage to safely fit one into the locker I am going to be using. I am new to hydro, but I do know that larger reservoir = less headache.

Anyway, being new to hydro I have one question: If I am supposed to be checking the PPM and PH of the water each day, why do the growing modules not have a hole drilled into the side of the bottom with a drain valve in place? That way you could easily open the valve and drain some water into a cup to test your PH, or to drain the system. Am I missing something? Does the system not need to be drained ever (or until after harvest at least), or is there some other mechanism for checking PH? I don't get it.

As long as the salts don't build up gradually transitioning into flower should be no problem. The drain is handy for the flush and possible nute overdoses... Flushing quickly would help there also.
Feeding once a week and watering/ppm/ph'ing twice in between at most. Just to make sure she is eating

chunkydunkynug said:

As long as the salts don't build up gradually transitioning into flower should be no problem. The drain is handy for the flush and possible nute overdoses... Flushing quickly would help there also.
Feeding once a week and watering/ppm/ph'ing twice in between at most. Just to make sure she is eating

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So you don't change all the water in the reservoir every time you feed them? If so do you just lift up the top reservoir and place it somewhere while you change the water and add the nuts? New to WF as well.

This is my first hydro grow as well. I am using a small 6 container set. Mine recommended to change at least once a month, and flush with fresh water, then refill with nute solution. Since I am on day 4, I am getting used to maintaining the ph - such a pleasure over soil and other growing mediums
Since I have 2 bubble stones, there may be sediment from my hydroton pellets as well as sediment from bat guano I used once for ph, and will likely use later during flowering. My kit came with premeasured nute solutions for each phase of growth.
Since I can be the queen of nute burn, this is helpful even though I have a few other products I like to use.
My understanding is it is growers preference.

I check my ph daily as they are using nutes I have already added, thereby raising the ph again. As the seedlings are establishing roots, etc. the ph will change. I did a partial flush as I feared I over did it yesterday.
Now I check my ph.... and am working on leaving it alone!!! I peek in and say hi (talk to my plants) knowing left to my own devices I will tweak them to death.
I am using a liquid ph kit with a small vial for the H2O mix, then add 2-3 drops of the ph solution. I had one that looked like a thermometer, which never seemed to change. I prefer the liquid method.

akak8ty said:

I check my ph daily as they are using nutes I have already added, thereby raising the ph again. As the seedlings are establishing roots, etc. the ph will change. I did a partial flush as I feared I over did it yesterday.
Now I check my ph.... and am working on leaving it alone!!! I peek in and say hi (talk to my plants) knowing left to my own devices I will tweak them to death.
I am using a liquid ph kit with a small vial for the H2O mix, then add 2-3 drops of the ph solution. I had one that looked like a thermometer, which never seemed to change. I prefer the liquid method.

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What's your brand of choice to check ph levels? (in hydro or aero)

Licksick: Stealth Hydro's unit doesn't come with a drain but you can order one from them. I just don'[t like the one they offer. Whether they'll install it? I don't know. I copied Stealth Hydro's bubble tub design as best I could from their video and I have a lot of respect for it but you're going to need to drain it to clean the tub about every week or two. Some people do it weekly. If you're young and strong it's still going to be a bitch without a drain. It's a ten gallon tub with six gallons of nutes in it.

I suggest you find a home brewing supplier, either online or locally, buy a plastic primary fermenter drain valve and mount it as low on the tub as you can. It requires a 1" hole saw. When you drain it you'll be glad you did and surprised at how much crap you've accumulated at the bottom of the tub, even with well rinsed Hydroton. Also wrap your pump in a protective sock or it'll kill it.

As far as fitting it into a locker is concerned, you're going to need a pretty good sized locker. It's a lot bigger than the picture on their website.

As far as ppm's and pH are concerned: my experience with their bubble tub has shown me that six marijuana plants in a Stealth Hydro tub are too many unless you're using high intensity discharge lighting. It's a ten gallon Sterlite tub and that's like trying to grow more than two medium strain plants in an Aerogarden; you cut the ratio of plants to nutrient volume too close. Once they get about a foot tall you'll want to set up a second tub from Wal-Mart and you'll find it'll accommodate three medium size plants nicely.

Don't be surprised if your pH goes up a lot when they start vegging and flowering so you'll usually have to readjust it daily. Mine start at 5.8 and by ten o'clock the next morning they're at 6.1 or higher. It's really pretty easy if you have a good pH meter. The little chemical tester you get with the General Hydroponics Acid down/alkali up kit is a slow pain to use. With an electronic meter, you simply pop the tub ends loose, move the lid just enough to stick your ppm meter and pH meter in to get a reading then add what ever is required.

I check the ppm's daily but that's just a habit I've gotten into. There's not much change in ppm's from day to day. Over a two week period it might change 200/1,000 points. If there was a change, what would you do? What would you add? I use Technaflora's "Recipe for Success." I love it's simplicity. I recycle the used nutes into my dirt vegetable garden outside when I change it every two weeks and I've haven't needed to do anything else but adjust the pH daily between nutes changes.

You had a lot of questions. I hope this helped. HSA

Ph strips are a cheap and easy way to check..

AWnox said:

So you don't change all the water in the reservoir every time you feed them? If so do you just lift up the top reservoir and place it somewhere while you change the water and add the nuts? New to WF as well.

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if ya think about it really replacing or "flushing" every watering or feeding is going to wash down tons of money and chemicals into the world in general. Waste of money and planet earth.
Rather, for example during weeks 1thru2 of flower advanced Nutes use voodoo juice + a base. Used the "advised" recomendation first then the "base" until your ppms are met for the week of growth you are in.

Each time I water (twice a week besides feeding) I add water to a "specified" mark before adding nutrients. If I am only watering I add the water THEN Ph balance. the same goesfor nutes. Water, nutes then adjust Ph.
Personally I feel the plant should NOT be contolled to a certain Ph everyday. Rather allow for some variation as it will allow the plant to grow more "full spectrum"

again feeding once a week a watering twice in between saves time money and mother nature.

I only flush TWICE total the entire grow. Transitioning into each phase of growth with nutes ensures the plant recieves what it needs. Adjust ppms to your liking. Sometime more is less. FYI



edit : use your base "booster" as recommended then the base throughout your entire grow

To HSA: thanks for the valuable info.

The plan so far will be to use two lockers, one for flower and one for mother/clone/veg area. I have been checking the dimensions of everything to make sure I am making good use of the space.

I had already figured that I would likely only use two or three of the net pots, as six seemed crowded for anything more than seedlings. In fact I was also thinking about copying their setup, as I should be able to re-create the same thing with parts from the local hardware and hydro shops. That way I can use whatever size tubs I need, with the exact amount of net pots I am likely to be using. The homebrew supply is a great idea! I have to go there soon anyway (brewing beer is another interest of mine). Thanks again for the great advice.

I hope you're planning on doing multiple reservoirs; I.E. one rez per plant.