hydroponics advice

ganja zulu

ganja zulu

Member
ok so here is the break down i have had many successful gurilla grows and smoked far too much weed in my life time but never untill now have i been able to attempt to grow hydroponics. (to many issues wit privacy and space.) but now a lovely lil private space has become available. Its very small and i only want to grow for myself as a hobby the space i have available is 2foot (half a meter) by 3 foot (1 meter) and 6.5 foot high. (2 meter) i know its extremely tiny but its an experiment in a cubord. Here is my ideas i am open to any input as it is my first hydroponics grow im thinking of useing the nft system unless someone advises me otherwise with a 250w hps lamp and hydroton as a grow medium the nutrients are a store bought liquid pre mix and the seeds i have available to me are all feminised hence the fact i don mind only growing one i have nyc diesel or white rhino to grow. I thinking about using nyc diesel. The regular things that cause problems 4 most(cops with infared cameras, high electricity bills. And light leaks and smell) are not an issue where i stay what is an issue is the space i have so before i start this project i would like an opinion from someone who has superior know how in the field of hydroponics to give me some pointers. Thanx much love and respect
 
Big P

Big P

Well-Known Member
i would do DWC since you are limited on space get a low profit tub that fits the complete foot print of the grow room like this:



2 foot by 3 ft is a nice size area I think u can put 2 plants in there, so you cut holes in the top of the lid and put net cups in there, all u need is rockwool to mush into the net cups as long as they fill it, hydroton is just a waste of time and money. Also if you get a clear tub like the one above you must seal it from light by covering it with foil tape



get an aquarium air pump that is more than enough capacity for your size tub

I would also suggest using General Hydroponics Flora series nutes for best results.


but thats pretty much it







also get this PPM meter its great and cheap:

HANNA Primo TDS / ppm Tester, Meter

HANNA Primo TDS / ppm Tester
Item# Han-PRIMO
Regular price: $24.99
Sale price: $16.99, 2/$32.00, 5/$76.00







HANNA Instruments Primo Pocket TDS Tester, Meter

One free 20ml 1382 ppm TDS calibration solution and two extra free batteries included.

* High accuracy * Exceptional linearity over the entire range * Automatic calibration with the press of a button

The Primo provides a fast and dependable way to measure the Total Dissolved Solids level in your water samples. It is ideally suited for the rigorous demands of water quality professionals, who will appreciate the practicality of the Primos easy-to-read Liquid Crystal Display when demonstrating the before and after results of conditioning and filtration systems. Temperature is compensated automatically to ensure the readings are consistent to the standard or reference temperature. Operating and routine maintenance has never been easier. The Primo TDS uses a single button at the top of the meter. Press it once and the meter is powered and ready for use. Press and hold the button for a few seconds and the Primo automatically enters calibration mode. Simply open a sachet of the calibration solution, dip the probe and within seconds, the meter recognizes the calibration solution and calibrates itself!
http://www.eseasongear.com/hainprpotdsm.html



and now this is the rule of thumb that will make you a pro:

you put in your nutes. If the next day the plants drink water and the ppm has risen, it means you had put too much nutes in there. if they drink water and the ppm has fallen it means you didnt put enough in there,
if the plants drink water but your ppm stays the same, it means you have found the perfect ratio of nutes to water that your plants need at that particular time in thier lives. they will need more or less depending on the stage of growth they are in,


that is how you can read your plants to know exactly how much nutes to give them
 
MRsteverson

MRsteverson

Well-Known Member
Big P said:
i would do DWC since you are limited on space get a low profit tub that fits the complete foot print of the grow room like this:



2 foot by 3 ft is a nice size area I think u can put 2 plants in there, so you cut holes in the top of the lid and put net cups in there, all u need is rockwool to mush into the net cups as long as they fill it, hydroton is just a waste of time and money. Also if you get a clear tub like the one above you must seal it from light by covering it with foil tape



get an aquarium air pump that is more than enough capacity for your size tub

I would also suggest using General Hydroponics Flora series nutes for best results.


but thats pretty much it







also get this PPM meter its great and cheap:

HANNA Primo TDS / ppm Tester, Meter

HANNA Primo TDS / ppm Tester
Item# Han-PRIMO
Regular price: $24.99
Sale price: $16.99, 2/$32.00, 5/$76.00







HANNA Instruments Primo Pocket TDS Tester, Meter

One free 20ml 1382 ppm TDS calibration solution and two extra free batteries included.

* High accuracy * Exceptional linearity over the entire range * Automatic calibration with the press of a button

The Primo provides a fast and dependable way to measure the Total Dissolved Solids level in your water samples. It is ideally suited for the rigorous demands of water quality professionals, who will appreciate the practicality of the Primos easy-to-read Liquid Crystal Display when demonstrating the before and after results of conditioning and filtration systems. Temperature is compensated automatically to ensure the readings are consistent to the standard or reference temperature. Operating and routine maintenance has never been easier. The Primo TDS uses a single button at the top of the meter. Press it once and the meter is powered and ready for use. Press and hold the button for a few seconds and the Primo automatically enters calibration mode. Simply open a sachet of the calibration solution, dip the probe and within seconds, the meter recognizes the calibration solution and calibrates itself!
http://www.eseasongear.com/hainprpotdsm.html



and now this is the rule of thumb that will make you a pro:

you put in your nutes. If the next day the plants drink water and the ppm has risen, it means you had put too much nutes in there. if they drink water and the ppm has fallen it means you didnt put enough in there,
if the plants drink water but your ppm stays the same, it means you have found the perfect ratio of nutes to water that your plants need at that particular time in thier lives. they will need more or less depending on the stage of growth they are in,


that is how you can read your plants to know exactly how much nutes to give them
Click to expand...

i have to interject... i think rockwool sucks.. i use it only to start seeds or clones... first site of roots i rip it open and transplant into hydroton filled net pots.. from my own experience rockwool leads to mold and algae due to the fact that you cannot properly control its moisture.. its a goddamn sponge... rockwoll on the other hand retains the perfect amount of moisture to promote roots to dig down deeper for that dwc loving
 
redi jedi

redi jedi

Well-Known Member
Deep Water Culture (DWC) would definitely be your best bet...its a very simple setup, easy to DIY. All you need is a rubbermaid tote or equivalent, an air pump and air stones, some netpots and a lighting system. The hardest part will be ventilation, if you plan to use HID lighting you will need to deal with the heat these lights put off...not a difficult thing to do but it adds to the overall cost of getting started. A way around dealing with the heat HID lights put off is to use compact flourescent lights or CFL's as they are commonly refered to. CFL's generate very little heat but do not have the intensity a HID system has. Many people use CFL's during the vegative stage of growth and some use CFL's during the flowering stage, but many people feel CFL's are inferior to HID for flowering. I would recommend you do some research on the lighting to do decide whats best for you. I would also recommend checking out the "Stealth Hydro" website for more info on DWC/Bubbleponics. Bubbleponics is bascially a DWC system with the addition of a water pump to bring oxygenated water directly to the root zone. I myself use a standard DWC system very similar to the picture previously posted, I feel there is no need to pump water to my net pots and solely rely on the misting action the air stones create when the bubbles break at the surface of the water. Anyways, the site will give you a look at what you need to build your own system. This was my approach when I first started looking into hydroponics
 
Sexxxy Beast

Sexxxy Beast

Active Member
Big P said:
i would do DWC since you are limited on space get a low profit tub that fits the complete foot print of the grow room like this:



2 foot by 3 ft is a nice size area I think u can put 2 plants in there, so you cut holes in the top of the lid and put net cups in there, all u need is rockwool to mush into the net cups as long as they fill it, hydroton is just a waste of time and money. Also if you get a clear tub like the one above you must seal it from light by covering it with foil tape



get an aquarium air pump that is more than enough capacity for your size tub

I would also suggest using General Hydroponics Flora series nutes for best results.


but thats pretty much it







also get this PPM meter its great and cheap:

HANNA Primo TDS / ppm Tester, Meter

HANNA Primo TDS / ppm Tester
Item# Han-PRIMO
Regular price: $24.99
Sale price: $16.99, 2/$32.00, 5/$76.00







HANNA Instruments Primo Pocket TDS Tester, Meter

One free 20ml 1382 ppm TDS calibration solution and two extra free batteries included.

* High accuracy * Exceptional linearity over the entire range * Automatic calibration with the press of a button

The Primo provides a fast and dependable way to measure the Total Dissolved Solids level in your water samples. It is ideally suited for the rigorous demands of water quality professionals, who will appreciate the practicality of the Primos easy-to-read Liquid Crystal Display when demonstrating the before and after results of conditioning and filtration systems. Temperature is compensated automatically to ensure the readings are consistent to the standard or reference temperature. Operating and routine maintenance has never been easier. The Primo TDS uses a single button at the top of the meter. Press it once and the meter is powered and ready for use. Press and hold the button for a few seconds and the Primo automatically enters calibration mode. Simply open a sachet of the calibration solution, dip the probe and within seconds, the meter recognizes the calibration solution and calibrates itself!
http://www.eseasongear.com/hainprpotdsm.html



and now this is the rule of thumb that will make you a pro:

you put in your nutes. If the next day the plants drink water and the ppm has risen, it means you had put too much nutes in there. if they drink water and the ppm has fallen it means you didnt put enough in there,
if the plants drink water but your ppm stays the same, it means you have found the perfect ratio of nutes to water that your plants need at that particular time in thier lives. they will need more or less depending on the stage of growth they are in,


that is how you can read your plants to know exactly how much nutes to give them
Click to expand...
Whats with the timer on the air pump? Dont you run the pump 24/7?
 
BIGDAVE

BIGDAVE

Member
DO your self a favor and NEVER DEAL WITH ESEASONGEAR. They are a joke. ALSO AVOID Hmdigital as well. Personally I wll never deal with or own either companies and there products.

I purchased a meter (tds-3) from eseasongear and it arrived damaged. The calibration solution was broke because the package was a thin envelope and not well packed at all. becasue of this, the contents of the package was soaking wet including the meter and paperwork

here are the pics sent to eseasongear.

http://fragboxpc.com/eseasongear/

Upon contacting eseasongear, they told me a little water is ok and to please dry the meter out and it will be fine. And they would give me some money back (10 dollars to be exact. did I mention this meter is not waterproof, nor did they offer to replace the solution used for calibration.

"WHO IN THERE RIGHT MIND WOULD WANT A METER THAT IS NOT WATERPROOF AND GOT SOAKED." Oh, by the way I did try to use the meter and it's number a way off from another meter my buddy owns, so I can only assume it fritzed out.

So I then called hm digital and spoke with (unknowing at the time) the president of the company Charles. He told me that he would not honor the warranty since it's only for manufactuers defects. So I am out the money for the meter.


I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THESE COMPANIES OR USE HM's METERS. :cry:

PERIOD Save yourself the hastle. I guess I have to dispute the charge with my credit card company.

OK, one more thing, by doing so, eseasongear will now put me on a bad customer list as stated in there info page.

http://www.eseasongear.com/info.html scroll down to chargebacks.

PLEASE SAVE YOURSELF THE HEADACHE.
Big P said:
i would do DWC since you are limited on space get a low profit tub that fits the complete foot print of the grow room like this:



2 foot by 3 ft is a nice size area I think u can put 2 plants in there, so you cut holes in the top of the lid and put net cups in there, all u need is rockwool to mush into the net cups as long as they fill it, hydroton is just a waste of time and money. Also if you get a clear tub like the one above you must seal it from light by covering it with foil tape



get an aquarium air pump that is more than enough capacity for your size tub

I would also suggest using General Hydroponics Flora series nutes for best results.


but thats pretty much it







also get this PPM meter its great and cheap:

HANNA Primo TDS / ppm Tester, Meter

HANNA Primo TDS / ppm Tester
Item# Han-PRIMO
Regular price: $24.99
Sale price: $16.99, 2/$32.00, 5/$76.00







HANNA Instruments Primo Pocket TDS Tester, Meter

One free 20ml 1382 ppm TDS calibration solution and two extra free batteries included.

* High accuracy * Exceptional linearity over the entire range * Automatic calibration with the press of a button

The Primo provides a fast and dependable way to measure the Total Dissolved Solids level in your water samples. It is ideally suited for the rigorous demands of water quality professionals, who will appreciate the practicality of the Primos easy-to-read Liquid Crystal Display when demonstrating the before and after results of conditioning and filtration systems. Temperature is compensated automatically to ensure the readings are consistent to the standard or reference temperature. Operating and routine maintenance has never been easier. The Primo TDS uses a single button at the top of the meter. Press it once and the meter is powered and ready for use. Press and hold the button for a few seconds and the Primo automatically enters calibration mode. Simply open a sachet of the calibration solution, dip the probe and within seconds, the meter recognizes the calibration solution and calibrates itself!
http://www.eseasongear.com/hainprpotdsm.html



and now this is the rule of thumb that will make you a pro:

you put in your nutes. If the next day the plants drink water and the ppm has risen, it means you had put too much nutes in there. if they drink water and the ppm has fallen it means you didnt put enough in there,
if the plants drink water but your ppm stays the same, it means you have found the perfect ratio of nutes to water that your plants need at that particular time in thier lives. they will need more or less depending on the stage of growth they are in,


that is how you can read your plants to know exactly how much nutes to give them
Click to expand...
 
Big P

Big P

Well-Known Member
BIGDAVE said:
DO your self a favor and NEVER DEAL WITH ESEASONGEAR. They are a joke. ALSO AVOID Hmdigital as well. Personally I wll never deal with or own either companies and there products.

I purchased a meter (tds-3) from eseasongear and it arrived damaged. The calibration solution was broke because the package was a thin envelope and not well packed at all. becasue of this, the contents of the package was soaking wet including the meter and paperwork

here are the pics sent to eseasongear.

http://fragboxpc.com/eseasongear/

Upon contacting eseasongear, they told me a little water is ok and to please dry the meter out and it will be fine. And they would give me some money back (10 dollars to be exact. did I mention this meter is not waterproof, nor did they offer to replace the solution used for calibration.

"WHO IN THERE RIGHT MIND WOULD WANT A METER THAT IS NOT WATERPROOF AND GOT SOAKED." Oh, by the way I did try to use the meter and it's number a way off from another meter my buddy owns, so I can only assume it fritzed out.

So I then called hm digital and spoke with (unknowing at the time) the president of the company Charles. He told me that he would not honor the warranty since it's only for manufactuers defects. So I am out the money for the meter.


I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THESE COMPANIES OR USE HM's METERS. :cry:

PERIOD Save yourself the hastle. I guess I have to dispute the charge with my credit card company.

OK, one more thing, by doing so, eseasongear will now put me on a bad customer list as stated in there info page.

http://www.eseasongear.com/info.html scroll down to chargebacks.

PLEASE SAVE YOURSELF THE HEADACHE.
Click to expand...


I have been using eseason gear for many years and so have many of my friends and never had a problem

Dont know why you seem to have so much difficulty
 
Big P

Big P

Well-Known Member
I just saw the pics man, isnt it the usmails fault for damaging the package? Thats why you get shipping insurance


Unless you didnt

But not eseasons fault, You shootin and the wrong target


It wasnt in a thin envelope those things have bubble wrap inside them, and trust me it would take a shit ton of force to pop a calibration bag cuz they are package in thick foil like plastic, i gotta use scissors to even open them



Try to recalibrate it tho man theres not much liquid in those calibration bags and looks like it mostly got the envelope soaked
 
BIGDAVE

BIGDAVE

Member
I hear you Big P and sorry for the jack.

I would have never posted any of this if any attempt to just get me a good meter was accomplished. I felt like they just wanted me out of their hair.

but as anyone who does a lot of shipping knows. the shipper places the claim, not the receiver. and yes, there is some bubble wrap, but they are obviously cheap envelopes and you should use the right shit to ship. USPS gives boxes away for free. Who puts a plastic bottle with fluid in an envelope like that? And eseasongear does not offer shipping insurance. As a seller myself, I use insurance to cover everybody involved. I would have gladly paid for insurance.

But my real point of contention is the meters broke and they don't want to send me a new one or make it right. I can easily post the email from eseasongear and you should see what I am referring to. I don't shot the wrong people without some honest effort to make it right. This should have been easy on eseasonsgear's part. So how could you support something like that?

Even worse, hmdigital was zero help. I was told by the president that I have no claim with them, since they only cover manufactures defects. THe president of the company told me this. Would you want to buy from this company?

Eseasongear, do what's right and get me a meter and my fluid. You can have the old one. Nobody wants a non waterproof meter that's gotten soaked.

Peace all...


Big P said:
I just saw the pics man, isnt it the usmails fault for damaging the package? Thats why you get shipping insurance


Unless you didnt

But not eseasons fault, You shootin and the wrong target


It wasnt in a thin envelope those things have bubble wrap inside them, and trust me it would take a shit ton of force to pop a calibration bag cuz they are package in thick foil like plastic, i gotta use scissors to even open them



Try to recalibrate it tho man theres not much liquid in those calibration bags and looks like it mostly got the envelope soaked
Click to expand...
 
BIGDAVE

BIGDAVE

Member
Actually, after some effort and misunderstanding, eseasongear finally replaced the meter, so I am somewhat satisfied, but it took some movement to get this accomplished. So they made it right.
 
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