I started my first ever hydro grow today.

DoctorJackalope · Jul 27, 2015

I went to Denver about a week ago, and ended up getting some clones. My previous grows have all been soil, and I'm doing my first outdoor grow right now. I knew I didn't have enough time to plant these outside, and my last attempt with clones indoors in soil didn't go over well (I lost two of four.) and I wasn't sure what to do.

A friend of mine was looking to start a hydroponic setup and I offered him two clones for free if he would split the product with me 50/50, and I was going to provide a Ph Kit, a bottle of Fox Farm Big Bloom, and a bottle of Fox Farm Grow Big. (And would be providing Tiger Bloom during flowering, along with Bud Candy and Overdrive.) He was going to use his grow location, buckets, pumps, etc.

He never showed up. :-?

I had an Amazon gift card I had never used, and ended up getting an all-in-one hydro setup for four plants with it. I intended to use tap water, it sat in a bucket for three days, but I couldn't get the Ph quite right for some reason. We had some distilled water that was already 5.8 so I ended up running into town for a few more gallons.

I'm really excited to start this. I had never planned to grow hydroponically before and mostly only did it because I had these and thought I'd try it out. It's a DWC system and uses an air stone and pump. I'll post updates and questions as I go!

Jimdamick · Jul 27, 2015

Welcome to a world of unimaginable knowledge.
Of course, I'm fucking with you. 1st off, kiss those clones goodbye, because you do not have a home for them yet set up correctly. That's OK. Hang around here before you buy anything anymore, you will get good advice here, mostly anyway. Good luck.

DoctorJackalope · Jul 27, 2015

I've been giving them Ph balanced water with fluid all week; I wasn't sure which two my friend was going to take and was hoping he might take all four. They're set in rockwool and I placed them in cups this week like the dispensary recommended. They look good, two of them look GREAT, so I think they might make it. I'm not heartbroken if they don't, it was a spur of the moment purchase. I really got this to see if I was interested and to see about growing some in my room that way with autoflowering seeds.

I hope they make it though, but I'm prepared that they might not.

DoctorJackalope · Jul 27, 2015

Oh, and they're already in the bucket system, I didn't specify that. It got here this morning and I got the clones in the fluid already and have the pump set up and everything now.

I had to open and then drill a small hole in the casing to the air supply, it was so airtight that I wasn't getting any bubbles into the bucket. I'd like a better air pump, but I don't get paid until the 3rd. This will suffice until then though, I'd just like one I didn't have to work on.

Tim Fox · Jul 28, 2015

DoctorJackalope said:
I've been giving them Ph balanced water with fluid all week; I wasn't sure which two my friend was going to take and was hoping he might take all four. They're set in rockwool and I placed them in cups this week like the dispensary recommended. They look good, two of them look GREAT, so I think they might make it. I'm not heartbroken if they don't, it was a spur of the moment purchase. I really got this to see if I was interested and to see about growing some in my room that way with autoflowering seeds.

I hope they make it though, but I'm prepared that they might not.

goodstartyougotlights

rkymtnman · Jul 28, 2015

pH is critical in DWC. 5.5 to 6.1 is the range you want.

i personally think lucas formula is a great starting point for beginners in hydro. all you need is GH micro and bloom. and you have to use either RO water. i buy mine in 5 gal jugs from wally world for 37cents/gal.

the other thing you'll need to deal with is res temps and how to stop root rot. i use dutchmaster zone. works great for me. and cheap too.

Tim Fox · Jul 28, 2015

rkymtnman said:
pH is critical in DWC. 5.5 to 6.1 is the range you want.

i personally think lucas formula is a great starting point for beginners in hydro. all you need is GH micro and bloom. and you have to use either RO water. i buy mine in 5 gal jugs from wally world for 37cents/gal.

the other thing you'll need to deal with is res temps and how to stop root rot. i use dutchmaster zone. works great for me. and cheap too.

Good stuff

DoctorJackalope · Jul 28, 2015

rkymtnman said:
pH is critical in DWC. 5.5 to 6.1 is the range you want.

i personally think lucas formula is a great starting point for beginners in hydro. all you need is GH micro and bloom. and you have to use either RO water. i buy mine in 5 gal jugs from wally world for 37cents/gal.

the other thing you'll need to deal with is res temps and how to stop root rot. i use dutchmaster zone. works great for me. and cheap too.

Thank you! pH was 5.8 when I put it in, and 5.9 right now. I'm not sure what accounts for the small rise, but I'm going to keep a close eye on the pH. I used Fox Farm Big Bloom and Fox Farm Grow Big for mutes because that's what I bought for the guy that was supposed to take some of the clones (I was hoping he'd be able to take them all to grow hydroponically) and it's what I had on hand already.

It is very hot today, and I ended up using a small plastic bottle I filled with 5.8 water and froze to lower the temperature. I've been home and had the A/C on today, but I was out this morning and didn't have it on. (It's a window unit.) None of the water leaked out, but I wanted it to be pH ready, just in case.

DoctorJackalope · Jul 28, 2015

Tim Fox said:
goodstartyougotlights

Yes, they're the same lights that I was using for my soil grows, two 200-watt bulbs. I have both HPS and Mercury that I switch with cycles.

Do you think that's enough? I have them both hanging overhead of the bucket.

ElfoodStampo · Jul 28, 2015

I'm running the same thing right now man and its not a bad setup. I've never used a 5gal for flowering so I wasn't sure how it would go, but its working out pretty well. today is the 1st day of week 3 flowering.
I'm using tap water too, and I just throw some calmag in for good measure.
If you have any questions let me know I live a little north of Denver.

DoctorJackalope · Jul 28, 2015

That looks beautiful! What strain is that? We have the same air pump, haha.

I'm going to buy a 5-gallon bucket and make my own too, to grow one from a seed. I think maybe I'll try an autoflower; I've thought about trying Cream Of The Crop's Narcotherapy. It's an autoflower so I wouldn't have to have a separate spot to take it into flowering if it's ready before these, and I'd have some buds really fast. I'm trying to reduce my dependence on fentanyl for pain management, and found buds are the only thing that helps my pain and the withdrawals, and it does have a corresponding name, hahaha.

I love that pic man, that's beautiful. I got two of my clones at La Conte's, and two at Medicine Man. I hope one of them makes it.

Tim Fox · Jul 28, 2015

DoctorJackalope said:
Yes, they're the same lights that I was using for my soil grows, two 200-watt bulbs. I have both HPS and Mercury that I switch with cycles.

Do you think that's enough? I have them both hanging overhead of the bucket.

That y will get the job done for sure

DoctorJackalope · Jul 28, 2015

My sister's ex-boyfriend upgraded to a 600w setup and gave me his two 200w ballasts and some bulbs. I ended up needed to buy new bulbs this spring when I started growing it, but they've been good to me so far.

Jimdamick · Jul 29, 2015

DoctorJackalope said:
Oh, and they're already in the bucket system, I didn't specify that. It got here this morning and I got the clones in the fluid already and have the pump set up and everything now.

I had to open and then drill a small hole in the casing to the air supply, it was so airtight that I wasn't getting any bubbles into the bucket. I'd like a better air pump, but I don't get paid until the 3rd. This will suffice until then though, I'd just like one I didn't have to work on.

Listen Linda (do a search on You Tube, you will laugh you ass off)
1st off - cold/cool water contains more oxygen, that is what fucks up your roots with warm water, lack of oxegen. Aerate the shit out of your bucket, and as long as your room temp is below 85 degrees (lots of bubbles), you have no problem. ( ice not needed)
2-I would use 1 - 200 watt light for the first 3/4 weeks, then add the other 200 watt light until finish (using HPS bulbs)
Autos require the same time for a growth, the only difference is you don't have to control time, 16 hours on, and your done (your electric companies loves autos), so it ain't happening assuming autos are faster.
3 - You PH will change, count on that. Root decay, nutes and any other medium used, WILL affect your PH, and that is the bitch with buckets. You need to drain a bucket, for OPTMUM plant growth, at least once every week, 2 times at the most. (for all those critics, do a PPM/PH test on the drain off) I used to drill a 5/16th hole in the bottom about 2" above the bottom, stick a 1/2" grommet (electrical supply house) with a 90 degree 1/2 tubing fitting (Amazon) and would do this every week to flush by twisting the 90 degree elbow, with a bucket BELOW the bottom of the other bucket. Use a piece of tubing ( hardware store/pet store) that HAS to be above normal water level of your, stuck into the other end. Bucket should higher as to use gravity as energy.
4- As far as RO water is concerned, if only like really super fucked up water is concerned (shit if you drank it, and you will die sooner than later as a result) is being used, it is such a waste of money, It's both funny and sad, sad (for all that buy that useless shit. Give me a good reason, as a matter of fact, any reason that you would want to use laboratory water to grow a marijuana plant? The moment you feed it, bingo, there goes you mineral free water ( normal PH 7 water, never happen but city water is close) actually it is natural and beneficial, as the plants will die as a result of RO water In other words. The only beneficial point that makes sense about using RO/distilled/spring water is actually none.
You want to make water Chlorine free? Go to a pet store, ask the clerk where is the Aquarium De-Chlorinator and the 1/2" tubing is, say thanks, go buy some, and use it. Bingo!. It works instantly and I have been using it for years to maintain my biologics in my tanks (running 27 plants and all roots are mint doing very nicely, thank you)
Nice to see you are asking very sensible questions, and have received good replys. Cool.

DoctorJackalope · Jul 29, 2015

Thank you, I really appreciate it. I have a well for water; I live in a rural area, and I just couldn't seem to get the pH stable and tested some distilled water to make sure my test kit worked, and noticed it was 5.8 so I just decided to use that. I've since tested the tap water again, and ours is around a 9.1 before I do anything to it. I've ordered some liquid pH lowering fluid that I can pick up Friday since mine is so high. I had something crystalline to lower it with that came with my kit, and I thought maybe a fluid would make it easier to lower my well water.

rkymtnman · Jul 29, 2015

Jimdamick said:
Listen Linda (do a search on You Tube, you will laugh you ass off)
1st off - cold/cool water contains more oxygen, that is what fucks up your roots with warm water, lack of oxegen. Aerate the shit out of your bucket, and as long as your room temp is below 85 degrees (lots of bubbles), you have no problem. ( ice not needed)
2-I would use 1 - 200 watt light for the first 3/4 weeks, then add the other 200 watt light until finish (using HPS bulbs)
Autos require the same time for a growth, the only difference is you don't have to control time, 16 hours on, and your done (your electric companies loves autos), so it ain't happening assuming autos are faster.
3 - You PH will change, count on that. Root decay, nutes and any other medium used, WILL affect your PH, and that is the bitch with buckets. You need to drain a bucket, for OPTMUM plant growth, at least once every week, 2 times at the most. (for all those critics, do a PPM/PH test on the drain off) I used to drill a 5/16th hole in the bottom about 2" above the bottom, stick a 1/2" grommet (electrical supply house) with a 90 degree 1/2 tubing fitting (Amazon) and would do this every week to flush by twisting the 90 degree elbow, with a bucket BELOW the bottom of the other bucket. Use a piece of tubing ( hardware store/pet store) that HAS to be above normal water level of your, stuck into the other end. Bucket should higher as to use gravity as energy.
4- As far as RO water is concerned, if only like really super fucked up water is concerned (shit if you drank it, and you will die sooner than later as a result) is being used, it is such a waste of money, It's both funny and sad, sad (for all that buy that useless shit. Give me a good reason, as a matter of fact, any reason that you would want to use laboratory water to grow a marijuana plant? The moment you feed it, bingo, there goes you mineral free water ( normal PH 7 water, never happen but city water is close) actually it is natural and beneficial, as the plants will die as a result of RO water In other words. The only beneficial point that makes sense about using RO/distilled/spring water is actually none.
You want to make water Chlorine free? Go to a pet store, ask the clerk where is the Aquarium De-Chlorinator and the 1/2" tubing is, say thanks, go buy some, and use it. Bingo!. It works instantly and I have been using it for years to maintain my biologics in my tanks (running 27 plants and all roots are mint doing very nicely, thank you)
Nice to see you are asking very sensible questions, and have received good replys. Cool.

i was with ya until you dissed RO.

if you are using Lucas formula (and I do), you have to use RO water for 2 reasons: your EC will be exactly the same every time and you don't have to adjust pH as it settles at 5.8

if you use well water, your EC will be different many times throughout the grow because of different conditions in the aquifer.

you know exactly what is in your water, nothing

you know exactly what is in your res, whatever you put in

and considering i use 10 gals a week ($3.70), it's well worth the $37 it costs me for veg and flower.

DoctorJackalope · Jul 29, 2015

That's kind of what I wondered, if I was having a hard time getting it down because it's well water instead of piped in tap water. I'm honestly not sure if the water I got was reverse osmosis; it was just the same cheap water I had at home already that was 5.8 on its own so I ran with it.

rkymtnman · Jul 29, 2015

DoctorJackalope said:
Thank you, I really appreciate it. I have a well for water; I live in a rural area, and I just couldn't seem to get the pH stable and tested some distilled water to make sure my test kit worked, and noticed it was 5.8 so I just decided to use that. I've since tested the tap water again, and ours is around a 9.1 before I do anything to it. I've ordered some liquid pH lowering fluid that I can pick up Friday since mine is so high. I had something crystalline to lower it with that came with my kit, and I thought maybe a fluid would make it easier to lower my well water.

stick with distilled or RO for now. and seriously give Lucas formula a thought until you get a few grows in hydro. micro and bloom should be around 20 bucks for both bottles. after i mix my res, my pH settles right around 5.8 and I hardly ever have to adjust pH up or down.

if interested, shoot me a PM and i'll send you a link of the "why" of how it works and how it was developed specifically for cannabis

oill · Jul 29, 2015

DoctorJackalope said:
Thank you! pH was 5.8 when I put it in, and 5.9 right now. I'm not sure what accounts for the small rise, but I'm going to keep a close eye on the pH. I used Fox Farm Big Bloom and Fox Farm Grow Big for mutes because that's what I bought for the guy that was supposed to take some of the clones (I was hoping he'd be able to take them all to grow hydroponically) and it's what I had on hand already.

It is very hot today, and I ended up using a small plastic bottle I filled with 5.8 water and froze to lower the temperature. I've been home and had the A/C on today, but I was out this morning and didn't have it on. (It's a window unit.) None of the water leaked out, but I wanted it to be pH ready, just in case.

Ph will rise... Measure it every day.

Jimdamick · Jul 29, 2015

rkymtnman said:
i was with ya until you dissed RO.

if you are using Lucas formula (and I do), you have to use RO water for 2 reasons: your EC will be exactly the same every time and you don't have to adjust pH as it settles at 5.8

if you use well water, your EC will be different many times throughout the grow because of different conditions in the aquifer.

you know exactly what is in your water, nothing

you know exactly what is in your res, whatever you put in

and considering i use 10 gals a week ($3.70), it's well worth the $37 it costs me for veg and flower.

Brilliant fucking response. Good to know, thanks.

I started my first ever hydro grow today.

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