Totally new, thinking about a DWC setup?

So here's where I've gotten so far in my research and what I'm thinking. AK48 seeds. 5 gallon buckets DWC setup for each. Each bucket started totally autonomous (no central reservoir/redistribution to start). Rockwool cubes for starting seeds, still looking into different mediums or a possible pure hydro setup if I can figure out how to get seeds started for direct clean transport into hydroton with no absorbing medium. Staggered with two plants each, starting two weeks from each other, giving us the ability to adjust as we go based on plants already growing. Once we get our nutrients and ph dialed in where we'd like, move to redistributing reservoir system for all new plants.

My first question: does this sound good for a first timer, or am I way off base?
Second: Lighting. Light startup budget. Looked at CFLs, but we're not talking tiny plants I want to grow. LED is a bit out of my price range to start. Thoughts?
Third: Thoughts on medium, like I list above?

Any help appreciated, just want to make sure I'm going right direction so I can have as few of the inevitable hard lessons I'll have with a first grow as possible. Thanks.

welcome to RIU gcnorth

1) for your first grow I would highly recommend to KISS.... keep it stupid simple!
2) CFL are cheap and low heat....HPS will produce more/faster but are hot and more expensive....LED's are not cheap....you need to pick what is best for your situation, none are perfect ...each will produce buds
3) I like rockwool to start seedlings...then IMHO....I believe hempy (drain to waste) is the most basic hydro method that is almost fool proof.....KISS

cheers

I started in hydro...if you're scientifically minded and committed to being around for the whole grow (it's hard to ask friends to sub for you when you're doing hyrdro) it should be okay. You can check out my grow in my signature for my details.

You'll need three rooms -- one for veg, one for flower and one for drying -- since they all have different lighting requirements. And they all need good circulation, venting and odor control.

Sounds great so far, thanks for the info.

Been looking around for some really concise, easy to understand tips on lighting - how many, wattage, etc. Any links or points in right direction would be great. I'm trying to do my own research as much as possible because I don't like slacking on forum members' time to do my work for me, but it has been a bit tricky finding info that is both layman-ready and concise (sometimes it feels like it's either a sixteen year old stoner who doesn't know what they're doing or a botanist speaking with expertise I can't comprehend - and always just for that ONE piece of info I really haven't been able to find yet).

Also, again, the thought was to start with two plants then every two weeks stagger two more in, pairs at a time, until we're working with five/six plants. Maybe it'd be better to just do all at the same time to start? I can't imagine it'd be too easy to have consistent lighting in one room for plants at different heights...

I'm headed down the same path good luck bro keep it green

Back at you. Let me know how it goes/any hiccups you learn from along the way if you're ahead of me (I'm not looking at even having seeds ready to go for and germ for another three weeks at least).

Indoor Sun King said:

welcome to RIU gcnorth

1) for your first grow I would highly recommend to KISS.... keep it stupid simple!
2) CFL are cheap and low heat....HPS will produce more/faster but are hot and more expensive....LED's are not cheap....you need to pick what is best for your situation, none are perfect ...each will produce buds
3) I like rockwool to start seedlings...then IMHO....I believe hempy (drain to waste) is the most basic hydro method that is almost fool proof.....KISS

cheers

Click to expand...

I haven't looked into what "drain to waste" is. After looking over the steps and considerations for DWC, I got so into that... Any reason you don't recommend this method? Thanks.

just think hempy is simple and a great way to learn as it is forgiving and near fool proof...I don't know anything about DWC

I like "near full proof".
Just trying to find that good balance between easy for a complete novice (aka me) and yield. I have no illusions that I'm gonna have some perfect multi-pound first run (one of the reasons I'm looking at AK48 seeds is their high yield and fast cycle), but for multiple reasons I want to get the mistakes out of the way and get to some really solid yields as quickly as possible... though I don't want to rush past anything foundational I need to learn to do the job right.

Little FYI, from my research (reading around, no experience personally), it looks like hempy is easy as hell as you said, but with just a tad more involvement yields are supposed to be way better with DWC. Might be worth looking into, but what do I know?

it's what you don't know that will kill you (or your plants)...lots of good info in the link below...check out "World of Hempy"

https://www.rollitup.org/drain-waste-hydro/

Good point. Will definitely do. I'm hearing some confirmation on this as well. Thanks.

Indoor Sun King said:

it's what you don't know that will kill you (or your plants)...lots of good info in the link below...check out "World of Hempy"

https://www.rollitup.org/drain-waste-hydro/

Click to expand...

Found this on "World of Hempy", sounds great. https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/386008-idiots-guide-hempy.html
So with a bucket, you really only want two inches of water eh? I guess that makes sense, since you're hand-watering. Looks great to me...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzSRz48b5oE

This actually looks like everything I need to know right here.... doest thou approve? http://bubbleponics.com/forum/showthread.php?3455-An-Idiot-s-Guide-to-Hempy

old thread but still good info.....not sure why he's against a Lucas formula

yup, 2 inches or so, depending on how big of bucket/bottle

edit: link https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=98419

Indoor Sun King said:

yup, 2 inches or so, depending on how big of bucket/bottle

Click to expand...

Is 5 gal overkill? See a lot of 2.5-3, see others talking 5.

yeah, i'm no expert but i think most would consider 5 gal as too large as it takes so long for the roots to get to the reserve......but one could start in a hempy solo cup and transplant

many seem to go with 2.5 to 3 gallon.....and lots use pop bottles...you can use damn near anything.....just depends if you want lots of smaller plants or giants

example...first pic is a 11 litre bucket (3 US gallons) second pic 2L pop bottles (that need to be supported as they are so top heavy)

Indoor Sun King said:

many seem to go with 2.5 to 3 gallon.....and lots use pop bottles...you can use damn near anything.....just depends if you want lots of smaller plants or giants

Click to expand...

I've got the space. Gonna probably be growing in a large shed if I can keep the temp up in the freezing winters here.

So it's really about max yield. I'm probably leaning toward (unless more experienced growers smack me down and get me on a better path) large plants with the assumption that larger plants leads to more vertical growth since I've got probably 10' vertical potential (not saying I'm going for plants that tall, just that that's my space), and maybe 15 or 20 squared feet for floor space.

well not sure how north you are gcnorth....but it may be difficult keeping the temps up in a shed while the lights are off...depending on what you consider as freezing winters....how cold are your winter nights?

Ridiculously cold actually, a few under 0 Fahrenheit a few nights, a bit warmer outside of that.... We're definitely going to need to be heating the space.