3rd Grow - White Widow - Ebb & Flow system

budsmoker706

budsmoker706

Active Member
Hello Everyone Again,

This will be my third grow here with rollitup. I got rid of the areogarden I was using and built a ebb and flow system. I will post pics of what my system looks like. Was all bought at Home Depot ( gotta love that place ).

My new setup is a 6 pot configuration using (2) plant boxes, (6) individual pots inside the plant boxes, using 1/2in PCP pipeing, (3) 5gal buckets ( 1 used, the other 2 so when it comes time to flush ). In the 5gal bucket I'm using airstones and pump to push the nutes/water up to my pots. For the lighting Im using (4) 40watt, 1600 lumens, 2700k lights on a Daimond Plate worklight.

I using perlite and rockwool in my pots. I will be preping my seeds tomorrow. i will be planting (3) White Widow and (3) seeds that my wife has in a stash. See what we get from those. I will post pics here in the next cpl of days for those that want to my setup.

I have a fan running in the room. I have 2 timers coming in...going to run a 15 mins cycle every 4 hours, I also have a temp/humidity gauge coming as well. I will keep you guys posted with pics as the grow comes along.

Leave any ideas or feedback, always looking to improve on my grow area.

Hopefully this yeilds a good grow. :joint:
 

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420caregiver

420caregiver

Active Member
budsmoker706 said:
Hello Everyone Again,

This will be my third grow here with rollitup. I got rid of the areogarden I was using and built a ebb and flow system. I will post pics of what my system looks like. Was all bought at Home Depot ( gotta love that place ).

My new setup is a 6 pot configuration using (2) plant boxes, (6) individual pots inside the plant boxes, using 1/2in PCP pipeing, (3) 5gal buckets ( 1 used, the other 2 so when it comes time to flush ). In the 5gal bucket I'm using airstones and pump to push the nutes/water up to my pots. For the lighting Im using (4) 40watt, 1600 lumens, 2700k lights on a Daimond Plate worklight.

I using perlite and rockwool in my pots. I will be preping my seeds tomorrow. i will be planting (3) White Widow and (3) seeds that my wife has in a stash. See what we get from those. I will post pics here in the next cpl of days for those that want to my setup.

I have a fan running in the room. I have 2 timers coming in...going to run a 15 mins cycle every 4 hours, I also have a temp/humidity gauge coming as well. I will keep you guys posted with pics as the grow comes along.

Leave any ideas or feedback, always looking to improve on my grow area.

Hopefully this yeilds a good grow. :joint:
Click to expand...
Looks Interesting and Great!
 
C

cruzer101

Well-Known Member
Hi,

I like the idea. Simple.
I have tried something similar with the same 30" flower boxes but by the time the water got to the overflow on mine the hydroton was floating lol. I didnt use pots inside though. I went back to a drip.

By the way, It looks like there will always be about an inch of water in there.

Good luck,
​
 
budsmoker706

budsmoker706

Active Member
:blsmoke:
cruzer101 said:
Hi,

I like the idea. Simple.
I have tried something similar with the same 30" flower boxes but by the time the water got to the overflow on mine the hydroton was floating lol. I didnt use pots inside though. I went back to a drip.

By the way, It looks like there will always be about an inch of water in there.

Good luck,
​
Click to expand...
I have multiple drain holes on the bottom of the plant box to acheive maxium drainage. We ran multiple test and almost all water drained out of the bottom. Will see how it goes once the whole setup is complete. I will keep the pics coming. Thanks for the responce
 
budsmoker706

budsmoker706

Active Member
Today is the day. Im starting the germniation of 3 white widows and 3 unknow strain. I will keep pics coming once they sprout.
 
budsmoker706

budsmoker706

Active Member
I have not added any side lights to my setup yet. With the lighting I have already do you think I should go ahold and place the side lights on each side of the set up.

This is my first ebb and flow system. How long should I run the water timer. I have heard some run for 15 mins every 4 hrs. Does this sound reasonable. Does anyone have any insight?
 
C

cruzer101

Well-Known Member
With perlite and rockwool as a medium I think thats too often to water. The rockwool retains water very well. Your overflow height, looks like the whole cube will get wet.

If thats the case, It will last for a couple days. I have done it with 3 in cubes in hydroton. they were over watered.
With rockwool and perlite as a medium I would suggest you bring the water level just to the bottom of the cube. as soon as the water hits the bottom of the cube the pump shuts off. The cube will still absorb water about halfway up. do this twice, once when lights on and once at lights off.

Once you got roots established raise the pots a quarter inch so no water hits the rockwool. Now you can go more often. By just watering the lower roots every 4 hours or so. Depends on how fast your light evaporates the moisture. The length of time you water really doesn't matter. Roots absorb nutrients through humidity do they don't get any until the water drains anyway.
​
 
budsmoker706

budsmoker706

Active Member
cruzer101 said:
With perlite and rockwool as a medium I think thats too often to water. The rockwool retains water very well. Your overflow height, looks like the whole cube will get wet.

If thats the case, It will last for a couple days. I have done it with 3 in cubes in hydroton. they were over watered.
With rockwool and perlite as a medium I would suggest you bring the water level just to the bottom of the cube. as soon as the water hits the bottom of the cube the pump shuts off. The cube will still absorb water about halfway up. do this twice, once when lights on and once at lights off.

Once you got roots established raise the pots a quarter inch so no water hits the rockwool. Now you can go more often. By just watering the lower roots every 4 hours or so. Depends on how fast your light evaporates the moisture. The length of time you water really doesn't matter. Roots absorb nutrients through humidity do they don't get any until the water drains anyway.
​
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice. I changed the water to 15 mins cycle ever 12 hours for now. I will move it up as the roots start to grow.

Again thanks for the advice. I will make sure not to over water the girls
 
budsmoker706

budsmoker706

Active Member
I just planted my seeds after germ. I have 3 white widows and 3 unknown. As soon as they start to sprout i will take some new pics.

Im currently on a 18/6 light cycle and running plain water to them 15mins every 12 hours for now. Just to not over water.

Does anyone know where i can get a good decent price digital timer. The ones I find here you can only get 30 mins at a time.

I will also be lowering my fill lever..

Thanks again for tuning in.:joint:
 
budsmoker706

budsmoker706

Active Member
I was looking around at nutes at different stores here and Ive seen some that are label.

0-45-0

What is the best ratio to use for veg, flowering, budding
 
C

cruzer101

Well-Known Member
Hi

Me again. Its just that I have been down the road you are going and can help.
You are growing style is hydroponic so you should get hydroponic nutrients. at least
the first time. If you want to mix it up later thats up to you.

Most hydroponic nutrients are a mix of nutrients and minerals that are best for the plant in two
different stages. Veg and flower. so you need veg nutes and flower nutes. Fox Farm is a popular
organic brand. General Hydroponics flora series is easier to use then there three part system and I
think gets better results.

If you cant get these types of nutrients locally there available online at ebay and several other websites. check craigslist, I got some off there for cheap.

But 4-10-3 or 0-45-0 really is just high in phosphate without the amounts of nutrients in parts per
million (ppm) nobody here can help you.

What I would suggest is get some hydro nutes, read the label for the amount and cut that in half.
Then measure the pH of the mix and adjust it up or down to 5.8 (between 5.5 and 6.0)

Run plain ph balanced water for a few days when you switch between veg and flower nutes.

That will get you a crop.

Good luck man.


By the way, Heres the website I get stuff at. Pretty reasonable and there shipping is cheaper them most. GreenTrees
.
​
 
budsmoker706

budsmoker706

Active Member
cruzer101 said:
Hi

Me again. Its just that I have been down the road you are going and can help.
You are growing style is hydroponic so you should get hydroponic nutrients. at least
the first time. If you want to mix it up later thats up to you.

Most hydroponic nutrients are a mix of nutrients and minerals that are best for the plant in two
different stages. Veg and flower. so you need veg nutes and flower nutes. Fox Farm is a popular
organic brand. General Hydroponics flora series is easier to use then there three part system and I
think gets better results.

If you cant get these types of nutrients locally there available online at ebay and several other websites. check craigslist, I got some off there for cheap.

But 4-10-3 or 0-45-0 really is just high in phosphate without the amounts of nutrients in parts per
million (ppm) nobody here can help you.

What I would suggest is get some hydro nutes, read the label for the amount and cut that in half.
Then measure the pH of the mix and adjust it up or down to 5.8 (between 5.5 and 6.0)

Run plain ph balanced water for a few days when you switch between veg and flower nutes.

That will get you a crop.

Good luck man.


By the way, Heres the website I get stuff at. Pretty reasonable and there shipping is cheaper them most. GreenTrees
.
​
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help. You have provided me once with some very valuable information. I will go to the site and order some.

I have raised the plants like u suggested before. Did you see where I changed the watering to 15mins every 12 hrs for now. Do you think that will do aright during the veg stage.

Again thanks for ur suggestion, been a big help. Once the little one sprout i will keep the journal going with some pics.
 
C

cruzer101

Well-Known Member
budsmoker706 said:
I have raised the plants like u suggested before. Did you see where I changed the watering to 15mins every 12 hrs for now. Do you think that will do aright during the veg stage.
Click to expand...
That should be fine. the thing to remember is when they are small there root system is small. So make sure the water touches the cube. maybe pull some perlite out and test it. watch the water hit the bottom and see how the cube will wick up the moisture. that will give you a much better idea.

Then in a month or so when they are about a foot tall raise the pot again so no water hits the rockwool. Now your watering the lower root system. This can take as much water as you can give it. I have ran 24 hours drip at three positions around the cube and got a monster mother plant that way growing in hydroton. very similar to perlite. So I am sure every 4 hours would be fine. stick your finger in the perlite, is it wet? no need to water.

I will try and check back, I got a couple journals here, Dual cabinet is the current one. Feel free to stop by and comment.
The links to the journals are in my sig. (that stuff under the picture below)

Good luck.
Oh and good move on getting the right nutes and only using half whats recomended. Make sure you get a ph tester. It is more important then any other meter you can get. The liquid tester is cheap. you will need ph up and ph down unless you want to use baking soda and vinegar or lemon juice.
 
T

ThomJefferson

Well-Known Member
budsmoker706 said:
I was looking around at nutes at different stores here and Ive seen some that are label.

0-45-0

What is the best ratio to use for veg, flowering, budding
Click to expand...

it depends on the mfr. typical veg nutes are hi in N, lo in P and moderate for K.. It also depends on what methods you use. But most important, hydro nutes must be specific to hydroponic grwth, as this type formulation includes all nutes including micro-nutes like iron, etc.

Veg= 20-6-15 for rapid moms and rooted clones
clones=10-50-10
Bloom= 5-30-30

but again, it really depends on many aspects of your methods and set up, but also each mfr has different ways to derive the stuff so, it can change the major ingredients -NPK quantities can change a lot. If you look closely at those numbers, you'll see they're geared hi N for veggie cycle and hi P for bloom/rooting...


Also, you'might drill a hole or two at the base of your pump-in tubes. water will drain down to them when the cycle is done and it wont have any effect on pumping nute solution in during the on cycle.
 
budsmoker706

budsmoker706

Active Member
ThomJefferson said:
it depends on the mfr. typical veg nutes are hi in N, lo in P and moderate for K.. It also depends on what methods you use. But most important, hydro nutes must be specific to hydroponic grwth, as this type formulation includes all nutes including micro-nutes like iron, etc.

Veg= 20-6-15 for rapid moms and rooted clones
clones=10-50-10
Bloom= 5-30-30

but again, it really depends on many aspects of your methods and set up, but also each mfr has different ways to derive the stuff so, it can change the major ingredients -NPK quantities can change a lot. If you look closely at those numbers, you'll see they're geared hi N for veggie cycle and hi P for bloom/rooting...


Also, you'might drill a hole or two at the base of your pump-in tubes. water will drain down to them when the cycle is done and it wont have any effect on pumping nute solution in during the on cycle.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip....
 
budsmoker706

budsmoker706

Active Member
OK I just checked on the girls, and one of them have sprouted. I hope the other 5 sprout either later today or tomorrow.

I will take pics as soons as they get a good look to them


Stay tuned, all advice is welcome thoughout this journey. Cuz I know I will run into problems along the way:joint:
 
budsmoker706

budsmoker706

Active Member
Update:

I went and got some aquarium rocks to level out the bottom of my plant boxes and to raise them out of the water. So now only 1/4 of the rockwool is getting wet. It is running on a 15 min 12 hr cycle for watering. No nutes have been added due to the plants just sprouting. I will keep everyone posted as the girls continue to grow.

** Yes the rocks were rinsed for 2 days prior to adding to the pot box **
 
budsmoker706

budsmoker706

Active Member
I have Floragro nutes enroute but till i get them I have some other nutes.

When veg what is the nute ratio to use?
I have some that are 4-12-4 and 4-10-3

What nute ratio for flowering?
 
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