Back Again 2nd 2000w 2 4x4 trays top feed hydro QUESTIONS*

Alright im on my second grow heres what i got.


2 4" reflectors (1 yieldmaster II, 1 Xtra sun)
1000w Harvest Pro Elite 2 Ballast
1000w Xtrasun ballast
CAP 6" Fan
2 4x4 Flood Trays

(i dont have bulbs installed yet cause i dont want to mess them up, Picking up glass for one reflector tomorrow. )


[video=youtube;oeZ3CV5_eDE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeZ3CV5_eDE[/video]


But anyways. Im thinking of doing a top feed grow with 9 plants on each tray.

I dont know whether to use Rockwool cubes or hydroton filled pots? What is easier to maintain?

I hear that if I go hydroton I have to run a 24/7 drip system. is this true? Im afraid of stressing the pump and causing it to go out faster??

Lastly Do you think i can yield 2lbs dry out of this setup with all indica strains?

thats pretty dope man, i wanna do something similar when i have the funds..

im a newb, but i'll give my $0.02

i would use the hydroton and yes it should be on 24/7 or close becuz the only thing that is actually holding water would be the rockwool u started them in.. the hydroton doesnt hold water so it needs to be constantly flowing to an extent.. make sense? this would be easier to maintain, easier to flush if u end up overfeeding or something, and rockwool can break down and end up in ur pumps and tubeing etc. so i would just use rockwool to start them in (rapid rooters are even better) then put them in pots with the hydroton.

AND DUDE, you should have no problem pulling 2lbs from that set up... theres a guy on here who has 4 of those tables, 2 1000watts (could be 600s i forget) and pulls 2lbs every 2 weeks.. so if your just doing one nice grow then harvest and not perpetually either way you shouldnt have a problem.. just have to get everything tuned in right like temperatures, proper feeding schedule, knowing the flower time of your strain etc etc.

between 18 plants you will need to pull around 2 ounces per plant for 2lbs..

hope this helps man

good looking man. I love the encouragement!
what you think about the pump being on 24/7 doesnt effect the life of it. i hear diaster stories from friends whose pumps went out and there went their whole crop.
I hope for the best and we'll see what happens

ran4it2 said:

good looking man. I love the encouragement!
what you think about the pump being on 24/7 doesnt effect the life of it. i hear diaster stories from friends whose pumps went out and there went their whole crop.
I hope for the best and we'll see what happens

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if its a brand new pump i wouldnt worry about it.. but ur right u never know. Pumps arent that expensive anyways incase it does happend, if ur really that concerned buy an extra one to have on hand. And i definetly wouldnt worry if your growing at home and will be around ur grow all the time, then u can just check on it every now and then to make sure its working right. Again, hydroton is much safer, less work, and resueable! Rockwool will breakdown and get stuck in ur pump, thats most common, but people clean they're pumps every month or something so of course that always helps.

oh and i forgot i guess ur using a drip system so getting shit in ur pump wouldnt matter, running ur pump 24 hours as apose to 12 hours will obviously ware it out quicker, but u can set it up so it comes on every 3minutes or every 5 minutes or something so it doesnt ware it down AS quick

alright cool.

does it matter what size pots i use? can my plants get root bound when im doing this top feed hydro?

ran4it2 said:

alright cool.

does it matter what size pots i use? can my plants get root bound when im doing this top feed hydro?

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yes they can, apparently from what ive READ, 5 gallon pots can last you up to 100days of growth... it all depends on how long ur strain needs to flower for and how long you plan on vegging for. 5 gallons obviously seem a little huge in ur case so i would look into 3 gallon pots mayb even 2 gallon. ask around.