First Grow - Criticism Wanted

Thanks! I had planned for a full month longer of veg man, I just didn't know any better haha!
At some point I realized how fast they were reaching the lights and was like whoa, I need to flip.
Dude give DWC a try. I bet you can set everything up for around 200 bucks if you are growing in soil already.

All this weighs around 6-8 pounds wet.
I will post dry pics and a weight when they go into jars in a week or so.
The first drying line is the purplish front right plant.
The second drying line pic is the back plant.

Hope everyone enjoyed watching for the most part. I really cant think of anything I would do different, only ONE thing. I would have never switched to lucas in the first part of flower. I will stick with GH Trio. I caught the leaves fucking up pretty quick and fixed it so I do not think it was too big of a deal.
PH dropped like a motherfucker the last weeks of flower. You can see the roots were not the problem.

I also have about 5 of these that are good and heavy.

5BY5LEC said:

Hope everyone enjoyed watching for the most part. I really cant think of anything I would do different, only ONE thing. I would have never switched to lucas in the first part of flower. I will stick with GH Trio. I caught the leaves fucking up pretty quick and fixed it so I do not think it was too big of a deal.
PH dropped like a motherfucker the last weeks of flower. You can see the roots were not the problem.

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I must ask did you have any problems with clogging of your pipes? 1" seems normal for that build and you definitely had what appeared to be an amazing grow btw.

Thanks! Yes, twice I had to wiggle under the net, stick my hand into the bucket and pull the roots out of the piping.
The first time it was so bad I had to replace the 3/4 irrigation line going to the filter/pump because some of the roots broke off inside.
The second time I stuck a shower drain cap over the bulkhead end. It helped.
It is a problem I need to address for my next grow.

First grow huh? Umm...yeah. I'm thinking you did alright

In all seriousness, absolutely fantastic job.

5BY5LEC said:

Thanks! Yes, twice I had to wiggle under the net, stick my hand into the bucket and pull the roots out of the piping.
The first time it was so bad I had to replace the 3/4 irrigation line going to the filter/pump because some of the roots broke off inside.
The second time I stuck a shower drain cap over the bulkhead end. It helped.
It is a problem I need to address for my next grow.

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I have noticed a lot of guys running 1" 1/2 pipe but suggest bigger but they are also in bigger tuff totes. I run the 12 gallon but others do the 20 gallon with bigger net pots. I personally run 1" 1/2 with 1/2" top feed/ waterfall and not had an issue as of yet (first run) but whatever you do im sure you will knock it of the park.

I'm in the middle of my 1st ever RDWC and I was terrified to use pipes that small for fear of clogging and ultimately overflows. I chose 2". What I have found is that once the roots get thick, they don't really go into the pipe anyway. They get so dense that it just doesn't happen. Personally, I still probably would not try anything less than 2" but I always error on the cautious/overkill side anyway.

Hot Diggity Sog said:

I'm in the middle of my 1st ever RDWC and I was terrified to use pipes that small for fear of clogging and ultimately overflows. I chose 2". What I have found is that once the roots get thick, they don't really go into the pipe anyway. They get so dense that it just doesn't happen. Personally, I still probably would not try anything less than 2" but I always error on the cautious/overkill side anyway.

View attachment 4223769

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Was going to go 2" but price wise it made more sense to do the 1" 1/2. do you run bulkheads or uniseals?

maxamus1 said:

Was going to go 2" but price wise it made more sense to do the 1" 1/2. do you run bulkheads or uniseals?

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Neither, actually. I considered them both but went with this instead:



Used silicone on both sides. I've done epoxy too and that is better but silicone works great too. This would not work on a cylindrical vessel but I'm using 27 gallon totes so I have nice flat surfaces.

Hot Diggity Sog said:

I'm in the middle of my 1st ever RDWC and I was terrified to use pipes that small for fear of clogging and ultimately overflows. I chose 2". What I have found is that once the roots get thick, they don't really go into the pipe anyway. They get so dense that it just doesn't happen. Personally, I still probably would not try anything less than 2" but I always error on the cautious/overkill side anyway.

View attachment 4223769

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That is a badass plant. I like the wood frames you mounted the led's on.
Yeah I did not realize how big the roots would get. Once I pulled out the first clog the root's did not grow aggressively into the pipes like before, I think they just kind of found the way in there the second time. The long part I pulled out is still trailing around at the bottom of the root ball. I will have to get a pic of it.
I am going to run some auto's in here I got from Seedsman next, just because I think they will fit this system better being smaller plants.
After that is 2x HDX totes and a 20 gallon rubbermaid can for a res. I see now two plants will fill a 5x5 no problem.
2" bulkheads and piping for sure.

I like these. The gasket is much thicker than others and makes a great seal.
https://www.amazon.com/Banjo-TF200-Polypropylene-Bulkhead-Fitting/dp/B0079JU91A?crid=3DL52BSEBSMVG&keywords=banjo+tf200+polypropylene+bulkhead+tank+fitting,+2"+npt+female&qid=1540823883&sprefix=banjo+2"+bu,aps,190&sr=8-1&ref=sr_1_1

5BY5LEC said:

I like these. The gasket is much thicker than others and makes a great seal.
https://www.amazon.com/Banjo-TF200-Polypropylene-Bulkhead-Fitting/dp/B0079JU91A?crid=3DL52BSEBSMVG&keywords=banjo+tf200+polypropylene+bulkhead+tank+fitting,+2"+npt+female&qid=1540823883&sprefix=banjo+2"+bu,aps,190&sr=8-1&ref=sr_1_1

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Yup. If I had a cylindrical tote, that is exactly what I would use too.

Some pics of said roots.

Hot Diggity Sog said:

First grow huh? Umm...yeah. I'm thinking you did alright

In all seriousness, absolutely fantastic job.

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Thanks a ton! I am really happy it turned out so well.
My wife came to me and said "Your pot is good" which I think means she approves lol.
She says the dispensary stuff is much harsher and less potent. Score!

Here is that bastard that kept running down the pipes.
Sorry for the bad contrast at the top.

The inside of my res. I never cleaned it once.
Its got a slight film but nothing noteworthy.
Hydroguard and Orca.