Growing with Waterfarm

This is my first time using waterfarm and the directions are confusing. It says each waterfarm holds 2 gallons of nutrients, but when I clean the unit and refill it, it takes 5 gallons of nutrient solution. The directions also say each unit contains 2 gallons for the top bucket and 4 gallons for the bottom bucket. I don't get where the 2 gallons of nutrients comes in. I am having trouble calculating the amount of nutrient solution I need to mix up. Could someone please help me with this?

How many grow sites do you have?

2 1/2 gallons of nutrients go in the bottom, keep the water line about an inch below the top bucket and hydroton.

Holds about 2 1/2 gallons total, and that is pumped up and drained back down thru the hydroton continuously.

Waterfarm origial version, they work great, very easy (im using a newer version powerfarm same thing)

Lots of tips here: https://www.rollitup.org/t/pineapple-express-g13-labs-seed-to-harvest.344359/

The bucket is opaque so I can't see the where the water level is. My understanding is to fill until the water level reaches the white line on the blue hose outside the bucket.

I see on your diagram that the bottom bucket is transparent but mine is not. Do I fill until the white line is reached or only put in only 2 1/2 gallons? That will make the water level on the blue hose way below the white line that the instructions say to fill to. Also, when the water level is halfway between the white line and the bottom, the drip coming out of the drip ring is very weak.

I have 4 sites, but I did not connect them. Each one is independent.

I appreciate any clarification that you can give me on this issue as I am totally confused.

Nicholas2321 said:

This is my first time using waterfarm and the directions are confusing. It says each waterfarm holds 2 gallons of nutrients, but when I clean the unit and refill it, it takes 5 gallons of nutrient solution. The directions also say each unit contains 2 gallons for the top bucket and 4 gallons for the bottom bucket. I don't get where the 2 gallons of nutrients comes in. I am having trouble calculating the amount of nutrient solution I need to mix up. Could someone please help me with this?

Click to expand...

first off, the white line on the blue tube is the fill line. should be close to 2 gallons to fill her.

second, do a few modifications. drill out the holes in the top chamber to 3/8". makes it easier for the roots to find the lower res.

third, buy an airstone and a small air pump. drill a small hole above the waterline and when the roots hit the lower res, use the airpump/airstone in addition to the other WF airpump.

wash yur hydroton really well. if not, yo u'll have red gunk in the bottom.

these waterfarms will absolutely kill it. check your pH, don't run too strong nutes and all will be fine

Once the roots get really thick, how do they do with an air stone under them? Are they bothered by it or is it no problem?

Hot Diggity Sog said:

Once the roots get really thick, how do they do with an air stone under them? Are they bothered by it or is it no problem?

Click to expand...

by the end of the grow, i've foudn the stone up in the roots sometimes. lol. the entire bottom res is filled to the brim with roots. i'm not sure it really helps but it definitely doesn't hurt to have a bit more O2 in the nutes. and for a maybe 20 bucks, well worth it IMO.

rkymtnman said:

by the end of the grow, i've foudn the stone up in the roots sometimes. lol. the entire bottom res is filled to the brim with roots. i'm not sure it really helps but it definitely doesn't hurt to have a bit more O2 in the nutes. and for a maybe 20 bucks, well worth it IMO.

Click to expand...

The reason I ask is that I began my most recent adventure using a 27 gallon tote for my plant and 2 air stones in the bottom. I ended up joining the "get rid of your air stones" gang. I too use a top feed ring like what the picture above shows. I also have a pump from the control that feeds a 1/2" line with a bunch of sprinklers on it to both agitiate the surface of the water and to increase the rate of exchange between my control and the plant.

At any rate, I'm not having any problems yet but I'm 1/3rd of the way into flower and the roots are crazy thick. It's like 4 or 5 janitor mop heads worth of roots and they are thick...they don't move. I'm just a bit fearful what I have in place won't be enough and I'm risking root issues.

rkymtnman said:

first off, the white line on the blue tube is the fill line. should be close to 2 gallons to fill her.

second, do a few modifications. drill out the holes in the top chamber to 3/8". makes it easier for the roots to find the lower res.

third, buy an airstone and a small air pump. drill a small hole above the waterline and when the roots hit the lower res, use the airpump/airstone in addition to the other WF airpump.

wash yur hydroton really well. if not, yo u'll have red gunk in the bottom.

these waterfarms will absolutely kill it. check your pH, don't run too strong nutes and all will be fine

Click to expand...

I've done all these things. But, when I fill it to the fill line, it takes 5 gallons, not the 2 as per the instructions. Every time, it requires 5 gallons of nutrients to reach the fill line. What do you think is going on here?

Nicholas2321 said:

I've done all these things. But, when I fill it to the fill line, it takes 5 gallons, not the 2 as per the instructions. Every time, it requires 5 gallons of nutrients to reach the fill line. What do you think is going on here?

Click to expand...

(Sorry to hijack your thread with my questions)

Could someone please tell me how many gallons of nutes they put in one waterfarm unit? When I add 2 gallons, it does not come up to the fill mark. Please, Please help.

Nicholas2321 said:

I've done all these things. But, when I fill it to the fill line, it takes 5 gallons, not the 2 as per the instructions. Every time, it requires 5 gallons of nutrients to reach the fill line. What do you think is going on here?

Click to expand...

which picture looks like yours?
https://generalhydroponics.com/systems/

take the top res off. put 2 gallons in your bottom res. where is the water level? it should be close to the white line on the blue tube.

rkymtnman said:

which picture looks like yours?
https://generalhydroponics.com/systems/

take the top res off. put 2 gallons in your bottom res. where is the water level? it should be close to the white line on the blue tube.

Click to expand...

Thank you. That helped me figure out that I was using the wrong sized bucket. Stupid mistake, but I was stuck until I put the 2 gallons in the bottom res and saw that it went to the refill marker.