I need some input on a micro hydroponics Idea

So I have been Growing in some 3gl DWC bubblers and its awesome. (first time with Hydro). There are mistakes I am making but I have cushion in my plant counts and have been adjusting to the learning curve well I think... LOL. So... I am also growing in some 64oz cups hempy style. Then I was looking at the great plastic lid that could easily accept a net pot and one of my really small air stones.. and I thought.... Wow... each plant could have its own water culture and they wouldn't all be in a tub together. But.. then I knew I would be adjusting my water every 2/3 days Like I am now. I have seen the 5 gl dwc systems fed off of a res and would like to try and make a setup like that except Micro version. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.


I figure I could set up the res very similar (but on a smaller scale). The trick is how do I keep the proper water height in the 64oz cups?? It would be awesome to have a system like this as it would actually give me more water for each plant and require less top offs.

As for my Flower space, it is a little over 2' w x 15" deep by about 4' high till the lamp maxes out, Running a 400w HPS. I am doing many smaller plants Sog style and expect 1oz or less per. This is personal only and I am shooting for a once a month harvest. Thanks RIU!

So... No replies...LOL. I never get replies... So anyway, I set up two 64 oz cups hooked up to airstones and all seems happy. Each plant has its own (almost) 1/2 gallon res this way. So even without a separate res and controller they still have enough water for about 2-3 days depending on what stage they are in. Plus I can add and remove them individually much easier. Im liking this 64oz dwc thing... so well see where it goes. Maybe Ill take some pics later when the lights come back on.

Pics. I would love to see your setup. check out my grow page.

yea id like to see some pics too

koolhand77 said:

Pics. I would love to see your setup. check out my grow page.

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nirvanaphreak24 said:

yea id like to see some pics too

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Ok.. Ok... LOL Here we go... Fast Fresh and Freindly!

I have in there. Afgooey Mom clones. Misty Mom and Clone. Juicy Fruit, Hindu Kush, Himilayan Gold (it is feminized). So some are waiting to get big enough to sex. The ones under the 400 are getting flowered early so I can get things moving. so first round will be thin but it will just get better as my system is streamlined. I like Hempy.. but I really like DWC... So for now I am doing a little of both. It is all for fun anyway.









Enjoy.

Oh.. I know some of the clones are not doing so hot.... LOL.. I actually want some of them to die off as space is an issue as you can see. I just take way more than I need/want so If I mess up I have cushion. There are several small rooted clones that just got transplanted in the 64oz dwc, they should perk up like the other two did in the next day. Ive grown in soil many times, but this is first round with hydro & hempy. Trying to eliminate my need for soil indoors altogether.

dude that is the shit. 'what a kick ass fun grow. I was kind thinking the same thing but with like five gallon bukets. What about nutes? What ru using must b a bitch adding nutes every change

nice little setup you got there!

koolhand77 said:

dude that is the shit. 'what a kick ass fun grow. I was kind thinking the same thing but with like five gallon bukets. What about nutes? What ru using must b a bitch adding nutes every change

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I was using 3gl rubbermaids... and I changed the res once a week or so. I just add 1/2 strength Nutrient solution that is PHed and it was doing ok with 5 plants in it... However... 3gl container only holds 2gl of water... so each had less than a 1/2 gallon. I peeked in this morning before the lights went off and all of them I put in last night have perked up really good. As for nutes I use the FoxFarm Trio. It is very simple to use and the Ph buffers in it seem to keep things stable. every 2 or 3 days I add solution and then every 7-10 days I change the res. Since they are individual now I just mix all the solution I will need in a big container and then just fill the 64oz cups from that. If I need to stop for a while no big deal as they are now individual Id say I spend about 2-4 hrs a week on maintaining everything per week. Not bad IMO

But this goes back to my original Idea of making this a recirculating system with a controller and res. I probably wouldn't have to hardly touch it all if I could get something worked out.

nirvanaphreak24 said:

nice little setup you got there!

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Thank you. I like growing in cabinets way more than a closet. See... I OWN the cabinets so Nobody without a warrant can get into them. In a closet of an apt there is always danger of the landlord "stumbling" on it. It is less space but I think my 400w hps will be optimized this way. Plus I have noticed significant control over the plant environment since designing/building the cabinets. Thanks again for the Kudos.

I was thinnking about doing that with the 5 gallon buckets dwc with water and air flowing through each one. What I came up with was you would need a pump in every bucket. and plus a bigger air filter.

koolhand77 said:

I was thinnking about doing that with the 5 gallon buckets dwc with water and air flowing through each one. What I came up with was you would need a pump in every bucket. and plus a bigger air filter.

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Well.. I was looking at this in the grow FAQ:

GROWFAQ

His/Her System looks pretty smooth as the water is constantly recirculated between the buckets and controller.. while the res just keeps adding to the controller and buckets as the plants drink. If I had space to do 5gl DWC I soooooo would.

It looks pretty sick expensive thought. I was thinking you would need a float like a toilet because if you just started pumping water in it wouldn't stay in the bucket pretty cool setup though. I don't know I just want to get my stash going so don't run out of weed.

koolhand77 said:

I just want to get my stash going so don't run out of weed.

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This is Definitely at the heart of it..LOL

I hate purchasing. Ive got about 8 weeks left or so...LMAO.. But then it will be rockin on a monthly cycle and all will be good in the world.

Just came across this..awesome grow man, you have a tight setup. good luck on the finish.

Thanks Miller Time. I'm enjoying messing around with hydro quite a bit.

SomeGuy said:

Thanks Miller Time. I'm enjoying messing around with hydro quite a bit.

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yea i've been really starting to enjoy it too. i was all excited about attempting something like your grow but my seeds were duds.

looks real good. thnks for the inspiration!

Looking Good Mate...!!!

Love the set-up....

Best of Luck...

Gypsy...

phishhead said:

yea i've been really starting to enjoy it too. i was all excited about attempting something like your grow but my seeds were duds.

looks real good. thnks for the inspiration!

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GypsyBush said:

Looking Good Mate...!!!

Love the set-up....

Best of Luck...

Gypsy...

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Thanks guys. I am just really having a good time with it. Keeps me happy and saves me money in the long run ya know. I think these 1/2 gallon DWC are going to work out pretty good. The maintenance has been easier than with the 3gl tub because it is so easy to just remove one from the system. Ph steadily drifts up over 3 days... The reservoir cycles have been seamless so far. I will take pics with lights on... shit looks great

someguy,

Hey what did you use to sprout your seeds? Rockwool?I used stater soil for my plants then transplanted them. I do have some rockwool butthefirsttimeI used it taproot did a 180 and started coming back out the hole. I know that you germ your seeds soak the wool wip out extra water put hydroton in the bottom of your cup so that the bubble splash won't hit the rockwool mist twice a day and cover. Missing anything?