It's usually me answering over on the shroomery, but I'm no genius on hydroponics so now I need some help myself
If you're growing something like Hawaiian Snow, it's a Sativa and it's going to climb - which is a serious issue for some.
To this end, it would probably be best to use a drip feed over a tray so the plants start as close to the floor as possible - no big reservoir needed underneath.
They'd be in a 1.2x1.2x2m tent with a 1kw air cooled HID
The plan is to use rock pebbles, hoping that these will provide lots of big air spaces for root breathing. These would be in 11l sized pots with the drip feed continually keeping the entire volume damp. Any tiny amounts of run off into the tray would then be turned into humidity - might need to purposefully set the drip rate higher to boost humidity, or pour water into the tray. The tops of the pots would be covered with foil to avoid rapid dehydration of the media and algae. The reservoir would simply be a big tank held slightly above the pot level (outside the tent), so gravity would drip it out.
My questions, would it be worth aerating with this kind of setup? The big air gaps in the media should provide lots of space, but the pots are solid walls with foil over the top. It makes me wonder if the amount of dissolved oxygen gained with airstones will be worth it. Also, would it not be easier to use a smaller pump and stick air hoses directly into the media rather than mess around trying to transfer it dissolved in the water? With a drip feed, the quantities of water passing the roots will be tiny compared to films and floods, so the amount of oxygen will be equally tiny if the stones where in the reservoir.
Also, roughly how much water are 5 or so plants going to suck up per week? I realise that's a question with lots of possibilities, so just a very, very rough estimate will do. About half a liter to a liter each per day?
Already got an ultra accurate pH meter. No EC - not many people seem to use them.
CO2 worth it given what else is being used?
Thanks in advance!
If you're growing something like Hawaiian Snow, it's a Sativa and it's going to climb - which is a serious issue for some.
To this end, it would probably be best to use a drip feed over a tray so the plants start as close to the floor as possible - no big reservoir needed underneath.
They'd be in a 1.2x1.2x2m tent with a 1kw air cooled HID
The plan is to use rock pebbles, hoping that these will provide lots of big air spaces for root breathing. These would be in 11l sized pots with the drip feed continually keeping the entire volume damp. Any tiny amounts of run off into the tray would then be turned into humidity - might need to purposefully set the drip rate higher to boost humidity, or pour water into the tray. The tops of the pots would be covered with foil to avoid rapid dehydration of the media and algae. The reservoir would simply be a big tank held slightly above the pot level (outside the tent), so gravity would drip it out.
My questions, would it be worth aerating with this kind of setup? The big air gaps in the media should provide lots of space, but the pots are solid walls with foil over the top. It makes me wonder if the amount of dissolved oxygen gained with airstones will be worth it. Also, would it not be easier to use a smaller pump and stick air hoses directly into the media rather than mess around trying to transfer it dissolved in the water? With a drip feed, the quantities of water passing the roots will be tiny compared to films and floods, so the amount of oxygen will be equally tiny if the stones where in the reservoir.
Also, roughly how much water are 5 or so plants going to suck up per week? I realise that's a question with lots of possibilities, so just a very, very rough estimate will do. About half a liter to a liter each per day?
Already got an ultra accurate pH meter. No EC - not many people seem to use them.
CO2 worth it given what else is being used?
Thanks in advance!
