Setting up a 40 gallon DWC system // +rep

I'm looking to grow 12/12 from seed using DWC, using somewhat of a SOG method. once sexed, I will move all the females to one side of the bubbler and sow more seeds in the other creating a perpetual harvest. Since I will have minimal side branching, I want to get my plants pretty tightly packed.

the measurements of my lid are 37x21. I was thinking of using 3 or 4" net pots. What would be a good size? and what do you think is a good number of plant sites? I can do the math, but i have no experience with DWC so im not 100% sure what to expect with root room and such. like i said, these will be 12/12 from seed, single cola plants.

also in a 40 gallon system, what is the recommended amount of airstones and pumps?

I'd suggest you reconsider using a 40 gallon tank. That is a lot of water and much more work.
I use two 8 gallon tanks, with 6 gallons of water in each, look here for pics:
My PICS

Roseman said:

I'd suggest you reconsider using a 40 gallon tank. That is a lot of water and much more work.
I use two 8 gallon tanks, with 6 gallons of water in each, look here for pics:
My PICS

Click to expand...

well Im trying to get the most bang for my buck, in the least amount of space. I want one single until, and I honestly don't mind the 40 gallon upkeep. I've owned and cleaned plenty of aquariums, and I don't mind paying for all those nutes seeing that I will be growing a pretty large amount. I'll def check out those pics...

the 40 gallon is pretty damn big, i have some, i actually go with a 30 gallon, but its all the same, roots arent that big of an issue except if u need to single out a plant, they intangle pretty bad, i just rotate the net cups in different spots, keeps the roots from wrapping around eachother. u could go with a 400w or a 600w conversion bulb, probably find one cheap on the net, i use a 400w, and im pretty much in the same boat as u except i dont have a female or a confirmed female just yet. heres a pic of my old setup, it was simple and easy to take care of minus the clothes haha. hope it gives u an idea tho

This is for NEW FIRST TIME GROWERS

I am just trying to be helpful here and offer a few simple suggestions for newbies. If you read this, you will be glad.
If you are new here, PLEASE go to Newbie Central and read up on posting here and asking questions.
You can almost always find the answer to any question at GrowFAQ;
FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions.
There is a link to that site at the top of this page.

ONE-
If I can impress one fact upon you, I read here every day where a new grower says "well, I tried ____________and I killed my plants."
"I wondered what would happen if I ________________and I killed my plants"
or "I thought I would try _______________and it killed my underwater pump".
I tried adding sugar and I got ants. I tried adding mollasses and it screwed up my pump. I tried urine.......................I tried dog poop................
IF you DO NOT know what will happen, then DON'T TRY IT..........NOT with your first grow.
EXPERIMENTATION IS GREAT, THAT IS HOW WE LEARN, BUT WOULDN'T YOU RATHER LEARN FROM SOMEONE ELSE'S MISTAKES?
You do not want your first grow to be an experiment, you want it to be a successful grow and harvest.
Are you trying to be a inventor, an inovator, or trying to harvest some weed to smoke?
Growing can really be simple, but we tend to want to experiment and we tend to want to always fool with the plants, to mess with them, to try something different, to do some more, and some more, and some more.. THAT IS WRONG THINKING. STINKING THINKING, I CALL IT.
DO THE RIGHT THING AND THEN LEAVE THEM ALONE! LEARN, RESEARCH, STUDY, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS, BUY A BOOK OR TOO.
I see people post "I tried urine, I tried mollasses, I tried dog doo-doo, I tried miracle grow, I added so and so, I made up some grow nutrients, I mixed in blah bla blah. DON'T DO IT !!!!
If it will work right, then you can read here where someone else did it successfully.
TWO-
It is better to do too little than to do too much. It is better to not do enough, than to over - do it. It is better to do less, than to do more.
Think of toothpaste. After you squeeze it out, it's a done deal, and you have to deal with what you have, you can not put it back in the tube. BUT, IF you do not squeeze enough out, you can always squeze some more out later.
Just like spoken words, once said, they are out there.
THREE-
Many new members here will offer advise here, that have never grew a plant in their entire lives. "Build your own Hydroponic System" and "Try some Miracle Grow" and "go get some Halogen Lights" and a lot of bull crap advise. I see successful Soil Growers offering advise on Hydroponics. I see Hydroponic Growers offering advise on how to grow outdoors. When you read advise, look to see if that person is new here or been here awhile, if he or she has ever grown before, and if he has more than a few posts, posted, or is new here. Beware of advise starting with "I heard that........." OR "MY BUDDY TOLD ME ......................"
FOUR-
If you are going to grow..............
DO NOT TELL ANYONE.
DO NOT TELL ANYONE.
DO NOT TELL ANYONE.
INTERNET PURCHASES ARE SAFER THAN WALKING INTO A HYDROPONIC STORE.
LOWES AND WALMART AND HOME DEPOT ARE MORE SAFER.
Every time I read on here that someone got busted, it was a wife, x-wife, girlfriend, x-girlfriend, nosey neighbor, or mad partner or mad upset buddy.

THE PLANTS ARE GOING TO SMELL VERY LOUD AND AWEFUL.
DECIDE ON INSIDE OR OUTSIDE.
DECIDE ON SOIL OR HYDRO.
DECIDE ON SEED OR CLONES.
DECIDE ON WHAT KIND OF LIGHTS.
ARE YOU GOING TO VENT THE HEAT?
FIVE-
IF you decide on an INDOOR GROW, then BEFORE you do anything else,
Spray the area good with a good ALL PURPOSE bug spray, like HomeGuard. Don't just use a spray made to kill ants or only roaches. Everyday someone posts here that spider mites ruined their crop.



Figure out how you going to deal with

• the heat or temperature.
• the smell.
• the spider mites.
• the humidity.
• the neighbors, parents, girlfriend, neighbor and deadbeat friends.
• source for good water.
• air movement or air circulation.

SIX-
there are some very wonderful people here from all walks of life; hippies, rednecks, hill billies, educated, not educated, men and women, young and old, etc. Be polite and seek the advise of the experienced and you will be glad that you did.
Many people here wish someone had offered them the above advise before they got started.

.

exactly! roseman knows whats up, hate it or love it, the man knows his shyt about hydro setups. pretty much just do ur own thing, and progress as times comes and goes. you can only learn more. so take advantage of it.

But, I heard that you CAN put toothpaste back in the tube. It's not going to be easy.