The Drip Or Sprinkler System

The picture above is of a drip system.

The drip or sprinkler system involves dripping or spraying nutrient water around plant roots that are held in place by clay pellets, gravel, rockwool, sawdust, or peat mixes. One advantage is that the dripping or spraying nutrient carries a constand supply of air between droplets. In addition, the drips or sprays are timed to allow air-breathing cycles.

The key to running this type of system is that the root zone must be kept constantly moist. The main problem with the drip feed is that the drops do not reach all the roots. Also if the drippers or sprayers get blocked for any length of time, the plants can die quite quickly if the problem is not fixed before the marijuna roots dry out.

Drip systems are best used with a dense medium like rockwool, so that the "water column" created will spread outward as it sinks. It isn't a problem if the medium eventually gets flooded by the dripping.

The larger particles used for media are better suited to flood and drain.

I'm assuming that a drip system would be significantly cheaper and more affordable then the sprinkler system correct?

If that is the case, is the significance in the different benefits large? I'm just curious because I plan on starting, and I am on a low budget, and I'd like to get the best bang for my buck.

How much would both of these systems cost?

To start I would recomend using soil, it is alot more forgiving then anything else. However the drip system does work very well.

I am using the PowerGrow Eco from GH... GENERAL HYDROPONICS

How long should I let the water drip each day? Im newbish, but learning

Drip schedules depends on the medium. With hydrotron you can do continuous. Rock wool you run some trials have your pump run until the medium is well saturated then your timer goes off. Check your medium until it goes dry that is when your timer goes on. You should prob run pump in 15 min intervals so your medium is never bone dry but enough to allow air exchange.

Thank you. BTW, I am using a Sun Sytem 4 150HPS over this tank i just want to start 1 good plant do you think this is ok?

600w of HPS power you do very well with that just make sure it dosent get to hot over 95. I suggest using mylar so you dont waste any light either.