Grow Mediums Grow room design question

[Thordinar]

So there is a 10'6'' wide x 9' deep x 5'8'' tall area. Eventually 2 rows of 4'x8' will be dedicated grow area with 1000w over each 4'x4' so that is 2k each row.

Since the height of the area is low. I don't think a large ebb and flow system would work. Ikon oxypots will be to time consuming with a higher count.

Maybe recirculating dwc or under current? The system needs to be hydro and it needs to leave enough vertical space for the medium, adequate plant growth and for lights to hang. Also would prefer a larger res so solution is easier to manage. What are your suggestions.

 

[Son of Hobbes]

Hey Thordinar, I moved your thread to the Hydro forum since it's pretty hydro specific with your setup questions and nobody's responded to it yet; this should get you a lot more watery eyes looking at your question!

 

[Muddy]

I'm running a Current Culture RDWC right now in an 8' high area using LEDS and am having height issues. Given the amount of heat that HPS lights put off and the amount of space you will need between the plants and the lights, I think height will be an issue for you as well. If you do go with an RDWC system you will probably have to switch your plants from veg to bloom when they are pretty small, probably no more than 10-12" high. T5s might be a better option for you. Two 16 bulb Bad Boys will cover a 4' x 8' area perfectly. If they aren't pushing out enough light for you, take a look at the UNO T5s using either their VHO bulbs at 95 watts each, or their XHO using 110 bulbs. T5s can be set a lot closer to the canopy top than HPS.

 

[pop22]

So there is a 10'6'' wide x 9' deep x 5'8'' tall area. Eventually 2 rows of 4'x8' will be dedicated grow area with 1000w over each 4'x4' so that is 2k each row.

Since the height of the area is low. I don't think a large ebb and flow system would work. Ikon oxypots will be to time consuming with a higher count.

Maybe recirculating dwc or under current? The system needs to be hydro and it needs to leave enough vertical space for the medium, adequate plant growth and for lights to hang. Also would prefer a larger res so solution is easier to manage. What are your suggestions.

You could manage a flood and drain by using a stand alone res. build a low catch basin under the table with a float swtich and a pump to return the water to the res. Pretty easy to rig really, you could build the table and still keep the total of it and a catch basin to 18 - 20". I saw a 50 gallon tote that would be great for a res. or get a 50 gallon plastic food grade barrel.

 

[Thordinar]

Hey Thordinar, I moved your thread to the Hydro forum since it's pretty hydro specific with your setup questions and nobody's responded to it yet; this should get you a lot more watery eyes looking at your question!

Thank you SoH. I was not sure where to post this, so I appreciate it.

Pop, I have not seen an ebb and flow with a res not underneath it. I don't even know how it would work as I thought gravity played an important role in drainage. I will research this to learn more. Maybe ebb and flow would work after all.

You're right muddy. I have decided that I will start with 600w lights instead of 1000w to eliminate some of the light distance to gain a few extra inches of usable vertical height. I also decided I will incorporate scrog techniques to even out the canopy so I can shave a few inches there. If I can get it as even as Parabolic pete did in the link below I should be alright.

http://www.dutch-passion.nl/en/news...t-9-plant-home-grow-review-by-parabolic-pete/

As for the initial medium, I am going to run up to 3 oxypots under a single 600w. Then over time I will acquire several high powered LEDs. From what I understand, this will eliminate even more light distance and the new LEDs have decent penetration and output. Once I have a LED panel and I use it I will know for sure if an ebb and flow would be the work adequately.

Thanks for the replies.

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions I am still open to ideas.

 

[pop22]

Thank you SoH. I was not sure where to post this, so I appreciate it.

Pop, I have not seen an ebb and flow with a res not underneath it. I don't even know how it would work as I thought gravity played an important role in drainage. I will research this to learn more. Maybe ebb and flow would work after all.

You're right muddy. I have decided that I will start with 600w lights instead of 1000w to eliminate some of the light distance to gain a few extra inches of usable vertical height. I also decided I will incorporate scrog techniques to even out the canopy so I can shave a few inches there. If I can get it as even as Parabolic pete did in the link below I should be alright.

http://www.dutch-passion.nl/en/news...t-9-plant-home-grow-review-by-parabolic-pete/

As for the initial medium, I am going to run up to 3 oxypots under a single 600w. Then over time I will acquire several high powered LEDs. From what I understand, this will eliminate even more light distance and the new LEDs have decent penetration and output. Once I have a LED panel and I use it I will know for sure if an ebb and flow would be the work adequately.

Thanks for the replies.

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions I am still open to ideas.

If you build your own, vs commercial unit, it can be done. Put a pump in the drain basin/catch basin. Get a float valve, the hydro places will have them. the float can be rigged to turn on and off the return pump. Pump the water back to the tank/barrel. The barrel would have its own pump on a timer as usual. Its just a delayed recycling system. All the basin is for is to catch the table drainage and return it to the barrel.

 

[Thordinar]

Like this? Not sure where the float would go...