Grow Mediums Hydroponic system suggestions

[Autoflowergrower]

Hi I am looking to get into hydroponics i have done soil for years and had much success but I have always had friends who have done hydroponics and come out with these crazy yields which i know i am not expecting right off the bat I know there will be a learning curve that goes along with this transition....but i was just wondering in you hydro growers eyes for a first timer what is the easiest setup I have always thought dwc would be but maybe I am missing something if you guys have any input and direction i would greatly appreciate it thanks

 

[Chocolaton]

I tried NFT with good results before but if I have to choose I'll say that DWC is what I would go for. But I think than more important than the system is your measurement equipment. Get the best EC meter you can afford would be more important than the system you use in my view.

Be prepare to be blown away by the speed of the grow. I am now growing in soil because I wasn't too happy by the flavour using hydro, however this may be due to a bad flushing in my part.

 

[lykaboss]

DWC for sure! Its not hard to do, the hardest thing is maintaining good water temps if you can keep your water temps 75 and under you are golden, also supply tones of oxygen and go lite on nutes. I will veg in 5 gallon buckets with a 10 inch netpot then transfer to a 20 gallon rope tote for flower. THEY GET HUGE!

 

[Autoflowergrower]

wow so expect just huge massive roots? that is a huge res man lol I will do it though haha and no nutes for the first 7-10 days?

 

[lykaboss]

well NOT no nutes, When you use RO water (as you should) the water contains nothing. Your water/solution is the life force for that plant!!! what i do, is i use root riot starter plugs to start a new strain from seed or clone, then i transplant into a solo cup with coco, keep it in coco for about a week maybe 2, then you can just transplant straight from the solo cup into the net pot. (Don't transplant from soil to dwc, asking for problems) Depends on the strain but you can keep the PPMs to around 250ppms for early veg up to around 450 to 500 ppm's in late veg. If your water is cold say under that 75 mark and tones of oxygen is being delivered to the roots.. the plants won't need strong nute strenghts, i seen monsters finish in late flower at only 650 ppm's (on the 500 scale)

Make sure you have both a good PPM and PH meter, Numbers matter!!!

 

[Minch Wyhills]

A dwc modified cooler works great. Use the lid that comes with the cooler and cut out a hole for the net pot (probably will need a circular bit for a drill to accomplish). The cooler being insulated holds the res temp pretty stable during lights on. It requires swapping out one ice pack a day to maintain. i also would suggest if your going to try DWC to get a second bucket that you can use to put the plant in while you do res changes and maintenance as DWC ladies can get unruly in size!
@lykaboss Going to have to check some of your grows out! 20gal res's? You must be growing monsters!

EDIT: If using a nutritrient lineup such as Advanced Nutrients PH perfect or the Iconic line up, they have ph buffers so you don't have to get so crazy monitoring ec/ph. Though, its a good practice to get into.

 

[lykaboss]

@lykaboss Going to have to check some of your grows out! 20gal res's? You must be growing monsters!

Have not posted any of my hydro grows yet but i will

 

[auto_mate]

If ur going dwc check out seymours buds grow journals l. He has posted so much great info i wouldnt have succeeded without it. Also lotsa info on my grow journal, my first attempt so made nearly every mistake u can (ph out, under fed, over fed) lol

 

[mwsmoker]

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Muddy recommends this company. It looks very well designed. I'm sure you can PM him for better info.

- - - Updated - - -

http://cch2o.com/products.html

Muddy recommends this company. It looks very well designed. I'm sure you can PM him for better info.

 

[Muddy]

I'm loving my Current Culture RDWC system. They can be a bit finicky to get dialed in but once you do, they will out produce just about anything else on the market today. Photo plants in their 8 gallon buckets are producing a pound or more per plant. I've not grown any autos in it yet but some of the bigger autos strains, like the Dutch Passions, should do very well in these.