Grow Mediums Solo DWC w/ 1l ATO

[FarmerJake]

Atlas Tricross being fed PH Perfect Trio in a Solo. Custom built vacuum pressure regulated gravity fed top off reservoir. Basically there is a 1/4” ball valve threaded into the bottom of the Nalgene which I drilled and tapped. This is set to a slow drip with discharge just above the root riot. From the top of the nalgene is the 3/8” tube used to set water height within the solo and stop the flow of water out the bottom of the nalgene once the end of the tube within the solocup is submerged. The 3/8” tube sucks up the equivalent depth of what remains in the nalgene. I use this same style automatic top off (ATO) in my nano reefs it is highly reliable.

Inside before filling(the 3/8” set tube is currently set at just the base of the net cup so the root riot could absorb solution before the roots had reached)

after filling

If anyone has questions how it works or wants a list of needed parts let me know
Day 5 (still have 500ml in the ATO)

seems to be growing well so far, this is my first attempt at DWC, first time using conventional nutrients so any recommendations will be appreciated. I don’t have any other additives from AN but have been considering getting atleast what they list for their beginner program with these nutes. Air pump is a tiny 19gph model will likely find my stronger one and hook up my battery back up one too. The solo sets into a 3” rubber fernco to provide stability and light protection. The lid is from a package of rice and sets right onto the solo. The height of the solo is the same as the rubber boot and lip on the lid combined.
Thanks for reading all that shit hope you were high

 

[Original Lowryder #12]

Definitely a cool idea! I'm following along

 

[FarmerJake]

anyone know if I can get away just running these base nutrients, or do I need big bud, bud candy, etc. to get desirable results?
Here she is day 6

based on the AN Feed Chart for Grow Micro Bloom beginner I should have atleast voodoo juice, big bud, overdrive, and B-52. If I want to step up and include bud candy from the intermediate and above feed schedules should I assume I need all the other additives in those schedules to implement it properly or could I just add it to the beginner schedule? Super high thanks

 

[FarmerJake]

Day 7 though I guess Day 8 as it’s Saturday and that means it’s been 1 week since I first filled the Reservoir so it’s time to change it out and mix a new batch of nutes. Sticking with the AN schedule 1l of RO was mixed with 2ml each of Micro, Grow, and Bloom. There is a bit of tip burn on the first set of leaves but this is trial by fire. Roots after I emptied the old solution from the cups.

Here is a video of the drip rate upon refill, it will stop automatically when full

 

[DCLXVI]

I'm no use on the nutrient questions but I just wanted to say how neat that setup is! Wicked interesting! Good luck.

 

[FarmerJake]

Day 10

Slight issue on the auto fill with it slowly over dispensing because air bubbles travel up the 3/8” tube. This could be remedied by nestling the 3/8” tube within a larger diameter tube that will stop bubbles from getting to it. Simply lowering the 3/8” tube and overall solution level may be easier and just as effective. Maybe redrill a new lid with the air line on the opposite side from the 3/8” vacuum line. Get high and do all three

 

[FarmerJake]

Day 15 topped her above the 4th node trying to keep her shorter. Leafs edges are curling, I should look that up

I added a concealment pipe for the 3/8” line to stop bubbles from going up and hopefully make the ATO work smoother. She got a fresh nalgene of solution mixed to 3ml/l of each nutrient

 

[FarmerJake]

Day 19

The isolation pipe is working and the reservoir still has 400ml remaining, I imagine soon the rate of uptake will rise and I’ll be mixing more often but nearly three weeks in and it’s only 1l a week to mix if the system is dialed in. Super fun and easy experiment so far, and I’m thinking overall health of the plant might be better if I invest in atleast a few of the additives. But for shits we are seeing this plant through base nutrients only

 

[FarmerJake]

Noticing this leaf issue
View from above

And below

Any ideas? Could it be the reservoir is nearly a week old and has settled and is skewing parameters out of whack? I’ll be mixing a new one tomorrow at 4ml/l of each base nutrient. And she nearly drained the whole liter this week so soon the settling reservoir may be in the rear view mirror if that is the cause. Maybe it’s because I don’t have even the beginner additives. She looks hungry for something specific that is beyond my skill to assess, but beyond these spots her edges still curl, new growth has that crinkled look and she looks like an overwatered soil plant almost with her sulk(too much light?)

 

[FarmerJake]

Day 26 She sucked the res and cup dry but I seem to have caught it in time, I mixed at 4ml/l again but thinking I should back off and maybe add RO to the current res now that I’m looking at these pictures, but who knows

Should I defoliate?