Grow Mediums The Best Hydro Kit ? Which System Is Best & Why ?

[true]

Hello everyone,

Which Hydro system do you think is best and why?
Set up cost?
Repair costs?
How reliable?
Suits small plants?
Suits large plants?
List all positives and negatives
Please remember some of us on here are new, so if you write the IWS DWC B&Q ABC system is the mutz nuts.
Not all of us are going to know what your on about

 

[Muddy]

I spent a long time researching different hydro systems before finally settling on a Current Culture RDWC system. (Recirculating Deep Water Culture) http://cch2o.com/. They come in either 8 gallon, for growing plants up to 4' tall, and 13 gallon, for plants up to 6' tall. I chose the 8 gallon as that fit my growing environment better. I'm on my second photo grow and am still getting it fine tuned but so far I couldn't be happier. An 8 bucket system cost $1,100 plus a chiller at $250. I'm using a 30 gallon plastic barrel as a top off res, so as the system level drops, it is automatically replenished from the top off. These systems are very efficient and only require about half the nutrient strength of other hydro systems. They also require less frequent res changes. I can generally go about 21 days where most other systems require weekly changes. This also saves on nutrients. I'm not there yet but I've seen grows from these systems on another forum where they are getting a pound + a plant in the 8 gallon and some are getting 2 pounds in the 13 gallon. My best so far has been 10 oz. They are very easy to set up and I've had no leaks so haven't incurred any repair costs.

 

[pop22]

Hello everyone,

Which Hydro system do you think is best and why?
Set up cost?
Repair costs?
How reliable?
Suits small plants?
Suits large plants?
List all positives and negatives
Please remember some of us on here are new, so if you write the IWS DWC B&Q ABC system is the mutz nuts.
Not all of us are going to know what your on about

I looked at several systems. But in the end, I couldn't justify paying $600 for what I could build for $150. If you can use a drill and a screwdriver, you can build a system that meets your needs exactly. I ran three reservoirs, two 16 gallon res with plants- 2 in one 10" net pot and 6- 5" net pots in the other. The third I used to "temper" decholrinate and ph my water. When I set it up this winter, I'm going to turn it into an RDWC system. The upgrade will cost me about another $50 You can build a single bucket style res for less than $40. Spend that extra money on.... SEEDS! lol!


:Sharing One:

 

[true]

I spent a long time researching different hydro systems before finally settling on a Current Culture RDWC system. (Recirculating Deep Water Culture) http://cch2o.com/. They come in either 8 gallon, for growing plants up to 4' tall, and 13 gallon, for plants up to 6' tall. I chose the 8 gallon as that fit my growing environment better. I'm on my second photo grow and am still getting it fine tuned but so far I couldn't be happier. An 8 bucket system cost $1,100 plus a chiller at $250. I'm using a 30 gallon plastic barrel as a top off res, so as the system level drops, it is automatically replenished from the top off. These systems are very efficient and only require about half the nutrient strength of other hydro systems. They also require less frequent res changes. I can generally go about 21 days where most other systems require weekly changes. This also saves on nutrients. I'm not there yet but I've seen grows from these systems on another forum where they are getting a pound + a plant in the 8 gallon and some are getting 2 pounds in the 13 gallon. My best so far has been 10 oz. They are very easy to set up and I've had no leaks so haven't incurred any repair costs.

Hi Muddy

Thanks for the reply back, do you have any pictures of your set up?
I thought 'muddy' by name would mean 'muddy' by nature - soil grower?
Thanks for the link, some good reading to be done there.

I used to do NFT about 15 years ago and got on really well with it.
Im in soil this time round, just on my first grow.
Im definitely thinking about trying a hydro set up again.
What medium do you grow in ? Rockwool cubes, or air/mesh pots?
CCH20 are available in the UK so happy days.
Cheers mate.

Anyone else got a system to recommend?

- - - Updated - - -

I looked at several systems. But in the end, I couldn't justify paying $600 for what I could build for $150. If you can use a drill and a screwdriver, you can build a system that meets your needs exactly. I ran three reservoirs, two 16 gallon res with plants- 2 in one 10" net pot and 6- 5" net pots in the other. The third I used to "temper" decholrinate and ph my water. When I set it up this winter, I'm going to turn it into an RDWC system. The upgrade will cost me about another $50 You can build a single bucket style res for less than $40. Spend that extra money on.... SEEDS! lol!


:Sharing One:

Hi Pop
Thanks for the reply back.
If only I was any good on the tools... I can repair some things but water and plumbing stuff aint me
Do you have any pictures of your setup ?
What medium do you grow in?
Cheers.

 

[UrbanFarmer]

Depending on your situation, and what you want do do with your grow space....If its small you can do Hempy Pots, its hydro all it really costs is nutes and PH adjustment (meters etc) A little bit more intensive would be Deep Water Culture. DWC requires more monitoring, more changing reservoirs, more metering tools (EC/PPM meter) or buying into a bucket system like Muddy has rocking on. The system depends on you and your space, and what you want to do with it. Im personally moving from 4 hempy pots to 2 larger DWC pots. Its all comfort zone.

 

[Muddy]

Hi Muddy

Thanks for the reply back, do you have any pictures of your set up?
I thought 'muddy' by name would mean 'muddy' by nature - soil grower?
Thanks for the link, some good reading to be done there.

I used to do NFT about 15 years ago and got on really well with it.
Im in soil this time round, just on my first grow.
Im definitely thinking about trying a hydro set up again.
What medium do you grow in ? Rockwool cubes, or air/mesh pots?
CCH20 are available in the UK so happy days.
Cheers mate.

LOL, I took my name from the blues great, Muddy Waters. I do both hydro and soil. Autos in soil, photos in hydro.

The first two grows I started in Rapid Rooters, then into 4" rock wool. The 8" net pots that come with the CC systems have a raised center to set the rock wool cubes on. The rest of the pots are filled with hydrocorn. When the system is filled to the proper level the raised centers keep the rock wool above the water line. The bubbling from the air stone keeps them moist with becoming overly wet to the point where the roots might rot. I've always had trouble with damping off in Rapid Rooters so next grow I'm switching to smaller rock wool starter cubes and will then place those into the 4" cubes.

Pictures of my set up here: https://www.autoflower.org/f106/hydro-grow-under-fero-leds-25064.html. I'm still learning and fine tuning. Unfortunately I picked the wrong stain for my second grow, Pineapple Chunk. Turns out it's extremely nute sensitive and not a good strain to grow in these systems. I also need more light. Given how fast plants grow in these systems I'm getting a lot more stretch than I desire. So before the next grow I'll either be switching to some T5s or adding some T5 side lighting.

 

[true]

LOL, I took my name from the blues great, Muddy Waters. I do both hydro and soil. Autos in soil, photos in hydro.

The first two grows I started in Rapid Rooters, then into 4" rock wool. The 8" net pots that come with the CC systems have a raised center to set the rock wool cubes on. The rest of the pots are filled with hydrocorn. When the system is filled to the proper level the raised centers keep the rock wool above the water line. The bubbling from the air stone keeps them moist with becoming overly wet to the point where the roots might rot. I've always had trouble with damping off in Rapid Rooters so next grow I'm switching to smaller rock wool starter cubes and will then place those into the 4" cubes.

Pictures of my set up here: https://www.autoflower.org/f106/hydro-grow-under-fero-leds-25064.html. I'm still learning and fine tuning. Unfortunately I picked the wrong stain for my second grow, Pineapple Chunk. Turns out it's extremely nute sensitive and not a good strain to grow in these systems. I also need more light. Given how fast plants grow in these systems I'm getting a lot more stretch than I desire. So before the next grow I'll either be switching to some T5s or adding some T5 side lighting.

Hi Muddy,

Thanks for the link, nice set up brother
Im on auto's in soil and just not enjoying the soil... Too messy if nothing else.
Its deffo back to hydro for me and I really fancy a top RDWC system. I cant build sh*t so its a fully bought in system for me.

Ive just spotted the Alien Pro kit (http://alienhydroponicsystems.co.uk/rdwc-pro.html), I called them up and they were very friendly and knowledgable.
Im wanting to grow say 8 plants but big as possible. Less plants more bud kind of approach.
Are auto's not suited to RDWC growing?

Thanks for the reply.
True.

 

[Muddy]

Those systems look very similar to the Current Culture system I have. I bought my specifically for growing photos but autos grow well in them too. At some point I'll probably give some autos a try but for now I'm trying to keep the electrical costs down, so prefer the photos running at 12 hrs. a day compared to 18 or 20 for autos. RDWC can be a little finicky to get dialed in but once you do, they will produce like no other system I've seen. The THCFarmer forum has a whole section dedicated to the Current Culture systems. Some of the grower with the 13 gallon buckets are getting 2 lbs. per plant. One to 1 1/2 lbs. can be gotten from the 8 gallon buckets. So far the most I've gotten has been 9 oz. I think I can easily up mine to around 1 lb. once I add some supplemental lighting.