buliding small hydroponic system need help [Archive]

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rabidcow

08-30-2008, 03:03 PM

1st I will give you a couple hints, ask you a couple question's, then I want you to post this query in hydroponics. For everyones benefit, We don't do grow support in private. What I teach you needs to be available for the entire community to reference

i am looking to buy/build a hydroponic system so that imay start my 1st solo grow. did one years back but it was in soil and i had alotof help.
looking for room enough to growup to 7 plants at a small height.

How much floor space, and how tall is growspace you are planning to use.?
I Guess i have about 3x3 FS and H= 5 1/2. Its closet.

was thinking of the aerogarden but as i read more into these threads i think its possible to get what i want w/out having to go there, maybe dunno realy.

You can build your own system. Aerogarden (great for clone propagation) places plants too close together. You are thinking "small", but "plants" don't always cooperate; So you need to make sure you adequate spacing for a 6-7 plant grow.

i just got my seeds from mail and have 5 white budda dwarf fems, also recieved 5 free g 13 powerskunk but I am going to stick with thedwarfs.

i have a wormsway indoor garden store 45 minutes south but i dont know exactly what i need and am nervous of asking the sales people, they may not be out to turn me in, or they may try to get as much money as they can. I am a plumbers apprentice so I have building knowledge and access to pvc pipes and pumps. It is great to have a store like that available. 1st you need. general Hydroponics 3-part in qts. and a bottle of ph down, a ph pen, and a EC/TDS pen. That will be all you need for 1st grow...oh yeah. a bottle of calmag+

To start seeds. rapid rooters, or jiffy pellets.

Just know that i would like to keep this small and contained. if possible a close the door and it invisible type thing.
any ideas? this is for next time around

also dont want to spike my power to much another reason for stayin small.
thanks dude
Keep in mind: A window unit, and frig, or whatever takes as much electric as anything else. Than HID lamps are the only thing that draws a bunch of power, but unless you start using 3-4 1000 watters...You don't need to worry about electric!

Now I can elaborate further as you take this all in. I also have a secure place to buy stuff if Worm's way doesn't work out for you.

Please copy/paste this discussion in hydro, and I will show you how to build a system once I know your space/AC stats.

Peace, God Bless

well if I left out any stats just pmslap me on the back ofthe head i will get the point

latewood

08-31-2008, 11:37 PM

rabidcow

09-01-2008, 12:57 AM

I think your best bet is to go with a small ebb and flow. You can build it yourself. In fact I am going to build one for propagation here on the farm. So I can show you a step by step tutorial.

Pros: You can build to exact specs! Inexpensive, easily automated. Easy weekly nute change out. Easy to disassemble, move, clean, etc.etc...

10 g rez Can be sterlite tub from wallys. for 5-7 bucks Or; buy a nice 20 gallon rez @ worm's.way

100-250 gph submersible pump. would buy this online.

aquarium airpump wallys, for 15 bucks. get a dual airpump, and I like the long bars for a recirculating rez like you need.

1/2 irrigation tubing. garden center. 7-10 bucks for 50-100 foot rool. I know you don;t need that much but it is cheap. Or; you can by a drip kit, that includes drippers, and little irrigation pieces, etc. etc...

some 1/2-3/4" adapters: these are from any hardware store, or irrigation plumbing department
ebb & flow kit
tray . you can build from plywood&1"x4", paint it black, and lay 8 mil vinyl inside, or pond liner...etc. Or; buy a tray at worms.way

hydroton: buy at wormsway

3 part buy at wormsway

ph down buy at wormsway

ph pen Online or buy at wormsway

tds pen Online or buy at wormsway

some type of propagation starter cubes Jiffy pellets, or "oasis" Online or buy rapid rooters at wormsway

netpots optional. Online or buy at wormsway

Back later. Peace, God Bless
Thx dude appreciated really. a few quick question. am i going to find all this stuff
at my local wormsway? Answered above for the most part.

ebb & flow kit i dont know much about this much meaning nothing at all. It is a tray about 6" deep. LIGHTS"ON". you run a pump every so often, (once an hour up to once every 4 hours) to fill tray, and wet medium allowing plants to take up what they need out of water nutrient solution. When pump goes off. water drains back through inlet hose into rez, and root zone has fresh solution in medium, amd plenty of oxygen from the characteristics of the "hydroton". You time feedings so that medium never completely dries out allowing for oxygen to roots.

When you say i need a tray, i assume thats where i will be doing my grow. Answered above

i saw in some magazine or maybe online plants growing out of what looked to be 2 or 3 inch pvc. with evenly spaced out hole for the plants to gfow from. being a half a plumber i was hoping to put the cheap plastic and knowledge of plumbing to use. i could plumb in drains, cleanouts, and maybe a hamster wheel lol jk. seriously

You are describing NFT. Or; Nutrient film technique. you can build that of that is what you want, but roots get clogged in pipes, and more environmental problems to deal with. Another thing. most of those piks show plants TOO/ CLose together. More for experienced hydro growers that have gotten to the experience level where they can control the size of the plants thru expert cloning techniques. you are on the right track, and if your heart is in NFT, then go for it. As you said. You can build yourself.

tho if you think i am on the right track with that idea and think you know what i am talking about please let me know. if you think i should stfu and just listen to the good info your givin me please do that as well.

eventhough i have had that pvc pipe idea in mind i am not married to it at all. it is good to be creative and open minded to undertake this endeavor!

Btw that 100-250 gph submersible pump, is that going to be on a timer? OOps yeah forgot to post. dual outlet digital hydro-timer in list

and what is a net pot, originally "orchid pots" go to any hydro site, and search netpots. they hold your medium, and allow plenty of oxygen to rootball. not totally necessary,but they help with stability. More on that later...

and those starter cubes those are what i know as cloning cubes right? there are many

again thanks, planning on making trip to wormsway next week end hope i get everything i need...i realy cant wait.

Will catch up later. Peace, God Bless

latewood

09-01-2008, 05:48 PM

Will be making my new ebb and flow this week if you want to try that.

You can most likely buy everything you need at worms way. ebb and flow systems are not that expensive, but way cheaper to build/piece together, if you have the savvy. :)

rabidcow

09-01-2008, 06:10 PM

Thx dude appreciated really. a few quick question. am i going to find all this stuff
at my local wormsway? Answered above for the most part.

ebb & flow kit i dont know much about this much meaning nothing at all. It is a tray about 6" deep. LIGHTS"ON". you run a pump every so often, (once an hour up to once every 4 hours) to fill tray, and wet medium allowing plants to take up what they need out of water nutrient solution. When pump goes off. water drains back through inlet hose into rez, and root zone has fresh solution in medium, amd plenty of oxygen from the characteristics of the "hydroton". You time feedings so that medium never completely dries out allowing for oxygen to roots.

When you say i need a tray, i assume thats where i will be doing my grow. Answered above

i saw in some magazine or maybe online plants growing out of what looked to be 2 or 3 inch pvc. with evenly spaced out hole for the plants to gfow from. being a half a plumber i was hoping to put the cheap plastic and knowledge of plumbing to use. i could plumb in drains, cleanouts, and maybe a hamster wheel lol jk. seriously

You are describing NFT. Or; Nutrient film technique. you can build that of that is what you want, but roots get clogged in pipes, and more environmental problems to deal with. Another thing. most of those piks show plants TOO/ CLose together. More for experienced hydro growers that have gotten to the experience level where they can control the size of the plants thru expert cloning techniques. you are on the right track, and if your heart is in NFT, then go for it. As you said. You can build yourself.

tho if you think i am on the right track with that idea and think you know what i am talking about please let me know. if you think i should stfu and just listen to the good info your givin me please do that as well.

eventhough i have had that pvc pipe idea in mind i am not married to it at all. it is good to be creative and open minded to undertake this endeavor!

Btw that 100-250 gph submersible pump, is that going to be on a timer? OOps yeah forgot to post. dual outlet digital hydro-timer in list

and what is a net pot, originally "orchid pots" go to any hydro site, and search netpots. they hold your medium, and allow plenty of oxygen to rootball. not totally necessary,but they help with stability. More on that later...

and those starter cubes those are what i know as cloning cubes right? there are many

again thanks, planning on making trip to wormsway next week end hope i get everything i need...i realy cant wait.

Will catch up later. Peace, God Bless
sweet thanks
i guess next thing i ask about is light system, fans and carbon scrubbing ( will this system be on a loop or will it vent to outside).
I am also lil bit hazey on the tray system, how many plants would i put in that 1 x 4 tray?.
i am sure you were planning on telling me all this later but justthought i would throw it out there anyways.
here is the light i was looking at let me know what u think http://www.wormsway.com/detail.asp?sku=SPTM125 2 way ........

latewood

09-03-2008, 03:07 PM

sweet thanks
i guess next thing i ask about is light system, fans and carbon scrubbing ( will this system be on a loop or will it vent to outside).

lights, fans, and carbon scrubbers.

I see your choice, You want an exhaust hood with a lens, allowing for a 4" vortex inline "Pro style" fan to suck hot air from lamp enclosure out of cabinet. This is where you should invest in the best or a reasonable facsimile thereof!

great exhaust is "key to controlling all issues from pests to environmental problems due to heat or +/_ humidity levels

vent in from an air conditioned space or if local environment provides consistently lowers temps 70 or lower. The inlet fan can be smaller and less expensive. however; a 4" vortex inline would be "primo" for both.

vortex fans are real quiet. That is why they are preferred over a squirrel cage. If you don't have noise suppression needs, then good squirrel cages fan can work just as efficiently in most applications.

you can mount the scrubber on the back side or outlet side of fan on top/upper corner of cabinet. Some folks like to put scrubber in cabinet, and suck from scrubber to air cooled light hood out of cabinet, (this is probably a better way in a "room"), but in your application for a cabinet/closet space, mounting fan then scrubber to access hole at top of cabinet would be most efficient, and give you a bit more headroom inside.

I am also lil bit hazey on the tray system, how many plants would i put in that 1 x 4 tray?.

. thought you said you were using 3x3 space. Id so, you should use a 3'x3' oe at least a 2'x3' for 4 plants.

Also; I know this is off from the questions of what to buy, but, here is some helpful forethought...Keep in mind that if you start from seed you are going to have to cull the males eventually, unless by some great blessing you get all "fems"

I would suggest growing "moms" in soil and sexing them 1st. I would then start a perpetually grow using a cloning system.

Stay tuned all! More later. Gotta go

p.s. think about a small cfl powered veg space in your plans, and a shelf for rooting clones

i am sure you were planning on telling me all this later but just thought i would throw it out there anyways.
here is the light i was looking at let me know what u think http://www.wormsway.com/detail.asp?sku=SPTM125 2 way
........Well good questions and; Yes, I was building to that. So busy right now, that I cannot allow myself to do a one day seminar :cool: at this time. ;)

rabidcow

09-03-2008, 09:10 PM

Well good questions and; Yes, I was building to that. So busy right now, that I cannot allow myself to do a one day seminar :cool: at this time. ;)

ha ya i get ya. much appreciated i will take what i can get when I can get it.
peace man

Oldbay

09-03-2008, 09:43 PM

nice thread you guys got going here. I think your all wet though :D

- Old "in the dirt" Bay

rabidcow

09-03-2008, 10:21 PM

nice thread you guys got going here. I think your all wet though :D

- Old "in the dirt" Bay
Hmmmmmmmm, so your saying hydro no way to go eh? i did a grow in dirt 10 years ago and my yield was sucky at best, and since that abortion i been thinking how will I do my next try at it. figured I could not only add nutes ( ya my last try we barely added any i might post the story in entirety for lafs in appropriate section someday) but have more control over the whole thing. also thought that with hydro i could go small and have a good yield.
actualy most of my new found ambition came from seeing that you could grow in an aerogarden. then once i realized i didnt want to go that tiny i proceeded to the next step. by next week i will probobly be hanging a 3000KW light of the moon dude unles somebody talk me out of it haha.:D
peace bro

Zandor

09-05-2008, 03:24 PM

Hmmmmmmmm, so your saying hydro no way to go eh? i did a grow in dirt 10 years ago and my yield was sucky at best, and since that abortion i been thinking how will I do my next try at it. figured I could not only add nutes ( ya my last try we barely added any i might post the story in entirety for lafs in appropriate section someday) but have more control over the whole thing. also thought that with hydro i could go small and have a good yield.
actualy most of my new found ambition came from seeing that you could grow in an aerogarden. then once i realized i didnt want to go that tiny i proceeded to the next step. by next week i will probobly be hanging a 3000KW light of the moon dude unles somebody talk me out of it haha.:D
peace bro

10 years is a long time between grows. Our understanding is greater today then 10 years ago in terms of how to grow your plants to get the most yield for your investment.

Soil is a good way to work the kinks of a new grow room and I too suggest you pick up some fox farm nutrients, make a good soil and you will do fine. It takes time to get all the details in a new room or even a cab right to do a hydro grow.

Dirt is slow yes but that also gives you time to make adjustments on the environment. Plus hydro grows are easer when you start with clones rather then seeds. No males to cut out and leaves holes in your grow.

Lots of things have changed and I do suggest that you do a quick soil grow first, just to get the room right.

Peace

Z

rabidcow

09-05-2008, 10:57 PM

10 years is a long time between grows. Our understanding is greater today then 10 years ago in terms of how to grow your plants to get the most yield for your investment.

Soil is a good way to work the kinks of a new grow room and I too suggest you pick up some fox farm nutrients, make a good soil and you will do fine. It takes time to get all the details in a new room or even a cab right to do a hydro grow.

Dirt is slow yes but that also gives you time to make adjustments on the environment. Plus hydro grows are easer when you start with clones rather then seeds. No males to cut out and leaves holes in your grow.

Lots of things have changed and I do suggest that you do a quick soil grow first, just to get the room right.

Peace

Z
haha, its almost like you read my mind at work all day zandor. i was thinking about how complex i want my hydro cabnet to be and it dawned on me, i should just take the fem seeds i have and start one in a bucket with soil 1st and go from there. my thinking was that i could get it going and clone from it, or clones hopefully. my buddy has a 50 watt hps and he said i could have it.figured i could at least get a head start as I learn more about hydro.

good idea??
anything I should know on a good mix and nutes would be really helpful, i have been busy at work so the i cant catch as many as your grow reports as i would like to to get to where you sound off on that subject (still pretty new to the forum).
I do love your show dude and look forward to hearing them all in time.

here is a link to the seeds i have http://www.cannabis-seeds-bank.co.uk/new-stock-buddha-seeds-white-dwarf-feminized-4367-p.asp . I went with this seed cuz it seemed simple and if/when i take it to the outdoors next summer they would be small and hopefully unseen by any that may be near it.
thanks dude peace

latewood

09-06-2008, 01:23 PM

Zandor

09-06-2008, 02:41 PM

haha, its almost like you read my mind at work all day zandor. i was thinking about how complex i want my hydro cabnet to be and it dawned on me, i should just take the fem seeds i have and start one in a bucket with soil 1st and go from there. my thinking was that i could get it going and clone from it, or clones hopefully. my buddy has a 50 watt hps and he said i could have it.figured i could at least get a head start as I learn more about hydro.

good idea??
anything I should know on a good mix and nutes would be really helpful, i have been busy at work so the i cant catch as many as your grow reports as i would like to to get to where you sound off on that subject (still pretty new to the forum).
I do love your show dude and look forward to hearing them all in time.

here is a link to the seeds i have http://www.cannabis-seeds-bank.co.uk/new-stock-buddha-seeds-white-dwarf-feminized-4367-p.asp . I went with this seed cuz it seemed simple and if/when i take it to the outdoors next summer they would be small and hopefully unseen by any that may be near it.
thanks dude peace

I would give Fox Farm Nutrients a try, their grow, flower and booster set. I used them in the season 2 grow and you can track the progress there on the forum. Yesterday when I was over there working on the room they measured almost 8' tall and full of young flowers everywhere. 4 plants have taken over the room that measures 10 feet wide, 11 feet long and 9 feet high.

I need to get a cloth tape to measure how fat they are because I can only get my arms around less then 1/2 of the plant.

I figure close to a pound for each plant in the end if all keeps going well enough.

Peace

Z