16 1k lights 235 ebb&grow buckets! Lets get it on!!

[Bobby Smith]

I ran Lucas Formula and did not need to add CalMag for any but the most nute whore-ish strains I had (used FNB, not the three part).

Since you put together your room(s), you're more than handy enough to build your own cloner(s) - I have an EZ 120 but have made enough modifications to it (and planning on more) that I would've preferred to start from scratch.

If you can find a good enough container (really the only reason I paid $350 for it) than the rest of the cloner can be made for $50ish - just a pump, some PVC, and some sprayer heads - tons of DIY tutorials around online.

 

[Shady]

As for Cal/Mag the standard is about 150 PPM (Using Hanna readers). The reason for this is because the RO filter strips everything out of the water including the natural minerals found in them. Because nutrients don't normally have a lot of Cal/Mag in them they need to be supplemented.

Perhaps Shady can chime in and give his opinion on how much Cal Mag worked in his setups.

I concur generally with you on this my friend... As I mentioned in my earlier post I discussed CalMag in terms of PPM's at 0.5 conversion to EC. Since CalMag should be mixed first into RO, it's quite easy to test the resultant PPM's before any other nutrients are mixed... So in general smaller young plants require less than 150 PPM of CalMag and older mature plants generally require around 150 to 200 PPM, and as Bobby mentioned some strains require more... That will be determined by running strains multiple rounds and dialing them in. Also during the flip into bloom and the early part of the stretch phase most plants seem to require more N, Ca, and Mg. I can't really comment on the Lucas formula as I briefly tried it and didn't like the results. Also I can't comment on Flora Nova since I've only used GH 3 Part in my ebb 'n flow setup.

As for the red stems, Yoda can you let us know how much CalMag these girls are being fed? :wondering

 

[Yodas Master]

Ok gents update. I have went to the hydrostore and purchased quality nutrients. I believe the entire problem was probably the r/o with no calmag. Problem solved today. I have put 2ml per gallon and 6ml per gallon FNB. Todays is the first watering with these nutes so i will update in a day or so. I let the rockwool dryout as long as possible today and the plants were wilted more when i came home from the store. I watered them today and ill check on them again in the morning. I have a feeling there are many good things to come. I read alot of the theories on hydro and feedings and im going to go with what i though was the easiest for a newbie. Im pretty sure i can master this based on the plants performance and with all your fine help at THCFARMER. My new favorite place to pull up a chair and have class!!!

 

[Bobby Smith]

I'd really recommend using an air stone or some other method to constantly agitate your reservoir if using FNB (a decent-sized pump with a venturi is best, IMO) - I tried it for a couple of runs and had to stop because the shit is pure motor oil and will quickly settle on the bottom of your reservoir if not constantly agitated.

Good luck.

 

[Yodas Master]

You got it Bobby. I totally agree. Strait motor oil suits it. I will defiently be purchasing a air pump. No question i will need it. Good thinking. One step ahead of me always!!

 

[Shady]

Ok gents update. I have went to the hydrostore and purchased quality nutrients. I believe the entire problem was probably the r/o with no calmag. Problem solved today. I have put 2ml per gallon and 6ml per gallon FNB.

:whew For some reason I thought you were already using CalMag with your RO... I think you will see improvement in a week now that you have good base nutes and the CalMag. Airstones are a necessity in hydro reservoirs, although to keep any particles settling to the bottom I would think the airstones would not be sufficient based on the large size of your system... Maybe a free flowing pump placed in the res would more efficient. I've also seen some sort of aquarium device that serves the same purpose, but I don't know how large or how many you would need... :thinking

 

[Yodas Master]

I wonder if i placed another waterpump at the bottom of the 55 gallon res with no hose attached would accomplish this feat? It would constantly stir all the water...I think it would work. Looks like another trip to the hydro store! Thanks Bobby and Shady. Glad to know i got some friends lookin out for me!

 

[yayarea]

Dont forget to shake the shit out of FNB!!!! I didnt catch if you were running a chiller or not but you might want to add some DM Zone to the mix. Dont put to big of a pump in your res it will heat things up, or try to put it on a timer so its not running at all times. You should really consider a chiller if you dont already have one. Good luck. Peace

 

[Shady]

I wonder if i placed another waterpump at the bottom of the 55 gallon res with no hose attached would accomplish this feat? It would constantly stir all the water...I think it would work. Looks like another trip to the hydro store! Thanks Bobby and Shady. Glad to know i got some friends lookin out for me!

No problem... That's what I meant by a free flowing pump. yayarea has a point about the water temps too... :nod

 

[Yodas Master]

No problem... That's what I meant by a free flowing pump. yayarea has a point about the water temps too... :nod

Ok current water temps are all 70 and 71on all res's. My 55 gallon res's sit on a concrete floor. Do you think they should be cooler than that? Shady i thought you meant something different. Did i mention the GDP im smoking is damn near a narcotic?!!! HAHA im glad we are on the same page though!!

 

[Bobby Smith]

I wonder if i placed another waterpump at the bottom of the 55 gallon res with no hose attached would accomplish this feat? It would constantly stir all the water...I think it would work. Looks like another trip to the hydro store! Thanks Bobby and Shady. Glad to know i got some friends lookin out for me!

Yoda, this is exactly what I was referring to when I suggested installing a venturi into the mix - I'll post up a pic of mine later on today so you can see what I mean - it both agitates and aerates your reservoir.

And as far as your water temps, those are fine - when running E&F in hydroton water temps aren't nearly as large of a concern as when running RDWC - the roots get the DO from when the flood "subsides", so lower water temps (which hold more DO) are not necessary.

If you want to add one that's fine (but a waste, IMO), but I used to run my rez's in the high 70s with no issues.

 

[St3ve]

I wonder if i placed another waterpump at the bottom of the 55 gallon res with no hose attached would accomplish this feat? It would constantly stir all the water...I think it would work. Looks like another trip to the hydro store! Thanks Bobby and Shady. Glad to know i got some friends lookin out for me!

Thats exactly how I do it. I always have a pump running to aerate and stir. I prefer that in my rez over an airstone for just that reason.

I learned that from my reeftank days

 

[Bobby Smith]

Yoda, here's a couple of pics of my venturi setup in my EZ Cloner.........they're kind of hard to see, but that 1/4" tube is attached the outflow of the pump - when water is pushed through by the pump, negative pressure is created which sucks the air in through the tubing and creates tons of super small/fine bubbles - best aeration ever.

My camera sucks but if you look hard you can see the nozzle and the tons of super small bubbles it's producing.

 

[Yodas Master]

Sounds sweet lets see what you got Bobby. Remember i have 4 -55gallon- res;s but by the end of harvest it will be 8--55 gallon res. I think. maybe less bu these plants get fairly big. Ill go grab whatever is needed, just fill me in..

 

[Bobby Smith]

Lol, look above you :)

That's a 396GPH, but I could get away with a 264 if I wanted to - all of my pumps (bout 10, give or take) are EcoPlus (except my 1/6HP utility pumps and my EZ Clone pump) - they work great and they don't suck up lotsa electricity, which is big for me.

All you'd need would be a pump for each reservoir and $5 or $10 of 1/4" tubing - easy peasie.

 

[Yodas Master]

So how i would make that work for me? Do i use the same pump that already in my res? I couldnt really grasp what was exactly happening by the pics Bobby. Sorry im dense sometimes..... Could be the GDP...

Ok so were do i connect the tubing? To the waterpump?

 

[Bobby Smith]

Yoda, let me preface this by saying that I used to run E&F in hydroton and never needed any agitation in my reservoirs (temps in the mid to high 70s usually) until I started using that motor oil known as FNB.

That being said, aeration is never a bad thing and it's almost required when running FNB because it will so easily fall to the bottom of your reservoir and sit there.

To combat that and ensure the FNB is equally balanced throughout your reservoir, you should have a smallish pump constantly recirculating water inside it.

As long as you're going to do that anyways, I'd highly recommend putting a venturi on it to provide some additional dissolved oxygen (DO) into your water.

 

[Yodas Master]

ok i see what your doing.Genius works for both. I love it

 

[Yodas Master]

So after about two days on the LUCAS FORMULA, these are the results. I cant figure this shit out. Every res is exactly the same.
ppm 1300-.07 conversion
water temp 70
ph5.9
77 degrees at canopy

Here are the pics let me know what you guys think is going on.. Maybe transplant stress?? But why not on all? Some of the plants look fucking amazing and others look like they could die any minute.
I pulled a few that looked the worst and they had not even attempted to root. Any thoughts?

 

[Yodas Master]

Also i traded out the Cali Connection gear for 100 aliendogv2 and 100 deadheadog and 10 greenhouse seeds bubba kush clones. I have put them in the veg room and look at these babies. These will go next round.. Imagine these in 60 days!!!!