Adding nutrients to RDWC question.

BudWrangler · Dec 15, 2020

This is my first time growing in a hydro setup and my buddy said they don't have the time for it anymore, and handed it over to me I'm working on limited knowledge as I only really know about soil not hydro. They do have the system built and the seedlings started in a cube. The total system holds about 65gal they say. When I go to add the nutrients it should be for the total 65gal? or whatever the gal the reservoir is? Whether its a 25% dilution or not? I would assume the total 65gal but unsure. I am using the General Hydroponics trio, is there anything else I should get maybe calmag or hydroguard? Any advice/help or links would be awesome.

Peppersmints · Dec 15, 2020

The system hold 65gallon, that’s quite a big starting up, I wouldn’t personally fill it, it is a lot( depending on the number of plant I guess).. depending if you flush your water weekly or if you add beneficial bacteria / enzyme... I would suggest around 20gallon to start with... much more easy to work with ! If you don’t use bacteria / enzyme, you will want to flush weekly,top every 2 week with good aeration ( air pump and air stone ~) and clean it well. If you want, can also plant the cube in soil and let it work the way you feel more comfortable with!

BudWrangler · Dec 15, 2020

Peppersmints said:
The system hold 65gallon, that’s quite a big starting up, I wouldn’t personally fill it, it is a lot( depending on the number of plant I guess).. depending if you flush your water weekly or if you add beneficial bacteria / enzyme... I would suggest around 20gallon to start with... much more easy to work with ! If you don’t use bacteria / enzyme, you will want to flush weekly,top every 2 week with good aeration ( air pump and air stone ~) and clean it well. If you want, can also plant the cube in soil and let it work the way you feel more comfortable with!

Its a 6 plant system, so 6 5gal maybe 8gal square buckets and a larger reservoir. Going to be growing autos. The beneficial bacteria / enzyme is there one you suggest and do i mix it in with the nutes? I would have liked to start out smaller but hes a balls to the wall kinda guy lol. So I have quite a bit to learn and in a short time. We have an ro system, but makes water slow not sure how long it take to make that much water, as he just go it up and running today.

Peppersmints · Dec 15, 2020

BudWrangler said:
Its a 6 plant system, so 6 5gal maybe 8gal square buckets and a larger reservoir. Going to be growing autos. The beneficial bacteria / enzyme is there one you suggest and do i mix it in with the nutes? I would have liked to start out smaller but hes a balls to the wall kinda guy lol. So I have quite a bit to learn and in a short time. We have an ro system, but makes water slow not sure how long it take to make the much water, as he just go it up and running today.

I personally have 3gallon bucket for my hydro, using clay pebbles, and seem to be good enough for me. 5-8gallon seem overkill, especially for auto. They will feel lost a little ? I have a 25gallon reservoir and never really use more then 20gallon( they drink or evaporate ~, about 2-3 gallon a day now!) unless my ppm is over what I like ! endomycorhyzal as fungi, and southern AG for beneficial bacteria is my personal way to go!

Lynch_Ironside · Dec 15, 2020

BudWrangler said:
Its a 6 plant system, so 6 5gal maybe 8gal square buckets and a larger reservoir. Going to be growing autos. The beneficial bacteria / enzyme is there one you suggest and do i mix it in with the nutes? I would have liked to start out smaller but hes a balls to the wall kinda guy lol. So I have quite a bit to learn and in a short time. We have an ro system, but makes water slow not sure how long it take to make that much water, as he just go it up and running today.

Hey man, I'm pretty new to hydro but I can tell you a few absolutes you will need. A tds meter, ph pen, the ro system, get that thing running I suggest a 55 gallon garbage can fill it with ro then you can just top it off as you use it, a water pump to transfer water (not necessary but nice to have) you could also install a bulk head or siphon the water, ph up and down, Epsom salt, souther ag or hydroguard (I think southern ag is a better value), I'm running the gh trio, calmag supplement, silica supplement (i use silica blast)
I might be forgetting something but thatll get uoh in the right direction.
60 gallons is a lot... you can use the dimensions to find the gallons it will hold and verify its size.
Pictures always help
Welcome to the farm!

BudWrangler · Dec 15, 2020

Thank you all for the quick responses and tha k you for the welcome. Running down the list here we do have a tds meter and a ph pen. The ro system is running into a 55gal drum and I have access to a water pump to transfer water. I will look into getting the southern ag and the cal mag and the silica, I believe there is some Epsom salt bumbing around here somewhere if not ill pick some up. In the morning ill get some measurements and figure the total gal and see about getting some pics. Thank you guys again.

BudWrangler · Dec 16, 2020

Lynch_Ironside said:
Hey man, I'm pretty new to hydro but I can tell you a few absolutes you will need. A tds meter, ph pen, the ro system, get that thing running I suggest a 55 gallon garbage can fill it with ro then you can just top it off as you use it, a water pump to transfer water (not necessary but nice to have) you could also install a bulk head or siphon the water, ph up and down, Epsom salt, souther ag or hydroguard (I think southern ag is a better value), I'm running the gh trio, calmag supplement, silica supplement (i use silica blast)
I might be forgetting something but thatll get uoh in the right direction.
60 gallons is a lot... you can use the dimensions to find the gallons it will hold and verify its size.
Pictures always help
Welcome to the farm!

Why the epsom salt? is it for mag only deficiencies? when should i start using it right away or when/if the deficiency shows its self?

Lynch_Ironside · Dec 16, 2020

BudWrangler said:
Why the epsom salt? is it for mag only deficiencies? when should i start using it right away or when/if the deficiency shows its self?

Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) is an incredible supplement for your indoor or outdoor garden. It is pH neutral and won't affect your soil or hydroponic system's pH levels. It can increase yield and vigor in plants, and prevent several nutrient deficiencies that are common.

BudWrangler · Dec 16, 2020

Lynch_Ironside said:
Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) is an incredible supplement for your indoor or outdoor garden. It is pH neutral and won't affect your soil or hydroponic system's pH levels. It can increase yield and vigor in plants, and prevent several nutrient deficiencies that are common.

so use id right from the start? and how much a tablespoon per gal?

Lynch_Ironside · Dec 16, 2020

BudWrangler said:
Why the epsom salt? is it for mag only deficiencies? when should i start using it right away or when/if the deficiency shows its self?

Add with every water change. Start with maybe half strength for seedlings and work your way up. I started a thread and have a lot of good reccomendations from experienced growers in there you should give it a read.
It's called new to hydroponics, assistance needed

beluga · Dec 16, 2020

Also gives added sulfur and magnesium (fancy that) - sulfur adds to the aromatic/organoleptic properties of your plants; magnesium helps your end product burn well.... so it is said.

Lynch_Ironside · Dec 16, 2020

BudWrangler said:
so use id right from the start? and how much a tablespoon per gal?

I use 5mg per 10 gallons.

Lynch_Ironside · Dec 16, 2020

beluga said:
Also gives added sulfur and magnesium (fancy that) - sulfur adds to the aromatic/organoleptic properties of your plants; magnesium helps your end product burn well.... so it is said.

I did not know that!
Any thoughts on my plants?

beluga · Dec 16, 2020

BudWrangler said:
so use id right from the start? and how much a tablespoon per gal?

1/4tsp per gallon... not sure how that translates to weight. Very little is needed. I've so far gone up to 1tsp/gallon with no issue... it's hard to overdo.

Lynch_Ironside said:
I did not know that!
Any thoughts on my plants?

Unfortunately not. I'm inclined to believe nutrient or pH issues, but I've been graced with not having to deal with many of those... @Aqua Man 's probably gonna be your superhero there..

Aqua Man · Dec 16, 2020

You may not need to add mag sulfate but in some cases it can help and under LED is not uncommon to see a Mg deficiency. 1 gram per gal should suffice and late flower 2 gram per gal. The sulfur is great for terps and flavoniods. I doubt you will see any negative effects with 5 grams per gal but I also don't think that much is needed.

You want to mix nutrients for the ACTUAL volume of water in the system. So 65 gal system may hold 40-50gal of water. You mix nutrients based on the actual water volume not the size of the system.

Aqua Man · Dec 16, 2020

BudWrangler said:
This is my first time growing in a hydro setup and my buddy said they don't have the time for it anymore, and handed it over to me I'm working on limited knowledge as I only really know about soil not hydro. They do have the system built and the seedlings started in a cube. The total system holds about 65gal they say. When I go to add the nutrients it should be for the total 65gal? or whatever the gal the reservoir is? Whether its a 25% dilution or not? I would assume the total 65gal but unsure. I am using the General Hydroponics trio, is there anything else I should get maybe calmag or hydroguard? Any advice/help or links would be awesome.

Yes you want to run either live or sterile if going live hydrogaurd is a good choice. Probably the most common is to run hydrogaurd and enzymes like komplete or hygrozyme together. I dont think I have ever seen root issues with that combination.

What is the source water you are using?

Do you have a ph and ppm meter? These will be needed in hydro.

BudWrangler · Dec 16, 2020

I am using R/O water and yes i have a ph and a ppm meter. I have the GH trio the micro, grow and the bloom. i have a list of what i am going to get. Hydroguard, cal-mag plus, silica blast and Epsom salt. Also the total water volume is going to be around 65gal i took the measurements did the math. This is a diy built. nothing fancy, could it be more efficient yes but its all i got to work with for now.

Aqua Man · Dec 16, 2020

BudWrangler said:
I am using R/O water and yes i have a ph and a ppm meter. I have the GH trio the micro, grow and the bloom. i have a list of what i am going to get. Hydroguard, cal-mag plus, silica blast and Epsom salt. Also the total water volume is going to be around 65gal i took the measurements did the math. This is a diy built. nothing fancy, could it be more efficient yes but its all i got to work with for now.

Ok its important to mix these properly. Add silica first ALWAYS. Let it mix for 10-30min then ph it down to 6.5 the add call mag and finally nutrients and mag sulfate.

Its really important to do silica first and allow time for it to mix well then ph down before adding anything else

BudWrangler · Dec 16, 2020

Aqua Man said:
Ok its important to mix these properly. Add silica first ALWAYS. Let it mix for 10-30min then ph it down to 6.5 the add call mag and finally nutrients and mag sulfate.

Its really important to do silica first and allow time for it to mix well then ph down before adding anything else

Ok. I wont have to ph after the mag sulfate?

BudWrangler · Dec 16, 2020

Thanks for all the help guys you are all awesome beyond all awesomeness. Really thank you. I hope one day I will be able to contribute just as you all have.

Adding nutrients to RDWC question.

Adding nutrients to RDWC question.

BudWrangler

Peppersmints

BudWrangler

Peppersmints

Lynch_Ironside

BudWrangler

BudWrangler

Lynch_Ironside

BudWrangler

Lynch_Ironside

beluga

Lynch_Ironside

Lynch_Ironside

beluga

Aqua Man

Aqua Man

BudWrangler

Aqua Man

BudWrangler

BudWrangler

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