Ditching soil - first (DIY) hydro setup

juliando · Aug 14, 2025

After an early season disaster in my tent - a series of infestations - Aphids, spider mites and fungus gnats (Totally my fault - for at least 3 reasons) that almost killed my plant just before harvest.
Anyway, i had to kick it outside to save it and then bleach the tent.

It was at this point I decided to be done with soil - indoors at least.
So i built a 2 gallon hydro system with things I had around the house.
Drilled out an old container and filled it with a sort of loose knit burlap material. Set in the center, a mesh starter cup with a sponge that holds the seedling. I had an 8 point drip system i was using for strawberries - so i just put the spikes in randomly, seems to be uniformly moist all around.
1 week down, i hope to harvest same time as my outdoors.

Week 1

THCosmic · Aug 14, 2025

Hydro is always fun. Burlap and a sponge, very interesting.

Clear container for reservoir is no good. Wrap that container with mylar tape or duct tape. You want to grow marijuana, not algae.

What brand of nutrients are you using? You doing a sterile system or adding bennies?

juliando · Aug 14, 2025

Good tip on the container - i had the same thought about the resevoir being open (im making a cover for it)

im starting with the liquid fox farms "grow" for now - I gave it 30ml for 2 gallons to start. But i have a 3 part system "reefertilizer" that like for later.

juliando · Aug 21, 2025

Looking as good (or better) as any of my soil seedlings at 2 weeks. Got the sump covered up - keeping the algae growth to a minimum. We'll see how everything holds up long term - still a ways to go.

Week 2

juliando · Aug 24, 2025

Ok, noticed some issues developing in the container - the burlap was not holding up as well as I hoped (breaking down and molding) And seemed like I needed some more water movement. So, emergency redesign until i can get some proper media and another pot - Added a little fish tank filter for movement in the sump - and for now the water flows through the deli cup just at root level.

THCosmic · Aug 24, 2025

Just keep covering up any visible water. Light hitting the water will always cause issues in DWC. All clear containers you can simply wrap in duct tape or any opaque material. Covering just the top won't be enough as the light is bouncing off the mylar walls of the tent.

juliando · Aug 24, 2025

The deli cup/flow through is just temporary - im getting some actual proper hydro media. Ill set that up in (probably) just a black plastic pot? Ill have to think about it. This is really all just practice - ive got some strawberry cough seeds on the way, id rather be growing those anyway.

MileHiGhost · Aug 24, 2025

Algae an others will mass produce if you don't have your tank covered

juliando · Aug 25, 2025

OK, final build I hope. Got a black 3/4 g pot filled with rockwool. All my drip line spikes are poked into the bottom layer. Got the sump covered - small filter moving the water...I think im all set, hopefully worked out the kinks and Im ready when my seeds arrive.

juliando · Aug 28, 2025

Finally got my new seeds, so I had to kick the original (GG Haze) out of the prime location in the center pot, before the roots got too established - but she seems ok with the move.
I dont really need her, but couldnt bring myself to toss it.
Got everything buttoned up and some filter fiber in - water is running much clearer now.

Also - im super pumped about this next generation. Using this seasons collected pollen to make Hulk/GGhaze/Strawberry Cough
Then I have to pick through The F1 for some winners next summer (along with the Hulk/GGhaze/Agent Orange from my outdoors)
So I hope this experiment goes well.

Week 3

juliando · Sep 4, 2025

1 Month down, a few different designs - and working pretty well I think. Changed the pump from the drip system - now its just for movement/oxygen in the sump.
Got some more seeds started and decided I need another tent for flowering. (I have so many seeds to sort through)

Week 4

juliando · Sep 11, 2025

Finally got the second tent setup, made another sump and put my old red light in there (for now - new light on order) Still on 18hrs but this will be the flower tent, probably switch to 12/12 next week.
Happy so far, but many weeks to go.

5 Weeks

Strawberry cough chuggin along - Im thinking I like the sponge better than the rockwool. The top surface of the sponge stays dry, so no algae - and the roots dont seem to have any issues working their way through it.

3 weeks and 2 weeks

This system (pretty green at first) is running almost clear now - with the addition of the fish tank filter and a large air stone.
If i make any further additions to the systems, itll probably an auto top-off. These things lose like a gallon a day.

juliando · Sep 18, 2025

Ok, so...Got the new light in (the red light seemed to be working fine, but so hard to look at - burns your brain)
Had some EC problems this week - some kind of spike or mistake in my readings - but big system jumped up to 1600 and started to burn my tips on the GG haze, before I did a small water change and got it down to 1350. But, this is my experimental plant - thats why shes moving through the system 1 month ahead of the others, to learn these lessons.
Despite that - its looking really good, finally starting to reach a bit and has a VERY strong smell to it - even pre flower.

6 weeks

The strawberry cough, which was looking very indica initially - starting turning sativa this week (weird) But, looking good - couple more weeks to flower. Ill have to do some training to get all 3 plants in the flowering tent - but I think itll work.

Weeks 3-4

Mikedin · Sep 18, 2025

juliando said:
Ok, noticed some issues developing in the container - the burlap was not holding up as well as I hoped (breaking down and molding) And seemed like I needed some more water movement. So, emergency redesign until i can get some proper media and another pot - Added a little fish tank filter for movement in the sump - and for now the water flows through the deli cup just at root level.
View attachment 2507469
View attachment 2507470

its people like you that make me mad

now i gotta do a homemade DIY DWC setup might be able to squeeze one in a tent somewhere this winter

juliando · Sep 18, 2025

Mikedin said:
its people like you that make me mad

now i gotta do a homemade DIY DWC setup might be able to squeeze one in a tent somewhere this winter

Turns out it was super easy (so far anyway - still 9 weeks to go, lots of room for screwups)
My first setup was uneccessarily complicated, no need to re-invent the wheel i guess - theyre both very standard now.
Im thinking 3 plants in this tent is going to be TIGHT - but i can always flower both tents if i get in trouble. Maybe even just veg and flower at 12/12 in both tents? Never tried that before - but i hear it works fine, especially for auto flowers.

juliando · Sep 25, 2025

Welp, definitly not going to have room for the 3rd plant, she'll just have to live in the Veg tent forever - should be fine, Ill just need to adjust my germination schedule.

After starting very compact, theyre really stretchin out under the 12/12. Couple of mild burns on the older fan leaves from EC fluctuations, but nothing serious - livin right on the edge of maximum concentration. Seems like I can get up to 1600 or so before seeing any effects - but i try to keep it around 1450.

Week 7

Took me way too long to realize my veg timer was broken and this one was livin it up on 24hrs of light. So I think its actually a bit bigger at 1 month than the others. But also has some strange looking growth - i think itll straighten out as I shorten the days.

Week 4

juliando · Oct 2, 2025

Lookin good, a little tricky to find a consistent schedule for upkeep. As the plants get bigger - using water faster - leading to nutrient concentration. So my levels have spiked a number of times, causing some minor burns. My next setup will have larger resevoirs and maybe an auto-topoff. I also assumed Id be able to move the plants from slot to slot - but the roots are already too big to pull through at 4 weeks, so theyll have to stay put.

Finally stretching out (a bit, not as much as I thought though) after first weeks of flower. Maybe for the best - not a ton of room.

Week 8

This Strawberry cough is really crankin along all alone. Huge (I think) at 5 weeks old - she'll stay here in my smaller tent until finished.

Week 5

Mikedin · Oct 2, 2025

juliando said:
Lookin good, a little tricky to find a consistent schedule for upkeep. As the plants get bigger - using water faster - leading to nutrient concentration. So my levels have spiked a number of times, causing some minor burns. My next setup will have larger resevoirs and maybe an auto-topoff. I also assumed Id be able to move the plants from slot to slot - but the roots are already too big to pull through at 4 weeks, so theyll have to stay put.

Finally stretching out (a bit, not as much as I thought though) after first weeks of flower. Maybe for the best - not a ton of room.

Week 8
View attachment 2537574

This Strawberry cough is really crankin along all alone. Huge (I think) at 5 weeks old - she'll stay here in my smaller tent until finished.

Week 5
View attachment 2537575

Looks like you’re doing great! She looks happy and healthy so my suggestion would be follow your instincts they look to be right on so far!

juliando · Oct 2, 2025

Mikedin said:
Looks like you’re doing great! She looks happy and healthy so my suggestion would be follow your instincts they look to be right on so far!

Thanks, learning some lessons - but Im really happy with the lone Strawberry cough. Keeping it sorta simple so far. Fox farms - Grow, Bloom and Bone doctor (cal/mag) and pH up/down.

But, Ive also been looking into Fulvic/Humic acids. Supposed to be for root growth/health - and maybe another way to work with the pH?
I dont know if its neccessary though.

Florida_Mike · Oct 2, 2025

Welcome to the Farm! Plants look awesome! A couple of observations and tips:

You didn't say where you are. Are you using the EU 700 scale or the US 500 scale?

EC/PPM conversion for different meter types:

1 mS/cm (EC 1.0 or CF 10) = 500 ppm (US scale)
1 mS/cm (EC 1.0 or CF 10) = 640 ppm (European scale)
1 mS/cm (EC 1.0 or CF 10) = 700 ppm (Australian scale)

I shoot for 1200–1400 ppm on the US 500 scale. I don't start seeing burnt tips until I get over 1600–1800 ppm (US scale).

The brown edges are more likely Mg issues. Nutrient burn usually starts at the tips of new growth, while burnt edges on old growth = Mg issues. (Mg is a mobile nutrient; the plant will rob it from older leaves to support new growth.)

I haven't seen you post any pH numbers; let it drift from 5.8–6.2 in veg and 5.9–6.3 in bloom.

I recommend a complete water change once every 7–10 days. (In rockwool, I flush for 1 hour with plain pH'ed water every 7 days.)

There is not much benefit to "living right on the edge of maximum concentration" if you're not running CO₂, in my opinion—especially if you're brand new to hydro.

If you ever decide to switch nutrients, I recommend Greenleaf MegaCrop (1-part) with supplements to everyone. It's dry (you're not paying for H₂O), it's simple to use, it's very economical, and it produces superior results.

Good luck with your grow!

Ditching soil - first (DIY) hydro setup

Ditching soil - first (DIY) hydro setup

juliando

THCosmic

juliando

juliando

juliando

THCosmic

juliando

MileHiGhost

juliando

juliando

juliando

juliando

juliando

Mikedin

Living Soil Student

juliando

juliando

juliando

Mikedin

Living Soil Student

juliando

Florida_Mike

At the edge of the map, blowing kisses at dragons.

Ditching soil - first (DIY) hydro setup

Ditching soil - first (DIY) hydro setup

juliando

THCosmic

juliando

juliando

juliando

THCosmic

juliando

MileHiGhost

juliando

juliando

juliando

juliando

juliando

Mikedin

Living Soil Student

juliando

juliando

juliando

Mikedin

Living Soil Student

juliando

Florida_Mike

At the edge of the map, blowing kisses at dragons.

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