First hydro grow and would like some tips

Lyonking · Jun 1, 2025

What’s up everyone. This is my first go around with DWC and would just like some feedback from you guys.

My setup is the 2x5 VIVOSUN smart tent with the 200W aero light and their 5 gallon DWC drip irrigation bucket.

Strain is AK48 purchased from Nirvana about 5 years ago. I had a low germination rate do to the age of the seeds but they were kept in a dark dry environment since then (just weren’t refrigerated)

I’m on day 16 since germination and I just switched over to the veg spectrum running about 500ppfd.

I’m using lotus ‘grow’ nutrients only at the moment with a ppm of mid 400s.

I regularly monitor the ph and let it swing from 5.5-6.5 before lowering back down to the 5.5 range.

I have the water level about 2 inches below the net cup and have noticed substantial root growth in the past 3 days.

The temperature fluctuates between 70°-80° throughout the 18/6 cycle. And the reservoir seems to maintain a temperature of 72°-75°

I noticed that I could see the reservoir through the hydroton so I decided to cover the top of the bucket with aluminum foil to prevent lights leaks into the reservoir.

Since I have a few grows in coco under my belt about 5 years ago I wanted to give a true hydroponic system a try. Any tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Florida_Mike · Jun 1, 2025

Welcome to the farm! Looks like you've got it going on. I grow in rockwool with recirculating drip (very close to DWC) If you have any specific questions, hit us up. Keep on rocking homie, good luck with your grow!

Lyonking · Jun 1, 2025

FloridaMike said:
Welcome to the farm! Looks like you've got it going on. I grow in rockwool with recirculating drip (very close to DWC) If you have any specific questions, hit us up. Keep on rocking homie, good luck with your grow!

Sounds like we are doing it the same way. I initially tried to start with rockwool but I lost three germinated seeds in a row and went to the jiffy pellet instead and got it first try. Only hard part was transplanting the seedling out of the jiffy pellet into the hydroton. Thought I almost lost her but after like two days she was back to growing. Overall now I feel like the plant looks decently healthy. You see anything I don’t?

Florida_Mike · Jun 1, 2025

Lyonking said:
Sounds like we are doing it the same way. I initially tried to start with rockwool but I lost three germinated seeds in a row and went to the jiffy pellet instead and got it first try. Only hard part was transplanting the seedling out of the jiffy pellet into the hydroton. Thought I almost lost her but after like two days she was back to growing. Overall now I feel like the plant looks decently healthy. You see anything I don’t?

Plant looks healthy and beautiful. The slight curling is probably the plant outgrowing it's fledgling root system. As far as rapid root growth, you ain't seen nothing yet bro, give it about another week or two and they'll be doubling almost every day. I see a lot of water on the rim and the top of the medium, is that from splashing? If so, you may have to throttle the air (or feeder pump back some. Also keep an eye on the base of the stem and make sure it's not staying saturated, may have to wrap it loosely with a piece of foil to keep it dry. Happy trails!

Lyonking · Jun 1, 2025

Appreciate the feedback! The water on the rim was from me spraying it clean before I put the aluminum foil over it. It never looks like that otherwise. It’s exciting seeing insane growth from the time I go to bed to when I wake up compared to soil grows. Almost seems like cheating lol

Florida_Mike · Jun 2, 2025

Lyonking said:
Appreciate the feedback! The water on the rim was from me spraying it clean before I put the aluminum foil over it. It never looks like that otherwise. It’s exciting seeing insane growth from the time I go to bed to when I wake up compared to soil grows. Almost seems like cheating lol

Imo that's the beauty of hydro. With everything dialed in, I've seen them grow 8-12" in a day!... Sealed room with 4 to 6 - 1,000w HPS over ea 3'x9' footprint (pod) holding 33 plants ea; 11- 4"x36" rockwool slabs) w/ 3 plants ea 1400 ppm constant feed while lights are on along with 1400 ppm Co2. Dedicated 10 ton AC unit for room with 12,000-16,000w HPS burning. 18" oscillating fans physically moving the plants a pretty decent amount. Min 30 gal reservoir. Walls, floors and ceilings all painted flat white for max reflection, this is more effective than mylar bc it reflects more light evenly and without 'hot spots' (put your sunglasses on; there are no shadows with this setup).

I used to average 10 lbs per pod, every 80-87 days with this exact setup.

ajpapenfuss · Jun 2, 2025

Welcome fellow DWC grower

Mathimus · Jun 2, 2025

The sweet spot I have found has always been a PH of 6.2 in dwc. A little lower in flower but it is nothing to obsess about. As long as you are 5.8 to 6.2 I would not adjust it.

In veg, you should be using a silica product. I use Silica Blast at 2ml a gallon - only in veg and thru the first week of flower. It reinforces the plants overall cell structure and makes them easier to train and more viable. It also increases nutrient uptake exponentially. Add it first at res change and let it circulate a little while before adding your other nutrients... If you do not have it, get Orca root innoculant. It is a bit pricey but at 0.5ml a gallon, it lasts. Ive tried several root innoculants for dwc and Orca is by far the undefeated champion. Your plants will thank you. Cheers and welcome to hydro.

ajpapenfuss · Jun 2, 2025

Check out general hydroponics grow doctor

ajpapenfuss · Jun 2, 2025

I'm not good at this posting shit the grow dr has good information on dwc

Lyonking · Jun 2, 2025

Mathimus said:
The sweet spot I have found has always been a PH of 6.2 in dwc. A little lower in flower but it is nothing to obsess about. As long as you are 5.8 to 6.2 I would not adjust it.

In veg, you should be using a silica product. I use Silica Blast at 2ml a gallon - only in veg and thru the first week of flower. It reinforces the plants overall cell structure and makes them easier to train and more viable. It also increases nutrient uptake exponentially. Add it first at res change and let it circulate a little while before adding your other nutrients... If you do not have it, get Orca root innoculant. It is a bit pricey but at 0.5ml a gallon, it lasts. Ive tried several root innoculants for dwc and Orca is by far the undefeated champion. Your plants will thank you. Cheers and welcome to hydro.

Would you recommend using both. Or orca over silica?

Mathimus · Jun 3, 2025

Lyonking said:
Would you recommend using both. Or orca over silica?

Both. If it's a budget thing I would definitely get the orca first. They are two separate products and serve different mechanisms. Silica is good for cell walls and overall plant health - in veg only. You can feel the difference in your stems and branches when amending with silica. It is often a thing that is overlooked but it helps tremendously with plant structure and nutrient uptake.

Orca has the best concentration of microbial bacteria for root development that I have tested. It will take roughly 3 days or so to kick in but once it does, you will start to notice new snow white roots that will explode. 0.5 ml a gallon is a win.

RhastaBlasta · Jun 3, 2025

Looks like you’re off to a solid start! Biggest tips for hydro: keep your water temps in check (65–70°F is ideal), monitor pH daily (aim for 5.8–6.2), and make sure you’ve got plenty of oxygen in the root zone — an airstone goes a long way. Less is often more when it comes to nutrients, especially early on. Stay consistent and keep notes — hydro rewards attention to detail. You've got this!

amneziaHaze · Jun 3, 2025

I personally go max5.5- 6.2ph but maybe i am wrong.but in flower i like to keep it 6+ just because magnesium and some other get more taken at that ph.
As for the basic stuff you need some hydro nute and bacteria or pool shock depending how you want to grow.
Silica is not a must should do something for the plant first time i used it this grow.all i can tell it rises ph like crazy soo get some ph-.
O yea and you can find product 10x cheaper than orca does the same shit

Lyonking · Jun 3, 2025

Mathimus said:
Both. If it's a budget thing I would definitely get the orca first. They are two separate products and serve different mechanisms. Silica is good for cell walls and overall plant health - in veg only. You can feel the difference in your stems and branches when amending with silica. It is often a thing that is overlooked but it helps tremendously with plant structure and nutrient uptake.

Orca has the best concentration of microbial bacteria for root development that I have tested. It will take roughly 3 days or so to kick in but once it does, you will start to notice new snow white roots that will explode. 0.5 ml a gallon is a win.

Is this the correct orca product?

JIMKSI64 · Jun 3, 2025

Looks like my exact start. Vivosun tent and hydro DWC. I also bought a Vivosun PH pen and it broke my heart. Off by 1.4 and it seems to stick high. I run Organic now and use a Apera 60 kit for PH control. Did not see the PH manufacturer listed just thought would chime in
Nice start. I made it 4 weeks and never flipped the plants were damaged.

Lyonking · Jun 3, 2025

JIMKSI64 said:
Looks like my exact start. Vivosun tent and hydro DWC. I also bought a Vivosun PH pen and it broke my heart. Off by 1.4 and it seems to stick high. I run Organic now and use a Apera 60 kit for PH control. Did not see the PH manufacturer listed just thought would chime in
Nice start. I made it 4 weeks and never flipped the plants were damaged.

I also have the VIVOSUN ph pen as well and already had to recalibrate it. I have the GH ph+/- kit and from what it looks like the pen is matching the GH ph tester kit. I usually do both when testing the ph just to be on the safe side.

Mathimus · Jun 3, 2025

Lyonking said:
Is this the correct orca product?

Yes sir.

ajpapenfuss · Jun 3, 2025

Or there's always hydroguard about 45$ a gallon

ajpapenfuss · Jun 3, 2025

Lotus is good nutrients I've used them u might want to cut back during flower i would mix 4 gallons of water with nutrients for 3 gallons

First hydro grow and would like some tips

First hydro grow and would like some tips

Lyonking

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First hydro grow and would like some tips

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