Question about hydroponics best practices

nc420toker · Oct 3, 2024

Hello,
I am working on my first grow. Very exciting. I have a 2 week old seedling in soil indoors and I want to move to a 5 gallon bucket that is setup for drip irrigation. More just to get experience using it.

It is a Vivosun 5gallon dwc top drip. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JSBJXRF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

My pressing question is, should the water always be running in that system? It doesn't have a timer so it is on or off(air pump). I guess my question comes from knowing the roots will be in the water, do I leave it running or just run it for a short period each day?

nc420toker · Oct 3, 2024

What I am reading now, is that I can use that top drip system for the seedling and once it has more roots through the pot, I can swap to just having it blow air into the water? Which I guess circulates the water.

amneziaHaze · Oct 4, 2024

nc420toker said:
Hello,
I am working on my first grow. Very exciting. I have a 2 week old seedling in soil indoors and I want to move to a 5 gallon bucket that is setup for drip irrigation. More just to get experience using it.

It is a Vivosun 5gallon dwc top drip. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JSBJXRF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

My pressing question is, should the water always be running in that system? It doesn't have a timer so it is on or off(air pump). I guess my question comes from knowing the roots will be in the water, do I leave it running or just run it for a short period each day?

Plant will survive a day with airpump not running.but best results are with the pump running all day

jadins_journey · Oct 4, 2024

nc420toker said:
What I am reading now, is that I can use that top drip system for the seedling and once it has more roots through the pot, I can swap to just having it blow air into the water? Which I guess circulates the water.

One line to air stone and one to drip ring in beginning. Once roots hit water unplug airline from drip emitter fold it over and zip tie it or just add another air stone to that line. Pump runs 24/7.

hope that helps

nc420toker · Oct 4, 2024

Yes both of you thank you. I will just fold the line over.
How deep in the cup do I want the seedling? Should I have it so the existing roots go through the hole at the bottom of the cup? The water sits right at that level (up to the cup).

Newty · Oct 4, 2024

I'm a soil grower but I've toyed around with the idea of running hydro, one thing I seen mentioned a lot is you may need a water chiller depending on temps.

nc420toker · Oct 5, 2024

I transplanted it yesterday but I can't help but feel it was damaged, or something is wrong. The leaves have started to droop.
The PH level is around 6.5. The temps are around 79 F which is okay? Maybe it is an oxygen issue? I am going to move it to a room with lower temps and hopefully that helps. I will try to get a pic.

jadins_journey · Oct 5, 2024

nc420toker said:
I transplanted it yesterday but I can't help but feel it was damaged, or something is wrong. The leaves have started to droop.
The PH level is around 6.5. The temps are around 79 F which is okay? Maybe it is an oxygen issue? I am going to move it to a room with lower temps and hopefully that helps. I will try to get a pic.

At this age you don’t want rock touching the branches, just the main trunk. They are looking good brother keep the lights in the 300-400 ppfd range and you should be good. ppm’s in the 400 ish range hopefully

OldSalty · Oct 5, 2024

I used the same RDWC system last winter. I grew in my garage with the buckets sitting on a concrete floor. I bought a little digital temperature probe to monitor reservoir temperature. The advice that has been given here parallels my experience. Everything worked well. But once spring came , I started having problems keeping the temperature down. I suggest that you buy a device to monitor the reservoir temperature if you haven’t already.

AZreefer · Oct 5, 2024

Ph 5.8 for hydro

nc420toker · Oct 5, 2024

The ph kit I have is color based so I don't know the exact number but it it around 6 now.

I will need to get something to monitor the water temp tomorrow and another air ball.

AZreefer · Oct 5, 2024

nc420toker said:
The ph kit I have is color based so I don't know the exact number but it it around 6 now.

I will need to get something to monitor the water temp tomorrow and another air ball.

If you're rocking just a bubble bucket the water changes will be a powerful weapon. You should get a 2nd bucket so you can fill it mix your nutes and swap it out. As you move into more growth and development the consumption rate of the solution will increase causing a greater demand for fresh solution.

nc420toker · Oct 5, 2024

AZreefer said:
If you're rocking just a bubble bucket the water changes will be a powerful weapon. You should get a 2nd bucket so you can fill it mix your nutes and swap it out. As you move into more growth and development the consumption rate of the solution will increase causing a greater demand for fresh solution.

I am working on more equipment. The only fertilizer I have is some liquid Miracle Grow, although, I have no doubt that would be fine. There are some other options online I have seen. I hope to be able to get something soon.

AZreefer · Oct 5, 2024

I have no experience with that.

OldSalty · Oct 6, 2024

There are a couple of things to watch for when using this particular system. I lift the lid occasionally to look at root health and development. When sitting the lid back down, be careful not to catch the blue plastic site tube under the lip. I did this unknowingly and it jarred the press fit connection at the base of the tube. This led to a small leak. It sealed once it was reseated but I always eyeball that connection when I check the grow.

The second item to watch is the tubing that runs inside of the bucket. Those tubes will become entangled with roots. When I checked my roots, I only lifted the lid enough to look in with a flashlight to keep the roots from tearing.

Happy growing! Keep us posted on your progress.

nc420toker · Oct 6, 2024

Nice pictures! That root system is crazy.
This is a pineapple OG strain I got so I hope it does grow.
Everything still appears to be fine. Ordered some FoxFarm liquid Solution.

One thing I noticed is a smell coming from the water. Have you ever experienced that? It just may be from the PH solution I have been using. I check it multiple times a day which may be a little much. I will see if I can get some pictures of the roots.

Yes, I had the same issue yesterday when I put the lid on top of the water level tube and now it makes a noise when I turn it on. Like a gurgling so I will have to tighten the connections.

AZreefer · Oct 6, 2024

nc420toker said:
Nice pictures! That root system is crazy.
This is a pineapple OG strain I got so I hope it does grow.
Everything still appears to be fine. Ordered some FoxFarm liquid Solution.

One thing I noticed is a smell coming from the water. Have you ever experienced that? It just may be from the PH solution I have been using. I check it multiple times a day which may be a little much. I will see if I can get some pictures of the roots.

Yes, I had the same issue yesterday when I put the lid on top of the water level tube and now it makes a noise when I turn it on. Like a gurgling so I will have to tighten the connections.

Are you using a root rot additive? Hydroguard or hygrozyme, cannazyme? If you have a smell it's probably telling you there is about to be a problem. If you smell anything near a "fish" smell it's probably slime algae but if you smell an earthy musty it is possible dead or dying roots. If your roots are not as white as the pic @OldSalty shared then you should go exploring ever so gently through your root ball to ensure removal of dead or dying clumps.

Cannazyme is excellent for removing already dead root matter, hygrozyme is a sterilizing solution that will help prevent bacteria and algae buildup and hydroguard is a good bacteria.

You can also dose hydrogen peroxide to help clear your roots and help clean your system. Look up appropriate ratios for your system.

Physan 20 is a fungicide product

Southern AG is a brand that makes tons of good products for hydro gardens.

Any hypochlorous cleaner can be used BUT, UC roots is an overpriced made for hydro root rot treatment and prevention.

Cannazyme is an enzyme that eats cellulose.

If you have smelly brown roots you need to pick a root rot treatment method and get the dead shit out of your root ball asap.

There are some really good hydro growers here on the farm...

@Smokey0418

@Olddude420

@DillyTrying2Learn

I know there are more but this is a short list of growers I've chatted with that are hydro friendly

nc420toker · Oct 6, 2024

It is hard to hold the lid up and take pictures with a phone but maybe this will help? See attached.
The smell is familiar, but I can't place it. It makes me think of some type of medicine I use to hate, and stinks.

The roots have a bit of brown in them but I have noticed some new roots growing. I will have to get some type of root formula.

nc420toker · Oct 6, 2024

They don't look horrible in any case and I have noticed new root growth. I will have to keep an eye on it.

OldSalty · Oct 6, 2024

AZreefer has you covered in his reply. You’re in good hands with these folks. I used Hydroguard. I ran into temperature issues the last few weeks of my grow so I switched to sterile. I also had to resort to the dreaded “bottle of frozen water into the bucket” some evenings. I really enjoyed hydroponics. It was a great learning experience. I’m going to have at it again in early winter.

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