ive read that if I use an autoflower strain that I should greatly reduce my nutrients? some suggest 1/8 to 1/4 the recommended amount, does that sound right to you guys?
It depends really.You need to start low and work up.The way i do it is sprout in rockwool.Than i put my baskets in the hole on top of the buckets and put about 2 inches of hydroton in the basket.Next i fill my system up with the airstones bubbling.Once i can see the water bubbling right under the hydroton as im filling the system i place the rockwool cube on top and fill in around it.You might have to top feed the cubes for a few days till your roots get down to the nutrient water.
But to answer your question if your running autos in DWC good luck.Autos just arent very stable with the way they cross genetics and i have yet to buy a pack of autos and get similar phenos in a pack.So all of the plants are going to want to feed different.In a recirculating this can flat out suck.
Start your nute strengths at 1/4 strength.Mix your rapidstart at 1ML per gallon and you will be fine.Im not to familiar with the 3 part cause i just dont like mixing up potions so i always use the floronova series.
whatever the dose says on the chart just mix it quarter strength.
Here is a good example.
You have a 12 gallon system.
the chart says you need 2.5 ML of grow per gallon.multiply 2.5 x 12 gallons.
that would require 30ML of grow in your 12 gallon system.
NOW divde 30ML by 4 equals 7.5 ML total in your 12 gallon system.This is why its important to know how many gallons total your system will hold.
Now your at 1/4 strength in the system.This is way easier to do than mixing nutes in each and every gallon you pour in.That shit would suck.
Now keep record of how many gallons they are eating.You need to mark with a stick each gallon.If you dont know how many gallons they are taking out than you wont know how much to put back in.
What i do is when the whole system is put together i fill it up 1 gallon at a time and make a mark on a stick for each gallon i put in.Now you have a way to measure.
Once your plants are running and you seen them thriving and your PPM meter isnt rising than your good.Autos are strange because like i said your PPM can drop 150 in a day but you might have a couple plants with nute burn.Its hard to find a happy medium for all of the plants.some will burn and some will not be getting enough.some will flower way sooner and need bloom nutes while some are still in veg
autos in a recirculating DWC is a terrible idea IMO.your better off using photos and just veg for 3 weeks and switch them.if lighting or space is an issue i would say forget about DWC and grow them in dirt.
You might can get away with single buckets without a chiller but i say you will be battling root rot at some point in time.
