That is what is known as Nutrient Film Technique or NFT. This particular system will house 4 plants on each rail. (8 total) The point of this rail system is to use a smaller reservoir, less water, less waste of nutes AND I am implementing a perpetual harvest schedule. seedlings will veg until strong enough to handle light. 12/12 from "clone size" After i get this going, ill take clones of all 6 strains, make mothers of my faves and keep the system going with clones. Harvesting about an ounce a week, great for personal needs (;
Every week I put another plant in, so after about 9 weeks, I'll be harvesting once a week!
This system is based off of the notorious StinkBud system that one of our very own RIU members came up with!
Still have to cut my 2" net pot holes in the rail. Soon as my seedlings are ready, off into the rail system they go!
If you are interested in reading more on stinkbud and his design...
https://www.rollitup.org/t/harvest-a-pound-every-three-weeks.116859/
Made a smaller version with a detachable/ set-in SCROG. And I don't use the sprayers, I simply pump water to the high end of the rails, and it flows down creating a "film" across the entirety of the inside of the "rail".
Its like Deep Water Culture or DWC, but on crack. Its recirculating constantly and has a smaller reservoir.
Look at it like this, I originally did DWC in a 5 gallon bucket. Nutrient solution, light proof bucket and some air stones. Each bucket held 4 gallons of nutrient rich water, so for 6 plants that would be close to 30 gallons of water AND each one would be done separately. With these systems, later in flowering I'd be filling em once every 2 days, close to 30 gallons of water. With this method, you waste less when it comes time for a rez change. On top of that, I run a sterile reservoir. Meaning synthetic nutrients and NO bacteria. Beneficial or not, and with this set up, I can maintain that sterile red with the waterfall effect, my air stones and a regular serving of peroxide when the water gets cloudy. I use store bought 3% solution. NO PROBLEM!
I'll be changing this 18 gallon reservoir once every 3 weeks. In between changes I top off with a PHd light dose Ca-Mg water and add a squirt of peroxide as needed. This set up works wonderful!
Sorry for the unorganized run on
Chcocolope hits hard
EDIT: you said changes in your box, you growing in a box with CFLs? That's where I started!!
2 big cereal bulk boxes, taped together and cut out the common wall. Painted inside flat white, and hat 2 outtake pc fans rigged to a cell phone/ USB charger near top of box. On bottom I had a 4 inch intake desk fan. Half oz dry weight, 9 weeks time hahaha. Gotta start somewhere, sorry if I came to the wrong conclusion. Lol
This was my last grow before upgrade to tent, DNA Genetica, Chocolope. 1 plant 5 gallon DWC. Vegged for 3 weeks, LOTS of Monster Cropping. Hardly any LST aside from SCROG.
