New to Hydro - Help selecting a system

HockeyBeard

HockeyBeard

Well-Known Member
Hey RIU!

I've been growing in soil for the last couple years, and I love it, don't get me wrong, but I just built a new room, and I've been kicking around some ideas. I'm thinking that I'm going to use the old flower room (8x10)as a small 6-12 site DWC system, and keep going organics in my larger room. (10x15) Figured I may as well utilize all of my space and expand my horizons (as well as pumping out a bit of quantity to go aside my organic quality)

So, that being said, which system are the pros using? I'm looking at the Current Culture and that looks like it's well designed, but nothing really earth-shattering to justify the sticker price. I'm not sure the difference between some of the systems, Ebb and flow vs DWC vs. Drain away?

Anyone care to help a hydro newbie out?

I know nutes is a topic for a completely different thread, so no need to go into that here. But for an 8x10 room, what size and type of system is going to be manageable? Also, since I only have an aerocloner, what would be the right system with no veg? Or should I create a small area to veg a few out (my problem is that I need all of that veg space for my soil based plants)

Any thoughts and input is appreciated.
 
I

ingenioustm

Member
I'm in the middle of building my 2nd DWC . Been experimenting with different pot / resevoir sizes .
Decent size tote / hole saw / tubing / pump / airstone is all you need .
 
HockeyBeard

HockeyBeard

Well-Known Member
Yeah, and it is worth mentioning that I'm not afraid of DIY. I'm on #TeamCOB and have built a few panels out. I also just finished an aquacloner, so I'm not too intimidated. Looking at the Current Culture setup, it does seem ridiculously easy to emulate.
 
I

ingenioustm

Member
I use current culture for nutes . But would never pay what they want for some plastic . You can get those buckets with the 5 " net pots for 12-16$ a decent pump for 45-50$ and some pvc at your local home improvement store all for under 200. I think you would appreciate it more in the end .
 
chemphlegm

chemphlegm

Well-Known Member
if you have the controls the undercurrent is a yield win when dialed.
flood/drain= the lease wet/dry vac use of them all, very efficient, couldnt grow organic in it though(me)
funnest= top feed drain recirc dutch bucket system. all were very productive, dutch buckets most troublesome,
but they were fed with a 500 gallon fish tank full of fish.

if flavors, terpene profiles, full expressions, organics, is important to you buckets of dirt are the way to grow imo
but dammit its a dirty way to go
 
HydroRed

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
Agree on the flood & drain. You can root clones then transplant them into your medium and completely skip veg times. Then you only use a small portion of your veg room for the clones before they root and go into the flower room. I do this, but put them under the flower lights for 24-48 hrs to harden off then flip to 12/12. I run on average about 8" tall clones and wind up with plants anywhere from 17"-36" tall (depending on strain) at harvest with no veg. Flood & Drain is about as easy and low maintenance as hydro comes. Follow the lucas formula and you cant go wrong.
 
chemphlegm

chemphlegm

Well-Known Member
when I was flooding and draining I bought a dozen hydro systems nutes to try. all of them rocked my world just following directions to the T. I had no issues, no deficiencies, no scares either. I stuck with dutch master gold line for ease of use, cost to me, and availability. All the big names were right as rain. I'd avoid the self labeled garage brands today though. anyone can buy nutes at the farm store, do some math and mix it up with a cool label right, what if they're wrong in their math. advanced nutrients doesnt get it wrong for instance. I bummed out with 7 reservoirs though, for a staged perpetual harvest year long.
 
HydroRed

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
chemphlegm said:
when I was flooding and draining I bought a dozen hydro systems nutes to try. all of them rocked my world just following directions to the T. I had no issues, no deficiencies, no scares either. I stuck with dutch master gold line for ease of use, cost to me, and availability. All the big names were right as rain. I'd avoid the self labeled garage brands today though. anyone can buy nutes at the farm store, do some math and mix it up with a cool label right, what if they're wrong in their math. advanced nutrients doesnt get it wrong for instance. I bummed out with 7 reservoirs though, for a staged perpetual harvest year long.
Click to expand...
I too have had great success with the standard 3 part nutes along with a booster. I swear by Humboldt's "Ginormous" 0-18-16 booster on top of any 3 part or A&B to bring out the frost in any strain.
 
HockeyBeard

HockeyBeard

Well-Known Member
HydroRed said:
Agree on the flood & drain. You can root clones then transplant them into your medium and completely skip veg times. Then you only use a small portion of your veg room for the clones before they root and go into the flower room. I do this, but put them under the flower lights for 24-48 hrs to harden off then flip to 12/12. I run on average about 8" tall clones and wind up with plants anywhere from 17"-36" tall (depending on strain) at harvest with no veg. Flood & Drain is about as easy and low maintenance as hydro comes. Follow the lucas formula and you cant go wrong.
Click to expand...
My other thought was to just run them in the flower room for 10-14 days on veg schedule before flipping them, I'm sure they'd bulk up in a hurry, no?
 
HydroRed

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
HockeyBeard said:
Also, is DWC the most water efficient? I live in an area where water is not all that cheap.
Click to expand...
Cheap to buy in gallons? I run MI city tap water with no issues. Proper pH and its good to go. RDWC is the way to go for those that have to lug water to the grow etc.
HockeyBeard said:
My other thought was to just run them in the flower room for 10-14 days on veg schedule before flipping them, I'm sure they'd bulk up in a hurry, no?
Click to expand...
Yes, they will get some size to them in 10-14 days if grown in good conditions. Keep in mind most hybrids/sativas double...even triple in size within the first few weeks of flower.
 
Last edited:
HockeyBeard

HockeyBeard

Well-Known Member
HydroRed said:
Cheap to buy in gallons? I run MI city tap water with no issues. Proper pH and its good to go. RDWC is the way to go for those that have to lug water to the grow etc.

Yes, they will get some size to them in 10-14 days if grown in good conditions. Keep in mind most hybrids/sativas double...even triple in size within the first few weeks of flower.
Click to expand...
I don't have to buy in gallons, I run a RO for my water as it is. I'm pumping 3:1 waste though, and running the hydro + my soil needs, my water bill already gets to $300ish at the high end. So, you're using tap for the Ebb and flow? Interesting. I've had friends in the area use tap for their soil, but I truly am a hydro gnewb, and none of my close friends that I work with use water mediums. What part of MI are you in? I'm in the metro-Detroit area.
 
R

rollyouron

Well-Known Member
HockeyBeard said:
Hey RIU!

I've been growing in soil for the last couple years, and I love it, don't get me wrong, but I just built a new room, and I've been kicking around some ideas. I'm thinking that I'm going to use the old flower room (8x10)as a small 6-12 site DWC system, and keep going organics in my larger room. (10x15) Figured I may as well utilize all of my space and expand my horizons (as well as pumping out a bit of quantity to go aside my organic quality)

So, that being said, which system are the pros using? I'm looking at the Current Culture and that looks like it's well designed, but nothing really earth-shattering to justify the sticker price. I'm not sure the difference between some of the systems, Ebb and flow vs DWC vs. Drain away?

Anyone care to help a hydro newbie out?

I know nutes is a topic for a completely different thread, so no need to go into that here. But for an 8x10 room, what size and type of system is going to be manageable? Also, since I only have an aerocloner, what would be the right system with no veg? Or should I create a small area to veg a few out (my problem is that I need all of that veg space for my soil based plants)

Any thoughts and input is appreciated.
Click to expand...
I've used to 2 different automated ebb and grow systems. Both worked well. Then I bought an Autopot to try. Autopot is the easiest way I"ve grown! I don't see myself switching to anything else. 100 % happy
 
HockeyBeard

HockeyBeard

Well-Known Member
rollyouron said:
I've used to 2 different automated ebb and grow systems. Both worked well. Then I bought an Autopot to try. Autopot is the easiest way I"ve grown! I don't see myself switching to anything else. 100 % happy
Click to expand...
What strains are you growing? How is your yield with what sort of veg?
 
HydroRed

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
HockeyBeard said:
I don't have to buy in gallons, I run a RO for my water as it is. I'm pumping 3:1 waste though, and running the hydro + my soil needs, my water bill already gets to $300ish at the high end. So, you're using tap for the Ebb and flow? Interesting. I've had friends in the area use tap for their soil, but I truly am a hydro gnewb, and none of my close friends that I work with use water mediums. What part of MI are you in? I'm in the metro-Detroit area.
Click to expand...
Yes, 100% tap water. Though lots say they dont grow with tap due to issues, I've never had a problem with it. I'm in SE MI metro area as well. My water is about 90-100ppm from tap and usually around 6.8 or so depending what time of year it is. I only own a bottle of ph down. The buffers in my nutes do most of the work for me. I also run a steril res so city tap water is no issue for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top