Whats a good substrate for dtw

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bran1981

Well-Known Member
Trying dtw for the first time but don't want to use coco or rockwhool. So whats a good substrate to use in dtw other than those 2?
 
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bran1981

Well-Known Member
The problem with using growstones is u would use way more water than u would with say coco or whool. Im wanting something that holds water decently well but don't want to use whool and don't want to use coco for the simple fact that it seems like a pain
 
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bran1981

Well-Known Member
If done right dtw doesn't use any more water than a flood and drain setup as long as your not using something like growstones.
 
gr865

gr865

Well-Known Member
bran1981 said:
If done right dtw doesn't use any more water than a flood and drain setup as long as your not using something like growstones.
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I do not believe that is correct. With Flood and Drain Hydro, any nutrients that are not used will simply drain back into your reservoir. Whereas Drain to Waste with every watering you do not recycle it back to the rez so you will lose around 20 to 30% per watering. So please explain how you will not use any more water comparing DTW vs F&D. If you don't want to water or use extra water I would suggest you either grow in soil or full blown hydro.

Here is a list of products you can chose from growing mediums like expanded clay, rockwool, coir, perlite, sand or gravel, and other organic and inorganic mediums are used, for DTW. You need to remember you cannot reuse the liquids once it has past through the medium, at least in coco, I have not grown in the other mediums.

Maybe you should take a look at Hempy buckets, you will still have runoff but not as much.

Good luck on you choice and have a great grow.

GR
 
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bran1981

Well-Known Member
gr865 said:
I do not believe that is correct. With Flood and Drain Hydro, any nutrients that are not used will simply drain back into your reservoir. Whereas Drain to Waste with every watering you do not recycle it back to the rez so you will lose around 20 to 30% per watering. So please explain how you will not use any more water comparing DTW vs F&D. If you don't want to water or use extra water I would suggest you either grow in soil or full blown hydro.

Here is a list of products you can chose from growing mediums like expanded clay, rockwool, coir, perlite, sand or gravel, and other organic and inorganic mediums are used, for DTW. You need to remember you cannot reuse the liquids once it has past through the medium, at least in coco, I have not grown in the other mediums.

Maybe you should take a look at Hempy buckets, you will still have runoff but not as much.

Good luck on you choice and have a great grow.

GR
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With the amount of waist u tose out doing a fresh water change every week it shouldn't be much of a difference.
 
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bran1981

Well-Known Member
rkymtnman said:
dtw needs about a 20% runoff to be effective.

holding the most air and water of any media is a positive, not a negative.

you'll figure it out eventually.
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Not saying your right or wrong but im wondering how a type of rock is going to hold more water than say rockwhool.
 
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bran1981

Well-Known Member
Bakersfield said:
I wonder why you wouldn't want to use coco or rock wool? They seem to be the gold standard for DTW.
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Well i don't really want to use coco because of the problems i have read with people having deficiency issues with it and with the whool alot have issues with root rot from keepi g it to wet and being i have never used either one it makes me nervous to try them lol
 
Bakersfield

Bakersfield

Well-Known Member
bran1981 said:
Well i don't really want to use coco because of the problems i have read with people having deficiency issues with it and with the whool alot have issues with root rot from keepi g it to wet and being i have never used either one it makes me nervous to try them lol
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Unbuffered coco will pull calcium and magnesium out of your solution until it stabilizes. Just use a CalMag supplement and you'll be golden.
As far as rot goes, coco holds a perfect balance of air to liquid and as long as you supply adequet drainage you should never have a problem with root rot.
I'd also suggest you add some beneficial bacteria and myco's to your solution to ensure good root health.
 
visajoe1

visajoe1

Well-Known Member
Bakersfield said:
Unbuffered coco will pull calcium and magnesium out of your solution until it stabilizes. Just use a CalMag supplement and you'll be golden.
As far as rot goes, coco holds a perfect balance of air to liquid and as long as you supply adequet drainage you should never have a problem with root rot.
I'd also suggest you add some beneficial bacteria and myco's to your solution to ensure good root health.
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you put bennies in your nutes feeding in coco? didnt know i could do that
 
visajoe1

visajoe1

Well-Known Member
Bakersfield said:
They work wonderfully in coco. I've recently started making a Heisenberg Tea for use in my rez. It really stretches the bottles when you start growing them.
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great to know, thanks! i just transplanted some seedling into coco cups with some great white, but i also have orca and hydroguard on hand i can use with formula. are you in bkf central valley? im from visalia
 
Bakersfield

Bakersfield

Well-Known Member
visajoe1 said:
great to know, thanks! i just transplanted some seedling into coco cups with some great white, but i also have orca and hydroguard on hand i can use with formula. are you in bkf central valley? im from visalia
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No, but I'm from there. I currently live in ALASKA but I grew up in the Delano McFarland area. I spent a lot of time up in Tulare county as a kid. I had family in Corcoran, Visalia, Tulare, I've even got an aunt and uncle that live in Springville.
 
Jon E. Doe

Jon E. Doe

Well-Known Member
One a week I add a tiny amount of myco and hydroguard to my nute solution. 2.5g hempy buckets with chunky perlite in the bottom 2 inches. I've never added calcium or magnesium. Gh flora series 6ml micro, 9ml boost, and 3ml of ph down all the way from start to finish. Easy peasy. No deficiencies for me thus far, however I'm only 1 week into flower. I use regular tap water, no bubbling, no sitting out. I have a ppm/ec meter but dont use it other than the once a week check to make certain that my solution is same as always. 860ppm, 5.8-9ph. I could mix my solution in my sleep lol. I really like keeping it simple, and putting 3 things into a gallon of water every 1-2 days is about as simple as I can make it.
 
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