Reservoir Change Poll

How often do you change your reservoir?

  • Every week

    Votes: 24 35.3%
  • Every 2 weeks

    Votes: 29 42.6%
  • Every 3 weeks

    Votes: 6 8.8%
  • Every 4 weeks

    Votes: 3 4.4%
  • More than a month passes between rez changes

    Votes: 6 8.8%

  • Total voters
    68

SlikWiLL13

Well-Known Member
i usually change every 3 weeks but sometimes i go longer.

i do addbacks as neccesary with anywhere between 1/2 and full strenght nutes depending on how fast the level drops(drops fast - less nutes).
 

FLoJo

Well-Known Member
i change mine probably every two weeks or so.. i will watch what the plant is using, and keep the water at the same level every day (use RO water)

If the nutes stay around the same ppms i just continue to add water, once they change about 10-15 percent i will add in some nutes to get the tds level back up.. i will change it once i have added back in about half of the tds level...

so if i am using 1000 ppms, i add RO water every day and check the ph and the ppms every day...

once the ppms drops from 1000 to 850-900 I will add in nutes with the water to bring it back up to 1000

once i have added about 500 ppms (or half of the total ppms in the res) I will change the nutes completely. it usually ends up looking like this..

i fully change the res every ten days for the first 30 days, then i will change the res one time over weeks 5 and 6, and then usually change it once a week during week 7 and 8, then i flush for 3-4 days and chop
 

SlikWiLL13

Well-Known Member
good description flojo.

looks like most so far do every 2 wks.

the main reason im doing this poll is becaus im currently on like wk 7 of my rez. its completely addbacks twice over by now and my girls are thriving. i dont use a ppm meter, never have.
 

FLoJo

Well-Known Member
ya the only reason i change it as much as i do is mainly because i start to get a little algae growth due to the gutter system i have.. i could let it go for prolly 4 weeks but i am a clean freak and must have that res spotless LOL
 

SlikWiLL13

Well-Known Member
yeah, the reason mine has gone as long as it has is because im almost out of nutes. i only have enough to mix a few gallons not 30. gotta get more this week!
 

SlikWiLL13

Well-Known Member
yeah, now that ive gone this long without ANY adverse effects. i think im gonna go 4 weeks every time. prolly save 30% or more on nutes and ph down. i likes cheap!
 

FLoJo

Well-Known Member
hell ya especially in todays economy... a penny saved is truly a penny earned! melt the penny down for copper and you make more than a penny! LOL
 

Earl

Well-Known Member
First, you all need to state the type of hydro you are growing in.

I grow in Aero(spray) and DWC

I change every 10 days during the first 6 weeks

Then every week until week 5 of flower,

Then every 4 days
until I am satisfied with the trichs,

Then I run RO only
until I have the color I want.

If you are not in a hurry,
change your nute less often.

If you want to speed up your grow,
and you have enough light,
change more often.


PS,
I run 50% nute loads.
 

FLoJo

Well-Known Member
i run about 75 percent nute loads and a modified drip system with hydroton.

and earl how does changing nutes more often speed up the grow? do you have any research to back this up?

thanks

FLo
 

denverm4x

Well-Known Member
hell ya especially in todays economy... a penny saved is truly a penny earned! melt the penny down for copper and you make more than a penny! LOL
the government is too cheap to make pennies out of copper! they should be abolished anyway - true story it costs much more than 1 cent to create a penny:spew:
 

Earl

Well-Known Member
I'm not going to argue with you slick
I am just stating what I do.
Not recommending to anyone.
 

onthedl0008

Well-Known Member
Slik I did things ur way and never had a problem.. Good job on the thread.. Method of hydro would be very helpfull. Once i got a meter tho and followed some reccomended levels by some insane growers My grow has thrived.Also I have found consistency is higher with a consistent water change and food supply routine..
I change my water without fail at least every 2 weeks never longer. But i grow DWC.
Life is alot easier with a ppm meter bro but it does help if u have a green thumb. The addtion of a ppm meter to someone with a green thumb is priceless almost scary.
 

SlikWiLL13

Well-Known Member
no, i dont wanna argue either...hell if it works for you great. i hope every one can figure shit out that works. but ive found that good debates can lead to more learning on BOTH sides.

i used to change every week religiously, switched to every two weeks, then 3 just out of lazyness. and now i feel like as long as i keep adding back nutes and keeping my levels up it works the same.

btw - ebb n flow with gallon ice cream buckets fillet with hydroton and RW. flooded 3 times during lights on. veg is drip sys fed sam times as flower.
 

Earl

Well-Known Member
It makes a lot of difference if you are growing flood tables or dwc.

Rock wool or coco.

And how much light you have
for your plant to use the nutes,
and the strain you are growing.

So a lot of factors can affect how you run your rez,
and the gereral statement
that once a week, or once a month works,
is dependent upon these other factors,
making our statements kinda misleading.

Experience is the best teacher.

Nutes are just one expense,
but not the largest.
About $5 per change out,
for connoisseur at 50%
for a 25 gl rez,
feeding 5 plants.
I'm poor,
but I can afford that much.
.
 
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