hydroponic system, can i use?

[40acres]

Ever since Al b fuct ridiculed me for my choice to grow in soil, i have decided i want to try hydropnics to see what is really up with it. I want to see a pepsi challenge. I also have no experience with hydro, so I want to start small. I have found these systems on ebay, and was curious as to if they would work. They are cheap, so why not if they can get the job done.
Please check them out and tell me what you think.Thanks. Also, if any of you know how to make one for pretty cheap, You could always leave the directions for me.
Twin HYDROPONIC SYSTEMs Greenhouse kit perpetual - eBay (item 200221197118 end time May-09-08 20:31:13 PDT)

 

[mdgcmd]

Me personally I would say forget those contraptions. If you are new to hudro try out a DWC grow. It is cheap as hell and just as easy. Take a look around and see what you can find. Look at some pics of some other ppls DWC setups and go from there.

GROWFAQ

A bit more advanced but great work here.
GROWFAQ

Check out these FAQ's
GROWFAQ

 

[BSIv2.0]

I'd suggest DWC as well.

Very easy once you understand the basics. I'm going back to it soon.

 

[Tanuvan]

*sigh* DWC is easy to set up, but it is not easy to manage for a first timer. Might want to try Hempy buckets or Waterfarm. If you are not constantly watching your ph/ppm and water temps, DWC will quickly turn into a nightmare. Just do a search and see how many newcomers to hydro have problems with pythium and DWC.

Easy setup does not equate to easy maintenance.

 

[Mr Green Man]

true true.

DWC is brillant, But lots of work. I am planning on making a complex cerculating system next winter, which will hopefully cure most of the problems with DWC systems.

However. I can not grow DWC now the weather is better. My Rez went from a stedy 68F to an unhealthy 75F over night, (Due to the warm weather) I only have 10 days left, so i'm not too worried about it.

Any way.

Hempy is very easy, Not as fast as an active hydro system, but it would make the trastion easyer.

 

[Tanuvan]

I'm lazy, I use autopots

 

[BSIv2.0]

Not sure whats so complicated w/DWC growing. Ive been so lazy as to not check or adjust ph and the grows ended just fine.

Never had root rot. I do keep my res covered which makes a huge difference in fighting algae. It actually eliminated algae growth in my bucket.

The hardest part was figuring out what nute strength to go with. I settled on 1:2 veg - 2:1 bloom ratio and that was that. I stopped checking ppm as well. DWC is as difficult as you make it.

Tap water to boot.

Who knows what my res temp was....I know the plants did just fine though.

 

[Mr Green Man]

lad you it worked out for you.

I have had no problems so far, and Have really injoyed the experance. I check PH PPMs and Temps every day or twice aday. Maybe that is over the top, but I see lots of people having problems, but then I gess that's part of it. If you have no problems you tend not to post.

 

[gogrow]

Ever since Al b fuct ridiculed me for my choice to grow in soil, i have decided i want to try hydropnics to see what is really up with it. I want to see a pepsi challenge. I also have no experience with hydro, so I want to start small. I have found these systems on ebay, and was curious as to if they would work. They are cheap, so why not if they can get the job done.
Please check them out and tell me what you think.Thanks. Also, if any of you know how to make one for pretty cheap, You could always leave the directions for me.
Twin HYDROPONIC SYSTEMs Greenhouse kit perpetual - eBay (item 200221197118 end time May-09-08 20:31:13 PDT)

what is there to ridicule about growing in soil?? personally i think that hydro is overrated, but that could just be b/c i couldnt get it down... i was also dwc, and from what i am reading here, those are really complicated for a hydronoob. good luck with ift man.

 

[pandabear]

DWC is easy heres the key to the perfect ppms


if your plants drank water and the ppm stayed the same that means your plants are drinking same amount of water as nutes meaning u found thier perfect dosage


if after they drink up some water u notice your ppm is higher than before, it means they are trying to drink less of the nutes and just suckin in the water that tells you your ppm is too hi

same if you ppm goes down after they drink. means they are drinking more nutes than water and they want more nutes.

 

[bigd921]

*sigh* DWC is easy to set up, but it is not easy to manage for a first timer. Might want to try Hempy buckets or Waterfarm. If you are not constantly watching your ph/ppm and water temps, DWC will quickly turn into a nightmare. Just do a search and see how many newcomers to hydro have problems with pythium and DWC.

Easy setup does not equate to easy maintenance.

agreed I trtied dwc I figured a rubbermaid bin and air pump and a few airstones, what could go wrong...lol aything that can go wrong will, ph all over the place, no to mention having to drain and refill 10-15 gallons of water every 2 weeks.......... now I use my airstones to buble my water and nutes for my hempy buckets

 

[email468]

DWC is easy heres the key to the perfect ppms


if your plants drank water and the ppm stayed the same that means your plants are drinking same amount of water as nutes meaning u found thier perfect dosage


if after they drink up some water u notice your ppm is higher than before, it means they are trying to drink less of the nutes and just suckin in the water that tells you your ppm is too hi

same if you ppm goes down after they drink. means they are drinking more nutes than water and they want more nutes.

I tried to rep you for this post but i must spread it around first.

To OP - if you want to try hydro get whatever system you want to and work out the bugs just like you did with the soil grow. Different set of problems, same desired result

 

[HATCH]

Ya, It's up to You on what direction You want, Have room for, ect, ect, Hydoponic's is easy, Like was said before, Different problem in each system.

Just Jump in with both Feet & don't look Back!!!! Good Luck Bro!!!!

 

[bigwheel]

Now kindly tells up about the airstones in the bottom of the hempy bucket. Never heard of anybody doing it but seems like a good plan to me. Whut kinda grow medium do you use etc? I am trying to learn stuff about the hempy buckets. Have about decided that deal is gonna be in my not too distant future. I am a not a mechanically inclined DIY type person and I am very lazy. I think that HB gonna be just whut the doctor ordered to relieve my pain. Thanks.

Big Wheel

(snip) ph all over the place, no to mention having to drain and refill 10-15 gallons of water every 2 weeks.......... now I use my airstones to buble my water and nutes for my hempy buckets

 

[mdgcmd]

Well PH will go off the wall with nutes that are not ph balanced. I did my first hydro setup as DWC, and I had NO PH whatsoever. I was using GH 3 part series (pink, green, brown stuff) which is PH balanced and will not mess with your PH as long as your PH is already set. I topped off with water every time and NOT a nutrient solution. Also I changed out my res on a regular basis, and everything went fine without a PH meter. I actually picked up a PH tester last year for the first time sense I started growing. (about 5-6 years)

Anyway I thought that DWC was the easiest thing I ever worked with. For more simple than my aero setup.

 

[mdgcmd]

Oh and READ THE FAQs

 

[email468]

Well PH will go off the wall with nutes that are not ph balanced. I did my first hydro setup as DWC, and I had NO PH whatsoever. I was using GH 3 part series (pink, green, brown stuff) which is PH balanced and will not mess with your PH as long as your PH is already set. I topped off with water every time and NOT a nutrient solution. Also I changed out my res on a regular basis, and everything went fine without a PH meter. I actually picked up a PH tester last year for the first time sense I started growing. (about 5-6 years)

Anyway I thought that DWC was the easiest thing I ever worked with. For more simple than my aero setup.

yes, yes, and yes. I agree and have seen what you describe first-hand (i have used GH 3-part) but still - hats off to you for a successful hydro grow using no meters!

 

[pandabear]

i agree guys, its amazing how the GH nutes make the ph balanced, i didnt ph for my first grow and got great results. I phed my second grow but gave it up cuz as soon as i put my nutes in the ph was good.

my tap water is lik 7 PH but once i nute its around 6 or so

 

[growitt420]

i'm using supernatural brand nutes and they automatically adjust your ph and ppm to just the right levels i suggest you try it it works wonders