First time hydro cloner build

Countyboy88

Countyboy88

Member
Greetings folks,

im new to the forums here. Just got my mmj card in my state and am going to be starting my garden soon. Ive never experimented with hydro at all. Ive decided that i would like to get my feet wet by building a cloner, seeing how it goes, and maybe even finishing a plant with it later. Just a couple questions for you guys.

Here are pics of my build. Its a 5 gallon tote, i mummified it in black tape for darkness. I got an air pump for a 10 gallon fish tank and 2 air stones hooked up to it with a splitter. I cut holes for 30 sites in the lid. My idea is that i can use this system for cloning at first and if i get adventurous, it is a 5 gallon, so i could probably finish a plant in it if i want (would have to get baskets and medium).

So, onto the questions:

i was thinking, for cloning purposes, could i just use cotton balls to hold my cuttings in place? 2 of them smushed together seems to fit quite well in the holes in my lid. Also, is 30 sites realistic for this setup? Ive never done it before, but 30 cuts and 5 gallons of water seems like it wouldnt be impossible. Also, my air stones are long (10inches) the first 4 inches or so seem to bubble quite well, but at the far end of the stone, theres virtually no bubbling going on, is the bubbling thats happening enough for the whole system, or will the cuts on the far end suffer. Should i ge an air pump for each stone instead of the splitter like i have? Or maybe another splitter and something like 4 smaller stones? And lastly, what is a good nute solution for my water? Im most likely gonna use clonex root gel cuz ive had good experience with it in soil, but what would be good to get the clones a good start? Like 1/4 strength solution of normal grow ferts? I usually use botanicare pro grow nutes.

So thats it. Will thos work out? Cotton balls? Air stones? And nutes?

Thanks a bunch in advance, im excited to get started and be a part of the family here!
 

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BleedsGreen

BleedsGreen

Well-Known Member
It seems like they are 2" holes so, 2" netpots with 2" neoprene collars should work. I built a similar cloner from the how to harvest a pound in 3 weeks thread. All the directions and material lists are there available in donlaaod for and you could use most of what you have. I have had increadable success with this cloner by the way.

Goodluck.

cloner.jpg
 
Countyboy88

Countyboy88

Member
Yeah, looks like your blueprint there is for an aero cloner, but same design idea really. Thanks. However, the neoprene is really expensive from what ive seen... $25 for 12 of them?! Im all set on that, ill figure something out. For what they do, i cant justify spending that. Ive heard of cottonballs working, i think ill just try them unless someone has a better/reasonably priced idea. Cheers.
 
sfrjosh

sfrjosh

Member
Countyboy88 said:
Yeah, looks like your blueprint there is for an aero cloner, but same design idea really. Thanks. However, the neoprene is really expensive from what ive seen... $25 for 12 of them?! Im all set on that, ill figure something out. For what they do, i cant justify spending that. Ive heard of cottonballs working, i think ill just try them unless someone has a better/reasonably priced idea. Cheers.
Click to expand...
You know you an reuse them..
cheap is not they way to go for good nug
 
Countyboy88

Countyboy88

Member
I can swing the money. Im just saying. Given what they do, i dont see how it could be that much of an advantage to have them when i already have cotton balls kicking around the house and they fit nicely. I understand spending money on soil and nutes and stuff but, neoprene? Feel free to let me know if im missing something here, but, its only role is to hold them in place for like 2 weeks maybe until i plant the clones in dirt, right? Its not like they actually get something from them. Ive heard of people cutting up a yoga mat also, i think that material would work nicely and i saw them on sale recently. might try that.

My main concern is the air flow from the stones. How do i tell whe i have enough bubbles, and how far down in do i want to stick my clones? Do i want the stems submerged an inch or so, or do i want them suspended, and just getting splashed on by bubbles? This is prob. A stupid question, but hey, this is all very new to me. Thanks for looking everybody!
 
Countyboy88

Countyboy88

Member
Btw, this whole rig cost me about $35 to put together... Its silly to spend top dollar for one when they are this easy to put together.
 
nitro harley

nitro harley

Well-Known Member
Countyboy88 said:
Btw, this whole rig cost me about $35 to put together... Its silly to spend top dollar for one when they are this easy to put together.
Click to expand...
Hello....

You might be over doing it.....That is a lot of holes, the lid might get kinda heavy and sag down and mess up your water level...and I don't think there is enough bubbles from that little fish pump running two air stones.......

smaller air stones might create more bubbles maybe......I use 5 gallon buckets with a water pump splashing water around.....I can only grow 6 plants over 12 inches tall so one bucket with 8 holes is all I clone at a time....I used to do two buckets but I cut back to one because of the success rate is near 100%.....

If you click on my link at the bottom of my post and go to page 6 I have a little bit of info on my bucket cloner....My cost to build a bucket cloner is less than 35 dollars, and that includes the pump.........nitro..
 
superstoner1

superstoner1

Well-Known Member
No on the cotton,it will get wet and cause stem rot. No on nutes, plants don't get nutes until veg cycle and they have roots, no roots=no nutes. neoprene collars are the cheapest and easiest way to go, it cost me 14¢ per plant for collar and net pot.
 
firsttimeARE

firsttimeARE

Well-Known Member
I just built one for under 30 with pump. Just an 8 site. But it wouldnt be much more for more sites as the pricey part was the pump and container.

Works great. Ive been running 24/7 but i hear a timer 1 on 4 off helps minimize stem rot. Some day it doesnt though so not sure if i should be in the market for a timer.

Whats a good feed for newly rooted clones? Been using .7 ec but feel that may be too much. The plant is takibf 1.4 ec beginning of flower.
 
Countyboy88

Countyboy88

Member
Awesome, thanks a bunch. So stem rot with cotton. I knew i was missing something. I think ill chop up a yoga mat then. And yeah, im gonna get a bigger pump. Im gonna try keeping these 2 air stones. Ill hook up the corrent pump to just 1 air stone so it bubbles better, and then get another bigger pump and split it between my other stone in here, and a compost tea bucket. I figure this will be good because if one pump craps out, ill at least have the other one halfway holding me over. Thanks a bunch, very useful info. Im waiting on some seeds and will be getting started in a couple weeks, once i get some clones going well, ill throw some more pics up and maybe keep this thread going a while.

Just one question remains: do i want my stems down in the water getting air bubbled up to them, or do i want them suspended in air just above the water with bubbles splashing on them?

Thanks again all!
 
Countyboy88

Countyboy88

Member
Ohhh, my bad. Stoner moment haha! I thought you meant it was in one of the above posts...reread everything like 3 times haha. Thanks!
 
ArCaned

ArCaned

Active Member
From the first photos I think:

The holes are too close together on the lid, 4x5 would have been better, if you really need to be able to do those 10 extra clones just make a second bubbler.

Lack of air pressure to those 2 airstones. Most airstones are vastly more effecive at increasing disolved oxygen levels when they are run at their max psi, yours appear to be running nearer if not below minimum.



And to answer your questions, i'd use any plastic or foam collars for the clones and yes you want the bottom node on the stem (the one you covered in rooting gel/powder) in the water...
 
Countyboy88

Countyboy88

Member
Cool thanks. I hardly ever will need to do 30, just figured i may as well have the option. Normally, ill be doing 5-10, and will have them spaced out and the other holes covered. But, i wont be keeping them in there for long, just enough to get some roots, and then into the soil they go. Cant wait for my beans to get here! I scored the attitude feb. promo and ordered a few different strains, between that and the extras from them, ill be stylin'. Probably most excited for DNA's chocolope. And yeah, im def. thinking lack of pressure too. Should have gotten a bigger pump, but oh well, first time. Ill be getting another soon. Itll be good to have 2 anyways on the chance that one ever goes out. Any specifics you would recommend? My bucket is 5 gal so i got a pump for a 5-15 gal. Fish tank...think my next one ill get like a 30 gal just to be safe haha. Thanks again! Im very impressed with this forum so far and your willingness to help a noob (to hydro anyways) such as myself. Now, i use clonex gel usually. Ive heard of some people dipping in it (what i usually do for soil clones) and some people just put some of it in the water...thoughts?
 
superstoner1

superstoner1

Well-Known Member
Never too big on air pump. Nothing but tap water in cloner and only lost one out of thousands due to a sprayer aiming wrong.
 
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