Best hydro setup for autos?

Saint Skinny

Active Member
Hey all!
I got some Autoflowers started, and am considering trying out a different hydroponic system. I've only ever grown in DWC as far as Hydro. I was wondering if auto flowers preferred or did better in any particular Hydro setup? I'm trying to decide between:
:leaf:Ebb and Flow
:leaf:Nutrient Film Technique
:leaf:drip system
:leaf:any other ideas are welcome!

The strains I have started:
:leaf:Advanced Seeds Biodiesel Mass x3
:leaf:Heavyweight seeds Fast and Vast x2
:leaf:World of Seeds Auto Blueberry
:leaf:Midweek Song Amnesia x Pink Diesel
As of yesterday the blueberry or AxPD have not sprouted
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
DWC is about the cheapest and easiest and does as well or better than any other hydro method.

Nothing wrong with trying other ways if you're into experimenting tho. If you still got the gear you could just do what you already know and chances are you'll do a better job from the start.

I spent the first ten years of the last 15 experimenting with all sorts of ways but now stick to DWC or soilless and often do both up as SroGs. Planning to do some SoG real soon. :)

:peace:
 

Saint Skinny

Active Member
IMG_0919.JPG I'm running one in DWC, but I finally got a digital timer so I thought I would try something new. I've got the gear to build The systems I've mentioned, but only one H2O pump, not a very big one either
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
What's the H2O pump for? Don't need that for DWC. I don't like digital timers. Power goes out too often here and it's a pain resetting them.

:peace:
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
Took a look at that pic of yours. Lot of light leaking in through that huge net pot. Never liked those big pots. I use tubs and just rent a hole saw to cut holes for 3.5" or 5" pots. Also let my clones or seedlings get a few inches tall before putting in DWC too.

Two freshly cropped tubs.

Tubs01.jpg

:peace:
 

Saint Skinny

Active Member
What's the H2O pump for? Don't need that for DWC. I don't like digital timers. Power goes out too often here and it's a pain resetting them.

:peace:
the H2O pump is for the Ebb n flow, drip, or whatever system I end up building. My Digital Timer has backup batteries to keep your settings so that's not a problem. I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and it effed my shoulders/back/self up so I was using the h2o pump to transfer nutrient solutions to and from DWC reservoirs, but I can use a hand pump/siphon since I'm only running one DWC right meow
 

Saint Skinny

Active Member
Took a look at that pic of yours. Lot of light leaking in through that huge net pot. Never liked those big pots. I use tubs and just rent a hole saw to cut holes for 3.5" or 5" pots. Also let my clones or seedlings get a few inches tall before putting in DWC too.

Two freshly cropped tubs.

View attachment 3807218

:peace:
Good call, I'll have to throw some more rocks on the outside edge. I used to grow in the 3 inch and 3 1/2 inch net pots, but I had a couple issues with my plants falling over when they got to be about 5 1/2-6 foot.

I usually would let em get bigger but this is my first Autoflower grow and I know you want to give them The best start that you can. I wanted to put the plug just above the water line so it would stay moist, looking back, if I would've waited until it was a little bit bigger I could have still done that, but I would have been able to fill it all the way up with rocks. I can't believe I overlooked that, I've had alot more stress going on lately... but she shouldn't have to suffer dammit lol

Lesson learned, using the 135w LED I honestly thought that it would stretch more than it has. That was the main reason I left the space empty in the first place, I figured it would stretch a bit and I would be able to put in more rocks to hold it further up on the stem.
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
Sorry to hear about the EDS. Did a quick search and it sounds pretty nasty. Does it keep getting worse as you age? Use any holistic/natural remedies to help?

Wife had scoliosis and has Herrington rods in her back. Fetal alcohol syndrome too tho her mind is fine. I had rhuematic fever around 12 and my joints are all f'ed up. The imported doctors here are useless and keep trying to throw more NSAIDs at me that do nothing but rot my guts out. Cut me off Demerol that I used at 30 tabs/4 months for a few years but with all the opiod problems now are forced by the medical college to cut people off. Suggested Cymbalta. LOL

I've grown huge plants in the tiny net pots too and either have to rig support for them or let them lean against the wall. :)

Rather than use rocks to block the light you could rig a cone of tinfoil, shiny side out, to place around the plant if the reflected light wouldn't be too much for the little girl. I tried DWC in 5gal pails once but when they get big the water level goes down so fast the ppm and pH bounce around and the plant gets stressed all to hell. If a guy could rig an auto level system to keep it topped up it would be a lot better. I've seen DIY tricks but have no clue where to find them again. On another forum far, far way. :)

:peace:
 

Saint Skinny

Active Member
Sorry to hear about the EDS. Did a quick search and it sounds pretty nasty. Does it keep getting worse as you age? Use any holistic/natural remedies to help?

Wife had scoliosis and has Herrington rods in her back. Fetal alcohol syndrome too tho her mind is fine. I had rhuematic fever around 12 and my joints are all f'ed up. The imported doctors here are useless and keep trying to throw more NSAIDs at me that do nothing but rot my guts out. Cut me off Demerol that I used at 30 tabs/4 months for a few years but with all the opiod problems now are forced by the medical college to cut people off. Suggested Cymbalta. LOL

I've grown huge plants in the tiny net pots too and either have to rig support for them or let them lean against the wall. :)

Rather than use rocks to block the light you could rig a cone of tinfoil, shiny side out, to place around the plant if the reflected light wouldn't be too much for the little girl. I tried DWC in 5gal pails once but when they get big the water level goes down so fast the ppm and pH bounce around and the plant gets stressed all to hell. If a guy could rig an auto level system to keep it topped up it would be a lot better. I've seen DIY tricks but have no clue where to find them again. On another forum far, far way. :)

:peace:
Yeah as I get older it gets worse... My shoulders literally pop in and out of socket all day. Basically my tendons are like dollar store rubber bands that have been over stretched, so they aren't short enough to keep em in check.

I had some pain when I (my body) was still growing but they thought it was growing pains until the dent in my sternum (Pectus Excavatum) got more noticeable around 8th grade and kept getting more pronounced as I got older. I can eat cheerios from it though so I guess that's a plus lol

Don't even get me started on the imported doctors. I spent years getting tossed from one office to another, this specialist to that. I ended up buying opiates from people so I could get through work, it was looking like it was that or a dirt nap. I spent a few years buying/selling meds so I could get some for free but I didn't want to live the rest of my life selling pills to addicts, so I started at the methadone clinic, I'm sure it saved my life. Been clean for almost 5 years. After that I got my card and started growing.

I found a great PCP that knew about EDS who im seeing now... I love this guy, he actually gives a shit, and he has a game plan which is more than I got before

I put some extra rocks on the outside to help with light leaking, I may do that with panda film though. I've always wanted to set up some sort of top off mech but haven't had the time or money
 

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
Amazing results from changing the water you drink, grounding to the earth while facing the sun every morning,

See YT videos by Dr Jack Kruse, and I recommend you get one of these ASAP www.pythagoras432.com

For hydro I much prefer F & D. It is much easier to maintain, flush, clean... than DWC

This set up produces ~ 400gms from one plant that occupied 30 x 30

IMG_3395.JPG IMG_3488.JPG IMG_3590.JPG
 
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Saint Skinny

Active Member
Amazing results from changing the water you drink, grounding to the earth while facing the sun every morning,

See YT videos by Dr Jack Kruse, and I recommend you get one of these ASAP www.pythagoras432.com

For hydro I much prefer F & D. It is much easier to maintain, flush, clean... than DWC

This set up produces ~ 400gms from one plant that occupied 30 x 30

View attachment 3807967 View attachment 3807968 View attachment 3807971
What are those balls you used to make the support? I've never seen those before, they look pretty cool. I imagine you could do tons of different things with those if you had enough
 

Saint Skinny

Active Member
Amazing results from changing the water you drink, grounding to the earth while facing the sun every morning,
Grounding the PLANTS to earth, or sticking MY feet in a hole filled with earth during my morning coffee? Lol

That harmonic massager looks interesting but it also looks extremely expensive lol
 
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