First time growing in 10 years, tell me what you think of my setup

BlasphemyFloyd said:

Your system is beautiful but has one major flaw, which is causing your problem with slime in the root system. Your buckets! I noticed it back in page 5 when you where showing your root, your buckets should be solid black, but I noticed yours are green (and kind of sheer) you can see light bouncing off your reflective film THROUGH the bucket. :

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I love those buckets (I have a thing for the color green) but they have to go! Switch them out for some solid black ones. If you cant find any around just double up your buckets (let one bucket nest into the other one). I think thats why you are getting slime. I found that heat was never the cause of slime, but once you do get slime heat does nothing but help the bacteria spread and propagate quickly. Your heat should be fine. No light to the water = clean fresh water all the time
I hope this helps you man.

Ps. You look handy, I suggest you try to build an aeroponic cloner system (works wonders!).

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I appreciate everyone's feedback on the green buckets but I have a really hard time believing the guys who made the system overlooked such a major flaw. I know it looks like a lot of light gets into the buckets from the pics but that is without the black mesh top on the buckets. I saw a significant decrease in light when I held the mesh top over the bucket, but it is really tough to tell exactly how much light is getting when I snap the tops on the buckets.

I think my algae problem's root cause is the Pam cooking spray that I used to lubricate the fittings when I setup the system. I don't think I cleaned the system well enough and had significant foam and nasty smell during my first week until I cleaned everything out. Things have gotten better and then worse from then and now are finally getting better again.

I am going to email Humco, the manufacturers of my hydro system, and ask them about the green buckets.

Thanks everyone!

Sorry to hear bout ya slime problem.. But besides that , the plants look great!! Exactly how tall are they now??

Sims da smoker (Qboro) said:

Sorry to hear bout ya slime problem.. But besides that , the plants look great!! Exactly how tall are they now??

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Thanks bro, it was something I was worrying about but actually seeing the slime in my buckets broke my heart. I didn't think I would be able to save them but I think I am ok now. Beneficial bacteria is a must for deep water culture, I know that now.

The plants are 11-14 inches now and are now growing about an inch a day. Growth, and water consumption, really picked up when I added the bennies.

BlasphemyFloyd said:

Your system is beautiful but has one major flaw, which is causing your problem with slime in the root system. Your buckets! I noticed it back in page 5 when you where showing your root, your buckets should be solid black, but I noticed yours are green (and kind of sheer) you can see light bouncing off your reflective film THROUGH the bucket. :

View attachment 2117282

I love those buckets (I have a thing for the color green) but they have to go! Switch them out for some solid black ones. If you cant find any around just double up your buckets (let one bucket nest into the other one). I think thats why you are getting slime. I found that heat was never the cause of slime, but once you do get slime heat does nothing but help the bacteria spread and propagate quickly. Your heat should be fine. No light to the water = clean fresh water all the time
I hope this helps you man.

Ps. You look handy, I suggest you try to build an aeroponic cloner system (works wonders!).

Click to expand...

I spoke to the manufacturer and they said they have never had any issues with slime so I don't think my buckets are to blame.

Sorry to hear about your slime problems. Hope you get things all worked out. Plants look healthy though.

hey hydro-farm 760cfm 8 inch fans are only 117 new with free shipping on amazon right now. at the store they are about 170-185 new.

when i shop i like eBay, craigslist and amazon. lol. cheaper goods if u know what to look for. i only go to shops for the smaller easier and cheaper stuff like coco plugs and nutes. basically anything that touches the plant i go to the store for anything else is bargain shopping. lol.

wheels619 said:

hey hydro-farm 760cfm 8 inch fans are only 117 new with free shipping on amazon right now. at the store they are about 170-185 new.

when i shop i like eBay, craigslist and amazon. lol. cheaper goods if u know what to look for. i only go to shops for the smaller easier and cheaper stuff like coco plugs and nutes. basically anything that touches the plant i go to the store for anything else is bargain shopping. lol.

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Are the hydro farm fans quiet?

berkman858 said:

Are the hydro farm fans quiet?

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not really. not many are when u up to an 8 inch. but duct silencers work pretty well.

If you can SEE light THROUGH your buckets, you are feeding the bacteria light. Plain and simple, and of course the manufacturer of your hydro system would deny liability. Trust me man, you can continue to fight the bacteria all you want, but that bacteria has only one goal in mind, propagating and living.

I have been growing DWC among other systems, seen it all before. Just trying to help you cure your problem, not put a bandage on it

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You see your main res bucket (one front and center), you can see the light seeping through the plastic walls of your bucket. Another thing, you have your lid open allowing more light into your water system, which is a bad thing. Rig up a light tight hole or something on the lid of that bucket so you can just "plug" your feeder hose in without letting light get into your water system. ANY light to your water is a bad thing, not just because of bacteria, but also slows down root development and invites root eating parasites to your root system.

BlasphemyFloyd said:

If you can SEE light THROUGH your buckets, you are feeding the bacteria light. Plain and simple, and of course the manufacturer of your hydro system would deny liability. Trust me man, you can continue to fight the bacteria all you want, but that bacteria has only one goal in mind, propagating and living.

I have been growing DWC among other systems, seen it all before. Just trying to help you cure your problem, not put a bandage on it

. View attachment 2121861


You see your main res bucket (one front and center), you can see the light seeping through the plastic walls of your bucket. Another thing, you have your lid open allowing more light into your water system, which is a bad thing. Rig up a light tight hole or something on the lid of that bucket so you can just "plug" your feeder hose in without letting light get into your water system. ANY light to your water is a bad thing, not just because of bacteria, but also slows down root development and invites root eating parasites to your root system.

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First off, thank you for your interest and I do not mean to offend you in any way, but I think you may be blowing this issue out of proportion. I went to my hydro store and asked them what they thought, since they are running the same system just in an 8 bucket setup, and they said "No way!"

Secondly, that pic is old and I have since cut a tab in the lid so I can latch it down and I put a dark towel over the area just for added security. I do NOT think that the buckets or my plumbing is to blame.


I was also told that the Pam cooking spray that I used to lubricate the fittings when assembling is probably not to blame for this. I have been doing a great deal of research on the "slime" issue and it just happens sometimes, I blame the nature of DWC for the easy breeding ground for bacteria. I have been reading Heisenberg's thread on making the tea and I started brewing my first tea 3 hours ago and will be using it consistently from now on. Orca has been kicking the slime's ass for the last week but I want to bring out the big guns!

Again, I really appreciate your interest in my green buckets but they are gonna stay green unless the slime comes back even with the tea, which I think is impossible.

+Rep again to Heisenberg - check his tea here - https://www.rollitup.org/dwc-bubbleponics/361430-dwc-root-slime-cure-aka.html

wheels619 said:

not really. not many are when u up to an 8 inch. but duct silencers work pretty well.

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Yeah I am gonna get insulated ducting next weekend, 30% off of everything at San Diego Hydro next weekend. They are the best!!!!!!

I am also planning on getting a whole shit ton of other goodies so stand by for a major upgrade to my tent.

berkman858 said:

Yeah I am gonna get insulated ducting next weekend, 30% off of everything at San Diego Hydro next weekend. They are the best!!!!!!

I am also planning on getting a whole shit ton of other goodies so stand by for a major upgrade to my tent.

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hell yeah. upgrades are always nice. shippin info is in most of my new goodies should be here about the 20th. new 8 inch hydrofarm fan, n new 400 galaxy ballast, bulb and hood. gotta get 6 inch to 8 inch duct ex pander and a nice 1 into 2 spliter. using the 8 inch to cool my tent and hood with the splitter and using the 6 inch i already have for an intake fan.

berkman858 said:

Thanks bro, it was something I was worrying about but actually seeing the slime in my buckets broke my heart. I didn't think I would be able to save them but I think I am ok now. Beneficial bacteria is a must for deep water culture, I know that now.

The plants are 11-14 inches now and are now growing about an inch a day. Growth, and water consumption, really picked up when I added the bennies.

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Cool.. 11-14 inches.. So how tall do u think ur plants will get?? What do you expect to yield per plant?? I'm asking because my plants are growing by the day as well & I kno growing conditions play a huge factor in this ( u use 100 watt/dwc & I use 400 watt/soil) but I was wondering if I should be flipping my plants to 12/12

Sims da smoker (Qboro) said:

Cool.. 11-14 inches.. So how tall do u think ur plants will get?? What do you expect to yield per plant?? I'm asking because my plants are growing by the day as well & I kno growing conditions play a huge factor in this ( u use 100 watt/dwc & I use 400 watt/soil) but I was wondering if I should be flipping my plants to 12/12

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flower whenever u feel comfortable. just remember that an indica will double in size and a sativa will triple in size once they are done stretching in flower.

Sims da smoker (Qboro) said:

Cool.. 11-14 inches.. So how tall do u think ur plants will get?? What do you expect to yield per plant?? I'm asking because my plants are growing by the day as well & I kno growing conditions play a huge factor in this ( u use 100 watt/dwc & I use 400 watt/soil) but I was wondering if I should be flipping my plants to 12/12

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Like Wheels said, flower when you want but I would wait until they around 12 inches tall, that way you can get a decent yield off of each plant. Of course if you were doing SOG or SCROG it would be different but you are just doing a regular grow so I would think 12 inches is a good height to flip to 12/12 but those are just my two cents. It also depends on how high you can get your light, you don't want the girls to get sunburned.

I plan on pulling about 3/4 - 1 pound of dried flowers total so that averages out to 3-4 ounces per plant. This is just a guess because this is the first time I am growing with this setup but I am adding CO2 next weekend so that should boost my yield greatly.

Oh and I also went and bought the H&G Amino Treatment and Magic Green. I am now running the entire H&G lineup and my res looks like someone dropped a liquid dookie in there. I used to be able to see to the bottom of the res, NO MORE.

P.S. - I heard that Bud XL is blue and makes your res look weird as fuck, I can't wait to try that and the Shooting Powder out.

wheels619 said:

hell yeah. upgrades are always nice. shippin info is in most of my new goodies should be here about the 20th. new 8 inch hydrofarm fan, n new 400 galaxy ballast, bulb and hood. gotta get 6 inch to 8 inch duct ex pander and a nice 1 into 2 spliter. using the 8 inch to cool my tent and hood with the splitter and using the 6 inch i already have for an intake fan.

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Nice, I am currently running 1 fan, next weekend I should have 3 or 4 fans cuz I am going all out. I am taking your advice and am gonna get an 8" for my light and just run a closed system for that. 1 fan for intake, 1 for exhaust, and 1 on top of the carbon filter for air scrubbing. Also getting insulated ducting to make it a little quieter, I hear they are better than fan mufflers.

yeah. duct silencers work but in all honesty if u have enough ducting coming off of it u shouldnt hear anything. even just the fan blowing without ducting u shouldnt be able to hear it in the house from the garage at all. sorry about lunch this weekend i totally spaced on it. just realizes it was sunday.

as for the yield. dont count ur chickens before they hatch. i had 5 3 ft tall plants last harvest and only pulled a half a p. was really great personal smoke. but was a bit disappointed in the yield. the second harvest of these 5 strains will be more becuz ive figured out all the tricks for these strains. dont start guessing until u have grown the strains out once or twice to get a ballpark. cuz u will probably be way off ur mark. with the first grow everyone comes up short.

wheels619 said:

yeah. duct silencers work but in all honesty if u have enough ducting coming off of it u shouldnt hear anything. even just the fan blowing without ducting u shouldnt be able to hear it in the house from the garage at all. sorry about lunch this weekend i totally spaced on it. just realizes it was sunday.

as for the yield. dont count ur chickens before they hatch. i had 5 3 ft tall plants last harvest and only pulled a half a p. was really great personal smoke. but was a bit disappointed in the yield. the second harvest of these 5 strains will be more becuz ive figured out all the tricks for these strains. dont start guessing until u have grown the strains out once or twice to get a ballpark. cuz u will probably be way off ur mark. with the first grow everyone comes up short.

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Very good advice, but I was really thinking my plants would have been dead by now but that's the pessimist in me. I may be overestimating the yield but my growing partner grew 3 plants of this exact strain and burned the holy hell out of them and still pulled a 1/2 lb with a 600 watt light in an ebb and flow setup. I am thinking my yield will be higher and I am going off of his last harvest to estimate my future harvest. I could be totally wrong but I am already leaning towards to lower end of what I think my setup can product once I get it dialed in.

Also, CO2 next weekend so that will definitely give my yield a little boost.

No worries about lunch, we will get together one of these days when our schedules coincide.

berkman858 said:

Like Wheels said, flower when you want but I would wait until they around 12 inches tall, that way you can get a decent yield off of each plant. Of course if you were doing SOG or SCROG it would be different but you are just doing a regular grow so I would think 12 inches is a good height to flip to 12/12 but those are just my two cents. It also depends on how high you can get your light, you don't want the girls to get sunburned.I plan on pulling about 3/4 - 1 pound of dried flowers total so that averages out to 3-4 ounces per plant. This is just a guess because this is the first time I am growing with this setup but I am adding CO2 next weekend so that should boost my yield greatly.Oh and I also went and bought the H&G Amino Treatment and Magic Green. I am now running the entire H&G lineup and my res looks like someone dropped a liquid dookie in there. I used to be able to see to the bottom of the res, NO MORE. P.S. - I heard that Bud XL is blue and makes your res look weird as fuck, I can't wait to try that and the Shooting Powder out.

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Lol, when said u bought the h&G line & it made ur res look like dookie I thought u were gonna say never again u would use it.. Instead u say the exact opposite, u wanna try something that will turn it blue. Lol, I guess.. All the hydro talk is still a little above my head, the only hydro experience I've had is an aerogarden smh. & I'm not sure if that's even technically hydroponic. I'm still a little confused between aero/hydro & dwc.. It all pretty much seems like the same thing to me.. But then again , I am a noob lol, & really 2-3 oz of each plant ?? But there only like 11 inches u said. If that's the case for my goal of harvesting 1 oz per plant , I should have began flowering a while ago.. What else confuses me is how ppl go 12/12 from seed & end up with 1-2 oz.. That should mean with any veg time at all someone should be getting atleast an oz.. But I'm just rambling now.. Ur girls are lookin real pretty btw.. I kinda forgot this is UR thread in the midst of all my questions lol, but good luck.. I hope u get ur 3/4 pound.. U should tho , like I said b4.. U kno ur shit berkman

Sims da smoker (Qboro) said:

Lol, when said u bought the h&G line & it made ur res look like dookie I thought u were gonna say never again u would use it.. Instead u say the exact opposite, u wanna try something that will turn it blue. Lol, I guess.. All the hydro talk is still a little above my head, the only hydro experience I've had is an aerogarden smh. & I'm not sure if that's even technically hydroponic. I'm still a little confused between aero/hydro & dwc.. It all pretty much seems like the same thing to me.. But then again , I am a noob lol, & really 2-3 oz of each plant ?? But there only like 11 inches u said. If that's the case for my goal of harvesting 1 oz per plant , I should have began flowering a while ago.. What else confuses me is how ppl go 12/12 from seed & end up with 1-2 oz.. That should mean with any veg time at all someone should be getting atleast an oz.. But I'm just rambling now.. Ur girls are lookin real pretty btw.. I kinda forgot this is UR thread in the midst of all my questions lol, but good luck.. I hope u get ur 3/4 pound.. U should tho , like I said b4.. U kno ur shit berkman

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My estimation of 2-3 ounces per plant may be way off but you have to remember that the system I am growing in is all about speed and yield. The only reason my girls aren't a foot and a half tall by now is because I burnt the fuck out of them and them the slime came and blew loads all over my roots. Those two things stunted their growth so I am actually way behind where I should be. It's ok because I didn't expect them to make it this long and I will recover any lost time when I add CO2 next weekend.

You are growing in soil and that is not going to give you super crazy speeds or yields but should provide a beautiful taste if you do it right. Remember, it's not appropriate to compare two very dissimilar systems and expect similar yields. Yeah you can pull an ounce off each of your plants, IF you don't fuck it up! JK, but for real don't be so concentrated on per plant yield until you are a more advanced grower. I am really unconcerned with my per plant yield, I was just guessing cuz you asked.

Again, I am happy my girls are still alive. Every time I open the tent and see them alive it makes my balls glow green, is that normal?!?