Rubbermaid question please?

akisgift

Active Member
Ok so I've done a handful of successful soil closet grows, after paying attention to a friends hydro decided I would like to try.. So I took a rubbermaid and made a two basket system I pump about 2gal an hour top feed drip system. I do have an air hose going in to help oxygenate. Right now I am running 18/6 light cycle with the Water going on an hour after lights go on. An going all day till an hour before going off. Is that ok for this system? Also the plants I started with in soil then when I made this change rinsed all soil off gently cleaned roots and put in baskets with hydroton pellets with that scheduel I mentioned. They havnet changed much in 2 days but havnt gotten worse one bit is this normal for this situation?? Any help is so greatly appreciated thank u I'm on my iPod touch or i'd be more specific!!! Thank you fellow green thumbs!!!
 

Shanus

Active Member
No worries in rinsing roots. Ive attacked mine in the past. They will take a bit to recover perhaps, but in a week to 10days, big as hell for sure, these babies are tough. I'm not sure about water ALL day. I dont run a top feed setup, but in my experience, hydroton stays wetter for longer than you would think. My roots get water twice a day as babes, 3x's a day as adults. dunno tho, perhaps your setup differs in that aspect. Just wanted to say your setup sounds about right to me...
 

ow.douglas

Well-Known Member
If they are not looking bad be happy. Once the roots reach the water it is going to turn into what is essentially a DWC system and what goes in thru the top won't matter all that much. Do you have an airstone or something on the end of that air line? If you are making lots of bubbles that will keep the roots wet from the bottom. I have not used a top drip but a bottom spray, there are people here who hand water a few times a day until the roots reach the water and it's OK.
 

zem

Well-Known Member
you have an airhose to help aerate but do you have airstones and a good airpump?? it is a MUST in DWC that water gets plenty of airbubbles and the water temp should be around 19C hot temps cause low dissolved O2 and root rot
 

akisgift

Active Member
ok so i got a good stone to run the length of the bottom of the res, instead of a steady drip from top i made a nice coil of soaker hose around the top and capped the end, it seems to be soaking pretty evenly, also as of now i am using regular doses of foxfarm (all i know) any oppinions are so greatly appreciated, ty very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

ow.douglas

Well-Known Member
I use GH so I can't comment on the FF. Keep a pretty close eye on the water and roots to look for slime, check the ph to make sure it's stable and make sure that you are making lots of bubbles. As you get further into this you will know your system better and the follow up will go down. Good luck!
 
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