hey all. Getting some upgrades for my current grow setup but I have a pretty nubile set of questions. Using 5gal air pots of coco/ perlite in Auto draining runoff trays. If I take a container and put a pump inside of it and use a timer to turn it on and feed my plants, I know I have to have a bubbler or something in the reservoir container to keep it oxygenated right? That means the container can’t be entirely sealed then cuz the air has to go somewhere right? And lastly, wouldn’t the PH constantly change? I know Zelda Horticulture makes that Auto PH bobber but I may hold of on that and just use my current Ph balancers. Also, with an oxygenated reservoir, how often should one check the PH? Sorry for all the questions.
Yes, you need an airstone for your res. No, it isn't air tight (gotta cut a hole for your power cables anyhow). Yes, the ph will always be on the rise. How often you check and adjust depends on your nutrients, starting water, and how familiar you are with the swing in your tank. The bigger the tank, the slower the ph will rise, in my experience. I now have a 38 gallon tank that I ph to 5.5 when it's completely full and it won't go above 6.3 before I'm running low and gotta top off a few days later. If you're in a small tank topping off more regularly, your ph will swing much faster and you might have to adjust it every day. Until you know how it reacts to ph control products and all that, I'd check twice a day at least. Once you feel confident you understand the timing of it, you can go longer. I still check mine at least once a day though. Only takes a couple seconds. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Thanks! I also read that the reservoir should be between 62-68*F... sometimes the room gets into the low 80s. Should I be concerned? I only plan on running a 15 gallon reservoir for 6 plants. Right now they only drink about 2 gallons a day total. So about once a week the reservoir would be refilled with fresh fluid.
I use a chiller. If your liquid is getting into the 80s it MIGHT cause issues. Just monitor it and see how high it gets. How far along are you? Your plants will probably start wanting more soon. I was feeding twice a day until shortly after the switch. Now I'm up to six times a day and over 12 gallons per day between three plants in three gal pots. You might regret the 15 gallon tank soon. That's exactly what I had at first and quickly realized I couldn't keep up trying to top off every single day. I'd go with 30 gal, at least, for six plants in five gallon pots. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Fair enough I will heed your warnings lol. How about a 30 gal cooler? With an exterior circulating chiller and a bubbler? Should be enough to suffice?
I use a rigid plastic tote. If you go that route, make sure the sides are sturdy enough to hold 30 gallons without too much bulge. If the plastic feels soft, it won't work. Chiller might not be necessary, but it's pretty awesome if you ask me. In my 38 gallon tank I have a four outlet air pump to four airstones and I have three little 50gph submersible pumps that I use as stirrers. They were only like $8 each on Amazon. They double as cat hair filters, lol. It accumulates on the intakes of my stirring pumps. I also use grommets for my tube holes and push coupler fittings through them so I can independently disconnect inside or outside tubes. I tend to do overkill though, so all the stirring pumps and 4x airstones probably aren't necessary. I'd get at least one though. Good luck! Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
LMFAO! I know exactly what you mean by cat hairs getting everywhere. We have 3 of the little hairy fuckers and every time I go out to the tent, there’s a hair on someone’s top lol. I’m a stickler about contamination in the room so it’s equally humorous as it is eye opening to just how easy contamination can happen. I do, however think people also take it too far in some instances too. None the less thanks for the advice! I think I’m going to go with the cooler ($50 on Amazon!) that way it opens and closes easily as well as offer insulation for keeping temps low. Rather than buying hydro halos I’m going to attempt to make my own by looping back to a T fitting and using thumb tack holes in the hose. Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought I read once that colder feedings help with terpene development and also bring out any natural purples of the phenotype if it has that. Then again half of what I read when first learning all this was misconstrued to begin with lol. That’s why I love this forum! Thanks again bro!
No problem I don't know about all that with the terpenes n stuff. I'm still learning as well. What I do know is the cooler temps improve the water's ability to hold onto dissolved oxygen, which roots love, and it also keeps away the bad bugs and makes my res smell much cleaner. Gives me peace of mind. My chiller kicks on at 69 and cools to 64, so generally between 65-68 F. Keep in mind that some of the heat comes from your air and circulating pumps...so using a cooler won't help in that regard. It will absolutely help in the summer though, if ambient temps are high. Good idea! Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Only thing that might cause you trouble is putting clean, large holes in that cooler. Plastic can be a bitch to deal with and you've got two layers, and probably pretty thick, to deal with. Here's a trick for using a hole saw for your power cable hole: run the hole saw in reverse. It kinda rubs/melts a hole in it instead of cutting. Running them forward in plastic is trouble...tends to bind up, get stuck, and leave nasty burs. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Another thing with this is bore out half way from one side then go in from the other side and finish in reverse. Leaves a much cleaner cut. As far as res size..... dyers has it spot on. I had a 30g res for 13g of cocoerlite. 3, 3g. 4, 1g. In flower I was watering 4x per day 60 seconds intervals. My 30g res would last about 6 days before the sub pump started straining for liquid lol. I bought my 30g tote from the one and only dollar general Sent from my SM-G892A using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Surprised you get six days! I probably could get four at best. I actually really enjoy the res. It bubbles and fizzles so sweetly. Very calming, lol. I was pretty excited taking home this beast of an air pump It just cranks out bubbles like crazy. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk