Can someone check my coco Drain To Waste $$ Math?

Discussion in 'Coco Coir' started by pequnio3, Sep 3, 2020.

  1. Hi!
    I'm new to hydroponics and putting together a system on my porch to grow some tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, herbs and weed.

    I've started out with a deep water culture and am now trying to move towards a drip system. I'm intrigued by drain to waste and coco coir because it seems like its much more controllable than a recirculating system. However I'm trying to understand the reservoir size, and nutrients needed for my grow and what cost that might come out to be.

    I detail below the parts of the system. I make some assumptions. The biggest one being how I calculate my required reservoir size and feeding cycle. Can someone give me feedback on the assumptions below (specifically the feeding section)?

    My theoretical setup:

    Goal: Drain to Waste Drip system for 4 tomato plants

    Container: 5 gallon bucket
    Medium: 5 gallons coco coir/perlite (75/25) mix
    Nutrients:
    Feeding schedule comes from: https://gh.growgh.com/docs/Feedcharts/GH_FloraSeries-DTW_03216am.pdf
    Flora Micro:
    Cost: $20/gallon (some deals online)
    Cost per ml: $20/ (3785.41 gallon/ml) = 0.00528
    Avg Feeding: (2+4+5+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+2.5)/11 = average 3.8 ml/gal
    Flora Gro:
    Cost: $20/gallon (some deals online)
    Cost per ml: $20/ (3785.41 gallon/ml) = 0.00528
    Avg Feeding: (1+5+5+4+1+1+1+1+0+0+0)/11 = average 1.7 ml/gal
    Flora Bloom:
    Cost: $20/gallon (some deals online)
    Cost per ml: $20/ (3785.41 gallon/ml) = 0.00528
    Avg Feeding: (1+1+2.5+4+5+5+6+6+8+8)/11 = average 4.2 ml/gal
    CaliMAGic:
    Cost: $30/gallon
    Cost per ml: $30/ (3785.41 gallon/ml) = 0.008
    Avg Feeding: (0+1.5+2.5+2.5+2.5+2.5+2.5+2.5+2.5+2.5+0)/11 = average 2 ml/gal
    Armor Si:
    Cost: $30/gallon
    Cost per ml: $30/ (3785.41 gallon/ml) = 0.008
    Avg Feeding: (0+0.5+1+1.5+1.5+1.5+1.5+1.5+1.5+1+0.5+0)/11 = average 1 ml/gal​

    Nutrient Change Cycle:
    Empty reservoir each week and replace with next weeks nutrients
    Hydro Method: Drip Irrigation
    Drain To Waste: Yes
    Feeding:
    3 feeding per plant a day
    run off 1 quart per feeding (quart estimate from (Watering Coco - How to Water Cannabis Plants in Coco Coir - Coco For Cannabis))
    Total nutrients used per day = (4 plants) * (0.75 gallons per plant) = 3 gallons a day
    Resevoir Size Per Week = 7 days * 2 gallons a day = 21 gallons​
    Resevoir Cost
    ml per gallon: 0.000264172
    Flora Micro: 21 gallons * 3.8 ml/gallon * $0.00528/ml = $0.42
    Flora Gro: 21 gallons * 1.7 ml/gallon * $0.00528/ml = $0.19
    Flora Bloom: 21 gallons * 4.2 ml/gallon * $0.00528/ml = $0.46
    CaliMAGic: 21 gallons * 2 ml/gallon * $0.008/ml = $0.34
    Armor Si: 21 gallons * 1 ml/gallon * $0.008/ml = $0.17
    Total Cost/Week = $1.58​
    Cost/Grow Cycle (11 weeks) = $17.38
     
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  2. How did this work out for you ?
    I'm running a similar set up with 4 gal containers.

    Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
     
  3. It costs me 60 bucks a yr in micro and bloom to run drain to waste but I can do 6 weed grows. Compared to buying it nutes are irrelevant and just go by my electric bill which is still cheaper than the dispensary hands down.
     

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