Posted this in the hydro section but received no responses so here we are again! Looking to ditch the soil, and more importantly, the pest and switch to a DWC system. Looking to run a simple 4 plant set up. I've watched a few YouTube videos but none of them really give me the info I need. Below is the information I'm looking for. Set up: I plan on building my own system with 5 gallon buckets. Everything I've seen seems pretty simple so I figured there isn't a need to buy one if I can make it for under $30. Please let me know if this is an accurate expectation! Lol My question regarding set up is about the reservoir bucket. I know this is where you would mix nutes in and that's about all I know. What else is it's purpose? Or is that it? Any special equipment going into this bucket that isn't going in others? Nutes: All I know is soil but I'd assume DWC nutes wouldn't be as thick. How does feeding nutes change from soil to DWC? What are some of the best brands for DWC? How does adding root stimulants and other things like that go? Equipment: Here's a list of items I plan on buying and think I need. (5) 5 gallon buckets w/lids 4 for plants/1 for mixing Medium in not sure of yet but prob going to use the Coco Coir or whatever. Read that it's not necessary and you just need something to hold the plant in place. If so, I might just use a nice colored bag of tiny rocks for visual purposes lol. Input greatly appreciated here. (1) Air Pump/Airstones Do these come in various sizes? I'd assume so and what would be a good one to buy for a 5 bucket set up? Also, what's a good size airstone as well? Any info via link or whatever is appreciated. Just trying to educate myself before I dive in to DWC. I'm sure I'm forgetting to mention some things. "It ain't going to grow itself"
I don't want to discourage you from going dwc, but it's not as cheap as you think it will be. If you don't have the cash to buy everything up front then stick to soil and buy everything piece by piece until you have what you need to make a go of it.
Money isn't an issue but from what I've seen I can replicate pretty much everything easily. Most of my questions are just on how the process works and trying to shake my soil habits. It's been slightly difficult finding any real information on DWC that is consistent surprisingly. I still have time though. I'm not starting the DWC system until my seedlings harvest in a few months and I clone those ladies. So for now, I'm just compiling info and educating myself. "It ain't going to grow itself"
ok then, re-read my post and pay attention to the bolded areas inside of the quote, I answered each question in turn
Oh man, I totally missed the bolded answers. Thanks for all the info...and yeah maybe 30 was a dream lol "It ain't going to grow itself"
Dont use coco in the net pot, it holds way too much water, use clay balls. Soil nutes and hydro nutes have different ratios and hydro nutes have some minerals that soil nutes don't have. You must use hydro nutes in hydro, but you aren't limited to soil nutes in soil. You need an air pump that pushes out 1 litre of air for every 2 litres of nutrient solution. To go with your buckets you will either need to cut a hole in the lid to fit the net pot. Or buy those combined net pot lids. These are basically net pots with huge rims that span the top of the bucket. A bit more expensive obviously but good if you are unable to cut a tidy hole in the lids. If you buy single bottle nutes like in Ionic grow and ionic bloom you don't need another bucket to mix in. You just glug some nutes in to the res and test. You will need some PH up, PH down, a PH meter, and an EC or ppm meter if you don't already have them