Ok, I'm about to start my first grow ever with Rumpleforeskins step-by-step guide but I still have a couple questions about how the thing works before I start Yeah I know I can find the answer in some thread somewhere but just bear with me since some of them might be stupid. But first off I need to ask, does waterfarms hydroponic garden work well with mairjuana plants, and would I be safer just using that? 1. Testing the Ph of the rockwool - is it possible to use litmus paper to test the Ph or should I use a chemical indicator? 2. Pump setup - do I need to use a reservoir? If so, how big should it be once the plant has grown enough to put into the system. 3. Initial nutes - When I first put the plant in, what is the nute to water ratio to ensure that I don't over or under do it? And how do the ratio's change as the plant grows? Or does the lucas formula work best and simplest? 4. How can I adjust the amount of water in the bucket? 5. How can I string 2 buckets together, or would I need 2 pumps? 6. What's a good timer for light and/or water (if I even need one)
Most all your questions are answered in the bucket build thread. Some only a few down from the main tutorial. I will help you out and save you from reading other peoples questions and issues with that build. But when you have time, read them all. I will repost my answer to the same question asked on the first page. tolhas I think he is talking about the Waterfarm made by Hydrofarm. It comes with an air pump and everything you need to get started. I started hydro with this system. After my first grow with the Waterfarm, I wanted to make some changes to the unit. I wanted a drain valve to make changing nutrients simple. You can use the sight indicator to drain the tank but it was a pain in my grow to do. Then I noticed the air pump it came with made very little pressure and the bubbles all came up in one spot. I did not want to ruin my store bought unit, so I made my own with the gear that suited my grow and grow style. I ripped-off the sight indicator idea from the waterfarm. I felt more bubbles would be better so I got a good pump that could run 2 stones. After it was said and done, I spent more money making my own unit (like mrtwomuchskill stated above). The pump was 75% of the whole cost. I grew another cycle with my home made job and the waterfarm. I got alot more growth from the 5 gallon bucket then from my waterfarm. I posted the question on Overgrow.com, "why do I get a faster growth rate from the 5-gallon bucket then from the Waterfarm?". Most everybody had the same answer, root space. I felt it had to do with air bubbles but no one agreed with me. The waterfarm has 2.5 gallons of root space and the 5-gallon bucket had almost 5-gallons of space for roots to grow. I tried the waterfarm a few more times before I gave it away. Quote: <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">hey Rumple I added it up and cost about 60 to make you think I would be better off getting the hyfrofarm </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> My answer to this is you might want to think about buying the complet Waterfarm unit. It will cost less then my method and you won't have to build anything. I still feel my unit is better and fits my grow needs more. I posted this to give people ideas and another prespective to DWC growing. Ok, you got me here. This one was not covered. The answer is, I don't know. But if you plan on growing hydro, you will need a PH meter anway (that is covered in the thread). You don't need a reservoir at all. The bubble buckets are fine used as individual units. A reservoir will allow you to keep the buckets full longer without having to add or mix more nutrients. It also makes a nice central maintenance location for adjusting PH, draining and filling multiple buckets hooked in series. Size of your reservoir depends on your space and imagination. No water pump is needed with DWC, it does help filling and draining go faster though. All this has been asked and explained in detail a few times. What ever system you use, go 50% strength veg formula. Details about adding clones or seeds to your buckets are in that thread as well. My design has a "fill hole", use that. Or just add it right through the basket. Connect the buckets together at the drain if you plan on running them in series. Connect one air stone to one pump outlet on your air pump. You might need an air pump for every bucket unless you get a heavy duty pump made for a farm of buckets. You will need a timer for you lamp for sure. Most 24 hour timers will work fine. Make sure to get the heavy duty model. Not sure what you mean about time controlling your water. You will always need water in your buckets, no need to time it. Feel free to post any other question you have in that build thread. Peace, R.
awesome answered alot of my questions. great post. only thing i want to know is what would i need for a 1 plant air ventilation.
Why only 1 plant? just growing enough for personal? To each his own, but if there's one thing i know is, this world needs more DANK BUDS. So think about increasing your grow. HA HA! Other than that good luck and happy growing. If you have a minute check out my thread "Lavander Hydro"
