1st Time Grow, DWC Tub with 2 Autoflowering Lowryder #2/Ak47

Okay so I would love some input as I continue to update this Grow. Keep in mind, this is my first time...

I read this post... [FONT=&quot]

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=13327[/FONT]

Then got REALLY excited.

I wanted more than just one... and wasn't sure if I wanted to build several units... after all there is more room for error and more expense....

Then I watched this Video...

http://vodpod.com/watch/673156-do-it-yourself-hydroponics-system

And I knew what I was going to to.

I built a DWC tub out of a 27 Gallon Bin with 4 holes.

I then found a GREAT deal on a 400W MH Bulb with Remote Ballast and Hood. (It's in the mail)

Also got some GH nutrients.... (in the mail)

MaxiGrow
MaxiBloom
and KoolBloom

I have Three Female seeds coming in the Mail.

I have about 50 Mixed Seeds...

I have 3 Bagseeds in soil... they are about 1 inch tall.

I have 12 Mixed seeds in rockwool cubes for the last 48 hours and they are showing growth.

My Plan:

Sprout the 3 Female seeds when they arrive in Rockwool cubes with 5.5 ph water. ( I have a Water machine that makes 5.5 water from my sink)

Seeds
1. [FONT=&quot]Lowryder#2 x AK47 EASY RYDER Feminized Auto Flowering Dwarf[/FONT]
2. [FONT=&quot]Lowryder#2 x AK47 EASY RYDER Feminized Auto Flowering Dwarf[/FONT]
3. G13 LABS QUICKSILVER AUTOFLOWERING FEMINIZED

What should I do for the Fourth Seed?

Should I wait and put a Clone in there?

Should I use one from the soil and Transplant it.

Should I use one of the Random Seeds that I have? And if so.... do I wait until i know that it is female before including it in the Hydro?

Also, how should I sprout the seeds in the Rockwool for DWC (when to include light and when to finally place in the Hydroten.)

This will be inside a Closet that is under stairs.... so it slants down as you go back... it is painted white inside...
Should I put up any Mylar or am I over it?

I purchased two 13" BubbleStones and I was going to put them both in the 27 gallon tub... should I Return them and Get 4 Smaller ones for under each plant?

And my Last question for now....

When do I start using the Nutrients?

Thanks so much!

I will add photos of the Build and the whole process later on this weekend.

Pics.

good luck cloning an AF,from what i've read here it wont work cuz the clone is still going to flower.Use nutes at 1/4 strength Look into the lucas formula .Put a draian tube on your tub and get it off the floor ,it makes water changes easier .what are you doing for ventilation a 400 throws out some heat.Also take a look at blunt 69 "good advice to Newbs

Thanks!

I'm getting it off the floor tommorow and adding a drain tube.

I got the seeds today.

I washed my hands and all my tools with soap and water.

I soaked rockwool cubes for a few seconds each and then shook off the excess water. ( I used 5.5 PH water from my Kangen Alkaline Water Machine)

I placed one seed in each rockwool and then placed in tupperware upside down with the lid on loose....

Will this work... or should I go buy a Germination Station.

I think most off us will Germ the seeds first in a paper towell kept moist untill a tap root shows then put it in the rockwool root down .I have personally never put the seed right in with the rockwool It may increase your germ time?

Finishing Getting Ready

Finishing Getting Ready

The Light should be here today.... Cross my Fingers.

It has been about 24 hours since I dropped my seeds into wet rockwool and threw into the dark.

I got a 400w MH from Insidesun.com it has a refurbished ballast but the whole thing was only 79.99 plus 30 Shipping.

Includes 400w MH grow bulb Reflector and Remote Ballast.


Attached the Drain tube today.... and got it off the ground.

Thanks for the input! It would have SUCKED to pick up a 27 gallon container full of water.

FYI - Home Depot had plastic 3/4 inch tubing in the shape of an elbow... It also had Ridges on it so that nothing will leak... I found the Rubber Grommits that Hold it water tight in the Electrical Section. This 2 dollar investment is WATER tight.... Stoked.



Also, I got rid of the tupperware and spent 3 dollars on a Regular Plastic Dome thing...



QUESTION???

I am going to take my Female EasyRyder Seeds out of the dark tommorow... I figured they should have popped by then....

SHOULD I PLACE THEM IN THE CLEAR PLASTIC DOME AND PUT OUTSIDE IN THE SUN?

OR... if my light is here... Should I Put Directly under the 400W MH?

Thanks!

jm420 said:

I think most off us will Germ the seeds first in a paper towell kept moist untill a tap root shows then put it in the rockwool root down .I have personally never put the seed right in with the rockwool It may increase your germ time?

Click to expand...

Thanks for the Advice.... If I don't notice any Action in the cubes tomorrow morning... then I will Rip the rockwool up and Papertowel it until the Taproot shows....

I just threw straight into the rockwool because I didn't want to risk hurting the Taproot....


After all, I was super cheap and only bought two seeds... and attitude seed bank was nice enough to throw in a freebie.

I have four Bagseeds in ONE pot.... Help!

I have four Bagseeds in ONE pot.... Help!

So on a side experiment I threw 4 seeds from some junk weed into a pot and Look!!!





They all are doing REALLY good.

problem is they are SOOOO close together...

Should I transplant to individual pots?

I was planning on maybe using one of the females as a soil grow in the same room?

Here is the link to the 400w Setup for $79.99.... It didn't come today.... Damn.

http://www.insidesun.com/Sylvania-400-Watt-MH.item

Once it is here, I will let you know how it works.

Got nutrients in the mail today....



Now... on to researching the lucas formula.

Oh yeah! I almost forgot. I checked today, and the two Lowryder#2/AK47 females have taprooted into the Rockwool... it was easy to see in the sun.

I'm just waiting on the quicksilver.... she didn't pop, so I am trying the wetpaper towel method.

Right now, the two "easyryder" Girls that popped are in the Rockwool under a plastic dome outside on the deck where it is 75-80 and sunny.

QUESTION?

Should I spritz the rockwool with an extremely low concentration mix of Maxi Grow? It should help the roots start?

Please Help

Lights Wont be here for 4 more days.... Wack.

Anyways....

I'm just going to keep posting... Even if none of you MoFo's answer my questions....

I transplanted the Four Bagseed babies into thier own pots...
I'll upload a picture later today.

I also decided to mix 1/16 of a teaspoon MaxiGro into a spray bottle with 6.0 water and mist the cubes... Maybe i'm tinkering to much... But it's so much fun.

On Another note -

The free Autoflowering Female Quicksilver that I got has not popped yet... It was in the dark in Rockwool for 24 hours (They EasyRyders both showed a taproot)

I Ripped the rockwool in half and dumped the Quicksilver seed into a wet paper towel, through in a baggy and put on top of my water heater in the dark... (around 75 degrees in there) It has been in the paper towel for 48 hours with no luck?

Transplanted Bag Seeds.... I plan on throwing them under the 400W until they show sex

On a Side Note.... My Veggie Garden... First Time.

I like the drain setup using the dishwasher hose good idea.I think there still a little young four the 400 .Looks like you have the right weather ever thinkink about another dwc outside?

Nice journal!! Bummer on the Quicksilver, I'm crossing fingers for her.
I would of done the same as you and put those 4 seeds in there own pot so they're not competing with each other for root real estate.
What kind of water pump do you have and how much water can it push up to your flood tray, most pumps have that info listed on the box so you know if it will do the job?
I would keep the 2 13" air stones they will oxygenate the H2O great, no need for 4 smaller ones instead.
The white walls are fine white is a great reflector of light and you don't have to bother with Mylar.
Do you have a 24 hour timer for the lights when they arrive in 4 days? Also do you have another timer for the H2O pump to feed your plants?
Nice looking garden what do you have planted in there? I had a garden last year I had Potatoes Watermelons Habanero peppers, Basil, Cilantro, Mint, and 5 different types of tomatoes! I have no idea what was with those potatoes Miracle Grow did a number on those guys haha ~Vince

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jm420 said:

I like the drain setup using the dishwasher hose good idea.I think there still a little young four the 400 .Looks like you have the right weather ever thinkink about another dwc outside?

Click to expand...

I just threw that drain tube on there.... but the diameter isn't right... so I will be adding some Rubber tubing before the light gets here.

I had a close call earlier today.... I have been placing my precious lowryder#2 Ak47 rockwooled seedlings outside on the deck under a plastic dome since they tapped and inside at night...

Problem was, it is REALLY dry where I live and the rockwool was VERY close to drying out.... I read up on some forums and realized that I almost lost my seedlings.... so... I pulled them indoors and
put them under a 150 watt Incandescent AgroSun Dayspot Grow Bulb.... This seems to REALLY be helping raise the temperature in the 80's and is creating GREAT humidity in the Dome. Not to mention that I am making sure they stay moist. When I look down inside I can Clearly see a BIG bright white Taproot.... I can't wait until they pop through so I can relax and watch the show!

As far as putting them under the 400w MH... When would be a good time to start?

About the outdoors... I was thinking about it... Possibly a dwc bucket inside a Mylar lined trashcan outside on my deck... But... I'm over it for now. I'm going to focus on one project and get the best results I can.

Thanks so much for the input... It Really helps.

MiaWallace said:

Nice journal!! Bummer on the Quicksilver, I'm crossing fingers for her.
I would of done the same as you and put those 4 seeds in there own pot so they're not competing with each other for root real estate.
What kind of water pump do you have and how much water can it push up to your flood tray, most pumps have that info listed on the box so you know if it will do the job?
I would keep the 2 13" air stones they will oxygenate the H2O great, no need for 4 smaller ones instead.
The white walls are fine white is a great reflector of light and you don't have to bother with Mylar.
Do you have a 24 hour timer for the lights when they arrive in 4 days? Also do you have another timer for the H2O pump to feed your plants?
Nice looking garden what do you have planted in there? I had a garden last year I had Potatoes Watermelons Habanero peppers, Basil, Cilantro, Mint, and 5 different types of tomatoes!

I have no idea what was with those potatoes Miracle Grow did a number on those guys haha ~Vince

Click to expand...

Nice tubers!

Thanks for the input.

My water pump is 5 watts... 9.0 liters per minute or 140 gallons per hour. It has 4 output lines so I'm going to use two 13" and two 1" airstones.

My garden has

Onions, garlic chives, jalepeno, habenero, banana peppers, green and yellow bell, cucumbers, broccoli, cabbages, lettuces, watermelon, strawberries, squash and a few others I can't remember... LOL.

I'm typing on my phone so it might be a little wierd.

Also... The timer... I as thinking about just going 24/0 as reccomended by many.
And the timer for the pump... All the bubbler buckets I have seen just run nonstop.
Should I get a timer for both the lights and bucket... What does everone think???

Advice Please!!!!

The Quicksilver seed has STILL not popped.

Any advice on MAKING it pop. lol

Thanks in advance for helping with my rookie problems.