First ever grow - Hydro ebb'n'flo

V

vigilo

Member

• Oct 4, 2007

• #1

Hey guys, after much dreaming, ive started my first grow ever! Since I always read and look at all the grows here, I decided to post. I also decided with hydro which i know is dangerous for noobies, so if anything is wrong tell me! here is my home made ebb and flow system. Tell me what you think!!!

Currently: 400w Hortilux MH. 4 GDP Clones [from DO, sac.]
Nutes: 1/2 strength Lucas using Adv Nutes instead of GH. every 3 hours

The light is behind the fan, and is hanging from the ceiling with a wing reflector.

 

Last edited: Oct 5, 2007

G

Guest

• Oct 4, 2007

• #2

Those are happy looking wee girls. I'll try help here...

You got the light way high for the camera?

If not, you could bring it down a bit your girls will appreciate the attention.

Fan, not sure if the girls are being fanned but they love a bit of a breeze it assists stem strength and detracts some critters.

Light and algae. The ebb and flow system you made looks great, nice auto siphon! But... All that light allowed into the square tub where your nutes will be... bad!

Cover it with more of that reflective stuff you got.

Good on you for taking the plunge. i'll be here, watchin.

 

N

NZjay

• Oct 4, 2007

• #3

they look happy! nice setup.. gl! doing well ..

 

relief

Active member

• Oct 4, 2007

• #4

Looking good. They do look happy.

Keep us updated!

 

V

vigilo

Member

• Oct 4, 2007

• #5

BongSong said:

Those are happy looking wee girls. I'll try help here...

You got the light way high for the camera?

If not, you could bring it down a bit your girls will appreciate the attention.

Fan, not sure if the girls are being fanned but they love a bit of a breeze it assists stem strength and detracts some critters.

Light and algae. The ebb and flow system you made looks great, nice auto siphon! But... All that light allowed into the square tub where your nutes will be... bad!

Cover it with more of that reflective stuff you got.

Good on you for taking the plunge. i'll be here, watchin.

Click to expand...

Thanks a lot. I took your advice on covering the white tray with foil. But as far as lowering the light goes, i heard clones cant be placed in the light for too long as they grow more foliage than roots can support. Do these look healthy and big enough to take a 400w 2feet away (light is 4 feet away now) for 18 hours a day?

 

G

Guest

• Oct 4, 2007

• #6

2 feet away will be fine. I grow with a 400 myself. Long as temps are not too hot and the girls have a few roots (and lookin like they do).

There's new growth there so I reckon it's all go. In a couple weeks they should take off.

 

V

vigilo

Member

• Oct 5, 2007

• #7

check out the new reflection!

as for lowering the light, it will be done by tonight! =) thanks for the input guys

 

chosen

Active member

Veteran

• Oct 6, 2007

• #8

Nice little setup..

 

V

vigilo

Member

• Oct 6, 2007

• #9

Thanks chosen.

i have a concern that my flow level is reaching more than half way up the rockwell cubes everytime i flood (3 hours for 10 min, no watering in dark cycle). Is this bad? should i consider removing the cubes? or place them on top of the hydroton? help please =)

 

Last edited: Oct 6, 2007

G

Guest

• Oct 6, 2007

• #10

Where are the cubes - buried level with the hydroton? The soaking they are getting definately from flooding - or wicking?

Removing cubes is a no no. I know some would argue and do it but there's roots in them, and those roots are attached to some delicate little babes...

Generally, when i use cubes - I use oasis as they cause less grief (for me) than rockwool - I plant so the cube is like 1/4 inch above where the water level goes to so the first wee roots poking down touch water or at least wet hydroton. I leave around 2 inches of medium above the flood level, an inch remains wet from wicking, the top inch dry, to combat algae and keep gnats down.

I flood a lot more than you (15 minute fill, 2 minute empty approx, 24/7. With all this water there has been no rot problems or overwatering etc. So I reckon that side of set-up is pretty tight. They'll handle the floods no problem. If you are watering so it floods right to or over the base of the cube, lower the flood a wee bit, and next time raise the cube so the top half pokes out of the hydroton.

One noobie mistake I made was cleanliness. When the plants get a bit big it's hard to get around in a closet to pick up fallen leaves etc. So I got all sorts of critters started living in the rubbish. A shop vac is worth it's weight in gold to the grower in confined spaces (and bigger grows too I've heard these old boys swear by them as well)

I reckon you'll do well, you're not afraid to be here askin for help, that's the difference between a knowall with **** all buds and a noobie with a phat stash.

 

G

Guest

• Oct 6, 2007

• #11

ps - dark cycle aids root growth. If you can get a timer, the most productive veg cycle I've seen is 20/4. 20 hours light, 4 darkness. you'll get away with 24 hours, just won't do as well as it could.

 

V

vigilo

Member

• Oct 6, 2007

• #12

ahh thanks for that bongsong, as for the dark cycle, i meant i do not water in the dark im on an 18/6.

haha, and i meant rockwool...rockwell

 

Last edited: Oct 6, 2007

V

vigilo

Member

• Oct 6, 2007

• #13

thanks again everyone. so far ive worked on my algae provention, lowered the light, and moved the rockwool cubes up higher. all your suggestions =)

pH is about 6.0 (drop test kit =(...already ebay'd ph and ec meters)
Temps are 72-78

 

ItsGrowTime

gets some

Veteran

• Oct 6, 2007

• #14

Your plants look very good. A tip about your digital timer though....pop that cover off completely to expose the buttons. If you accidentally elbow the cover it will turn everything off.

 

V

vigilo

Member

• Oct 6, 2007

• #15

my humidity levels are at 30%. is this going to hurt my babies? is it necessary to raise it to 40?

 

V

vigilo

Member

• Oct 7, 2007

• #16

on another note, my cold temps at night time have apparently taken their toll on the plants as the grand daddy starts to turn purple =)

 

Last edited: Oct 7, 2007

G

Guest

• Oct 7, 2007

• #17

Doing good Vigilo.

I can't field the humidity question but others will I'm sure. I try to use as little equipment as possible (my way, not a recommended way). For humidity problems I crossed over local strains to improve the plants resistance to local weather.

One of my systems has some 'issues' at present - leeches! Hahaha.... Man, where do I field that question?

Got the solution though . Snails! Keep em in balance they'll eat snails and leaf muck in the pond rather than fish.

And you thought you had shit to think about

Yep, you're doing fine. Search the nutes you use on this site to learn about them. And humidity. Nothing like a wee bowl and a browse.

 

G

Guest

• Oct 7, 2007

• #18

I see a potential hiccup. The foil istouching the plant stem?

If so, cut em all a wee hole to breathe more, exchange gasses... And if it's touching it will get damp there...

Poiple huh! What's the night temps?

 

V

vigilo

Member

• Oct 7, 2007

• #19

thanks for the responses. I think ill live with the humidity in the 20-30% range. When ever i shower, it brings it up about 10% anyway =)

good luck with those snails bongsong..its crazy what you have to do to grow right..
I did move back the foil, but only a little bit around the stems. thanks for that tip, i would have never saw that coming.
As for temps..daytime is about 70-80...longer its on, hotter it gets
when the night rolls around, and the lights are off, temps drop to the low 60's

 

G

Guest

• Oct 7, 2007

• #20

Those temps sound ok to me. Mid 70's preferable for day.

10 degree drop at night is fine.

A good grower with ebb and flow, well, a bloody legend actually, is Mr Wags. You'll find him in organic hydro.

Snails in pond, headed for silt to hide from goldfish, where lurking beneath....