8ballin' with 4x2 DWC

[unluckomalucko]

Hello dear ICmag community,

I'm an old hand at growing, but unfortunately, I've had a lot of bad luck so far.

But I'm not going to let it get me down, so I'll keep trying my luck.

Equipment:

Box: 4x2x6 (120cm x 60cm x 180cm = 0.72 m²)

DWC: 4x MarsHydro modified. Top drippers were removed, allowing me to run 4 DWC buckets with just one pump instead of two. This has a significant impact on the overall noise level of the system. It also makes changing the nutrient solution much easier. And I have a spare pump in case of emergency.

Lighting: Marshydro FC4000 EVO, 320W

Exhaust:
- 1x S&P TD-Silent 250 CFM (running at low speed, i.e. 200 CFM)
- 1x AC Infinity ACF 250 CFM (refillable – I'm curious to see how well it works)
- 1x PrimaKlima Industrial Line K1601 ACF 280 to 410 CFM (as a backup in case of emergency)

Ventilation:
- 1x Garden Highpro GH-V-114 fan, 5W
- 1x MarsHydro M6 Clip fan, 9W

Temperature and RH: Govee WiFi Thermo-Hygrometer

Humidifier: Mars Hydro 5L

Fertilizer:
- Canna Aqua & Canna Booster
- Plagron pH Minus
- Advanced Nutrients Flawless Finish
- H2O2 for emergencies (if water temperature is higher than 21-23°C)

pH & EC Meter: Apera Instruments PC60

Water: I use tap water with a starting EC of ~0.73
This is quite high, so I'm currently still in an experimental phase, i.e., I'm not currently growing with the goal of harvesting, but rather to better understand the entire hydroponic and DWC process.

So far, I've only had experience with growing in soil. So, I'm a beginner in hydroponics.
Therefore, I not only messed up an optimal start in this current run, but also made/had to make a few attempts.
In short, I made a few mistakes, and that's why they didn't grow as big as they should have.

I currently have 3x Apple Fritter Auto from Royal Queen Seeds and 1x Amnesia XXL Auto from Sensi Seeds in the box.

This Apple Fritter Auto is too small for me and will soon be replaced by an RQS Milky Way F1 Auto:

Sensi Seeds Amnesia XXL Auto ordered online as a seedling. It was already flowering when it arrived, but I didn't give it enough fertilizer afterward, which is why it's so small:

RQS Apple Fritter Auto:

RQS Apple Fritter Auto:

 

[unluckomalucko]

Hello dear readers, I'm posting a quick status update:

The seedling (Amnesia XXL Auto) I ordered has indeed developed root rot. Specifically, it's on a single root strand coming out of the side of the net pot. That's why I treated the plants with H2O2 two weeks ago. The Apple Fritters didn't like it at all (which is why you can see wounded leaves on the lower part of the plant in my photos - I've now cut them off).

I should have left the Apple Fritters alone, they would have been much bigger by now. Because the temperatures were sometimes over 23°C, I unfortunately treated them all with H2O2 just to be on the safe side.

The Amnesia XXL Auto has developed root rot despite the single H2O2 treatment. Yesterday, I removed a really slimy, even moldy lump with scissors. The remaining roots looked good so far, slightly discolored.

If the Amnesia continues to act up, I'll stop the Canna boosters and try another H2O2 treatment – I'd like to know how well the stuff really helps and what effect it has on the plants. The Apple Fritters have beautiful white roots and are currently doing very well with the regular Canna fertilization schedule.

The freshly germinated and oh-so-great F1 hybrid from RQS called Milky Way (Auto) hasn't shown much vigor. I moved it to the rockwool too early (I only soaked the rockwool briefly), and somehow it's not really thriving. I guess that's an omen. An omen that confirms the words of you diligent readers. Better to use photoperiod seeds next time and no more autos.

I'd love to grow from cuttings, like I used to.

However, when I think about how this seedling I ordered online turned out (arrived flowering, root rot, greedy for nitrogen haha), I have to think twice about whether I'll use my existing and very well-selected Barney Seeds next time (if it ever comes to that—you never know, things can happen), or whether I'll resort to locally distributed cuttings from my trusted cannabis shop.

Most likely, it will be seedlings, and this time in so-called Eazy Plugs or whatever they're called. At least the pH is already right when planting. And they're a bit easier to manage when watering.

 

[unluckomalucko]

One of my hobbies is making fun of people who talk nonsense about strong genetics and so on.

After so many people advised me against autos and seeds, I now fully understand why you did that and wanted to make a short contribution to confirm your words.

Here it is, the RQS Milky Way F1 (Auto) – I was taught 22 years ago that F1 hybrids were "the way to go."

Well, this genetics wasn't that strong – and other seeds germinated beautifully for me too.
Luckily, it was just a free seed. It's about 7 days old now and practically stopped developing itself.

It's going in the trash now, and the plants in the box will all live on.

I was always told to treat water carefully - for a good reason.

That's why I denied to fill up my DWC as much as it should be. Yes I'm a strange person sometimes. But I definitely learned from this mistake.

Anway - they are developing well, and the roots on the pics look much more orange than in reality.
That's why I am not posting any photos of them now.

I am waiting for further progress and will post an update as soon as I think it's worth looking at.

 

[unluckomalucko]

Project has been cancelled:

The combination of 4 DWC-Pots in a tent of that size was not a good idea.

My ventilation S&P Silent TD 250 CFM was a bit too weak and my first charcoal filter already stopped its service. Thankfully, I had another Primaklima Industrial Line ready. Anyways, I could not control the humidity anymore - especially as it kept raining outside.

So I ordered a dehumidifier, which did a proper job when it was placed inside the tent, but also raised the temperature above and around 27°C.
Outside of the tent it was too less effective.

When I made my last nutrient-solution change, I bent over one of the very thin water level-indicators. Water started to run out from where it was bent, so as from the very bottom where it connects to the pot. I only noticed it when there was already 1L on my tent's floor.

Which wasn't such a big problem at all. But knowing that I am heading to hotter temps now, I also had to add 2.5 mL/L of H2O2. So when I came back to finally change my 4th pot nutrient solution, I noticed everything on the floor was wet, and all other plants that I had replaced the solution of before started to leave their leaves hanging. I couldn't explain that to myself.

Because I didn't over-feed and double-checked everything. That's when I decided to stop the whole project (as all plants were of completely different height). Mark it as successfully grown through the veg phase. Canceled due to unknown failures in the bloom phase.



Going back to soil now. Everything ordered. The Next run will be done with one plant less in the tent. The strain is „Permanent Marker“, it's parents are: „Biscotti x Jealousy x Sherb Bx“.

I also got myself some Shogun Silicone and BioTabs Bactex in combination with my BioBizz Light Mix.
Hopefully the next run will present us some nice bud shots.

Update:

I think I made it and was able to fix the leaking pot.

I have just removed the waterlevel-indicator completely, took the clip that held it in place at the upper side of the pot, and pushed that clip into the hole at the bottom of the pot to use it as a filler plug.

It was the most convenient solution without having to order anything online. I have also combined that holding clip with an 90° pipe-angle that was included in the set. As it seemed to be a bit stronger when it comes to new bending issues. But you don't need to add the 90° pipe-bend and can only use the clip as filler plug:

My feeling tells me that it should be leak-proof now. I have not tested it yet. But I am very sure that if I won't bend it there again it's quite hard to break now - harder than before and it's leakproof now.

Anway, I didn't like those waterlevel-indicators at all and from the very begin.

They are not only weak but also not precise, as the tiny balls inside either got lost or there was too much chalk inside the pipe for them to move. Useless imho.

That's why I removed those weak and non-precise waterlevel-indicators from all 4 pots now.

By now I cleaned them with H2O2 and put them to the basement.

They will definitely be re-activated and leak-tested.

At least I hope so, because until then, DWC-growing was actually fun, if you accept a little additional noise.

Especially easily accessing and removing the roots all the time until the very end.
The grow-light makes them look much more orange on the pictures.

Which made me happy - and when I removed my first bunch of DWC-roots and realized how easy it is without losing a single clay-pebble. I realized that DWC-growing is not only fun and rewarding but can actually also be pretty economic if done well.

Cheers