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My $200 Grow room set up.

ciscoin313

New member
Its been 8 years since my last grow cant wait to get it going again, This is a first look at what I am doing, not done yet need cleaning, a few minor items.

I started growing the early 90's and was on a budget at that time with no money to work with my and a friend thought of an ideal for growing in the gutters. I had read about it somewhere but did not know how to go about it. This is what I came up with. I just built this set up for about $200 Bucks and I already ran it a few times and got great results about 10 years ago we where getting 5-6lbs in a 10X10 room every 3 months, with 4 1000's two MH and two HPS bulbs. I grew for a year and learned a lot during that time. But me and my girlfriend had troubles and had to shut it down asap if you know what I mean.

The supplies I used where: 6-2x4's $2.39each , 4- 10ft Gutters at 12.00 a piece, and a box of screws $5 , sump pump from harbor freight for $29.00, 1/2" PVC pipe 20'ft $10.00 , 4 Valves for $10 and various 45 and 90 degree fittings. 30 Gallon tank from Lowe's $15 and the two 1000's I bought on Craigslist for $50 each the lights are great 100% enclosed fixture that stays cool, at 12" from the light the temp is about 80degrees.

I am new to this Forum and did not see any gutter systems like mine. I use 3" Rockwool cubes that fit great in the gutters. I am able to fit about 8 plants in each and row about 24" apart. The Nutrients flow 24/7 through the gutters which are always monitored for proper PH, PPM and temp.the one problem I had when growing this was was the roots will fill the gutters and to the top and had minor leaks that where taken care of. Other that that I is a great set up for me , and is not for everyone. Wont be long before she is all filled up with my ladies,,,

In a few months I will be filled with The Devils Harvest seeds "Shoreline and SinCity Seeds "SinMints"
 

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Space Toker

Active member
Veteran
I don't understand what a gutter system is and much about hydro for that matter, hoping you can explain, but it sounds like you have a righteous plan and I root for you brother!
Too many roots well I usually have too few but again it seems like you have a good plan.
done cheap and without a gazillion watts per square foot, now you are speaking my language! I am hoping I can learn from you. good luck!
 

ciscoin313

New member
I used to grow dirt and just didnt like the mess. With the NFT system its cleans and produces a lot faster. I will be post all my work from beginning to the end. When its all set and done you can see for yourself if its any better. Its all about personal preference in growing.
 

Space Toker

Active member
Veteran
well I have no love for sweating half to death mixing things while inhaling perlite and dolomite dusts and hacking my lungs out to near puking despite my best efforts. those little paper masks don't seem to help hardly at all so I just stir and run and repeat several times! ;) I have thought of getting into hydro and hopefully your thread spells it all out and simplifies it for those like me! :D looking forward to it!
 

joe guy

Member
So it's a "my style" NFT correct?
I like it so far.. How many GPH pump dose it take
To cycle the nutes? And so u need air stones also?
 

LyryC

Active member
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Clever! Tuning in!

What size is hte room this is in - Saw your last room was 10x10 - again?
 

anon0988

Member
I don't understand what a gutter system is and much about hydro for that matter, hoping you can explain

I'll take a stab at explaining. If memory serves the technical name for this type of system is called 'nutrient film'. Basically the roots will rest in the gutters and a small amount of nutrient water will be constantly pumped so that it's trickling through the bottom portion, wetting the roots. In a setup like this all of the roots aren't wet all the time, but enough is that they can get what they need. Picture it as a DWC type setup where only the bottom inch or two of the tub is filled with water rather than the whole thing, if that helps. I would guess it's kind of like a cross between DWC (roots submerged in liquid) and aeroponics (roots exposed but still moist). Hope that helps, and anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here!
 

ciscoin313

New member
So it's a "my style" NFT correct?
I like it so far.. How many GPH pump dose it take
To cycle the nutes? And so u need air stones also?

My style yes I like to think so there are only a few people that I know that run this system.

The water pump> If believe its a 350GPH fountain pump

The nutes> I like Ionic products, starting with Ionic grow, Super-thrive and Fox Farm Grow for veg with a ppm at 600 and PH at 5.8 For flowering I use Ionic bloom with Fox Farm Big Bloom with at PPM at 1200 and PH at 6.2. I also like to add a little Bat Guano in the mix.

An air stone I do not use, I found out that the air stones do not provide the enough air so I use a Power Head from a fish aquarium submersed in the tank, it works great and circulates the water 24/7.. the water temp stays about 70-75 degrees.
 

ciscoin313

New member
I'll take a stab at explaining. If memory serves the technical name for this type of system is called 'nutrient film'. Basically the roots will rest in the gutters and a small amount of nutrient water will be constantly pumped so that it's trickling through the bottom portion, wetting the roots. In a setup like this all of the roots aren't wet all the time, but enough is that they can get what they need. Picture it as a DWC type setup where only the bottom inch or two of the tub is filled with water rather than the whole thing, if that helps. I would guess it's kind of like a cross between DWC (roots submerged in liquid) and aeroponics (roots exposed but still moist). Hope that helps, and anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here!


Yes you are correct that is the basics to NFT thanks for your input but, My nutes run 24/7 through the gutters, roots are always getting a constant flow of nutes over them. the faster the better.I tried to put the water pump on a cycle in the past just didnt work for me. The roots get plenty of oxygen for the power head I have in the tank, the roots will be 100% covered so no light gets to them.
 

Granger2

Active member
Veteran
Just want to give a tip on using perlite. Wet it before using. It'll save you from breathing it. I have a 4 cu.ft. bag made of woven plastic. I just sprinkle it with a watering can. You don't need to soak it. I just give it enough to wet it a few inches down. The remainder dries quickly and doesn't go funky. -granger
 

ciscoin313

New member
Just want to give a tip on using perlite. Wet it before using. It'll save you from breathing it. I have a 4 cu.ft. bag made of woven plastic. I just sprinkle it with a watering can. You don't need to soak it. I just give it enough to wet it a few inches down. The remainder dries quickly and doesn't go funky. -granger


Thanks for the tip, I will be mixing up some dirt for my mothers, I will keep that in mind...
 

ciscoin313

New member
NFT Rain gutters from Lowes, Pump, and Air supply vid...

NFT Rain gutters from Lowes, Pump, and Air supply vid...

Just started up my $200 NFT Gutter system 48hrs ago, I still need to cover the gutters in white plastic to cover the roots, and wait for the other babies to be moved in. Just transplanted a few plants from soil to the Rockwool. The tank is 32 gal with a 250gph pump and two Power Heads form a fish aquarium that I find works way better than air stones because its always pulling in fresh air. Its been only 48 hrs and the roots are going through the cubes...

http://youtu.be/eK4A1yb9lfA
 
nice looking setup
consideration for future update; same sort of layout only with 8" or bigger pvc pipe instead of gutter. more room for roots, easier to light proof the roots and you could design it to run NFT, ebb n flow or with aero sprayers.
 

FunkBomb

Power Armor rules
Veteran
That's a nice hydro unit you've built there. I'm looking forward to see it in action.

-Funk
 

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