Net Pot Spacing in DWC

[BuzzBob]

Okay, this will be my first inquiry here... So if I mess up the illustrative pics, I apologize!

I am in the process of assembling a DWC Setup for my first grow. I was going to go the Rubbermaid route, until I ran across this awesome box {$20} at K-Mart last night:


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It is very rigid, as compared to the Rubbermaids, and is all black, which I found to be a great thing! If you're interested, here is a shot of the box's label:

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The usable space in the lid is 26"x16" -- The height of the box is 14" {~12" inside with the lid on} Here is a shot of the lid:

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Now, being inexperienced as I am at setting up a DWC, I am wondering how many Net Pots I can effectively run in this. I have picked up four 6.5" Net Pots from Lowes {in their outdoor pond equipment area}. For illustration, I have shot the following pics, with two, three, and four pots:


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I'd really like to run four if possible, since when sexing I may wind up losing some plants, and would like to be able to reach harvest with at least two plants...

So... What're some thoughts and/or suggestions? Should I set it up for four, or should I limit it?


Thanx in advance for all hints, tips, and tricks anyone can impart!

-BuzzBob

 

[Guest]

Well sexing four plants in a DWC will be a bit of a pian if any of them turn out male. You will need to untangle the root mass it creates from the others. You cant just chop them off with scissors because that will lead to root rot and infestations. Maybe if you can get some clones from newlines that would be great. Also the net pots you have need to have bigger holes for the roots to go thru. Just take a razor and cut out some squares in the net pots. Other than that it looks fine. Good find on the big black tub. Drop in a few air stones and a small aquarium heater and your off to the races.

 

[BuzzBob]

Oooops! You are so right, Blatant! On a coulpe of points...

I know I need to slice out the pots, and fully intend to do that. The current thought is to slice out every third vertical row, leaving two in place for each removed. Does that sound about right? Or should I do every other?

I'd not thought about detwining roots if I were to try and sex 'em out, however... Bummer! Glad you mentioned it now, so I can plan for it... What is "newlines"? [edit] I see now... http://www.newlines.nl/ I don't know if that's an option, as I am in the US, and shipping clones through customs might be an issue, eh? [/edit]

I've already picked up a 50 Gal aquarium pump, and a couple of 6" airstones. I've since read that I might be better splitting the dual lines from the pump, and running four 1" stones though. Any thoughts on that?

Last question for this round: {Freak'n noob's! They're full o' them!} I really don't like going to the one and only hydro shop that's nearby for all my stuff! So far, I've only made one trip... I thought I could find GroRocks {or something} at a local gardening center, but am having trouble. What's a decent alternative substrate that is readily available?

 

[Guest]

grow rocks

grow rocks

Hey ya
i nstead of getting grow rocks you can use lava rocks.You have to break them into small pieces about the size of merbles.

 

[friendlyfriend]

quick tip for a dwc buddy....


Dont start different strains in the tub or youll have big problems later on. your best bet would be to start 2 of the same strain in the tub and put a divider in between both (inside the tub) so that the roots dont mix. Remeber if you have to pull of them and you dont have them seperated then you will end up with dead roots with live roots and thats plain old ugly..... dwc like the one you wanna build are best with clones of the same strain! like so....

two bog bogbubbles... 2 and 3 backcross and now they are really big I will update this later if I remember just to show you how they are doing but I might throw both to flower and just take cuts so I have both phenos in seperate tubs!

 

[Rabbitt-420]

Hey FF just wondering how big you let them get in that tub your using there cause i have a few of them around the house ill use if i can let them stay in there full term.

 

[Guest]

also might want to leave yourself room to make an extra hole in your lid there for taking PH and TDS readings, lifting the lid with 4 full sized plants gonna be kind of scary.

tbh, might want to think about using smaller netpots so you can fit 4 in there like you want to, and still have a maitenence hole.

i use a 18 gal rubbermaid with 5 3" netpots. and a 4" maitenence hole, 3" is a bit small to fit my hands through.

another thing.... about sexing. the way i do it is this, I use 4" square pots and start off the seeds in soil , take some cuttings after they get big enough, transplant into 6" square pots, move those plants into flower for sexing (if they arent already showing preflowers) once they show, i will remove all males, and toss the male cuttings i took..... with this method, you will have clones rooted and ready to go by the time the mothers are sexed.

or ya could buy clones from newlines

anyway, good luck with your project, hopefully some of this can be of use to ya.

THC

 

[BuzzBob]

I am bingeing on all this great Food for Thought! Mucho Grass! {My very poor Spanish for Many Thanx}

After Blatant's response earlier, I was considering a divider concept, but that really sounds like it would be a serious PITA in the long run. What with trying to keep roots seperate, yet have nutes flowing evenly, etc...

Actually, the opinion I am coming to is that DWC in a "tub" is really best suited for running clones, and not for growing from seed.

Sigh! The s/o {great gal!} is gonna kill me, but I think I may drop back 10 and punt, before getting too far, and run seperate DWC Buckets instead for now. Once I get my first grow under my belt, get a Mother going, and take my own clippings. {Call me overly paranoid, but I think I have a serious issue with obtaining clones from overseas.}

 

[Guest]

actually newlines sends from inside the US.

just so ya know

another thing about dwc.... you probably won't want to run multiple strains in 1 tub, some will require different nute concentrations to thrive, and ya might end up burning up a plant or 2 trying to keep one of the others fed.

(oops just saw FF posted that already )

THC

 

[BuzzBob]

actually newlines sends from inside the US.

Really! I had assumed {and we all know what that does!} otherwise based on their .nl domain.

Hmmmm... I'll have to give it more thought. They're pretty pricey! Worth every penny, I have no doubt, but a tad more than I am willing to cut loose with right now, I believe...

Thanx for the scoop though!!

 

[Guest]

Wow I leave for a few hours and look at all the responses. Looks like you got yourself a dilemma. Cutting out the net pots thing will work. The divider theory will also do well. You can make a four-way divider and put an airstone in each space. Plus another handy thing you can biuld onto that thing is a water level indicator since you cant see where the nute level is thru the black plastic. Plus a lil spiggot for flushing and taking nute samples. You may want to try some feminised but those are'nt a 100% female. Just put a lil away for the Newlines clones and you will be happier in the end.

Blatant

 

[leevee]

Hey B.B. The roots won't tangle up for 6-7 weeks. (I have the exact same tub) Seperate 'em to the 4 corners and let 'em rip!

I actually vegged 15 in that one, and yes had some problems getting the roots untangled. Ripped a few, but saw no ill effects. flowered fine...

Wait and see what you got. Two will grow full term just fine. Just plug the corner holes, and put two more in where they are centered under the light.

 

[BuzzBob]

-- Hey Leevee! --

Old topic! LOL... That res has since been through a couple of "lives" and is currently doing duty as the res for an E&F Table.

Thanx for the input though! Much appreciated, and quite possibly useful for some future reader!

 

[leevee]

DuH!!

LOL's B.B. you got me good!

Right, right, I just posted that for others that may need the information...

Right, I knew that... :wink:

Good to see things are going ok for you...

 

[HOVAH]

BuzzBob it would save alot of energy if you would just grow all of your beans .. cause you might get a special female that looks better than all the other ones and that can be your mom.. youre able to compare all

ps ... I would love to buy some clones thur the mail from someone,who do i need to talk to? sour diesel or strawberry cough prefer