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recirculating shallow water culture
- Thread starter alpo
- Start date
StickyBandit
Well-known member
steamroller
Active member
My next grow should be with new Dutch Buckets.
In to see how you do.
In to see how you do.
steamroller
Active member
Are you running any airstones in the res?
I would.
I would.
alpo
Active member
the last system i was running said there was no need to oxygenate the reservoir because the roots aren't in there and it can make pH fluctuate.
steamroller
Active member
Makes sense with the clay balls that the roots are exposed to O2.
But the airstone should not change you pH as I understand eitherway.
I have a different plan for my buckets. Hoping my simple mod makes them DWC so my plan was airstones.
You really may not need it, I don't know honestly. I don't think it could hurt though.
But the airstone should not change you pH as I understand eitherway.
I have a different plan for my buckets. Hoping my simple mod makes them DWC so my plan was airstones.
You really may not need it, I don't know honestly. I don't think it could hurt though.
Moe.Red
Active member
Airstones can cause a very slight change in PH if using tap water or similar, CO2 in the water will form carbonic acid, and airstones drive that off. Once the CO2 is at equilibrium with the surrounding air, no more PH changes should happen.
If using RO or water that has been sitting out, no PH change.
I believe you will have significant salt buildup on the hydroton using this spray from the top method. There might be an algae problem too. Your nutes contain a beneficial lifeform component which means if you use that, you cannot go sterile and run H2O2 or similar to kill off the algae.
Everything being equal, I'd probably run a sterile setup with 5-10 PPM H2O2 in the water, and not use the Rhizotonic.
As far as aerating the res, do you have any idea what the water temp will become when running with the lights on?
If using RO or water that has been sitting out, no PH change.
I believe you will have significant salt buildup on the hydroton using this spray from the top method. There might be an algae problem too. Your nutes contain a beneficial lifeform component which means if you use that, you cannot go sterile and run H2O2 or similar to kill off the algae.
Everything being equal, I'd probably run a sterile setup with 5-10 PPM H2O2 in the water, and not use the Rhizotonic.
As far as aerating the res, do you have any idea what the water temp will become when running with the lights on?
Ca++
Well-known member
I say old bean, the gap in them ring emitters isn't very optimistic.
This is perhaps impossible. The chances of growing good algae are higher. I'm not sure any amount of bottled magic can help.
Water finds the easiest path. Dripping clay isn't a good idea. It's wicking ability is low. Even with the algae based capillary matting. What soak through you did get, would be a salt concern.
I would be checking diaries at this point, but personally, I don't think you will find a good outcome from this.
You could perhaps mix in coco, if you had good filtering. Then feeding would be intermittent not constant. A pump with filter on sits in the tank constantly though, it's not just the delivery pump wants one. The pots can sit on wadding for the first few weeks. To catch the initial rush of migrating coco and silt. I have run like the drawing with a wadding filled sock over the return. Just using rockwool.
I wonder how big the holes in the rings are. In reference to the pump. I know most ring builds have distribution issues, as a suitable pump isn't found on many shelves.
This is perhaps impossible. The chances of growing good algae are higher. I'm not sure any amount of bottled magic can help.
Water finds the easiest path. Dripping clay isn't a good idea. It's wicking ability is low. Even with the algae based capillary matting. What soak through you did get, would be a salt concern.
I would be checking diaries at this point, but personally, I don't think you will find a good outcome from this.
You could perhaps mix in coco, if you had good filtering. Then feeding would be intermittent not constant. A pump with filter on sits in the tank constantly though, it's not just the delivery pump wants one. The pots can sit on wadding for the first few weeks. To catch the initial rush of migrating coco and silt. I have run like the drawing with a wadding filled sock over the return. Just using rockwool.
I wonder how big the holes in the rings are. In reference to the pump. I know most ring builds have distribution issues, as a suitable pump isn't found on many shelves.
OxbloodPeacock
Member
Will you eventually run continous flow? My friend had a very similiar set up and grew great. He had alittle bigger rain rings but same pump you have.
steamroller
Active member
Surely a lid would mitigate algae.
StickyBandit
Well-known member
Good thinking, or even some weed mat
StickyBandit
Well-known member
I've set up something very similar yesterday after reading this. Cheers for the idea 
I was thinking I would run the pump 1 minute every 4 hours with perlite as the medium and a layer of clay pebbles for the base. I have canna coco for the ferts. Not sure if I should also add calmag? I guess I should since I'm using rainwater?
I was thinking I would run the pump 1 minute every 4 hours with perlite as the medium and a layer of clay pebbles for the base. I have canna coco for the ferts. Not sure if I should also add calmag? I guess I should since I'm using rainwater?
