recirculating shallow water culture

[Redrum92]

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?

What lights? If LED alway CalMag

 

[StickyBandit]

What lights? If LED alway CalMag

Yes LED lights. Cheers for the reply
What about the perlite? I have a 100L bag sitting there doing nothing so I was thinking of using it straight with a layer of clay balls at the bottom to stop it leaking through or is it to powdery for the pump? I can buy some more clay balls on Saturday if it's better??

 

[Redrum92]

Yes LED lights. Cheers for the reply
What about the perlite? I have a 100L bag sitting there doing nothing so I was thinking of using it straight with a layer of clay balls at the bottom to stop it leaking through or is it to powdery for the pump? I can buy some more clay balls on Saturday if it's better??

I'm a soil guy so unfortunately the hydro folks will have to chime in, but I'm pretty sure perlite is A-ok. They use them in some versions of the "hempy buckets" (which if you haven't looked into, you absolutely should). But, yes, as you said, it is wise to cover intakes and such with some sort of filter for the perlite sediment. Some times even pantyhose/t-shirts can work.

 

[steamroller]

If you go perlite get paint strainer bags from Sherwin Williams to fit your bucket and keep from clogging your drain.
I would go straight perlite as I have read of many having pH issues with the hydrotron, but maybe it was user related.

 

[StickyBandit]

The canna brand aqua clay pebbles, which I would buy, claim to be neutral pH. I think I will use that and save the perlite for a coco grow. No worries with dust clogging/eating the pump and easy to wash and reuse

 

[StickyBandit]

Are you running any airstones in the res?
I would.

I don't think an airstone in the res helps with oxygen to the plants although it may help keeping the nutrients mixed if that's an issue. The surface area of the clay balls gives all the aerobic activity required when the pump's off imo. I'm happy to be corrected

 

[Ca++]

You won't be able to use canna coco feed. It's formulated knowing the coco provides a lot of the K.

Perlite might be the ultimate algae growing medium. Pebbles are not bad though. I'm surprised to see neither algae or salt build up. In fact, the salt that was there before, seems less obvious now.

I have worked pebbles enough to know it's a problem though.

 

[Synthettek]

Cool setup, I'll be watching. I've been growing in coco via hand watering, drain to waste for the past couple of years and I'll never go back to soil, love soilless now. I'm looking for some type of automation solution such as this so I don't have to be home almost every day to water my plants.

 

[alpo]

this size plant i water 5min every 2hours. I switch to 5min every hour when they get bigger. Perlite does hold more water than clay pebbles though. I haven't tried leaving the pump on 24/7, I think my water temperature would get too high.
I always used CaMg since i use RO water.

One of the things I wanted to make this setup was to be able to water a lot and often, easily and efficiently.

 

[alpo]

if you want to reduce medium with these buckets try the lid with 4" net pot and use clay pebbles in the bottom 2in of the bucket and net pot only. i haven't tried it though

 

[StickyBandit]

Hey alpo, I just completed my setup which is basically a copy of yours.
I pulled a couple of Rainbowcake clones out of the nursery and shook all the dirt off the roots and chopped half the roots off. Medium is pumice as I can buy it locally by the trailer load. I have a return restrictor so the pump can run without restriction. 1h55min off, 5min on
Running a single pack fert and some calmag at 1.2EC. Fingers crossed

 

[alpo]

is yours still going?

I'm in pro-mix and super soil concentrate now and water only

 

[alpo]

here is how it grew

 

[StickyBandit]

Still going strong

 

[StickyBandit]

Yours looks very healthy. Mine took a while for the roots to adapt from soil but once the new ones grew it went mad They're growing down into the water

 

[Ca++]

Looks like the ring things do ok with pebble. How does the surface look?

One very good looking pebble grow had a pipe under the surface just pouring though. The grower vanished mid diary, but it was working well.

I still feel pebble are for F&D but I'm not blinkered to people doing well, differently

 

[StickyBandit]

Looks like the ring things do ok with pebble. How does the surface look?

One very good looking pebble grow had a pipe under the surface just pouring though. The grower vanished mid diary, but it was working well.

I still feel pebble are for F&D but I'm not blinkered to people doing well, differently

The pumice goes green on the surface if the light gets through but I don't mind feeding some algae
I see this particular system as DWC with insurance from root rot, although this time of year in the southern hemisphere it's not usually a problem
I should have trimmed the lower bush earlier. It's drinking far too much

 

[alpo]

Exciting Updates in the Grow Tent!

Hey fellow growers! Just wanted to share the latest developments in my indoor gardening setup. I recently upgraded to a 2ft x 3ft x 6ft tent.

First and foremost, I invested in the ACInfinity Ionframe EVO4 300watt.

I've decided to germinate three seeds of Apple Fritter x Gluey.

I'll be documenting the progress of these new additions and sharing updates along the way.

If you're as passionate about indoor gardening as I am, feel free to join the conversation and share your experiences and tips. Let's cultivate our green thumbs together and celebrate the wonders of nature.

Happy growing, fellow enthusiasts!

 

[StickyBandit]

Exciting Updates in the Grow Tent!

Hey fellow growers! Just wanted to share the latest developments in my indoor gardening setup. I recently upgraded to a 2ft x 3ft x 6ft tent.

First and foremost, I invested in the ACInfinity Ionframe EVO4 300watt.

I've decided to germinate three seeds of Apple Fritter x Gluey.

I'll be documenting the progress of these new additions and sharing updates along the way.

If you're as passionate about indoor gardening as I am, feel free to join the conversation and share your experiences and tips. Let's cultivate our green thumbs together and celebrate the wonders of nature.

Happy growing, fellow enthusiasts!

Get those pics up there bud

 

[alpo]

Get those pics up there bud

it's just a two plant bato bucket dutch pot that you DIY all the irrigation.

I got some greenhouse Sundae Driver flower right now seems like would be a nice one to grow.