hey guys, I'm a few weeks into my first DWC attempt, and its the last of my garden (the rest of it died due to heat stroke in early summer before i got an AC unit), so I really would like it to be successful. I've done it in 24L storage tubs, approximately 6" high x 12" wide x 18" deep so I could have a decent sized bucket but not have a big height problem (i'm an apartment grower). the buckets are gray, but the canopy is so thick that very little light is reaching it. I have spraypaint, so if yall think the color's a big problem, it'll be a pain but I can turn them all black. also, each has an air line running from a dual output air pump rated for an 80 gallon tank... so air for a 40 gal fish tank in each bucket. what should I watch out for in specific with DWC systems? aside from monster growth I may not be able to control of course. how big of a problem is algae? and lastly, what temps should I try to keep the room at (in the shaded areas, like around the buckets) in order to stay safe from problems like root rot? I'll also be searching the site more diligently once I get back to class for this information, but I'm trying to learn all I can before I put them into flowering (probably thursday). I'll try to post pics in the near future as well.
With DWC, try to keep the res as low as the 70s. Lower the temp, more O2 can saturate into the water. A small fan blowing on the surface of the res water can lower it a few degrees. Make sure you're dumping and cleaning the res every 2 weeks or when you meet the pH and addback rules. Watch for sudden pH changes in the res in the acid direction (down), it can mean root rot. As long as the res doesn't get light, you shouldn't get any algae. The color of everything in your grow area should be reflective silver or white otherwise it will absorb the light and create heat.
hey sir stynk alot , if you have a piece of plastic thats not being used that that and hold it up to the HPS and try to look through it and see if you can see the light shining through, If it is you might want to spray paint it black, algae shouldnt be too much of a problem if its dark grey. Keep checking you ph and keep it about 5.5 durning the veg stages, and about 5.8 durning the flower stages . DWC is awesome man , I love it, ill never go back. If you have any questions hit me up man , Im working most of the time so i dont get on that much . Ive been into dwc for almost a year now. GH is really nice ! Easy to mantain. If you can squeeze a AC unit in your room its worth it man, cuts water usage down if the temps are around 70-
yeah the ac unit is right outside the stand alone grow cab and is pointed at it. the room stays at 70 degrees, so the ambient in there is about 72-75 before the addition of the other light. I don't think i'm going to be able to move it in to the cabinet, but i'm going to try and find a way to let air from the room in to it to cool it without also letting light in. I just checked, the algae is not becoming a problem. that shade of grey is working fine. and thanks for the tips on Ph, I haven't been checking it regularly. will start doing so now.
Get A Roll Of Black Duct Tape And White Duct Tape I Lay The Black Down On The Lid First , Then Cover It With White Duct Tape This Makes Your DWC Lightproof Diamond Mylar Or Black/White Plastic Also Prevents Light Reaching The Roots http://www.photobucket.com/PistolPete JKP
Change Your Resevoir Weekly And Use Enzymes I Use Cannazym ; Here ; http://www.growguide.info As Mentioned , Keep Temps Low If You Change Your Tanks Weekly , Along With A Flush Every Third Week , You'll Have Little Worries Enzymes Are Living Beneficial Bacteria Don't Mix Hydrogen Peroxide (H202 ) With Live Enzymes , Because It Kills Them Hygrozyme Is An Exception ( It Has No Living Enzymes In It !? ) There Are A Lot Of Enzyme Products On The Market ; Apart From Bio Nova ( Biozyme) I Think They Are All Inferior To Canna ( It Is The Original , And Has Maintained it's Popularity For Well Over A Decade Now ) " Sensizyme " ; Now If I Were To Translate That With My THC Laden Brain , It Would Read ; " Without Enzymes " , Just Like Sensimilla Translates To ; Without Seeds The Advanced Nutrients Version Was A Huge Let Down , As Was House And Garden Root Exeleratur Your Rootzone , And It's Health Are Most Important They Are The Foundation Of Success Make A Small Hole In Lid And Stick A " Dipstick " In It To Observe Your Resevoir Levels ( Daily During Flower ) JKP
