hydroponic Hydroponics Startup Help

beerbreath81

beerbreath81

Howdy fellas,
 
Been out for a while, job had me traveling for a bit but I'm back home and ready to get after it again. So have been thinking about trying my hand at hydroponics, starting out with a single unit in my basement to get my feet wet then will see where this ride will take me. I was needing some help from the hydroponics folks here to make sure I understand the process completely.
 
Hardware--
  • 5 gallon bucket
  • air tubing
  • air pump
  • growing media (hydroton)
  • net basket
  • sight tube for monitoring water levels
was thinking of getting this setup to start with
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Viagrow-Black-Bucket-Deep-Water-Culture-Hydroponic-System-V1DWC/203548975
 
Fertilizers--
  • flora bloom/grow/micro
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017H73708/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687702&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0012V3PO4&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=WH6NX4G8JGD7T5DD6WGG
  • PH Up/Down
https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469132811&sr=8-1&keywords=ph+up+and+down
 
Lighting--
  • this is what I currently have, think it'll work ok
https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-FLCDG125D-Fluorowing-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B001UV6P9I
 
Misc. Junk for measuring--
  • PH meter/Water meter--Do I need the water meter?
https://www.amazon.com/HAITRAL%C2%AE-Digital-Aquarium-Hydroponic-Monitor/dp/B0195V0ZOU/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1469132737&sr=8-12&keywords=ppm+meter
  • Beaker for measuring ferts
https://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Measuring-Plastic-Graduated-Cylinder/dp/B0094EK71K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469132890&sr=8-2&keywords=ml+measuring+tool
 
Missing anything?
 
Then moving into setup and maintain here's what I think is right--
  • Fill bucket with water adjust PH as needed with PH Up/Down (not sure what PH needs to be at?)
  • add ferts as needed (guessing I add all three to the water and there is a chart for how much to add per gallon?)
  • Connect airstone to tubing and put in bucket, attach pump
  • wash new plants roots, add to basket, fill with hydroton 
  • water levels should be maintained level with basket bottom
  • monitor ph levels weekly, adjust as needed, add water if needed
  • dump water every two weeks fill with new water and new ferts
Is that right?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
the kit is good a bit expensive if you end up having multiple of them better to buy in larger quantity. like a larger air pump that can handle multiple buckets at once, etc u get it.
 
you don't need the water level pipe i don't really like it because it give another way for bugs/algea to get into your water.. you can just pop the lid a little and see the water level... i'm sure you will pop the lid to look at the roots anyway. only reason it's nice is if/when the plant gets huge its a bit hard to lift it up lol.
 
can use the flora lucas formula if you want to buy less nutrients.
 
you do not need a tds meter as you will just follow mixing instructions, but it can be helpful if there is a problem.
 
idk why someone posted it on that other thread, but you should ph after mixing nutrients. you should be worried about the final solutions ph as that is what the plants will be sitting in, starting ph is usually just fine city water nutrients will not fall out of solution at this concentration.
 
sounds like you got it down though pretty much, go for it.
 
beerbreath81 said:
Howdy fellas,
 
Been out for a while, job had me traveling for a bit but I'm back home and ready to get after it again. So have been thinking about trying my hand at hydroponics, starting out with a single unit in my basement to get my feet wet then will see where this ride will take me. I was needing some help from the hydroponics folks here to make sure I understand the process completely.
 
Hardware--

  • 5 gallon bucket
  • air tubing
  • air pump
  • growing media (hydroton)
  • net basket
  • sight tube for monitoring water levels
was thinking of getting this setup to start with
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Viagrow-Black-Bucket-Deep-Water-Culture-Hydroponic-System-V1DWC/203548975
 
Fertilizers--
  • flora bloom/grow/micro
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017H73708/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687702&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0012V3PO4&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=WH6NX4G8JGD7T5DD6WGG
  • PH Up/Down
https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469132811&sr=8-1&keywords=ph+up+and+down
 
Lighting--
  • this is what I currently have, think it'll work ok
https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-FLCDG125D-Fluorowing-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B001UV6P9I
 
Misc. Junk for measuring--
  • PH meter/Water meter--Do I need the water meter?
https://www.amazon.com/HAITRAL®-Digital-Aquarium-Hydroponic-Monitor/dp/B0195V0ZOU/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1469132737&sr=8-12&keywords=ppm+meter
  • Beaker for measuring ferts
https://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Measuring-Plastic-Graduated-Cylinder/dp/B0094EK71K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469132890&sr=8-2&keywords=ml+measuring+tool
 
Missing anything?
 
Then moving into setup and maintain here's what I think is right--
  • Fill bucket with water adjust PH as needed with PH Up/Down (not sure what PH needs to be at?)
  • add ferts as needed (guessing I add all three to the water and there is a chart for how much to add per gallon?)
  • Connect airstone to tubing and put in bucket, attach pump
  • wash new plants roots, add to basket, fill with hydroton 
  • water levels should be maintained level with basket bottom
  • monitor ph levels weekly, adjust as needed, add water if needed
  • dump water every two weeks fill with new water and new ferts
Is that right?
Click to expand...
Dang Anthony! Great to hear from you brother. I was just commenting on how I missed you glog and kitchen projects. You could have gave some of these guys a run for there money in throwdowns. LOL! Welcome back!

Anyways. I think you've got the concept down. I'm still learning. Peter S has some good projects going on. I'm planning on doing a Aeroponics for start's next year. I would like to do DWC as well. I know some guys at a couple of the hydro stores. They said you can build a system for less than half of a pre made setup. Most stores sell all the connections and stuff. I would buy a bigger pump and hook multiple containers up. A good shop will get you set up. You can buy the buckets, lids, pump, stone and clay pellets individually. As far as nutrients I've talked to guys that say depending on Ph of water and after you add nutes changes the ph and sometimes you have to add PH+/-, sometimes you don't. Don't know if that's correct, but I do understand the concept. I hope others will chime in that are more knowledgeable than me. If not plenty of info on canna sites. Lots of DIY DWC on the net.
 

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juanitos said:
the kit is good a bit expensive if you end up having multiple of them better to buy in larger quantity. like a larger air pump that can handle multiple buckets at once, etc u get it.
 
you don't need the water level pipe i don't really like it because it give another way for bugs/algea to get into your water.. you can just pop the lid a little and see the water level... i'm sure you will pop the lid to look at the roots anyway. only reason it's nice is if/when the plant gets huge its a bit hard to lift it up lol.
 
can use the flora lucas formula if you want to buy less nutrients.
 
you do not need a tds meter as you will just follow mixing instructions, but it can be helpful if there is a problem.
 
idk why someone posted it on that other thread, but you should ph after mixing nutrients. you should be worried about the final solutions ph as that is what the plants will be sitting in, starting ph is usually just fine city water nutrients will not fall out of solution at this concentration.
 
sounds like you got it down though pretty much, go for it.
Click to expand...
Thanks Juan for the link on the lucas formula, looks like an easier way to go and they even dummied down the instructions for me lol --"Add 8ml of Flora Micro (dark red stuff) to 1 gallon of water*, mix, and then add 16ml of Flora Bloom (pink stuff) into the water, and mix. Done"--Also see from the link that PH should be maintained around 5.8. As far as the sight glass goes I see your point and think I may swap out for a valve, just so I have an easy way to drain every two weeks.
 
OCD Chilehead said:
Dang Anthony! Great to hear from you brother. I was just commenting on how I missed you glog and kitchen projects. You could have gave some of these guys a run for there money in throwdowns. LOL! Welcome back!

Anyways. I think you've got the concept down. I'm still learning. Peter S has some good projects going on. I'm planning on doing a Aeroponics for start's next year. I would like to do DWC as well. I know some guys at a couple of the hydro stores. They said you can build a system for less than half of a pre made setup. Most stores sell all the connections and stuff. I would buy a bigger pump and hook multiple containers up. A good shop will get you set up. You can buy the buckets, lids, pump, stone and clay pellets individually. As far as nutrients I've talked to guys that say depending on Ph of water and after you add nutes changes the ph and sometimes you have to add PH+/-, sometimes you don't. Don't know if that's correct, but I do understand the concept. I hope others will chime in that are more knowledgeable than me. If not plenty of info on canna sites. Lots of DIY DWC on the net.
Click to expand...
Chuck! good to hear from you as well, hope all is going well on your side of the mountain. I have certainly missed the pepper community, and growing.  The garden area is lonely this year....But, thankfully, Catherinw hooked me up with a few plants this year to feed my addition. We built just a couple small raised beds and have them in there this summer. The dog thought she needed a cool place to lie down couple weeks ago, she got in the pepper bed and dug up a nice area for herself and killed all but three pepper plants but tomato's are going strong in the other bed.
Good luck with the aeroponics, hope goes well for ya. I'm undecided how far ill go with the DWC right now, just wanna start one system for learning, but if do go larger will defiantly do a diy setup for sure.
 
Take care buddy
 
I
beerbreath81 said:
Thanks Juan for the link on the lucas formula, looks like an easier way to go and they even dummied down the instructions for me lol --"Add 8ml of Flora Micro (dark red stuff) to 1 gallon of water*, mix, and then add 16ml of Flora Bloom (pink stuff) into the water, and mix. Done"--Also see from the link that PH should be maintained around 5.8. As far as the sight glass goes I see your point and think I may swap out for a valve, just so I have an easy way to drain every two weeks.
 

Chuck! good to hear from you as well, hope all is going well on your side of the mountain. I have certainly missed the pepper community, and growing.  The garden area is lonely this year....But, thankfully, Catherinw hooked me up with a few plants this year to feed my addition. We built just a couple small raised beds and have them in there this summer. The dog thought she needed a cool place to lie down couple weeks ago, she got in the pepper bed and dug up a nice area for herself and killed all but three pepper plants but tomato's are going strong in the other bed.
Good luck with the aeroponics, hope goes well for ya. I'm undecided how far ill go with the DWC right now, just wanna start one system for learning, but if do go larger will defiantly do a diy setup for sure.
 
Take care buddy
Click to expand...
Glad to hear your doing well. Sorry to hear about the garden. I have a glog this year. Wasn't going to do one, but you know how that goes. I'll have a ton of Goats Weed and Aji Pineapple's. I hope anyways. If I do good I'll send you a package.

I dint know if I'll start with DWC or Aeroponics. Aeroponics seems like a good introduction for me. For starters, next year for sure. I want to grow a couple hundred plants. Going to sell some, so that would be a quick way to get them started. Here is Peter S link http://thehotpepper.com/topic/60206-inexpensive-low-pressure-aeroponics-system-design/
 
beerbreath81 said:
now that is tempting, wonder if my light would be sufficient for all of them :think:
Click to expand...
It does look tempting. I don't know how much coverage the light will provide. Might have to provide another one or something a little stronger. I see stuff used on Craigslist on the front range. Maybe a hps/mh. I see them as low as $100-150. You could use it for starters next year. If not for the price of the six bucket setup, you could just use what you need now and save the others for later.
 
I started some seeds, did more researching, and starting gathering items to go the DIY route, I have settled on the Recirculating DWC method, but I am still unclear on a few items. Hoping you guys could help clear the water. Here is a sketch of the RDWC method I plan to use...
 
IMG_2252.jpg

 
Questions:
are water flow rates important?
is it best for constant flow or on a timer?
 
 
 
 
Been meaning to get an update in here for a while, I am three weeks into the hydroponics set-up and so far am happy with the results im getting. There is still some kinks I need to work through but its going well. First I started with 1/2" tubing throughout the system. When the pump is connected it pulls from the reservoir tank and starts to fill the last to buckets. The water is not leaving these buckets as fast as it is pumped in and I have to turn the pump off to avoid overflow, So the pump has been inactive these weeks but made some adjustments to the buckets, made 2" holes in the sides and will continue to run the 1/2" tubing for the pumps. Plan to hook up this weekend so will see if that fixes the issue.  Other issue was some nute burn, leaves turning yellow around the edges, and a little leaf curl on a few of the plants. I added a fan after the fist week and cut the nutes down a bit seemed to correct the problem. The growth I have seen within the first three weeks have really surprised me. here is a few photos of the set-up.
 
 
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Cheers!
 
 
 
beerbreath81 said:
Been meaning to get an update in here for a while, I am three weeks into the hydroponics set-up and so far am happy with the results im getting. There is still some kinks I need to work through but its going well. First I started with 1/2" tubing throughout the system. When the pump is connected it pulls from the reservoir tank and starts to fill the last to buckets. The water is not leaving these buckets as fast as it is pumped in and I have to turn the pump off to avoid overflow, So the pump has been inactive these weeks but made some adjustments to the buckets, made 2" holes in the sides and will continue to run the 1/2" tubing for the pumps. Plan to hook up this weekend so will see if that fixes the issue.  Other issue was some nute burn, leaves turning yellow around the edges, and a little leaf curl on a few of the plants. I added a fan after the fist week and cut the nutes down a bit seemed to correct the problem. The growth I have seen within the first three weeks have really surprised me. here is a few photos of the set-up.
 
 
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Cheers!
Click to expand...
Looks good brother. Glad to hear from you.

That'd set up is really nice. I was wondering if you put a valve inline. Then you could slow the flow. I've been looking at some used tents. I was going to build a room, but then it would be permanent. My garage is small enough. I built my own LED lights. Cost about $400 for 4 lights. Just need to do some wiring. I love the buckets. Did you get them locally or online?
 
OCD Chilehead said:
Looks good brother. Glad to hear from you.

That'd set up is really nice. I was wondering if you put a valve inline. Then you could slow the flow. I've been looking at some used tents. I was going to build a room, but then it would be permanent. My garage is small enough. I built my own LED lights. Cost about $400 for 4 lights. Just need to do some wiring. I love the buckets. Did you get them locally or online?So
Click to expand...
Sorry for really late response here Chuck but the buckets are from home depot and the lids are from a local grow store, fitted for 5 gallon buckets.
 
So update on the hydroponics is I did make another set up with 2" holes but the bulkheads leaked a bit and I didn't them enough to run in my basement unattended so I may hold on to the that set up and run outside this summer. I have decided to run with the system I got and not use the pump to recirculate through the buckets. The peppers are really taking off and have good success so far. Ive have had a couple hic ups here and there getting the nute mixes just right and balancing the ph levels. I just picked up a new brand of root booster a couple weeks ago and cant believe the change in just two weeks on the roots. Still learning/adapting but having fun with it so far and nearly maintenance free. I spend little over an hour once a week changing out the water and making up new solutions. Here is a few pics.
 
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beerbreath81 said:
Sorry for really late response here Chuck but the buckets are from home depot and the lids are from a local grow store, fitted for 5 gallon buckets.
 
So update on the hydroponics is I did make another set up with 2" holes but the bulkheads leaked a bit and I didn't them enough to run in my basement unattended so I may hold on to the that set up and run outside this summer. I have decided to run with the system I got and not use the pump to recirculate through the buckets. The peppers are really taking off and have good success so far. Ive have had a couple hic ups here and there getting the nute mixes just right and balancing the ph levels. I just picked up a new brand of root booster a couple weeks ago and cant believe the change in just two weeks on the roots. Still learning/adapting but having fun with it so far and nearly maintenance free. I spend little over an hour once a week changing out the water and making up new solutions. Here is a few pics.
 
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Nice. Looking good. I wish to have a system like that someday. My garage isn't heated. I think a tent would help me out. Sorry for the late reply. Must have missed the notification. Hope your still doing the outdoor thing. The clay is challenging, but rewarding. Watering is the hardest part. Don't have to worry about drought. LOL

Anyways take care. We miss your foody projects.
 
I plan to be home this summer so will defiantly have the garden thing going, I'm looking to get a rototiller attachment for the tractor and see how that works out. I usually have some seeds in dirt about now, really need to get going on that. Been preoccupied on digging out my homebrew equipment, hope to do a homebrew in the next couple weeks (if I remember how lol). Ill post some pics of the process here once I get it up and running.
 
I've been trying to push the plants in the hydroponics to set some flowers but not working just yet, hopefully soon. Hope all is well on your side of the mountain, really cold and snowing just a bit over here this morning. 
 
Cheers!
 
beerbreath81 said:
I plan to be home this summer so will defiantly have the garden thing going, I'm looking to get a rototiller attachment for the tractor and see how that works out. I usually have some seeds in dirt about now, really need to get going on that. Been preoccupied on digging out my homebrew equipment, hope to do a homebrew in the next couple weeks (if I remember how lol). Ill post some pics of the process here once I get it up and running.
 
I've been trying to push the plants in the hydroponics to set some flowers but not working just yet, hopefully soon. Hope all is well on your side of the mountain, really cold and snowing just a bit over here this morning. 
 
Cheers!
Click to expand...
I had great success in the ground last year. First time growing in the clay. I tilled and tilled. I added some composted horse manure and tilled some more. It was still clay, but my friend Justin gave me a tip. He said he digs a shovel size hole, about 12in deep and then addeds good pitting mix. Man that worked amazing. I tilled again this fall, so all that mix and a bunch of composted wood chips got mixed in. I'll do the same this year. I was thinking off busting out the gas powered posthole digger and punching holes for plants, then filling with mix.

Oh I also mixed a cup of organic granular in the hole befor I planted.


Good luck Anthony.
 
I was wondering if anyone could lend some advice that is familiar with hydroponics. So long and short of it I cannot for the life of me get these plants to produce any flowers to set fruit. All seem healthy and continue to grow. I started these back at beginning of thread, the plants are doing well and the lemon drop pepper is really big, I have a set up with 6 plants each in their own bucket all connected to one another that at the end connects to a reservoir bucket, air stones in each, and all is well as far as growing goes. I am using the floragro series and have been following the recommended dosages, I let them sit in the buckets for a week or two then empty, clean and refill with fresh water and nutes. I have cut the nitrogen back to about 15ML for a bucket filled with about 3.5-4 gallons of water, upped the bloom product to about 35ML per bucket, also switched my lighting down to about 8-9 hours only per day. my PH runs generally in the 5.8-6.0 range. any ideas or suggestions on what I can do to "make" these plants start producing?
 
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Cheers!
 
beerbreath81 said:
I was wondering if anyone could lend some advice that is familiar with hydroponics. So long and short of it I cannot for the life of me get these plants to produce any flowers to set fruit. All seem healthy and continue to grow. I started these back at beginning of thread, the plants are doing well and the lemon drop pepper is really big, I have a set up with 6 plants each in their own bucket all connected to one another that at the end connects to a reservoir bucket, air stones in each, and all is well as far as growing goes. I am using the floragro series and have been following the recommended dosages, I let them sit in the buckets for a week or two then empty, clean and refill with fresh water and nutes. I have cut the nitrogen back to about 15ML for a bucket filled with about 3.5-4 gallons of water, upped the bloom product to about 35ML per bucket, also switched my lighting down to about 8-9 hours only per day. my PH runs generally in the 5.8-6.0 range. any ideas or suggestions on what I can do to "make" these plants start producing?[/size] 
Cheers![/size]
Click to expand...
generally the plant will not flower until it it feels it has developed enough roots for the container / space it is in.
This is why people with short seasons use smaller containers. to force flowering earlier.

As long as the plant is healthy there is probably nothing you need to do, just wait and let them continue to grow.
 
juanitos said:
generally the plant will not flower until it it feels it has developed enough roots for the container / space it is in.
This is why people with short seasons use smaller containers. to force flowering earlier.

As long as the plant is healthy there is probably nothing you need to do, just wait and let them continue to grow.
Click to expand...
 
Didn't think about that but makes sense. thanks for the advice
 
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