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My first hydro project

So i think i planted the right seeds to get myself a bubbleponics system for fathers day. A webpage saved to my desk top, and open IM dialogue talking about how i want to buy it etc...

So before taking on hydro on a full scale i decided to make this mini DWC system to wet my feet and make my mistakes here so i can execute my first full on bubbleponics pepper growing project as flawlessly as possible.

$3.50 15 qt. rubbermaid with locking lid.
6" airstone
12" airstone
Sunleaves SDA510 Dual outlet 6 watt air pump
Black duct tape
2" net pots
2" foam cloning discs



Lid with holes cut out with 2" hole saw
holes.JPG

Outside covered with good ol' black duct tape to keep the light out.
duct.JPG

Picture of all the parts together
parts.JPG

Bubbles!
bubbles.JPG
 
Assembled with rockwool cubes and cloning discs.
Cloning some basil variety, not sure which. Planted 2 Okra, 4 Rosemary, 4 leek.
plugged.JPG

Domed for humidity
domed.JPG



I know that's alot of bubbles for such a small container but the dual outlet was only $5 more so i figure whenever i get around to it i can make another one of these or a bucket DWC and i won't need to get another pump.

I made the amateur mistake of drilling holes for the airline in the lid, those are plugged now.

The cut end of the clones are right above the water so the popping bubbles throws water on it.

I dipped the rockwool in pH 5.5 quarter strength Fox Farm Grow big. The mix in the reservoir is half strength pH 6.5 Grow Big.

Any thoughts or suggestions?
 
Nice first project.....
You will run into the issue of evaporation... So watch the level of your water, so the bubbles jump high enough. Next step up and more reliable is obviously a micro-spray system... Nifty idea with the individual cups.
Are they CLF`s ? What light are you planning on running ?
And for indoor hydro - I run between 5.6 - 5.9 PH religiously
And if you want more grow room in those cups use rock wool "SHALE"
 
12 chiles is waaaaayyyy too many plants for this size hydro. A mature scotch bonnet plant will occupy 2.5-5 square feet.

Good system to get chiles up and growing and a nice simple concept.
 
chilliman said:
Nice first project.....
You will run into the issue of evaporation... So watch the level of your water, so the bubbles jump high enough. Next step up and more reliable is obviously a micro-spray system... Nifty idea with the individual cups.
Are they CLF`s ? What light are you planning on running ?
And for indoor hydro - I run between 5.6 - 5.9 PH religiously
And if you want more grow room in those cups use rock wool "SHALE"

Thanks, i'll keep the water levels in mind. Right now i have a 105w 6500k CFL and a 48w 2700k CFL over this set up. For my chiles in the bubblebponics system i'll be running 2 105w 6500k to start and switching to a 400w HPS when they start to bloom.

So ph6.5 too high? Should be easy to adjust down.

willard3 said:
12 chiles is waaaaayyyy too many plants for this size hydro. A mature scotch bonnet plant will occupy 2.5-5 square feet.

Good system to get chiles up and growing and a nice simple concept.

I won't be growing chiles in this little baby-thug hydro. This ones just for learning mostly, i'll be using it to grow herbs, clone, and to start larger fruiting plants. Once i get the hang of ph, nutrients, water levels, etc. I will be growing 4 chiles in a 6 gallon bubbleponics system. Do you think that would be big enough? How many chiles do you think a 6 gal can sustain?

Thanks
 
Looks good so far. I may end up doing something simular pretty soon as I have all parts above already just a matter of putting it together and getting rockwool. How deep are the cubes? I know the wool is suppose to pull the water up, but most of the other system I've seen have sprinkler things, misters, or a tube going from the top down to the bottom. Are you just going to rely on the bubbles to get the water to the plants?
 
LGHT said:
Looks good so far. I may end up doing something simular pretty soon as I have all parts above already just a matter of putting it together and getting rockwool. How deep are the cubes? I know the wool is suppose to pull the water up, but most of the other system I've seen have sprinkler things, misters, or a tube going from the top down to the bottom. Are you just going to rely on the bubbles to get the water to the plants?

Thanks. If you have all the equipment already just get it done! Total assemnly time was only about 10-15 minutes. Are you building a mini system like this or full size? Going straigh DWC or were you gonna throw in a mister and/or drip system as well?

Don't remember the exact size of the top of my head, they are the grodan starter cubes.

I'm only relying on bubbles just for the clones. The other net pots are set so the bottom is just barely touching the surface. The cubes are staying pretty wet. Once the roots come out they'll grow down into the oxygenated nutrient mix.
 
Well I still have my sprouts under the lights so when they go outside i'll have room. I figured I would just do a plastic one like yours, but for 2 plants only. I think I can get the 6x6 cubes for really cheap so If I get them I'll slap something together. It will probably be a drip since the plants will already be somewhat large. I might even try and convert an old acrylic tank that I have sitting around. It's pretty big though and holds 65 gallons of water.
 
Nice set up. DIY hydro is a lot of fun and addictive. Not sure if I'm saving any money though, lol

Hydro okra sounds interesting
 
Yeah Joe, I've had excellent results with GH Maxi Bloom in past years and using some this year still. Never heard about it automatically adjusting PH though. Also use the GH Tri flora, Botanicare (for my coir), and a Nor Cal company's take on Tri flora that was recommended to me by some of my friends.
 
boutros said:
Nice set up. DIY hydro is a lot of fun and addictive. Not sure if I'm saving any money though, lol

Hydro okra sounds interesting

Very addictive indeed! If i go through with all the ideas flying through my head i'll have any plants indoor as i do outdoors.

joeknowsjolokia said:
My first DIY cost 30 bucks, not including lighting. I yeild 7 lbs. of jalapenos. 3 lbs chinese multi colors, and 5 peter peppers! Nutes were about 12 bucks to start with and I added as I needed.
http://www.discount-hydro.com/productdisp.php?pid=59&navid=12


Start with nutes like this that will balance the PH for you. Then, the more you learn, the more you can change things to your liking! To easy!!!;)

Those nutes definitely seem like they'll make things easier! The ones that came with the bubbleponics system are like that. However, with the pH up and down kit it's been pretty easy to get the pH to where i want it with the fox farms grow big.

So far it works great as cloner! This is after 3 days, no rooting hormone.
basilclone.JPG
 
boutros said:
Yeah Joe, I've had excellent results with GH Maxi Bloom in past years and using some this year still. Never heard about it automatically adjusting PH though. Also use the GH Tri flora, Botanicare (for my coir), and a Nor Cal company's take on Tri flora that was recommended to me by some of my friends.

It said it in their advertisement from discount hydro.com:P
 
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