##> The Buckit Club - DWC n00bs <##

[JoeCrowe]

 

TDS does seem a little high, but some plants can take it. I don't see signs of major nutrient abuse. 7.5PH is kind of high I expected it to settle out at 7. Remember, monitoring the ph is less important in the water culture because of the chemistry involved. I never check the ph, but, just so you know bob, my plants grow really fast at ph7.

[Butcher Bob]

 

I think it's the chemistry savin me. Info acquired, nute developer sez 6.6 optimal in tests. I'm thinkin pH levels should be manufacturer related. My buddy sez he's gonna be headed by my place this week...will bring me some Down.

Wut nute lines have ya used Joe?...and how have they each done fer ya?

Man...I gonna hafta break out a chemistry book & relearn all this ion stuff ain't I?

[JoeCrowe]

 

I've concentrated on the nutrients that contain chelation, because that's the kind of chemistry I like. I've used advanced nutrients and technaflora. Since both of them were chelation formulas, I treated them the same, by fertilizing every 2 weeks and never checking the ph. Grew some excellent tomatoes that way. I'll tell you though, the ph in bloom is 6.5, it always tests in the green zone due to the acidic nature of the fertilizer. I spilled some on myself once and WOAH it burns!

[edux10]

 

always use your controller bucket to keep pH in check. I was just doing it once every 2 weeks by eyeball i.e. on the pH paper, and it didnt seem to swing. I had to change it a few times with a good flush, but it was proper for the most part.


What is making all the sound you speak of? The air pump? That one looks big, maybe try to down grade? I was using one 9.99$ air pump and it had 2 outlets for air to come out, i could spllit that 4 ways, so 8 per air pump, and it was nice. You dont need to over due it on the air pump. Think about it, it is getting a TON of air ALLLLLLL day long. play it safe and downsize the air pumps and just use one for every 4 instead of 8 but i tell you those cheap ones can be powerful.

[Shady]

 

The majority of successful hydroponic growers I know always keep their pH swing between 5.5 to 6.2 depending on whether they're in veg or bloom. No need to be afraid or lazy to maintain the proper pH for nutrient uptake of you're trying to grow quality. I'm just saying that a few drops of acid or base is better than expecting base nutes to be completely stable. As plants feed more or less depending on the nutrient strength, the pH will rise and fall accordingly... That being said, I realize this is just an experiment for Bob, but we should be sharing useful info for those new to hydro and dwc...

[Butcher Bob]

 

Originally Posted by JoeCrowe

I've concentrated on the nutrients that contain chelation, because that's the kind of chemistry I like. I've used advanced nutrients and technaflora. Since both of them were chelation formulas, I treated them the same, by fertilizing every 2 weeks and never checking the ph.

K, here's wut I got, Nutrilife's Heavy Harvest. Itsa three part, the Micro is used all the time, mixed 50/50 with either Grow or Bloom dependin on yer timin. The Micro gits mixed in the water first...the Grow or Bloom goes in after...somethin aboot shit fallin outta solution if done otherwise. Here's wut they contain...

Micro 2-5-10
Total Nitrogen (N)...1.5%
Nitrate Nitrogen (N)...1.5%
Phosphoric Acid (P2O5)...4.0%
Soluable Potash (K2O)...7.0%
Total Magnesium (Mg)...1.0%
Water Soluable Magnesium (Mg)...1.0%
Sulfer (S)(combined)...1.5%
Boron (B)...0.01%
Copper (Cu)(Chelated)...0.01%
Iron (Fe)(Chelated)...0.08%
Manganese (Mn)(Chelated)...0.02%
Molybdenum (Mo)(Chelated)...0.001%
Zinc (Zn)(Chelated)...0.02%
Chlorine (Cl)(Chelated)...less than 0.05%

Grow 7-0-4
Total Nitrogen (N)...5.2%
Nitrate Nitrogen (N)...4.1%
Ammoniacal Nitrogen (N)...1.1%
Available Phosphoric Acid (P2O5)...0.0%
Soluable Potash (K2O)...2.8%
Calcium (Ca)...3.0%

Bloom 3-7-8
Total Nitrogen (N)...2.4%
Nitrate Nitrogen (N)...2.4%
Available Phosphoric Acid (P2O5)...5.7%
Soluable Potash (K2O)...6.6%
Calcium (Ca)...4.6%

Howz that package soundin to you?

Originally Posted by edux10

What is making all the sound you speak of? The air pump?

The stones thumpin in the buckit. The more air I push through 'em, the more noise there is.

I'm gonna hafta figger somethin out, cuz I want that shit rollin when it gits lotsa roots. Thinkin aboot ona them doormats with all the lil rubber fingers stickin up...set the buckit on that, they should soak up that vibration, ya think?

Originally Posted by Shady

...I realize this is just an experiment for Bob...

Only cuz I let my hydro shop guy talk me outta buyin somethin. I had a pretty good idea I'd need the Down, but I went against my better judgement, cuz I'm a n00b and he is not.

[JoeCrowe]

 

don't worry shady, I hear your pain. I get that alot from growers, when they complain I'm giving advice that can't grow plants. Hah hah my new school chemistry tech fucks with your mind. Ninja reminded me I don't have to defend the ideas.
You might find your ph drops quite a bit in bloom, bob, since there's no ph buffers in that nutrient solution. transition metals contain chelation which is great. Keep an eye on your plant, it'll probably veg just fine. I see great root formation! Warm water temps are dangerous though.
If you can get the nutrient chemistry right, things happen with no effort at all.

[Shady]

 

It's all good Joe! That's a lovely root ball for sure, but those big trees could use a trim on the lower canopy in the shade so they can focus all their attention on dense colas instead of fluffy ones. In any event... Diff strokes for diff folks... I still think newbs in hydro need to understand nutrient profiles, strengths, and pH ranges for optimum nutrient uptake even if it's chelated nutes... Less is more...

[JoeCrowe]

 

hah hah you know I'm new skool shady, I harvest those buds for my ultimate bubble hash
Some dude told me you'd get 2x the buds on top if you cut the ones off on the bottom. hah hah holy shit...imagine that? it would be miraculous. Anyways, I done it before and all that happened was it cost me all the bubble hash I grow trees!! If I do good, it's a kilogram per light.
Since I invented this shit, I'd be shocked if someone else actually understood it. Oh, besides that other guy who used to post all the time here.

[Butcher Bob]

 

Originally Posted by JoeCrowe

Some dude told me you'd get 2x the buds on top if you cut the ones off on the bottom. hah hah holy shit...imagine that? it would be miraculous. Anyways, I done it before and all that happened was it cost me all the bubble hash

More of a canopy technique I think. Compared fer a while, yield ends up bein aboot the same, but no popcorn...makes trimmin easier is all I found.