New Grower A few questions about Dwc

[richykn]

First time DWC grower here. PH meter & PPM meter is a must. I have cheaper models and keep them calibrated.
Just as other have said weekly water change with nuites, I also add CalMag & Hydroguard.
I top off the res at least every other day with plain PHed water, to this I also add Hydroguard. Don't know if this is right or wrong but I also have been having water temp problems. So with hopes of keeping root rot away I keep it in there.
Water temp control is also a important issue. Being new and trying to prove the concept I also didn't want to spend for a chiller.
Built a homemade one that uses a small pump, cooler, vinyl tubing, & ice. Works for me!

Would be interesting to see mate , what were your temps when they were high , did the hydroguard do its job and did it cause many problems ?

 

[Newbegro]

Early in the grow had no problem with temps. Water was staying between 70/74 degrees. Hydroguard was doing its job. As my grow space temps started to rise with the warmer weather (don't have the ability to run a AC in the grow space) water temps were on the rise fast. Came home to
81 degree res temps! This was not good, that's when I decided I had better figure out a way to cool this water. On the next water change I did notice a patch of brownish slimy goop on some roots. Clearly the beginning of some root rot. Cleaned it up as best I could and got my temps back in check.
Again this is my first DWC grow and have learned a few things for the next attempt. Growing conditions far from the best, small tent, and to many plants in my DWC, but I did make it to day 96 from seed and I am going to harvest in a few days without any major failures.
As far as I am concerned the Hydroguard or a product like it is necessary if you are going to try and grow DWC
Will try and snap a photo of the homemade water cooler to show you. Very simple design. The only downfall is you must have ice on hand to continue to refresh the ice in the cooler (witch I do once daily) Now my water stays between 67/70 degrees with room temps going between 77/82 degrees.

 

[richykn]

Early in the grow had no problem with temps. Water was staying between 70/74 degrees. Hydroguard was doing its job. As my grow space temps started to rise with the warmer weather (don't have the ability to run a AC in the grow space) water temps were on the rise fast. Came home to
81 degree res temps! This was not good, that's when I decided I had better figure out a way to cool this water. On the next water change I did notice a patch of brownish slimy goop on some roots. Clearly the beginning of some root rot. Cleaned it up as best I could and got my temps back in check.
Again this is my first DWC grow and have learned a few things for the next attempt. Growing conditions far from the best, small tent, and to many plants in my DWC, but I did make it to day 96 from seed and I am going to harvest in a few days without any major failures.
As far as I am concerned the Hydroguard or a product like it is necessary if you are going to try and grow DWC
Will try and snap a photo of the homemade water cooler to show you. Very simple design. The only downfall is you must have ice on hand to continue to refresh the ice in the cooler (witch I do once daily) Now my water stays between 67/70 degrees with room temps going between 77/82 degrees.

Thanks for that bud , hydroguard is top of my list now and a must before I start ,

IV been doing a little digging around for other ways to keep the water cool and came across this

https://forum.grasscity.com/threads/diy-dwc-electric-water-chiller-under-25.1161833/

Looks like a great idea , basically you get a mini usb fridge for about £10 and take it apart then stick the cooler to the outside of the bucket .

 

[richykn]

You could even add more if needed for bigger Res , and it's pretty safe due to it being supplied by usb meaning it's low voltage !

 

[wiltstone]

I use plastic bottles filled with cold water and lots of air. Pic is AvT, 3 bears og and sour orange livers from left to right 38 days

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

 

[wiltstone]

Oops here it is

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[Iriee Vibez]

Hey Rich, I am also a first time grower period, who started with DWC in the dead of summer. Bad decision. I had to invest in a water chiller, as my cab is in my garage and ac was not an an option. My cabinet temps easily exceeded 100 degrees throughout the summer, and if it wasn't for the reservoir being a cool and consistent 66 degrees, my two plants would have been toast!

I learned how having higher humidity can help to offset high temp situations, and invested in a humidifier for that purpose. After weeks of manually topping off, I set up a separate reservoir filled with 20% solution with a float valve set at my desired height. Made my life so much easier, and kept the plants at the exact level of nutes that I needed. Believe me, when it was first recommended to me on here, it sounded crazy and complicated, but boy was I wrong. I kick myself for not doing it earlier. My plants are in flower now, and drinking a gallon and a half a day, and I am not the least bit concerned about the res level.

To complicate tings, it turns out I have an auto with photo traits. Talk about challenges for a new grower! Check out my journal if you have a chance. Filled with things you should not do!

Reach out anytime if questions. Good luck, bro!

 

[Iriee Vibez]

 

[Iriee Vibez]

 

[Iriee Vibez]

Sorry about the side ways pic. I posted before I learned how to orient my camera.