Old Reviews Building a Small Hydro Tank out of a Tote

[Nelson]

Today is the day, 21 march, I assemble the second tote tank. Nursery 2 we will name it. I don't know why I have to name things I just do. It will be going right beside the first one.

After I get it in place today I will fill it up with water and, if there is still time, go out and get some AN nuits to put in it. Fill it up with a bunch of new babies. Let the comparison begin.

The whisper pump I worried about in the last post is actually working very well bubbling in the first tote. Lots of bubbles.

 

[BuddyLove]

interesting thread here nelson...oh and by the way...NICE BADGE....good grow vibes to you bro.

 

[The Squid]

Hey Nelson. Love this thing. You basically inspired me to make my own smaller DWC hydro tote. Question that I didn't see the answer to: Are you leaving all 12 plants in there from start to finish? If so, what about root tangle and all that?
I don't know a ton about hydro but I am an no idiot. Building the thing is the easiest part, just didn't know how close together you can grow the ladies from start to finish. Thanks man.

Edit: Nevermind I'm medicated. I have read this whole thing and should already know that you are transferring them into your bigger bubbler for finishing. I didn't see how big that one is however. Basically, how far apart should they be for flowering? I know it depends on strain and all but I would think there's a roundabout estimate. Thanks

 

[Dopey Jim]

Sorry Nelson but you're going to have to bite the bullet and give us a DWC blow by blow grow guide.

You've more than peaked my interest and I've already turfed some of the kids toys out of a suitable box. I've got an air pump, air stone and hydroleca but I'm unsure as to how to proceed:
What other equipment do I need?
Do you change the water at all in DWC or just top up?
How do you start the seedlings off?
What difficulties do you need to be aware of with a DWC grow?

I'm sure none of us need to be spoon fed but more info' means it's easier to avoid simple mistakes.
Thought I might try mine on tomatoes first as I'm about to switch off my lights and transfer everything to the greenhouse.

 

[The Squid]

Hey Dopey. As I'm sure Nelson would hook us up but there are several DWC grows on here that will help you. That's what I read and I'm still learning. The water gets changed weekly into a new reservoir or clean the same one. It's easier to have an identical one for super fast swap out. You top off during the week to my understanding. Ph is high 5s instead of low 6s like soil. Make sure you stay on top of ph just like always. Not sure about starting nutes I am wondering that myself. There are several ways to start the seeds but what I've seen is soaking or germing in paper towel then planting in a rockwool cube or germinating straight into rockwool then placing that into your net pot with the stones, perlite, whatever around the cube. The water comes up until it touches the bottom of the net pot with the stones until roots start reaching down in which case you are able to lower the water/use less then. Hope this helps and sorry if I'm just telling you stuff that you know. And thanks Nelson again for the inspiration.

 

[Nelson]

Funny how kind words always make me smile. Hey I'm gonna be 67 in a couple months time for me to toughen up. I still cry when I hear "Puff the Magoc the Magic Dragon" enpecially when it comes to the sad part. People who send me mean messages make me sad.

interesting thread here nelson...oh and by the way...NICE BADGE....good grow vibes to you bro.

 

[Nelson]

I'm growing SOG which means a squish a lot of plants into a small area. the big tank has 69 holes in it and 32 sq. ft of surface area. As you can see by the numbers I got about 2 plants per square ft. My yield will reflect that. When Muddy grows I think he takes up about 3 sq. ft per plant. He gets more than 2 ounces per plant everytime. I am lucky if I get 1/2 an oz per plant.

I am in continuous grow so a mature plant comes out for harvest and a 5 weeker from the nursery totes go in. down time is nonexistant I just keeping hatching seeds growing out till they show sex and putting them into the big pool to finish.

This is why I can't answer your question. what is going to be your style of grow SOG you pack em in like sardines. Maximum yield per plant yu spread them out to give them maximum room to bud up.

What you said about the answer varrying on the type or pheno of the type is totally correct. I try to get but on a stick not big brancy suckers. Hope I answered even though I know I didn't.

Hey Nelson. Love this thing. You basically inspired me to make my own smaller DWC hydro tote. Question that I didn't see the answer to: Are you leaving all 12 plants in there from start to finish? If so, what about root tangle and all that?
I don't know a ton about hydro but I am an no idiot. Building the thing is the easiest part, just didn't know how close together you can grow the ladies from start to finish. Thanks man.

Edit: Nevermind I'm medicated. I have read this whole thing and should already know that you are transferring them into your bigger bubbler for finishing. I didn't see how big that one is however. Basically, how far apart should they be for flowering? I know it depends on strain and all but I would think there's a roundabout estimate. Thanks

 

[ElGuapo]

Hi Nelson,

If you would want more bubbles, just add a second cheap aquarium pump. If one craps out, there is always the other. An engineer would call it redundancy.

 

[The Squid]

No you did well. haha. Answered enough I really appreciate it. So what would be a better yield? Putting like 9 plants in a small tote and get a half each or grow like three or four plants in separate buckets or more spaced out tote type DWC and shoot for over an o each? Seems like packing more would yield more. Guess it all depends. Thanks again.

 

[Nelson]

I probably should keep a spare one in the wings. I have never tried to see how long a plant would stay helthy without the pump on. I guess at some point it would just drown.

Hi Nelson,

If you would want more bubbles, just add a second cheap aquarium pump. If one craps out, there is always the other. An engineer would call it redundancy.