Indoor Need Some Basic Hydro Help/Advice

[TokinNuggs]

Hey AF'ers, I've decided to convert to my little hydro system.

I have the mrgrowpro.com kit he sends along with his pc case:

Included in the hydroponic grow system:
light tight 1 gallon tub
super quiet air pump
air hose
6" long air stone
2 net pots filled with Sterilized High Quality Hydroton Rocks.
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I am using General Organics liquid nutes.
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I have two Cream Caramel's in soil that are almost two weeks old and struggling with ph issues, but still growing (chlorosis). I was thinking of popping them in the hydro system for practice and to see if I can grow them out that way, washing away the soil from the roots and putting them in the small planters hopefully, in hydroton rocks.
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Some questions that I can't seem to find answers to:

1. General Organics, I believe, doesn't recommend using an air stone with their ferts - I assume I just run the tube from the whisper air pump directly into the water, and keep it on continuously?

2. Do you keep the water "fertilized" with the weekly nutrient schedule constantly, changing it out with new nutes once a week? Or do you only "feed" for a day or two then change the reservoir out with clean ph'd water every week? (if that makes sense)

3. I assume my solution ph should be between 5.8-6.2 for hydro, I have organic ph adjusters I can use for that.

4. Does the whisper pump need to be placed "above" the tub or can it be sitting next to it at the bottom of the case?

5. I have a scrog screen I can put above it and try to train them if they stretch.

These are my basic questions, and excuse my ignorance with this, but, I think I want to go this way and it will be better for me than messing with soil.

I would really appreciate any quick advice here, hopefully can get this done tonight or tomorrow depending. I understand the basic concept of how hydro works - I can start new seeds if that is absolutely the way to go instead.

Thanks in advance!

 

[TokinNuggs]

Oh yeah - forgot - the tub is a dark blue plastic that you can see through with a white plastic top - should I cover the outside of the tub with aluminum foil? Or does that matter?

 

[The Squid]

Hey tokin. I do know that you should cover the outside of the tote or paint it. The light does not need to be able to get to the roots or water reservoir. Search hydro in the tool bar there are a ton of posts already on here that will answer you more quickly with a little research. Good luck bro.

 

[Jackal]

Organics and hydro don't mix well, you will end up with a nasty mess.

 

[TokinNuggs]

I just can't find answers to the above questions about how these little basic kits with just an air pump are supposed to be run - nothing about simply dipping roots in water with an air pump (with or without an airstone).

I won't transplant a thing until I'm sure of everything. And yes if you bubble (airstone) the GO nutes it will get funky supposedly - but if you can't reasonably use organic (or organic-based) nutes with hydro, there's no sense in me even doing it, I won't use chems.

Searching the forum hasn't helped, trust that I wouldn't post this thread without researching first. These seem like easy questions someone could just give me a short yes/no answer to. I'll keep searching though.

 

[Nelson]

I do a lot of hydro growing and could help you but I am not an organic grower.

I just can't find answers to the above questions about how these little basic kits with just an air pump are supposed to be run - nothing about simply dipping roots in water with an air pump (with or without an airstone).

I won't transplant a thing until I'm sure of everything. And yes if you bubble (airstone) the GO nutes it will get funky supposedly - but if you can't reasonably use organic (or organic-based) nutes with hydro, there's no sense in me even doing it, I won't use chems.

Searching the forum hasn't helped, trust that I wouldn't post this thread without researching first. These seem like easy questions someone could just give me a short yes/no answer to. I'll keep searching though.

 

[The Squid]

Hey I didn't mean any offence, hope you didn't take it that way, stupid words on screen. haha. I just figured you would get answers faster by searching but if you have tried I believe you and I know how it is. I will do a run through of your questions to the best of my abilities but I am no expert. Especially hydro, but I have done my fair share of critical research and I'm no idiot so hopefully it will be helpful.

1>>>I actually wasn't aware of the organic and hydro dilemma until now. GLad I know now because I was planning on using the GO on my hydro too whenever I get it set up. Oh well. Good to know.

2>>>From what I understand one wouldn't generally add more nute water to the reservoir in the weeks time. Just "topping" it off with clean ph water. I could be wrong but either way I don't see how this would hurt. Then clean the reservoir and change the solution completely every single week, new water and nutes. During intense flowering stages I can see where you would top off with nute water but I am not altogether sure.

3>>>5.8 is what I read everywhere for hydro.

4>>> I keep my little air pump that I use to oxygenate my feeding water on the floor next to my 1 Gal jug and have no problems. I know where you are coming from though because it is possible water can make its way up and down and into your air pump which is no bueno. So, just to be safe, keep it above or level to.

5>>>A screen is never really a bad idea. You can use it, or decide not to either way.

Good luck man.

 

[Jackal]

1. General Organics, I believe, doesn't recommend using an air stone with their ferts - I assume I just run the tube from the whisper air pump directly into the water, and keep it on continuously?
Same difference

2. Do you keep the water "fertilized" with the weekly nutrient schedule constantly, changing it out with new nutes once a week? Or do you only "feed" for a day or two then change the reservoir out with clean ph'd water every week? (if that makes sense)
Weekly rez changes with fresh nutrient solution is recommended, topping off as needed with plain water.
3. I assume my solution ph should be between 5.8-6.2 for hydro, I have organic ph adjusters I can use for that.
Yes you are correct.

4. Does the whisper pump need to be placed "above" the tub or can it be sitting next to it at the bottom of the case?
Above, in case of power failure. Water will destroy the pump.
5. I have a scrog screen I can put above it and try to train them if they stretch.
Yeah you can scrog train them.

 

[TokinNuggs]

1. General Organics, I believe, doesn't recommend using an air stone with their ferts - I assume I just run the tube from the whisper air pump directly into the water, and keep it on continuously?
Same difference

I see. But don't you "need" to aerate the water with H20 to replace what the plants take out of it and keep the ferts going for a week in the same water? Can you really just dip the roots into a bucket of fert'd water for a week with no circulation? (in my case)

I'm also aware of the TDS/PPM schedule of sorts you need to keep them on, but, am not sure how important that would be in my case if my PH and nutes are done correctly with filtered water, I mean how could I even change the PPM...don't really get that part of it I guess, other than to add more nutes to a mix I guess, which seems dubious.

Thanks for the responses Squid and Jackal - very helpful - appreciate it and didn't mean to sound snarky at all.

 

[Jackal]

Yeah plants can't live in still water, it needs to be oxygenated 24/7 with a pump and air stones.

Now that I think about this, my buddy did a DWC grow with GO nutes. Check this thread out.
https://www.autoflower.org/f24/crazy-dwc-4765.html