Indoor Switching to hydroponics

[BillyWu]

Hi folks, just got a couple of questions as I might switch to hydroponics, fed up with how long it takes to correct problems in soil :/ I prefer to have scientific quantitative control over my growing medium, so I was thinking of going hydro after my current grow.

#1 - Will I need to buy a new set of nutrients, i.e.: chemical ones as opposed to organic?
#2 - Is this all I need to get my DWC setup going? It's got an air pump, 20 litre container and growing medium/net pot. http://www.1st-hydroponics.co.uk/oxypot-mk2-complete-hydro-systems-drip-irrigation/prod_3096.html
#3 - How exactly does the air pump operate? Is there any specific setting for the amount of litres of oxygen per hour should be pumped in?
#4 - Is there anything else I need?

Thanks :] Any advice is welcomed! My setup is a Secret Jardin Dark Room pro DR60 II, with a 250W HPS, 2x 50W LED UFO panels (currently on their way) with full extraction and CO2 enrichment.

 

[TaNg]

You should try a different soil before you make the jump over dude,the first real problem I've had with soil was this grow and it's the first time I've used Bio Bizz light, I've got a Sativa photo that's been sat in some Plagron light for 11 weeks and its stayed at 6.6 all the way through. I do know what u mean it is frustrating when your soil is being a div but when it's rights its almost hydro especially if you feed ever day like I do.

 

[BillyWu]

Yeah man I'm on BioBizz light too, it's shit :|

The reason I think hydroponics will suit me better is because I'm skilled in lab skills and quantitative/qualitative analysis as I'm the science industry :] If I can have an exact control over pH and EC I can get the exact results I want.

 

[Hazy]

I'm thinking of going half way on my next grow, Advanced Nutrients in Biobizz light, but treating the soil as a soilless medium. Hazy

 

[TaNg]

You will more than likely love hydro then dude. I saw one the other day that used an ultrasonic fogger so the roots sat in this mist of nutes lol it looked awesome.

 

[p man]

Hey Billy, I'm just starting my first dwg also here is my simple set up I started with one cfl 45 watt rated at 200 watt 6500k bulb each and they really took off and started getting real big I was really amazed!....so I added a couple more but I wanted to try my new t-5 for awhile so I made this setup....I might go back to the cfl bulbs (I have new a plan)...here's where I'm at now don't know if I can help any but if I can ..post some shots when your set up
View attachment 135054


View attachment 135051

 

[BillyWu]

Looks like quite a nice little setup there man :]

So can anyone answer my original 4 questions please?

 

[TaNg]

Bucket looks perfect,don't know about your nute should say on the bottle or go on there web site,don't know exactly how the pumps work but there are 2 types piston and diaphragm,the latter is the quietist and your gonna need one that pumps 20L per min.

 

[Red eyed c]

Yes you need to switch to hydro nutes.organic nutes work by breaking down in the soil to make nutrients available to the plant mate :smokebuds:

 

[BillyWu]

Alrighty, thanks fellas. So the bucket is good, air pump sucks and I need a 20 litre/minute diaphragm pump.
Is this one decent or is it too much? http://www.ecrater.co.uk/p/10173708/hailea-30lpm-diaphragm-air-pump?keywords=diaphragm

30 litres per minute as opposed to 20.

How big are these air pumps exactly? Judging by this diagram, I imagine they're about half the size of the pot itself? http://www.northcountyhydro.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/aero-pod-bubbler.jpg

Reason I ask is that space is limited in my grow room, need enough room to pop it next to the reservoir without moving it too much to one side away from my light source :]

Edit: DERP sorry I missed the part in the description where it says the dimensions lol, "Size: 208*150*178mm". 20.8cm length by 15cm width and 17.8cm depth, should be fine.
These 'bubbler' air pumps, how noisy are they exactly? Would they be louder than my extraction fan? Stealth is a substantial factor in my grows, need it to be real quiet.

Edit 2: Apparently it's better to have 2/3x more litres/minute output from your air pump than the capacity of your reservoir, is this correct? I'd need a 60 litre/minute one if this is the case, so the 60 litre/minute model they do here would be good: http://www.hydra-aqua.com/pond-supplies-uk/hi-blow-air-pump.html#tab2 or possibly this cheaper model, http://www.h2osupplies.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=100