Indoor Wilma BIG 4 pot flood n drain! Got some Q's

[Bazlad]

Hows it going folks? Doing abit of research into Aquaponics and came across this badboy! Also found a great thread (through google) which showed a few decent mods turning this system into a DWC, flood n drain hybrid! Just had a couple of questions: • do you need to change the nutrient solution with this set up or Do u just refill it every few days and if so is it easy enough to keep the correct EC, PH levels? I'm new to this game so looking at what will be the best media for me so looking for some opinions. I'll post the link below and Yous can have a peek.

http://www.thctalk.com/cannabis-forum/showthread.php?52241-Official-Wilma-thread

Im currently at work so will reply when I can! Thanks again guys n gals, I truly value ur input and suggestions.

 

[SmashedbyHashish]

pretty kool system bro...most folks change their rez every 10-14days depending on what stage they're in, flowering or vegg...the larger the plant the greater the nute uptake.

 

[Bazlad]

Cool m8, so if the res dropped it's level say after a few days I would just top it up then do a full solution change after 10-14 days? I dunno if u checked tht link out but the guy had his roots submerged in his res, how would u change the feed in tht case? Would tht not damage the root system? And would u get your mixture to the correct EC once the PH'd water was in the res? Apologies for all the borein Q's just trying to get my head around it before I buy 1!

 

[JM]

Cool m8, so if the res dropped it's level say after a few days I would just top it up then do a full solution change after 10-14 days?

correct, and maintain ppm of nutrient you are using for that stage of growth

guy had his roots submerged in his res, how would u change the feed in tht case?

siphon hose or make an adapter to pick up from the pump....

after each grow cycle you should hand scrub the slim off the res and other parts... sterilize... etc...

And would u get your mixture to the correct EC once the PH'd water was in the res? Apologies for all the borein Q's just trying to get my head around it before I buy 1!

best to have ec and ph set before going into contact with roots as ph swings can cause upsets... a short time is prob not a big deal.... but in an ideal world... :smoke

no need to apologize mate... we're here to help!

:smokebuds:
:

 

[Bazlad]

Cheers for clearing tht up JM! I've learned loads from this forum and all my fellow growers! Dunno how people managed decent grows without them!lol so after doing my homework I think this is the system for me, any recommendation on nutes/growing media? Reckon clay pellets n rockwool cubes will be my preferred choice and recirculate 15mins every hour lights on @ the start, see how tht works out! Just 1 more question, is the PH likely to stay around the same level until i change the solution? Ill check everyday but hopeing tht i wont be constantly haveing to tweek it. Once again thanks alot for ur shared knowledge.

 

[JM]

ph may be stable... best thing you can do in that regard is bubble the crap outta your water... keep oxygen levels high... with hydro you wanna keep root zone temps in the 60 deg range.... that helps also...

water source is also important regardless of grow style... soil or hydro... I'd reccomend catching rainwater and testing its ph in your area... if it tends to be in the neutral zone... 6.5 - 7.5.... use that.... and bubble it for 24 hours...

simple bubbler here:
http://www.autoflower.org/videos/52/my-bubbler-diy.html

You will def want to check ph daily as it tells whats up with everything else in the resevoir... and consequently the root zone...

if you use rockwool, be sure to read it closely, most rock wool is untreated... its ph is 8.0.... you'll need a 24 hour soak at ph 5.0 and then a distilled water or ph neutral rinse before use...

I'd reccomend soil if you're a first timer as hydro is yet another set of skills to learn above and beyond growing... but whichever you choose we'll help you along the way ... no wiorries... if you're growing autos read FD's guide to Hefty autos... check my signature...
:smokebuds:

 

[Bazlad]

+ rep for u JM my friend, uve been a treasure chest of info m8! Wish I put this much effort into my school days, I'd be a fckn rocket scientist by now!haha

 

[TshirtNinja]

also look into Advanced Nutrients ph perfect formula. we have a review on the forum and from the people i talk to they laugh and say they never pick up there ph pens again. I will be getting a ph pen just to check too but I am going to put it to the test.

 

[Bazlad]

I'll definately have to take a look at tht review m8, I made the school boy error of starting my 1st grow without a PH pen and have stunted my little lady's! No patience.lol I'm going to buy the HMD PH-200 on pay day £50 from Coventry hydroponics which is the cheapest I've seen tht model! Those nutes sound great and alot less hassle.