Will I get algae?

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pobo

Active Member
I just put together a DWC system using 5 gallon buckets bought from home depot. They're the orange "homer" buckets and I'm a little concerned about light penetrating them and causing algae growth.
Has anyone used these before? Did you cover them somehow or were they fine?
I'll be using CFLs so the light won't penetrate as much as a HPS or MH.

Thanks!
 
MataGrowa

MataGrowa

Well-Known Member
Ive seen a lot of people including Roseman use white 5 gallon buckets so I dont see why orange would be a problem. If you want to be super safe it couldn't hurt to wrap them in metal repair tape. $7.97 at Lowes, probably the same at home depot.
 
tom__420

tom__420

Well-Known Member
MataGrowa said:
Ive seen a lot of people including Roseman use white 5 gallon buckets so I dont see why orange would be a problem. If you want to be super safe it couldn't hurt to wrap them in metal repair tape. $7.97 at Lowes, probably the same at home depot.
Click to expand...
Lol took the words right out of my mouth
 
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pobo

Active Member
Word, thanks guys.

Another quick question about DWC if you don't mind: I'm a little confused as to how you go from seedling to rooted in the DWC container... I plan on starting my seedlings in small rockwool cubes in some sort of tray then putting the cubes about halfway down in my hydroton. But I don't understand how the seedling will get waterered at that point since the roots won't be touching the water quite yet (Or should they be?). There's no drip system or anything so will I need to give them some water from the top for a while until the root grow long enough the reach the water?

Thanks and sorry for the n00b question
 
tom__420

tom__420

Well-Known Member
Let the roots grow through the bottom of the cube
Once that has happened put it in the net cup with a layer of hydroton under it
Fill the rez up so that it is just touching the bottom of the net cup
The bottom layer of hydroton will wick up the nute mix and before you know it you will have a bunch of roots sticking through the cup
Once the roots are through the cup keep the rez level lower so that it is not touching the net cup
Good luck
 
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pobo

Active Member
tom__420 said:
Let the roots grow through the bottom of the cube
Once that has happened put it in the net cup with a layer of hydroton under it
Fill the rez up so that it is just touching the bottom of the net cup
The bottom layer of hydroton will wick up the nute mix and before you know it you will have a bunch of roots sticking through the cup
Once the roots are through the cup keep the rez level lower so that it is not touching the net cup
Good luck
Click to expand...
Perfect explaination. Thank you very much Tom!
 
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pobo

Active Member
Yeah, I'll definitely keep a journal and I'll drop the link here.
One last question... if I germinate the seeds right in the rockwool, should I put them under lights (24/0, 18/6 ?) or keep them in the dark like you would if you were germing for soil?
 
tom__420

tom__420

Well-Known Member
You can leave them in the dark for one day after you plant them if they were not previously germinated
I wouldn't go without lights for more than a day though, after one day set the lights to 18/6
 
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pobo

Active Member
Hey Tom,
Should the air pumps stay on all the time or should they also be on the same timer as the lights (18/6)?
 
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