Is a drip feed necessary in a DWC grow?

[EastVanAndDown]

I own a BCNL Bloombox and have been thinking about eliminating the drip feed from the equation. There are 9 plants on the flower side in a 10 gallon reservoir. I seem to constantly be combating slime/root rot with Heisenburgs tea and closely monitored temps/PPM/Ph. I am trying to eliminate all sources of potential harmful bacteria, which got me thinking about the drip feed to the plants.

This is what I am thinking is a possible scenario; the fresh nutrient water is put into the tub and the first scheduled 5 minute drip feeding begins. After the drip feeding is finished there is still an amount of water left in the irrigation hosing and drip lines that just sits there. In that time the water gets warmer than the res temp because of it's proximity and exposure to the light. The water gets to a temperature that is breeding harmful fungus/microbes/etc , then it gets sent back into the res through the plants during the next feeding. This could also be an answer for why it always comes back with a fresh batch of nutrient water is placed in the res. Once you have finally gotten rid of the slime with the tea, you put another fresh batch of nutrients/food for the slime back in the res and the cycle repeats. I see a lot of 5 gallon DWC grows do not have drip feeds going to the plants so I am wondering if I need it or not.

My question is this: Does this type of grow, with the 9 plants roots all in a common reservoir in DWC, need to have a drip feed going to the plants as well?

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[SteezyDee]

Drip feeding your plants in DWC is not necessary though I can't really comment on it possibly being your source of root slime etc as I have no experience with drip feeding in my DWC... 9 plants in one 10 gallon rez sounds crazy lol once you start flowering I can see those 9 plants sucking 10 gallons dry within a day.

I have one Jack Herrer plant in a 5 gallon bucket and I notice significant drops in the water level after a day/two.

 

[SteezyDee]

Happy growing

 

[superstoner1]

it is needed until roots are in the water, then not needed. res temps are key to control of res. a good beneficial like pondzyme is much easier than brewing teas and works great.

 

[EastVanAndDown]

Drip feeding your plants in DWC is not necessary though I can't really comment on it possibly being your source of root slime etc as I have no experience with drip feeding in my DWC... 9 plants in one 10 gallon rez sounds crazy lol once you start flowering I can see those 9 plants sucking 10 gallons dry within a day.

I have one Jack Herrer plant in a 5 gallon bucket and I notice significant drops in the water level after a day/two.

Thanks for the input! I make sure to keep a close eye on my water level, hasn't been an issue yet but we will see what happens with my next one. The plants are in 3.5" baskets so they are a little smaller than yours is most likely.

I am also worried about the Hydroton drying out if I discontinue the drip feed, what medium do you use with your DWC that works for you?

 

[hotrodharley]

I use pumice but don't worry about the medium being wet once the roots are reaching the water/solution. You could always wick to your wool cube if you wanted but . . . ..

 

[SteezyDee]

I used hydroton and I didnt start with a drip feed in order to promote root growth.. As long as water is touching the bottom of your net pot and the lower level of hydroton stays wet then that's enough to get the roots growing down into the water.

Like HotRot said once the roots are reaching into the solution you dont have to worry about keeping your medium moist.

If you feel you need the drip feed to promote root growth just try top-feeding, that'll eliminate the need for drip feed and would serve the same purpose, but trust me you dont need it.

 

[EastVanAndDown]

Like HotRot said once the roots are reaching into the solution you dont have to worry about keeping your medium moist.

If you feel you need the drip feed to promote root growth just try top-feeding, that'll eliminate the need for drip feed and would serve the same purpose, but trust me you dont need it.

Thanks a bunch! That was all I needed to hear to convince me, onto a new grow and a new strain! Maybe time to make a journal....

 

[dtischerd]

i use hydroton,and STG 1.5x1.5 cubes to start my seeds in..way better than rockwool..imho.

i also hand water very lightly.

no i have never used a drip system.

 

[TheGreenHornet]

as someone else here said before me.. drip feed or top feeder systems are not needed after the roots are exposed to the nutrient solution in the reservoir.

(my first dwc system I bought had a top feed system with a water pump, as soon as the roots hit the drink I disconnected the top feed, and left it on 24/7 in the reservoir for recirculation purposes. it worked out so well that now I have water pumps in the bottom of all my reservoirs for recirculation)

 

[BigBuddahCheese]

I have never used drip feeds or watering from top, just bubbles and water at bottom of net pot. Works like a champ, and yes keep the water temps to a safe range and no issues.

 

[tip top toker]

it is needed until roots are in the water, then not needed. res temps are key to control of res. a good beneficial like pondzyme is much easier than brewing teas and works great.

Incorrect. It can be used, but is absolutely not needed at any stage of your grow.

 

[jimmygreenfingers]

In a BCNL box you will need the drippers to start as the res level dont hit the bottom of the pots in this setup. Its SWC, thats not to say you cant up the water lever till it reaches the bottom of the pots and knock the drippers on the head but having owned one of these boxes id stick with the drippers till you have roots in the res then do away with the drippers.

 

[tip top toker]

I do not have any knowledge on the BCNL box, but in DWC as a whole, if there is water underneath the pots, and there are bubbles, then there is absolutely no need for the water to hit the bottom of the net pot. My water was typically 2-5 inches beneath the bottom of the netpots during seed propogation or while waiting for clones to root.

 

[jimmygreenfingers]

I do not have any knowledge on the BCNL box, but in DWC as a whole, if there is water underneath the pots, and there are bubbles, then there is absolutely no need for the water to hit the bottom of the net pot. My water was typically 2-5 inches beneath the bottom of the netpots during seed propogation or while waiting for clones to root.

BCNL box is not like regular DWC its more SWC tip top, yeah in a standard DWC setup theres no need for drippers. Its a prebuilt cab so changing shit around is a right faff. The air pump doesnt create enough bubbles to keep the net pots wet or even damp at the begining of the grow, there is a fair bit of a gap between pots and res level so it comes with drippers to kick things off. The cab is the dogs but for 3k the hydro sytem isnt the best by a long shot, i did a fair amount of mods to mine including a larger air pump so i could loose the drippers altogether. BTW i think i have some of your creations on the go mate lol, dont know for sure but ive a few black rose crosses just popped that might be yours

 

[EastVanAndDown]

The cab is the dogs but for 3k the hydro sytem isnt the best by a long shot, i did a fair amount of mods to mine including a larger air pump so i could loose the drippers altogether.

I totally agree, I bought it off craigslist for $1700 but I wouldn't pay a cent more. I have been doing mods on it as well which included a second air pump and different stones. If I had to spend the money again I wouldn't, for the cost I could have created a much better set up that was cleaner and produced more product.

 

[nitro harley]

I own a BCNL Bloombox and have been thinking about eliminating the drip feed from the equation. There are 9 plants on the flower side in a 10 gallon reservoir. I seem to constantly be combating slime/root rot with Heisenburgs tea and closely monitored temps/PPM/Ph. I am trying to eliminate all sources of potential harmful bacteria, which got me thinking about the drip feed to the plants.

This is what I am thinking is a possible scenario; the fresh nutrient water is put into the tub and the first scheduled 5 minute drip feeding begins. After the drip feeding is finished there is still an amount of water left in the irrigation hosing and drip lines that just sits there. In that time the water gets warmer than the res temp because of it's proximity and exposure to the light. The water gets to a temperature that is breeding harmful fungus/microbes/etc , then it gets sent back into the res through the plants during the next feeding. This could also be an answer for why it always comes back with a fresh batch of nutrient water is placed in the res. Once you have finally gotten rid of the slime with the tea, you put another fresh batch of nutrients/food for the slime back in the res and the cycle repeats. I see a lot of 5 gallon DWC grows do not have drip feeds going to the plants so I am wondering if I need it or not.

My question is this: Does this type of grow, with the 9 plants roots all in a common reservoir in DWC, need to have a drip feed going to the plants as well?

Thanks for any feedback!

I use drip rings......alot of times they plug up half way thru bloom....by then it probably doesn't matter......I only have three more weeks to go and my drippers are still dripping.....right now my plants are to big to even get to my rings....so if they quit dripping now it wont matter.....

My clones like the drippers.......and it helps airiate the nutes.....my buckets completly fill up with roots.....I mean packed I will post a pic from my last crop......With my buckets getting so full of roots my air stone gets buryed and I think the drippers might help at that point........

Anyway I will continue to use drip rings.........I just set my water level where I want it and let'er rip....no hand watering needed or adjusting water level...........nitro..

 

[ASMALLVOICE]

i use hydroton,and STG 1.5x1.5 cubes to start my seeds in..way better than rockwool..imho.

i also hand water very lightly.

no i have never used a drip system.

I use the same, hydroton and stg cubes and I have the seedlings on a drip system( 2 times a day now with the light 8 inches from them and so far so good, day 8 comin up


Peace

Asmallvoice