My New Hydro Grow- Tips,Advice,Feed Back?

[gtran]

So this is my first post here on RIU and i hope i get some good advice/responses. I just ordered some White Widow, Pineapple Chunk, and The Purps and two free seeds from The Single Seed Center. Once they get here im going to build a set-up similar to the one here in the pictures which i will use for the vegetative stage. For this new set-up it will house 5 plants in a 15 Gallon tub with a 150gal fountain pump inside the tub and the same pvc drip system circulating water over the roots. For veg i have a 125 watt full spec grow light and for flowering i have a 400 watt Apollo High Pressure Sodium Light. I am using fluro-duo 2 part nutrient system and keeping my ph around 6.5-6.8.



QUESTIONS
Has anyone order from Single Seed Centre before and is so how where the result?

Is a 400 watt/53,000 lumens light gonna be enough for the 5 plants i mentioned above?

Has anyone grown these strains and if so do you have any tips?

When the plants first start out should i run the drip system constantly like i did with the plants in the pictures (which are just seeds i found, just practice) or just three times a day for 15 minutes?

Im using hydroton as a growing medium, after germination should i place the seed in rockwool. then bury the rockwool in the hyrodton, or put the germinated seed right into the hydroton?

Finally, what is the best way to ventilate a small closet (4x4) with no fresh air vent?

Thanks for the help!

 

[PetFlora]

See my 21st Century Drip thread for ideas

 

[Nizza]

i still dont understand yours pf! but your results are great. I have a 560 gph submersible lying around i would love to try your system, please PM me your setup in a diagram or something cause i just dont understand im sorry. like say it so an idiot can understand
gtran I like your setup, nice and clean. Be sure to get a nylon brush for cleaning and have a way to cleanout your equipment, you will avoid big problems this way. I used to clean my stuff every week, and id do it fast and get it done . I'd use 3 gallons of hot water a cap of bleach and a drop of soap. scrub the inside then rinse well after.
maybe you could have a second tote that you just pick up the lid and switch it over
it would be a good idea when transferring them to have the water temperature be the same
my main point is that cleanliness is very good in hydro , and will help you avoid problems
ph should probably be between 5.5 and 6.5 though, with 5.8 being optimum

 

[PetFlora]

Nizza

Instead of PM, just watch the video link in the first post. I don't think I can simplify it for you any more than that.

As to cleaning, my drain back is ~ 1" above the tray bottom. Most of the junk collects there.

Currently I am draining outside the rez, so I filter through a gold coffee screen, but as soon as I get a helping hand I will raise the red tote a bit, which will allow me to drain directly back into the rez.

My pH range is 5.8-6.1

 

[gtran]

Thanks for the props Nizza, the system im using is really simple and ive found it to be EXTREMELY effective. Fill your tube up as much as you want with your water/nuts(i normally do a little over half way)- Take a 100gph fountain pump and submerge into your water, connect your two inch RUBBER HOSING to the pump and run it through the top of the lid(cut hole depending on where your net pots will be. You only want rubber hose at the begging and end of your pump so you can bend it to fit in the hole. After cutting the rubber hose to length, use a connector to connect to 1/2 pvc. I use pvc for ALL drop system because i found the water flows better and waters each plant evenly when using pvc as opposed to an all rubber hose drip system, after cutting your pvc, attach it and mark three holes ( one dead center of the root, one to the left and one to the right, you want your pvc as close to you stem as possible without it touching. Next drill your pvc holes and connect( make sure the holes are facing downward and drill a few holes through the top of the pvc for better flow of water. You then attach another rubber hose peice to the end of your pvc and bend it into a predrilled hole so all the water drains back into your bin. Feel free to ask anymore questions

 

[Malevolence]

Finally, what is the best way to ventilate a small closet (4x4) with no fresh air vent?

Thanks for the help!

Inline fan... Cut a hole in the wall and run your exhaust into the next room... hopefully a bathroom no one uses or attic or something. You can get a vent cover from home depot for 8 bucks, all you have to do is cut a rectangle in the wall. I used a screwdriver and pocket knife (cuz that's all I had), so it's not hard. You will need to pipe in fresh air from somewhere or... not sure what will happen but weed needs fresh air to grow.