Hydro Nutrient costs - Am I missing something?

[BigBudsBunny]

I was thinking of trying a hydro/aero grow at some point using a 5 gal control reservoir (10 gal of nutrient solution in system) with (4) 5 gal bucket planters. In any event, I was looking at the "Recipe for Success" by Technaflora to get an idea of nutrient costs and requirements to run such a system from seed thru harvest. I know there is alternatives but just happened to pick this one since it defined the products per grow program.

16 week start to finish program as per the attached

week 1 - germinate
week 2,3 - seedling
week 4-7 - veg
week 8-15 flower
week 16 harvest

In accordance with the instructions and changing of the reservoir tank every week, you would have to buy almost $400 in nutrient solution to carry you thru the program (some items would be left over..of course ...but hardly seems worth it for 4 plants (that's if all would come up female with the risk of no females) Am I missing something or is it just not worth the expense and effort. All the details are in the spreadsheet and cost was derived by using ave prices including delivery. I have read others went with 12 bubble buckets and used only the Recipe for Success kit quantities and just don't know how that is possible considering the schedule laid out in the kit. Am I missing something or have I made an error in my calcs?

I understand you can go every 10 days instead of weekly but even so, you still have to purchase the same amount $400 and just use 25% less.

If this is the case, it would be a whole lot easier the old fashioned way - get it from a friend.

 

[bowlfullofbliss]

This hobby costs big money to do. I spend much more than that, plus a 50lb tank of co2 every 7 days at $23 each as well, plus all the growing medium, a $400/month electric bill, and endless odds and ends.

It takes money to make money. I call the hydro store the $300 store........I can't leave without spending at LEAST that much, every damn time.

Thats how we roll brother.

You can spend much less growing in dirt btw........with great results. But I hate dirt. Its dirty. lol.

 

[Kite High]

This hobby costs big money to do. I spend much more than that, plus a 50lb tank of co2 every 7 days at $23 each as well, plus all the growing medium, a $400/month electric bill, and endless odds and ends.

It takes money to make money. I call the hydro store the $300 store........I can't leave without spending at LEAST that much, every damn time.

Thats how we roll brother.

You can spend much less growing in dirt btw........with great results. But I hate dirt. Its dirty. lol.

you either are growing hella huge or your setup leaks like a sieve...I run 5x5x9 high chambers and average a 20# tank every fifty days on each

 

[bowlfullofbliss]

you either are growing hella huge or your setup leaks like a sieve...I run 5x5x9 high chambers and average a 20# tank every fifty days on each

no comment .

 

[Kite High]

no comment .

I understand and do not blame you ...GROW ON!!!

 

[skunkd0c]

I was thinking of trying a hydro/aero grow at some point using a 5 gal control reservoir (10 gal of nutrient solution in system) with (4) 5 gal bucket planters. In any event, I was looking at the "Recipe for Success" by Technaflora to get an idea of nutrient costs and requirements to run such a system from seed thru harvest. I know there is alternatives but just happened to pick this one since it defined the products per grow program.

16 week start to finish program as per the attached

week 1 - germinate
week 2,3 - seedling
week 4-7 - veg
week 8-15 flower
week 16 harvest

In accordance with the instructions and changing of the reservoir tank every week, you would have to buy almost $400 in nutrient solution to carry you thru the program (some items would be left over..of course ...but hardly seems worth it for 4 plants (that's if all would come up female with the risk of no females) Am I missing something or is it just not worth the expense and effort. All the details are in the spreadsheet and cost was derived by using ave prices including delivery. I have read others went with 12 bubble buckets and used only the Recipe for Success kit quantities and just don't know how that is possible considering the schedule laid out in the kit. Am I missing something or have I made an error in my calcs?

I understand you can go every 10 days instead of weekly but even so, you still have to purchase the same amount $400 and just use 25% less.

If this is the case, it would be a whole lot easier the old fashioned way - get it from a friend.

View attachment 2698266

many of the foods i have seen recommend changing the res every 2 weeks
every week i have never heard of before
when i first started i followed this advice , i quickly noticed how much food was being used and decided to relax this process to every 4 weeks
then i decided to try and leave it and just change from veg to flower food , i cant say i noticed any difference the plants grew the same
as long as the EC reading was ok the plants are healthy
i am able to keep plants healthy with no res changes, only topping up with water when needed and maintaining the correct EC level this cuts the costs
of food down considerably and also is less work
you maybe concerned with all the nutrient imbalances that you may have read about that could occur if you do not replace the food every week in a re-circulating system
i am still waiting to see this rumored imbalance show its self , i have been waiting quite some time

food for thought

peace

 

[BigBudsBunny]

many of the foods i have seen recommend changing the res every 2 weeks
every week i have never heard of before
when i first started i followed this advice , i quickly noticed how much food was being used and decided to relax this process to every 4 weeks
then i decided to try and leave it and just change from veg to flower food , i cant say i noticed any difference the plants grew the same
as long as the EC reading was ok the plants are healthy
i am able to keep plants healthy with no res changes, only topping up with water when needed and maintaining the correct EC level this cuts the costs
of food down considerably and also is less work
you maybe concerned with all the nutrient imbalances that you may have read about that could occur if you do not replace the food every week in a re-circulating system
i am still waiting to see this rumored imbalance show its self , i have been waiting quite some time

food for thought

peace

Thanks so much - I have read about the imbalance and it was my concern - hence the cost analysis. I am guessing the mfg would enjoy having their customers refreshing and replace it everyday...lol. I just couldn't imagine a small personal grow could consume that much $ in nutrient solution for 4 or less plants (hopefully). It makes more sense to me how you described your process.

 

[superstoner1]

You are looking at it completely wrong. I run expensive nutes with full additives in 50 gal res's and you have to feed them to reap the rewards but you have to look at cost of nutes to yield. With that said nutes cost me less than $1.25 per dried ounce from veg through flower. Thats a damn good return, but thats still less than $50 in nutes for the whole grow.
As for $23 in tanks every week i spend $19 for propane that lasts almost 3 months in my generator. In less than 4 months you would pay for the generator with that cost difference.

 

[ozgrow420]

I have some advice. If your worried about having alot of running costs like exspensive nutes then start small. I saw you had alot of supplements in there and you don't NEED those. just some grow and bloom would work fine until you got up the money for some better stuff. yeah you might not yield AS much or might not be AS good but if you do it right you'll still get some great bud and quite a lot of it just using base nutes. also if your only going to grow a couple of plants you can scrog them and produce way more than you would normaly.

 

[bass1014]

dude just grow with the general hydro nut system 3 parts, in the quart sizes. its a 3 part..and i use one set for every 3-4 grows .. the 3 part is like $49.95. so your return is better.. but as we all know if you want great results you got to put in great things.. so money tree's take money to grow...