Can we get a WILMA advice thread going?

[CANNABISCOOPERATIVE]

I have ordered my 4x25L WILMA system with the 70L res etc for my 120x120x200 tent, planning to scrog. Its really hard to find any reputable info from peple growing cannabis with it. Ive seen a good thread about modifying them and future interesting stuff to check out. But the really basic stuff is hard to find.

For example do you fill the res up and then nute and ph it, then turn the mixer on to mix, then just have the timer set to feed? Do you use a plug timer or is it built into the system?

Or how do you even clean the res when your tent is full of big plants scrogged up ? How is it for someone new to hydro? I struggle with temp management where I live and they can fluctuate a lot, which made me reconsider getting a DWC, are roots as vulnerable in the wilma? Can I just propogate my seeds in my rockwool until the roots have established and then just put into the pots abd bury with clay pebbles? Do you just fill up the res and refill once empty, or do you add more water halfway etc? If so how do you know the total nute strength etc?

Could use more people doing in depth reviews on the systems. Considering doing one myself if anyone would be interested?

 

[eyeballsaul]

Heres just a bit of info on what i done, i used wilma for years.
First the nutes, i always mixed mines in a bucket before hand and then emptied them into the res. I just felt it was more accurate this way. I had my timer set to 3 feeds per day all while the lights were on, 15 mins a time. I played about with the feeding schedual and found it didnt make too much difference, once the plants had properly established themselves i would sometimes leave it running 24/7, again didnt seem to make too much a difference. This needs to be a plug in timer.
I would check the ph and ec balance as the plants fed and the solution went down.
If the ec had raised that would suggest the nutes were too strong, if the ec had lowered that would suggest you could up the nutes slightly. Follow the manufacturers schedual and u should find it all stays in balance, unless an issue arises, in which case you empty the res, flush with ph balanved water no nutes, check the run off ph and ec to ensure salt theres been no salt build up. If so flush till the ph and ec are back to normal.
Some people have different opinions on this but everytime my res lowered i would exchange the nutrient solution using the water pump in reverse to syck the water out the res and into the buckets.
I would not top up nutrient level often or adjust the ph too often within the same solution as the ratio of nutrients may change and the way that the solution reacts to specific compounds may change.
Mines was stabalised no need to top up with stronger or weaker solutions i just ensured the ec stayed the same by the time the res was almost empty i would do a complete water change throw in a flush occasionaly and it was always fine.
Its fairly straight forward imo for a beginner 3 feeds a day while lights on, use a reputable nutrient brand. Empty res and clean once a week.
I kept my intake lower in the tent, i never had issues with heat apart from upon the canopy, youll find the canopy quickly enough covers the pots.
When it comes to heat to a certain extent id be more worried about the canopy than the pots.
Just double check everything twice, one mistake with the nutes and within half an hour your plants can suffer, i had nute burn one time crumbled them after like 30 mins, but flush, prune bit of time and they were fine.
With the seeds, exactly as you said was how i done it, rockwool first then into pots, just ensure the top of the rockwool is covered by pebbles or you will get slimy green algae.
The system is good, i enjoyed using it. I would find my roots growing from the pots into the res, ie a air pump is good but no essential.
I think its an easy to manage system.
The plants do require a fair bit of training due to the positioning on the pots but i would always do that anyway.
Really fast growth, good yeild, outstanding product, again against popular belief my bud always smoked and tasted better than soil growers.
If i was to do a wilma again i would attach net pots to the bottom of the pots and cut a hole through into the res for the net pot to sit in, this would be like hybrid wilma top fed dwc system, add an air stone and i have no doubt this would pass ur expectations.
Im currently full rdwc.
Best of luck!

 

[eyeballsaul]

Ps i believe the newer wilma systems come with a tap you can turn to pump the water out without having to attach a hose to the pump.