Hi Stink,
Have you heard of the organic-hydroponic hybrid system? I think they talk a little bit about the topic on RIU, but there is not a whole lot of info on it from people who have tried it.
What it is would be kind of a cross between soil and hybrid grow. They use the top roots for nutrients which are sitting in dirt so that any organic nutrients can be used directly without making a tea. Using organic ferts in the dirt and plain old water in a bucket under it so that the bottom roots can grow out into the water for hydration. There is no nutrients in the water. Basically, if you took a GH waterfarm, drill out larger holes in the bottom which needs to be done with this system anyway, then putting a layer of coco fibers or the like on the bottom of the top bucket to keep the dirt in the top bucket and not filter down to the water and make yuk soup.
My friend did one bucket, although he did not use a name brand system like the waterfarm, he only used it as a Basically. He grew one plant from seed in it and the darn thing went male on him, but it grew very nice and quick. He is going to use it to pollinate one of his private strains to get some more Indica back into his plants. They seem to be heading leaning to the Sativa strain in his latest crop of seed. Other then his small male plant, I have only heard from the original poster on someone using this system.
What do you think? Have you or anyone else for that matter tried this system? Sorry to jack your thread, but everyone that is anyone is reading your fantastic post. Do you write for a living? You evidently have some education by the way you write. So articulate.
Thanks for all your help Stinky and everyone else. You guys have almost got me to grow something. You have sparked my interest into trying this system. I calculated out how much it would cost me locally and I came up with $145.00 which includes an extra pump for emergencies. I see they want $800 for the store bought version similar to your system.
Not a bad markup considering I bought my parts for retail price.