My First Hydro Grow!

Hello all I have grown a few plants and decided to try my hand at a hydroponics grow. I have put a lot of time and money into this and hope that I can get some constructive criticism about this... I have made this blog my new project. A little about me. I am a Disabled Vet and can't work due to my disability. Medicinal Cannabis has helped me more than any pill can... I currently do both... I got tired of having to buy my own and started to grown... I have a few other grows logged using smaller LED's and I splurged on this one... with my research and my own test I have found that I can produce a .5g/watt ratio using dirt and barely any nutes... maybe with a little more encouragement I can get better results. Here is a list of my room... If you see something in the pic I missed let me know.

No name 600w LED Grow light ($575)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reflector-600w-Led-Grow-Light-Growth-Flower-Switches-Hydroponie-Grow-Lamp-Panle-/160874997355?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2574e5a66b

EcoGrower Drip Hydroponic System ($200)
http://www.hydrogalaxy.com/hydroponics/hydroponic-growing-systems/ecogrower-drip-hydroponic-system/

Phresh 4in silencers x2 ($130)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Phresh-Duct-Silencer-4-x-12-Sound-Reducer-Dampener-Ventilation-Grow-Room-/330819964969?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d06681029

Hydro Farm 4in inline fan ($75)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-HYDROFARM-ACDF4-Active-Air-4-Inch-Hydroponic-In-Line-Fan-165-CFM-w-Brackets-/390505711198?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5aebf4465e

Can-Lite 4in Active Carbon
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Can-Lite-Filter-4in-225CFM-700589-Hydroponics-/110966299356?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d61b5adc

Hydrofarm CFL 125w ($100)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HydroFarm-CFL-Reflector-w-125-watt-Bloom-Bulb-/230791305614?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bc3bd98e

11-plant Seed Starter ($29)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/320491494520?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

2ftx2ft drip tray (bought at local hydroshop $30) http://www.advancedindoor.com/

Seeds

1x Fem Critical Auto popped 1/9/2013 (Free seed)
http://www.seaofseeds.com/product-detail.php?cat_url=feminised-seeds&prod_url=feminised-seeds-critical-auto

5x Fem La Diva Auto ($100 bought 10 total)
http://www.seaofseeds.com/product-detail.php?cat_url=Delicious-Seeds&prod_url=la-diva

BTW I am a licensed grower in my state...

whatever that is good for. heres a pic of my seeds out of their "warm dark hiding spot"

I have thought about Co2 bags... any good choices???

509Zman420 said:

I have thought about Co2 bags... any good choices???

Click to expand...

Pass on em.
Just make sure your plants get plenty of fresh air.

Nice setup. you'll definitely love hydro growing. You won't know how your new light performs until you do a run with it. Hopefully it kills it for ya.
If you want big buds I would only run 3 plants in that setup unless you plant on running 12/12 from early on hoping for single cola plants. You could train each plant to go out and away from the pot as far as you can, but then I'm pretty sure that LED wouldn't be enough light. You'll get bigger, heavier, and denser buds running less plants. Running more plants will give you some scraggely bud due to the overcrowding, and light penetration issues especially with LED. Run them all if you want, but maybe just keep the best 3 in hydro, and then throw the others into soil so they're not a waste.

However you decide to do it, I'm sure you'll be pleased.
You'll also love hydro.

Do you have a good PH, and EC/PPM meters?

Peace.
Tav

nutewise GH Drain to waste system http://generalhydroponics.com/site/gh/docs/feeding_sched/GH-FloraSeries-DTW-Charts.pdf

I have a good digital PH meter and payday 1st I am getting a ppm meter... I am just testing the setup out for now... they have about 2 weeks before they will be ready for the setup. and the auto critical is just for fun the ladivas are my main batch

509Zman420 said:

nutewise GH Drain to waste system http://generalhydroponics.com/site/gh/docs/feeding_sched/GH-FloraSeries-DTW-Charts.pdf

Click to expand...

No Sir.
You'll be using the Recirculating chart.
http://generalhydroponics.com/site/gh/docs/feeding_sched/GH-FloraSeries-REC-Charts.pdf
Your nutrients are recirculated back through the system. All I use is GH.
Unless your nutrients make one pass through the plant, are thrown away and never reused again you won't be using the drain to waste chart.
You have a top feed recirculating system.

Peace.
Tav

Thanks for service Z. Setup looks good - but keep us posted!

I was planning on draining the res once a week and re-nuteing... The water I have at home is rich in calcium and I do not know how to cure that without an expensive filter... but if you have a better way for me to not have to drain my 15gal res once a week, please let my know.

btw I am running autoflowering plants on a 18/6 light schedule... best recomendation I found while growing autos in dirt... these plants stay kinda small as is so I do not thing I will need to bring it down by 1/2... but if I find myself running out of room, I may transplant into coco or dirt. but that wont be for weeks as I also plant on trimming them down a bit so they do not bush out on me

Oh I did forget to put that I put a 3 ft air stone at the bottom to keep my water oxygenated

I checked on my seeds that are germing and 3 of 5 have popped and I can see white... gonna give them 3-4 more days to stretch out

5 La Diva Auto's planted...They all had tails about 1/4in long so I decided to plant them... this is the hardest step for me btw... I NEVER get 100% after germ... so if you see something in the pictures that is wrong let me know.

509Zman420 said:

I have thought about Co2 bags... any good choices???

Click to expand...

SuperNatural has a great product called excellofizz.