Ready to move from Aerogarden to a real hydro system...

Well I have done a few grows... all soil. And I am just now starting to get into Hydro. (something I have always wanted to do)...

Started my first seed in the Aero Garden and I'm looking to move it into a larger enclosure as it has now out grown the Small AG's abilities. Plus I want bud I can actually use... not small.

I have 1000watt MH and a 1000watt HPS lights... Set up inside cool tubes.

I'm going to run a system similar to that of the AG's and eventually on future grows a larger Flood & Drain sys.

For Nutes I have the General Hydroponics Grow, Micro and Bloom nutes. I just purchased a Hanna Meter but it wont read PH... Even tho it says it on the box... returning it and buying the real deal from Montana (I think)... It reads the Temp, EC/TDS, and PH... Thats all I'll need correct?

Now for the questions... I have a pamphlet that GH put out that gives me recommendations on how much of each nute to add for the specific stage that the plant happens to be in. Is there anyway that I can just add a lil of each nute and know that I am adding the right proportions using just the meter?

How do you all add your nutes? and to what levels...

I read 500-600ppm for Seeds/Cuttlings
800-900ppm for veg.
1000-1100ppm for the transition stage (how long does this last?)
and 400-500ppm for the flushing stage.

Light times are set to 18-6 for Vegging and 12-12 for Flowering

For the Pump... in the AG it appears to be a continuous flow. Does it ever turn off to allow the roots to semi dry out?
Or does it stay on continuously until light out?

And the last thing I want to make sure I'm doing right is should I be using an air stone in the root zone to help deliver more oxygen to the roots?

Thanks

Anyone?

I Re-read a few older topics and am currently reading "get a LB every 3 weeks"... pretty good stuff and very informative...

Still have those questions though. Seems I should be running a high concentration of nutes.. 2000 seems to be the norm and some strains even in the 3000's? thats crazy... Looks like I'll need a much better meter...

just depends on the strain....gdp takes 3000 no sweat...you will add more of the base nutes to get a higher ppm...all recomendations from any nute supplier is just that a recomendation or a starting point...if your plants are lookin really good up the dosage a little at a time then back off when you see nute burn...drop it just a little from that point and youll be good to go

Cool dude... I am uping from the ag as well... ebb flow...
I wanna watch what you do...
I run my tables around 1400 ppm for flowering... 2000+ ppm sounds like aeroponics strength solution... careful not to fry your babies...

Best of luck....

TOKEMASTERFLEX said:

just depends on the strain....gdp takes 3000 no sweat...you will add more of the base nutes to get a higher ppm...all recomendations from any nute supplier is just that a recomendation or a starting point...if your plants are lookin really good up the dosage a little at a time then back off when you see nute burn...drop it just a little from that point and youll be good to go

Click to expand...

Huh... I thought the best way to have them is just above a deficiency... as weak a solution as possible, without lacking anything...

I'll do some more research and check back with you guys...

I am still looking...

TOKEMASTERFLEX said:

just depends on the strain....gdp takes 3000 no sweat...you will add more of the base nutes to get a higher ppm...all recomendations from any nute supplier is just that a recomendation or a starting point...if your plants are lookin really good up the dosage a little at a time then back off when you see nute burn...drop it just a little from that point and youll be good to go

Click to expand...

Ok I found ya!? 3000 PPM!!? I have never run that much, even if the plants tolerate that much it seems like a waste of nutrients. Maybe in a Co2 enriched room you could pull it off but why waste the nutrients they are not cheap! Also it should be remembered that nutrients are in the form of salts, at a certain point the concentration gets too high which will prevent osmosis and you will have a crispy dried out plant.

Kinda like trying to quench your thirst by drinking Sea Water.

NewGrowth said:

Ok I found ya!? 3000 PPM!!? I have never run that much, even if the plants tolerate that much it seems like a waste of nutrients. Maybe in a Co2 enriched room you could pull it off but why waste the nutrients they are not cheap! Also it should be remembered that nutrients are in the form of salts, at a certain point the concentration gets too high which will prevent osmosis and you will have a crispy dried out plant.

Kinda like trying to quench your thirst by drinking Sea Water.

Click to expand...

Thanks NG...

Me22 said:

Well I have done a few grows... all soil. And I am just now starting to get into Hydro. (something I have always wanted to do)...

Started my first seed in the Aero Garden and I'm looking to move it into a larger enclosure as it has now out grown the Small AG's abilities. Plus I want bud I can actually use... not small.

I have 1000watt MH and a 1000watt HPS lights... Set up inside cool tubes.

I'm going to run a system similar to that of the AG's and eventually on future grows a larger Flood & Drain sys.

For Nutes I have the General Hydroponics Grow, Micro and Bloom nutes. I just purchased a Hanna Meter but it wont read PH... Even tho it says it on the box... returning it and buying the real deal from Montana (I think)... It reads the Temp, EC/TDS, and PH... Thats all I'll need correct?

Now for the questions... I have a pamphlet that GH put out that gives me recommendations on how much of each nute to add for the specific stage that the plant happens to be in. Is there anyway that I can just add a lil of each nute and know that I am adding the right proportions using just the meter?

How do you all add your nutes? and to what levels...

I read 500-600ppm for Seeds/Cuttlings
800-900ppm for veg.
1000-1100ppm for the transition stage (how long does this last?)
and 400-500ppm for the flushing stage.

Light times are set to 18-6 for Vegging and 12-12 for Flowering

For the Pump... in the AG it appears to be a continuous flow. Does it ever turn off to allow the roots to semi dry out?
Or does it stay on continuously until light out?

And the last thing I want to make sure I'm doing right is should I be using an air stone in the root zone to help deliver more oxygen to the roots?

Thanks

Click to expand...

i have a sog and i use bubblers i keep my airstones during light/no light. but if im mistaken then please message me telling me so or i'll just look here idm

Hey man... I got a little time so I figured I should try to answer you questions one by one...

Me22 said:

Well I have done a few grows... all soil. And I am just now starting to get into Hydro. (something I have always wanted to do)...

Click to expand...

You will love the Hydro's performance,especially since you are use to "soil speed"...

Me22 said:

Started my first seed in the Aero Garden and I'm looking to move it into a larger enclosure as it has now out grown the Small AG's abilities. Plus I want bud I can actually use... not small.

Click to expand...

Are you using a rubbermaid tote or something like that? I hear you on the small.... same trouble and effort, why not get more???

Me22 said:

I have 1000watt MH and a 1000watt HPS lights... Set up inside cool tubes.

Click to expand...

What CFM fan do you have to push the air through the cool tubes...???

And do you have that fan dedicated to the lights? or are you cheapskating the "exhaust/cooltube" fiasco?

Me22 said:

I'm going to run a system similar to that of the AG's and eventually on future grows a larger Flood & Drain sys.

Click to expand...

DWC is fine, but it is high maintenance....

I have made a couple of homemade ebb/flow settups using rubbermaid totes for both the res and the tray (after a little cutting on the top half of the tray)

I AM LOVING EBB/FLOW

Me22 said:

For Nutes I have the General Hydroponics Grow, Micro and Bloom nutes.

Click to expand...

Me22 said:

I just purchased a Hanna Meter but it wont read PH... Even tho it says it on the box... returning it and buying the real deal from Montana (I think)... It reads the Temp, EC/TDS, and PH... Thats all I'll need correct?

Click to expand...

PPM/pH/Temp those are the things you NEED to know about your res...

Me22 said:

Now for the questions... I have a pamphlet that GH put out that gives me recommendations on how much of each nute to add for the specific stage that the plant happens to be in. Is there anyway that I can just add a lil of each nute and know that I am adding the right proportions using just the meter?

Click to expand...

Never used GH products... so I cannot tell... but the directions should be simple to follow....

Me22 said:

How do you all add your nutes? and to what levels...

Click to expand...

I fil up my res with tap water, then add nutes (veg or bloom) to the desired PPM... wait an hour or so and I come back to make sure it has not drifted and adjust the pH... wait an hour or so and check again for drift...

After that I dump in the Boost Juice (micro nutrients added in the same amount as the macro nutes... they do not register PPM, at least in my world)...

Should be good to go...

I run my Moms at 1000
the younger ones at 1000
full flower at 1200 to 1400
Flush at 400

ANYTHING MORE THAT 1600 PPM AND I START TO SEE BURNS....

Me22 said:

I read 500-600ppm for Seeds/Cuttlings
800-900ppm for veg.
1000-1100ppm for the transition stage (how long does this last?)
and 400-500ppm for the flushing stage.

Click to expand...

Sounds about right...

I transitionfor a week or so...

Me22 said:

Light times are set to 18-6 for Vegging and 12-12 for Flowering

Click to expand...

Yup....

Me22 said:

For the Pump... in the AG it appears to be a continuous flow. Does it ever turn off to allow the roots to semi dry out?
Or does it stay on continuously until light out?

Click to expand...

There are different settings... most of the way OVERwater, causing stem rot and root rot...

I disconnected the pump on my AG once the roots touched the water... but I did have an airstone...

Me22 said:

And the last thing I want to make sure I'm doing right is should I be using an air stone in the root zone to help deliver more oxygen to the roots?

Click to expand...

Oxygen is good, no it;s a MUST !!!!

Get a decent size airstone in your res and remember the warmer the water, the less oxygen it can hold... COLD WATER HOLDS MORE OXYGEN....

Don't let your res cook....

Me22 said:

Thanks

Click to expand...

You are very welcome...

Best of luck....

Gypsy...