Such thing as overwatering top feed hydro?

ran4it2 said:

im so mind fucked. idk what i should do!!!!

anyways heres the video

[video=youtube;aoij-jJ20Ug]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoij-jJ20Ug[/video]

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At 1:10 in the video, is that the fresh air intake being blown directly on the plants? If it is, that's a huge no no. To maintain good temps, try venting it the length of the tray and poking holes in the ducting everywhere that way the fresh air is evenly distributed and not a wind tunnel to a single corner plant.............

the plants in the vid are overwatered, look at the leaves droop...

thanks for all the advice but I'm not doing an ebb n flow system... You keep saying to do it but its not an option for me. I'm perfectly fine with the drip I got it down to work perfectly and drip and now its on a schedule. Its a recirulating system that drains it self very fast my water level only drops about 1/6 of the rez when its running thats why I chose to do top feed cause I didnt have to huge res. What sense does it make to put a 30-40 gallon res when it only requires (im guessing) 4 gallons to run constantly.

I appreciate your advice and all but to be honest this was all done within one day cause the original location was going sour so I had to relocate the equipment to my master bathroom and set everything up. I had a general idea of what I wanted to do but it was piecing everything off the top of my head. Cause everything I had planned before was too complicated. This system is very SIMPLE just like the ebb & flow just another way

About the intake line it was very spur of the moment thing when I walked into the room after being at work and school was shocked to see it raised to 84f So i ran and put the tube to a window and now it comes into the room through negative pressure it cools it to around 68-70 for the whole day. It may look like shit but it works. I will def do what you said about venting the hose thats a GREAT IDEA!!! thanks alot. how about on top of the trays and cut vent holes down the middle so it cools both trays evenly or maybe along the wall?

http://www.bghydro.com/bgh/static/articles/0806_byos.asp

This is almost exactly how my system is run. I saw the water schedules on here. Thats why I thought continues drip was okay...

the system will work, but you need to dial back, thats all bro...

ran4it2 said:

http://www.bghydro.com/bgh/static/articles/0806_byos.asp

This is almost exactly how my system is run. I saw the water schedules on here. Thats why I thought continues drip was okay...

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Except top feed should be rockwool, not Hydroton buckets. It's shown in the diagram right on the page you reference. I dont know why you object to filling a tray from the bottom instead of from the top, what reasons do you have for not wanting to do it? It just seems like you want to do it your 'test' way to try and spite us or something rather than for final production and sweet results.........

researchkitty said:

Except top feed should be rockwool, not Hydroton buckets. It's shown in the diagram right on the page you reference. I dont know why you object to filling a tray from the bottom instead of from the top, what reasons do you have for not wanting to do it? It just seems like you want to do it your 'test' way to try and spite us or something rather than for final production and sweet results.........

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It is a good method for large plants, he is just starting out and feeling his way, we point out what we see, he grows the way to fit his life, your comments are accurate, let him make his mistakes, jus my opinion...

researchkitty said:

Except top feed should be rockwool, not Hydroton buckets. It's shown in the diagram right on the page you reference. I dont know why you object to filling a tray from the bottom instead of from the top, what reasons do you have for not wanting to do it? It just seems like you want to do it your 'test' way to try and spite us or something rather than for final production and sweet results.........

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but if you read the actual text it says i can use many different mediums. Why do YOU obect to top feed is it something unfamiliar to you or something like that? I DONT WANT A HUGE ASS RES. Ive said it like 5 times. The size of my res works perfect for this drip system. Whats the difference between my setup and the famed "water farm" The only diff is the res on the bottom other than that its the same concept. Rockwool and top feed= moldy/algae coated rockwool tops I have seen it numberous times.

Did you not read what I wrote in the previous.

@choempi let me make my mistake???? WTF?
all kittys comments are not accurate she keeps implying on ebb & flow. I take the much needed advice from you both but some stuff I have set.

your mistake is only meant to mean your cycle, and her advice is accurate. You are growing according to your res size, instead of more important factors, DIY is great at times, but you don't build a long term method with whatever is handy

Do update us on how things progress, for better or worse.....

poindexterous said:

Do update us on how things progress, for better or worse.....

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I will for sure....

System is far from long term 12 week cycle and Its back to its original location

I have left my plants in hydroton without the pump plugged back in. It took me two days to notice drooping (big plants). Surface tension allows more water than you think to be retained in hydroton.

Do what Research Kitty says. Don't flood during the dark, and twice (I prefer three times) during the light period. 30 on/30 off is more than your roots will like.

shnkrmn said:

I have left my plants in hydroton without the pump plugged back in. It took me two days to notice drooping (big plants). Surface tension allows more water than you think to be retained in hydroton.

Do what Research Kitty says. Don't flood during the dark, and twice (I prefer three times) during the light period. 30 on/30 off is more than your roots will like.

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thanks its on a 30 on every 3 1/2 when lights on and no water when off. Today I noticed the plants looking alot better what a difference a day makes huh?

Thanks everyone for the advice. Im still keeping the drip system hopefully its smooth sailing from now on

I'd cut it down to 15 minutes. No need for a 30 minute flood unless your system was so large that it took that much time to fill. Roots just can't drink that fast. It probably won't hurt them, but it probably doesn't make much difference.