Tent, Single Site ScrOG, 400W CMH, Waterfarm, (yup Scottyballs, lol) Aurora Indica...

Hey folks this is my first indoor grow so I'm trying to do everything right. Came across Scottyballs grow and basically tried to replicate it.

Tent: 63" X 36" X 22"
Light: 400W Ceramic Metal Halide
Hydro System: GH Waterfarm Single Unit
Nutes: GH Flora Nova Bloom
Strain: Aurora Indica

Seed is germinating now, but I'm wondering if the Waterfarm is going to be ready for it. I kinda need some enlightenment from experienced waterfarm users at this point. Scottyballs method explains creating a crater in the center of the hydroton to let water flow down towards the center, then he just plops a germinated seed taproot down in a hole in the center. Well in my setup, the water doesn't really follow the path of the crater, it mostly falls through the hydroton to the bottom of the bucket. The hydroton in the center where the seedling will go is not very moist at all, which has me worried. Should I go deeper with this crater? Is there too much hydroton, or not enough? I have included pics below. I have upgraded the pump, but its a dual outlet and I'm only pumping from one outlet right now so it still might not be getting enough air. I've done the other mods as well such as drilling additional root holes in the top reservoir.

Who knows, but the seed will be ready in another couple days so I need to figure something out. Other than than the setup is ready to go.

How do you guys usually start your seedlings in a waterfarm?

looks like your off to a descent start.

Thanks man. Ya the cab is pretty sweet, just kinda worried about germination, but I think its first time jitters. I've been frigging with the Waterfarm over the past hour since I started the thread and I'm more confident about what I want to do now. Nothing left to do but to do it. Seed should be ready in a day or two.

I hooked up that pump so now both outlets are pumping into the Waterfarm. This doubled the drip speed out of the ring, now the center hydroton is receiving a lot more moisture. Good stuff.

sounds good.

i have the same system bro im fron nor cali i have a growlab i was wondering your nutrients shedule and are yu just using the flornova bloom? thats it is that going to produce some fire or alright mmj?

sfkushking415 said:

i have the same system bro im fron nor cali i have a growlab i was wondering your nutrients shedule and are yu just using the flornova bloom? thats it is that going to produce some fire or alright mmj?

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Hey man, my nutrient schedule is FloraNova Bloom from start to finish, no nutes for the first 2 weeks or so, then gradually increasing. I later found that its actually a variation of the Lucas Formula, check it out. This is my first indoor grow so its a learning experience for me as well. Check these links out, this is where I learned most the information for my grow. Scottyballs gives a simple way to grow for beginners that can give you killer results.

Ultimate Waterfarm and Scrog Guide

Scottyballs Legendary Pineapple Express Thread

Ok seed is germinated and placed in hydroton. Its getting plenty of moisture. I'm kind of unsure about light right now. I have the light on for warmth, but aluminum foil over the waterfarm right now since the seedling has not sprouted leaves. I want to simulate it being under ground still.

Distilled Water
No Nutrients
pH: 5.98
temp: 63.5
TDS: 0 ppm

Not sure why that thumbnail is there

Looking really good blaze, getting this show on the road...

gplayerz said:

Looking really good blaze, getting this show on the road...

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Thanks brother, no turning back now lol.

ha-ha, just read through scottys grow since my last post, just finished reading it, i gotta little hempy grow going on i may have to try that flora-nova bloom for a whole grow once, but i have alot of flora nova micro and bloom left so i am too frugal to buy more nutes when i still have a bunch to use up. so i will feed my craving to try it by watching your grow all though it be a different medium and method.

Ya i was a little skeptical of it at first "One nute beginning to end" but Scotty's and the others results are enough proof for me to give it a shot. The thing I liked best about it was its SIMPLE. The only other thing I've heard about this method is that if you use only R/O or distilled water (I'm using distilled) you may have to add Calcium/Magnesium at some point.

Good looking start friend! you should do well. I love the CMH, and ive been using only flora norva bloom for a while as well. I starting using in my waterfarms, but turns out its great for soiless as well. good luck. Im sub'd.

Oriah said:

Good looking start friend! you should do well. I love the CMH, and ive been using only flora norva bloom for a while as well. I starting using in my waterfarms, but turns out its great for soiless as well. good luck. Im sub'd.

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Thanks! Love the encouraging words right now.

My question for you: Do you start your seedlings right out under the CMH or do you have another smaller light set up.

Ok, 6 hours since I put the seed into the waterfarm and I just took a water sample:

pH: 7.4
Water Temp: 66 F
TDS: 57 ppm (no nutes)

So the hydroton has significantly raised the pH now after only 6 hours, as expected. And yes, I washed the hell out of those babies (look at the pics, they're glistening). I found out last night that people are soaking them for 2 or 3 days in pH adjusted water. I did that last night but only got a good 15 hours of soaking in before my seed was ready for its home. From what I've heard the pH will eventually even itself out "fingers crossed".

I'll take another sample tonight and it may get a few drops of pH down.

pH: 8.1
Water Temp: 66 F
TDS: 103 ppm

Well the pH rise is pretty irritating. I added a couple drops of pH down last night, it just got a couple more this morning. I'll change the water every 24 hours at this point to help with the pH rise. There has to be a better growing medium out there. I apparently didn't soak my hydroton for long enough?

On a good note, I just peeked under the aluminum foil and the seedling has started to pop its seed shell off.

Just swapped out a gallon of old water with my last gallon of fresh distilled to help with pH.

Hey I looked through that Ultimate Waterfarm and Scrog guide but I didn't see anything about how much water should be used to "fill" to the max level about 2 gallons? is that about right?