DWC is a good idea (Deep water culture) good for beginners aswell cus your not gonna be splashing out a lot and they work well.
I started my first ever grow using a NFT system, im sure you know how it all works. Its a good system but for the beginning of the grow (first week or two) you need to use it like a DWC, make sure that the flow of water going accross the tray is at its maximum speed because they're be no roots to gather the water from.
NFT Benefits;
- Easy to maintain, just need the occasional filter clean on the pump.
- Gets nutrients straight to the roots and recycles any that isn't used.
- Constant flow of nutrients
NFT Draw-backs;
- The roots are more suseptable to the cold, being out on the open. Make sure you keep the NFT on 24/7 and i'd advise a aquarium heater if it gets cold where yu are at night.
- Does need the occasional maintainence to ensure the pump isn't blocked.
- Requires 24/7 electricty (very small amount tho)
- Can be quite fiddly aswell... Getting the pump nozzle into the holes and lifting the tray up to check the plants and all of that.
Evaluation
I'd recommend one, definatly. Just not for the beginning stages of growth. My current grow (5 weeks old) has used it from start and the first 2-3 weeks of growth were shocking. Admitadly i didn't place it in the actual tray and just elevated it above, watering it every day until a root popped down and started reaching towards the water. When it hit the water... jesus christ... I've got some pictures to show how much it grew in a week and its more then ready to start flowering now.
DO get one, but dont use it for seedlings if i was you.
Best bet for seedlings is to make your own aeroponic / deep water system (if your good with your hands)
This will also be cheaper and mean yu cud potentially buy a fogger, (pretty cheap on ebay) make a little container for it, im sure you can find a video on youtube, i know i have one somewhere, then you'll be able to achieve 100% humidity for your seedlings and my god does it make a difference
As for lights... im not too experienced on them seeing as im using 4 x LED panels for a more stealth approach. HPS do let off a lot of heat and require maintanience quite often (Bulb changes).
-'s
- Lots of heat
- Cannot be too close to plants or will burn them
- Detectable via infared cameras (due to the heat output)
- Bulb changes
- Semi expensive
- Noticable on your electricity bill
+'s
- High output
- Plants LOVE them
- Looks pretty cool i spose?
I'm really not too sure about HPS but i know quite a bit about NFT and other growing techniques, just not lights
Let us know if this was useful and just write a reply if you need anything else and i'll come chat up.
Corrr all this typing makes me want some splaff.
