I have no problem sharing anything that i know my friend or if i can add to anything being said…
It really all boils down to preference and how much work you want to put in to achieve your goals and the amount of medicine you plan to produce …
Sounds like you have a good plan so far…
I can tag you into my thread if you want to see how i do things…
I use totes and buckets , but in reverse of all of you guy’s kinda…
Need to update it tho…
Cant share pics at the moment so i haven’t been updating…
Just tag me if i can help… 
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Got to get this down below 70F to avoid root rot (pythium).
This is a good additive for soil or coco but not recommended for hydro as it’s got organic material in it.
Look up ‘Lucas Formula’. I used GH in hydro and it did a fine job.
Keeping within budget I understand. But I highly recommend getting the chiller and reservoir worked out.
I built my system diy and used totes and a plastic barrel from my local car wash (free). Normally you would have a ‘check rez’ that is tied into all of the buckets for an undercurrent system and the chiller would simply dump it’s chilled water to the farthest bucket in the system where the input is at the opposite end. This will help recirculate the solution. Chillers don’t come with a pump so you plumb it as needed. It’s a big expense ($500) but really the only solution to keeping temps down.
I would add silica to your nutrient mix as it is a needed micronutrient and will help with disease/pest prevention as well as helping with trichome production.
900 ppm in veg, 1,200 ppm at most in flower. Less is generally more.
Happy to help in any way. I haven’t been running RDWC as I got bitten by the Autopot craze and am keeping with it. It’s the easiest ‘hydro’ system I’ve used to date. Something you might look into though it would mean ditching everything you have now.
If interested I’ll tag you in to my journal. I just started four plants: 3 hemp plants and one Crystal feminized photo. I have so much cannabis in the freezer that I really don’t need to grow anything; the hemp plants will be reduced to oil for a friend.
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I will look into the chiller, I know I’ve seen them from $400 up to $1,500. I can get a plastic drum, then just have to figure out the plumbing.
I will be done with my electrical today, so I can start figuring out the chiller and other advice you have given.
Any tags would be appreciated, along with photos and maybe some instructions how to set up the res and chiller. Switching completely over will take a little time and research, but I am willing (needing) to.
I have always bought plug and play, as my knowledge how to set these types of things up are lacking, but I will figure it out.
If I run 20 5 gallon buckets, how big a res will I need?
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First thing I’d do is replace buckets with totes. You can transfer the net pots to the totes easily enough and they’re small enough to fit under each plant. That alone would add a huge amount of solution to your system. Using bulkhead fittings, black PVC to connect each one, undercurrent style then run a chiller pulling from one end and pumping to the other. This will recirculate solution and keep it at a manageable temperature. You’ll probably want the 1/4 horse model.
If you were closer I’d offer mine to you but shipping to your location would be expensive. (my setup allows me to place a reservoir outside the grow space and set on a cold basement floor)
27 gallon totes will hold 15 to 18 gallons while remaining 2" below net pots so you’d be tripling your rez capacity with the result of more stability of your solution and more thermal mass to help maintain temps.
There are a number of tutorials on YouTube as well as resources here. @Grandaddy013 @HappyHydroGrower @peachfuzz would likely have some input as well. You can search their journals as well and ask them there too.
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Thanks @bonnie1 I didn’t realize that. And was just going to by all the autos I have seen done in soil. Now I know who to tag when I see auto questions in dirt 
Every plant I have seen you do have been great.
@Mntmannw I will tag @neofirebird for you. It may be worth starting a journal asking for a mentor. And for the start of the journal. Add your grow info there. I know @neofirebird was using GH nutes in hydro. But having all the info in there would help to find some one who may use the same stuff you do. @Myfriendis410 was in hydro for a bit and may know others that may be interested in helping And welcome to the forum 
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First off, i believe, a 5gal bucket will limit your roots, plus there ain’t much room left. A 27 gallon tote will easily accommodate 6 plants. Since you have 6 in one container, you will not have to veg as long, and you will still be able to fill 4x4 screen to the max.
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I use to use GH nutes, but found Jack’s to not only be better, and easier, IMHO, not to mention a LOT less expensive.
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GH work better for me for top feeding. Jacks is better in the autopots though. I spent more than a few years learning how to dose the GH though You can’t beat Jacks for the ease of use and price though. Or that I have tried
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@Not2SureYet - I’ve been growing 6 yrs or more and started off with photos. I tried coco and it was no good for me. I use fox farm trio nutrients, ocean forest dirt and ph water and that’s all. I don’t need to complicate anything or change anything. Everything I do works for me so I’m satisfied. I grow autos now because they are easy and the weed is great! 
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@Myfriendis410 @happyhydrogrower013 @peachfuzz
Looking into completely switching over from root spa buckets to an ebb and flow system with a chiller. Doing so I’m looking at a 60 gal res with 12 5 gal buckets, most of the chillers I’m looking at say 1/4 HP for a 42 gallon aquarium. Will this chiller be big enough for my 60 gal res?
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I’ve got a 1/4 horse and it’s rated to 85 gallons IIRC.
@Joshmcginnis28 does some wicked ebb and flow: maybe he’ll stop in and give some pointers.
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Well I bit the bullet and ordered the air cube active oxygen 12 bucket ebb and flow system, with the active aqua chiller with power boost.
I’m determined to get there!
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I think active aqua 1/4 HP is rated up to 92 gal.
I unfortunately never got to try mine. Need another circuit wired up . I had to use a few frozen water bottles each morning 
. Worked great tho. Before work plop 2 new in and put the old 2 in to freezer
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I literraly was about to say eat 5g of some good boomers and sit in your flowering tent. Youll never feel more connected to your plants.
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BOOMERS!!! I thought that was a regional term in New Mexico. Sometimes we call them boom booms too.
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I am starting an outdoor grow and would like to find an outdoor mentor
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Post something about what area your in and maybe someone in your part of the world who’s familiar with your weather and soil can chime in.
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I am in the deep south USA, 44 miles North of the Gulf of Mexico. I have lived here 7 years. Now I’m retired with time to spare. I would like to grow outdoors 100%, without a greenhouse. I am also in a clearing with 120’ trees all around. I will be carting the containered plants around to keep them in the sun. My forest floor is loaded with natural organic decomposed forest products compost. I am trying to grow auto flowers. When can I get the seedlings outside? My 12 of daylight start March 15, last freeze was 3 weeks ago.
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Do you deal with high humidity in your zone? There are a few Texas growers I’m familiar with who may be able to offer pointers. But if your a Cajun maybe some others.
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Haha, the “boom” I associate with New Mexico would be the atomic one
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