Ive been growing successfully in coco but looking to switch to rdwc. Im gathering the bits and pieces to put together a 6 plant rdwc likely 5 gallon square buckets but considering 17 gallon totes from HD. Looking for a good inline pump and willlikely buy 2 for insurance. Whats a decent inline pump less than $100
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Definitely go with 17 gal, them roots get huge, and it is easier to maintain water. I use a res with a pump inside, and has a filter.
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A submersible pump is generally more reliable and doesn’t add too much heat.
Highly recommend that you install a chiller and a decent rez along with the plant totes.
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What he said- When I started doing RDWC, after the plants started growing It was daily I had to add water even though it was a 5 gallon bucket setup. Beyond that, I also learned you need something to keep that water cool or it will cause issues. Hard to do in 4-6 buckets. With a system, a chiller and res, you should be good.
To be honest, RDWC/DWC has been much easier for me as a newer grower, much easier than soil, coco, auto pots, etc. Once you get the water in temp and give them room to grow- they really take off and you can adjust things on the fly without over/under watering or built up nutes etc.
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I’ve done a bunch of different systems and seem to fall back to Autopots as being the easiest and most user-friendly system out there. That and Jack’s 3-2-1 with silica.
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Thanks, since the days when @Hellraiser was around ive been doing fully automated grows using coco and jacks. I intend to stay with jacks but wanna go to rdwc as ive heard nothing but raves about the growth, yield and potential potency. Also just changed all lighting to the medic grow fold 800 lights and re wired to 240v to reduce the amp draw on my panel. Im very excited should have the system online this weekend. I will share pics.
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Along with your nutrients do you run anything else in the mix like clearline or uc roots etc?
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Just jacks 3-2-1, silica and PHd tap water.
cal-mag when needed.
I do add southern AG garden friendly fungicide, which I used to replace hydroguard. This stuff helps the roots tremendously, I use it with my clones now too and it helps them root as well.
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I use the GH trio line for nurtients
Kool bloom flower stage
Ph down as need
Ph up as needed very seldom
Hydro guard usely if my water is running warm during summer
Never used silca my water has it in there naturally.
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Is hydrogard same as uc roots or clearline?
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hydroGuard is basically to prevent and fight root rot and promote healthier stronger roots at least that’s my understanding
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hydro guard like @DanB said, and @Bubblegumfreak uses southern ag which takes a different approach for the same end results, is to promote a heathy root zone.
uc roots and clear line from from what I have read is products to break down salt build-up in the system from nurtients.
There are many products on the market like fertilizers, and beneficials for the water. I found what works for me, and when I stated growing hydro I fell down the rabbit hole of products, spent a ton of money to figure out I was over thinking. This is a 6 week old plant using just my tap and fertilizers. Thats a 4x4 tent and it will fill it after the stretch.
The trick is to figure out what works for your situation, and adjust as needed.
Example is i use tap that has high calicum, so I dont need calmag, people using RO water has to add it back.
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what’s that acronym… KISS
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Hydroguard/AG promotes a healthy bacteria in the system and prevents algae build up, helps break down decaying roots and keeps it all clean. Some use h202, some use a chiller and make damn sure no lights gets in and just change out the water every X days.
Without the AG( which is a more potent and cheaper version of hydroguard) I’ll end up with root rot near the end and a dirty system, even if I clean and replace the water. With AG I don’t need to do that.
Not all of my plants want cal-mag, only some of them.
I agree, you go down a rabbit hole of products, which you mostly don’t need.
Cal-mag for example, I could do away with by adding more epsom.
Jacks 3-2-1 and silica is all I really need, but due to my system and wanting to keep it clean and guarantee a clean system and healthy roots I add AG/hydroguard. Without AG I couldn’t keep up with keeping it clean and keeping the roots healthy.
With AG, the roots are white as could be, the system is clean, and my root balls are nearly 2X the size when I don’t use it. To me it’s worth the $20. So far I add 3ML per 5 gallons, so it’ll last me at least 20 plants.
I also couldn’t get my clones to root, I’m a newbie with clones. After 10 failed attempts I tried AG in the water and boom, rooted with large white roots and growing strong within 2 weeks.
I pretty much don’t do anything now except mix/add waterfeed, trim and tuck and watch em grow.
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I have never tried it just read about it when looking into root issues once. I use clonex and my tap to start clones 99% get visible roots in 10 days. I do have a question will AG keep salts under control without flush?
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I don’t believe so, it’s just a bacteria. I haven’t had any salt build up problems unless running in soil so I honestly don’t know anything about that avenue.
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Ive been using jacks in coco since i started on this forum have had really nice results. Now switching to rdwc and very excited hydrogard arrived today. Im building my own chiller will post some pics of all soon
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Can’t wait to see it!
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Will be awesome to see and keep us updated on how well it works, might ask later for parts an instructions to make one never know
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The only way to learn is by trial & error, Something we learned in science, something to do with variables and independent variables don’t ask and see the results, then go back on what you did, What others do may not be the outcome you’re looking for, I learned by doing, over30 years in the profession, since 1988
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