looking good Zurple, keep listening to @Pennywise and you'll be fine...cuz I don't do hydro either 
I'm in organics 
I'm in organics 
Zurple's DWC Bag Seed Grow Journal, 2019
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Barney86
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Aww it's ok pal
can't have a lonely hydrohead so count me in too !
Barney86
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I got a belter of a ppm meter on Amazon for £10. Lasted 3 years and the battery died before it went off by even a single digit. The pH meters are terrible though. Went through 4 or 5 of those before I bit the bullet and got a decent one. Not even worth calibrating those things. Burn em all!!
Barney86
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Regarding the seedlings, I'm a grow first then plug them in kinda dude.
Mostly because In just cubes I can keep them under a 130w CFL for the first 2 weeks and get the roots blasting and the plants ready to go while the last lot is finishing up.
It's also just easier to get it right imo. Little nippers can be prone to dampening off of the stem when they get plugged in straight away.
That's how mine look at about 17 days when they get plugged in.
Forgot to put a cover on that time aswell. The roots would've been a lot longer if I'd covered the top. Just totally forgot this time for some reason lol.
Mostly because In just cubes I can keep them under a 130w CFL for the first 2 weeks and get the roots blasting and the plants ready to go while the last lot is finishing up.
It's also just easier to get it right imo. Little nippers can be prone to dampening off of the stem when they get plugged in straight away.
That's how mine look at about 17 days when they get plugged in.
Forgot to put a cover on that time aswell. The roots would've been a lot longer if I'd covered the top. Just totally forgot this time for some reason lol.
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zurple
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Yes, I am aware to that. I meant that the root isn't showing through the bottom of the basket yet. I have the water level an inch into the basket, then a layer of hydroton, the the rapi rooter sitting on it. There is a root there that is taking up water.
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zurple
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Thank you!!!Aww it's ok pal
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zurple
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That looks great. I wish I had waited longer, just to see more of how the roots look when getting started. This is my first grow, so I was in a hurry to get it all set up and going. These were bag seeds, so I will only be out of a little time, but the seeds I have coming will be treated better.Regarding the seedlings, I'm a grow first then plug them in kinda dude.
Mostly because In just cubes I can keep them under a 130w CFL for the first 2 weeks and get the roots blasting and the plants ready to go while the last lot is finishing up.
It's also just easier to get it right imo. Little nippers can be prone to dampening off of the stem when they get plugged in straight away.
That's how mine look at about 17 days when they get plugged in.
Forgot to put a cover on that time aswell. The roots would've been a lot longer if I'd covered the top. Just totally forgot this time for some reason lol.
I don't have smaller lights to get seedlings going and I want another, smaller set up in the future. Hoping to eventually have 2 tents going. 1 veg and 1 flower. Got to crawl before you can walk I guess. lol
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zurple
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I may wish I had gone soil, but I wanted to try hydroponics.looking good Zurple, keep listening to @Pennywise and you'll be fine...cuz I don't do hydro either
Barney86
Well-Known Member
Screw the soil mate. Need a botany degree to do it properly. Hydros just following numbers on sticks like a monkey. Total doddle once the penny drops
I believe soil is more forgiving for newbies
I started in soil but I tried hempy, coco, and DWC...and let me stress tried I did okay but hated always having to do something to them or they looked like they were dying feed, PH, cal-mag, res change...seemed like I had to do something all the time 
now the only reason I go and look at them is cuz I want to 
ya I still feed them about every 3 days or so but they are well taken care of by the organics themselves, my little microbial network doing all the work for me 
Barney86
Well-Known Member
There's nothing technically wrong with the way you've done it mate. Lots of guys do it just as you have.
I just prefer to root them up first cos that's the way I find works best.
We all have different ways of doing things that are tailored to our own specific environments.
Not soScrew the soil mate. Need a botany degree to do it properly. Hydros just following numbers on sticks like a monkey. Total doddle once the penny drops
just stick 'em in organics and let them do their thing all by themselves 
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zurple
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That's what I found when doing my initial research. I would like to run maybe an auto in some soil just for some experience. I have 1 single white widow auto coming just for this, so I have to do it right. I am in no hurry for that project yet.Screw the soil mate. Need a botany degree to do it properly. Hydros just following numbers on sticks like a monkey. Total doddle once the penny drops
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zurple
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Beautiful work!!!Not so
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zurple
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This morning everything looks fine. I placed 2 small fans inside the tent, but didn't direct the air onto the the little fellows. Everything is hooked up and running as planned.
My tent is at 78 degrees, 58% humidity and the water temp is at 72 degrees. I have some hydroguard, but haven't added it yet. I am going to wait until the roots are into the water and I drop the water level down below the basket.
The 3rd plant still hasn't come up, but I peeked into the hole and it has shed its shell and I can see a little green. The root has finally pointed down and corrected it's orientation. It was sort of coiled upside with its shell yesterday, so as long as I see it's trying, I will be patient.
I am not sure how many gallons of water is in it, so I am hesitant to add nutes, because I am not sure how much based on not knowing how much water is in there. I thought about mixing the recommended amount for 1 gallon? My thinking is it would equate to a 1/3rd dose if it has 3, or a 1/4 does if there is 4. Or should I wait a little longer?
My tent is at 78 degrees, 58% humidity and the water temp is at 72 degrees. I have some hydroguard, but haven't added it yet. I am going to wait until the roots are into the water and I drop the water level down below the basket.
The 3rd plant still hasn't come up, but I peeked into the hole and it has shed its shell and I can see a little green. The root has finally pointed down and corrected it's orientation. It was sort of coiled upside with its shell yesterday, so as long as I see it's trying, I will be patient.
I am not sure how many gallons of water is in it, so I am hesitant to add nutes, because I am not sure how much based on not knowing how much water is in there. I thought about mixing the recommended amount for 1 gallon? My thinking is it would equate to a 1/3rd dose if it has 3, or a 1/4 does if there is 4. Or should I wait a little longer?
I start with 1/4 strength nutes from the start when in hydro.
Barney86
Well-Known Member
Whoah bro back up a bit therer. See when I mentioned "damping off" that's what I was referring too. You gotta keep that water level 10-20mm below the pot and let the bubbles get it wet.
If you keep the rooter soaking at this stage the bottom of the stem has a fair chance of turning to mush and snapping.
Barney86
Well-Known Member
Yeah me too. 1/8th for the first week or 2 then quarter strength. Sometimes don't need to go higher. Depends how big they get. Usually top out around 800ppm at very most. Average 500-600 though.
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- #79
zurple
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Ok,so I'll go drop it down. Everyone else shows them taking the water 1" into the basket when starting it. Going to fix it.
I rarely go over 600ppm, but 1/8-1/4 is perfect to start with.