Folks,

Went to the hardware shop today and picked up everything I think that I need to get a hydro system rollin and would like some advice.

I am planning on starting off with just a couple of plants to get my feet wet.

I picked up the following items

10 gal res
water pump 1" adapter 200 gph
air stone
nutrients
1" tubing 10'

I got some wood slats and made a lattuce to where the pots will fit in and just hang suspended above the res. what I would like to do is run the 1" tubing over each pot and cut a small hole using a hole punch into the tube and insert these irrigation parts I bought that drip 2 gal per hour and run the system 24/7. My medium will be 50/50 ver/per. The pots I am using are about 5.5" wide and about 7" deep with 6 holes drilled in the bottom. I took some knee highs and slipped them over the pot to prevent any of the medium from getting into the res.


I am not sure how much water I need to use to start. Any ideas? I will also be using a 400 MH/HPS conversion light set up.

Thanks in advance for any replies. Please add comments that I could better this system.

How long do you want to drip with the verm in the mix?? I would think about using hydro rocks and have a 24-7 drip schedule. Water, if your using an air stone to bubble the water then allow the water level to be where it is touching the roots of the plants.
Adieu

__________________
"If what shone afar so grand,
Turn to nothing in thy hand,
On again; the virtue lies
In struggle, not the prize."--R. M. Milnes.
Hugh Miller said the only school in which he was properly taught
was "that world-wide school in which toil and hardship are the
severe but noble teachers."

First of all I am new to this so please allow for some ignorance regarding building a Hydro System. That post from Lakewood on building a hydro system was mind blowing. I tested my water pump in the sink and I am beginning to think I went overkill having only a 10 gal res. Basically the pots will be hanging about 8 to 10 inches above the top of the res. Do you think that since I cant release the water to the plants at the force the pump is pushing the water will that have adverse affects?

Well, I could suggest a couple of things.

if you are starting with just a few plants I would suggest that you either

a. build a simple ebb and flow table, - very easy, very easy to maintain - My Grow, 1000W Hydro SOG

b. build a series of buckets that are all connected in a line, then pump water out of the last bucket back into your res and that will inturn fill up the first bucket and so on, making a circulating system, only 1 low flow water pumpis needed, and only 1 good 6 inch airstone in your res. very cheap and easily expandable.