Buds Buddy Does DWC: Critical 2.0 For The 1st Time

[Buds Buddy]

Here's what's happened so far:
6-2: I prepped DWC Buckets with 3.5 gallons of water, 7 ml. of Hydro Guard & 7 grams of Mega Crop. pH was 6.3 after adding. Added 2.5 ml. of pH down to get to 5.8. Then I ran the buckets for 24 hours with the Air Stones without plants.
6-3: pH went up to 7.1 in 24 hours. added 6.5 ml. of pH down to reach 5.8. Put the plugs / plants in the Hydrotron.
6-4: pH went up to 6.3. Added 2.5 ml. pH down to reach 5.8. Bucket Temps were 72 & 73 F. one Bucket was 450 ppm & the other was 348 ppm (not sure what it should be). Doesn't seem to be hurting anything. Then there's this reading I don't know what it means. Kind of looks like a us/cm.
It reads 906 in 1 bucket & 755 in the other.
6-5: pH dropped to 5.5. Added 8 ml. of pH up to get to 5.8. Bucket Temps were both 72 F.
333 ppm in 1 bucket & 450 ppm in the other. That us/cm thing said 802 in 1 & 655 in the other.

Is this normal for DWC so far or am I needing to change anything ?

 

[Pennywise]

Not sure what the US/CM is. How big are the plants.

 

[Buds Buddy]

Today I got my new pH Pen, TDS / EC Pen, Scale, Carbon Filter & Drain Site Tube Kits. I've put 2 buckets together & No Leaks .... Amazing. Also ran the air lines different & bought 2 more stones for the other 2 buckets. I have them sitting full of water for 24 hours for a bucket change tomorrow.
Seems like these plants are growing awfully slow to me. Maybe just my impatience since this is only the start of day 4 in the buckets. They just seem to be sitting there alive & not growing. Maybe these lights I bought just to keep a mother alive aren't cutting it. I'll probably put up the Mars Hydro TSW 2000 in that tent tonight.

Here's a few pics from last night ....

 

[Pennywise]

They will have to grow the roots into the water before you see any growth. Then it will explode.

 

[Buds Buddy]

Go Roots Go !!!

 

[Buds Buddy]

What should the EC & ppm be for plants about 8 - 10 days old ?

 

[Pennywise]

200-300

 

[Azsmoker420]

200-300

What's the ph like usually when the plants have rooted into the water when using mega crop and RO water? I use MC but only in soil.

 

[Pennywise]

Hydro 5.8-6.2

 

[Azsmoker420]

Ok. I see where I wnt wrong. I was trying to keep it too low and my ppm and Ec was too high

 

[Pennywise]

Don’t let ph go to low

 

[Azsmoker420]

Thanks

 

[Buds Buddy]

A little update for you. Well yesterday got hectic because my Pekingese is going blind. I've taken him to numerous vets & the medications aren't working. Anyway, with all the running yesterday trying to get him help somewhere I forgot to check pH, temps, etc. Didn't seem to hurt anything as of yet.
Today I did a Bucket / Nute Change. Now using the Buckets with the Site Tubes installed & air line going through the side of the bucket instead of through the net pots. Much nicer this way.
After adding Hydro Guard & MC pH came out 5.9 so didn't bother to lower it. Good enough.
With 7 grams of MC per 3.5 gallons of water I get a ppm reading of 448. Should I go down some on the MC ? I'm not seeing any bad reaction so far & the plants look a little on the light green side. Could be because they're still babies.
As I said previously, I didn't think the lights I was using were going to do. So I switched out the lights with the Mars Hydro TSW 2000 @ 50%. About 24" above the plants.
Now I'm a little concerned about Temps. That light changed my temp from 77 F to 81 F. Not sure how much this will raise water temp. It's been staying at around 71 - 72 F up till now. Guess I'll know tomorrow. I even put the Ballasts outside the tent.
RH has been low. About 35 - 40% so I turned on the humidifier today. Also turned on the 2 small fans. May turn on the exhaust tonight. Waiting to see what temps are in an hour or two.
Still no roots coming out of net pots.
Here's a couple of pics from tonight.

 

[Buds Buddy]

Things are not going well with using the Mars Hydro Light. Getting way too hot (86 F). Exhaust fan on high & 2- fans on high. I'll try to figure something out but I'm not counting on it as I don't care to invest any more money into DWC till I see results.

 

[Buds Buddy]

I put the 6 gallon humidifier in the tent. Dropped temp to 81 F right away & RH up to 45% so far in about 10 minutes time. Need to get it a few degrees cooler still. House AC is on 75 F so it's kind of chilly.
I obviously need that air conditioned grow room done for things to work well. I'll have it done by Friday if I can make the plants survive till then. If not ... I guess it'll be a do-over.... lol.
If they make it I'll buy a bigger air pump. What size pump would you guys use to supply air to 4 Buckets ? The one I have is 40 liter for minute (which I thought was good); but the guy at the Hydro store is telling me the one I have is barely enough for 1 bucket. Once again I bought the wrong thing from the way it sounds. I wish people would give me more details on exactly what I need to buy instead of just saying ... "You need an air pump like this (with a picture)". My dumb ass always forgets to ask more details because I want to solve issues fast & jump the gun & order before I get more info.
LMK on the air pump please. Thanks !!!

 

[Buds Buddy]

@Pennywise What size pump would you go with ? I'm not sure if the Hydro Store is just trying to sell me something or if I really need a bigger pump.

 

[1ne eye]

40 liter a minute should be lots, i run one 4 outlet ecoair thats 960 liters a hour, this is running 4 stones, and it seems to work fine, the plants don't complain, just make sure your air lines are all the same length.

 

[Pennywise]

I’d get at least a 960, you want something big to really churn the water to keep everything in suspension. Airstones don’t add huge amounts of oxygen unless it breaks surface tension at the top.

 

[Dk1969]

A little update for you. Well yesterday got hectic because my Pekingese is going blind. I've taken him to numerous vets & the medications aren't working.

Hows you dog doing?
I would even get your pump out of tent to keep heat down.
I have a computer fan blowing on mine, thinking being, it will be cooler air going in.
Great grows, btw!

 

[AlohaHaze]

420 is where I first started getting my seeds. Accepts credit cards just have to call the card company and say you are purchasing an overseas order for a estimated amount (make the amount above what you want to pay, I made that mistake once) they may ask you from what company but you don’t have to say. I always say I haven’t made my mind up yet between a few “internet companies” but I won’t go above this price...... have always received them within a week ( I live in Hawaii). They also guarantee their delivery for free. If it doesn’t get to you for one reason or another they will re-ship at their cost. Good company.