(Part 3) Top products from r/hydro

Lighting/Electric

1 - Apollo 180W LED Grow Light This thing is painfully bright, even when you're not looking at the light itself. Without a grow tent to block the light I wouldn't be able to share my office with this light when it was on. Previously I've had issues with the grow tent and HPS/MH lighting, since over heating quickly became an issue. I tried some solutions involving air ducting and vent fans, but these didn't really help a lot. These LEDs fortunately put out almost no heat, so I don't really need to ventilate in the tent.

2 - TaoTronics 25*3w LED Grow Light (They don't seem to sell it on Amazon any more). Sort of painful too, but not as bad as the other one. Tent or some sort of light-blocking device is recommended if you share a room with your greenhouse.

3 - EnviroGro 2 ft T5 Flourescent These things are awesome. Great value for the money and everything seems to thrive under them.

4 - 8 Outlet Programmable Power Strip Highly recommended! Way better than those timer ones.

5 - Hydrofarm 2 Outlet Air Pump which actually has splitters on the lines coming out of each outlet, so the pump is providing air to all four homemade units.

Hydro Units

A - 1 gallon bucket DWC currently growing brussels sprouts. No actual sprouts yet, but it seems to love the LED lighting. Slightly concerned about the space its trying to take up.

B - 1 gallon bucket DWC currently growing bell peppers. Peppers have just started blossoming earlier in the week and I've been vigorously vibrating the tree each morning to pollinate them. Got a few small peppers starting to come in already. Slightly concerned by how lopsided the plant is growing, but otherwise it seems to be thriving.

C - DWC I made from a tupperware container. Just planted some cilantro in there earlier. For some reason all of the Cilantro I've gotten previously has failed to germinate. This time around I put out about 30 cilantro seeds on a paper towel and waited until I saw some starting to sprout before planting. So far so good.

D - 2 site DWC unit I made from a storage bin. Just planted two additional basil there this morning since I am using much more than 2 plant's worth. Been making quite a bit of pesto lately.

E- 3 site Aerogarden currenly growing curly leaf parlsey. I took off the light that comes with the plant, since the T5s have a way higher output.

F - 7 site Aerogarden currently growing two basil plants and one oregano. Same as the three site aerogarden, I just use this for the base. This one can hold 7 plants, but I fine that having so many means they crowd eachother like crazy.

Tent

Mylar grow tent

I just bought these and they're threaded on both sides so that what you linked to (or these which I also bought) should fit. I put them on some 5gal buckets and the seal is working great. Pretty happy with the setup so far :)

I somehow missed this thread when it was fresh, but I have this pump and it's been great for me, definitely moves enough air for at least two, 4gal systems.

Not a liquid, but I have used this:
http://www.amazon.com/Lettuce-Greens-Herbs-Hydroponic-Nutrients/dp/B00MSW5LQQ

It is very easy. You just mix each bag with water to make a concentrated liquid as soon as you receive it. Then you use it like any other liquid fertilizer.


Ive had Great Results and it is cheaper than any liquid fertilizer out there.

Go to your nearest big box store and pick up a small measuring cup and an eye dropper. Each should have measurements in ml. These will make measuring a breeze. Depending on which method you're using, follow either of the top two links from their website respectively. Each measurement is based off one gallon. For example, if you're doing simple recirculating, you would use 10ml per gallon for week 3. Keep your proportions. Using week 3 again you'd use 10ml of micro, 10ml of gro, and 5ml of bloom. The instructions say to change your nutrient solution every 7-10 days. Since my plants don't seem to use a full serving in 7-10 days, I switch up my proportions and do a half or a quarter serving so my ppm isn't too high. My feeding would be 5ml of micro, 5ml of gro, and 2.5ml of bloom. Follow Lotus' advice and keep your pH between 5.5 and 6.5 or do a google search for optimal hydro pH range of your plant. Always start with micro.

Hi. As far as nutrients go, I am unsure of the PPM. I have great luck with this product and just follow the instructions.

http://www.amazon.com/Lettuce-Greens-Herbs-Hydroponic-Nutrients/dp/B00MSW5LQQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462802642&sr=8-1&keywords=hydroponic+lettuce+nutrients

I'm using 4ft, 8 bulb, T5 fluorescent lights. I keep them 16 inches from the channels.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydro-Crunch-FLUORESCENT-LIGHT-SYSTEM/dp/B0099989Y2/ref=pd_sim_86_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=41iL%2B2K9rEL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0WS9V2ESNRTMSGM2BG24

I keep the pH between 6.0 and 6.2, and the plants (holes in the top of the channels) are 8.5" apart.

No. You'd probably be better off sticking your system in front of a window that gets good sun.

I started out with this light:
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-JSV4-4-Foot-Start-System/dp/B0001XLSGQ

There's a 2' version too if you don't need the full 4'. I still use this light for propagating clones.

I would spend your money on light. Not the nft setup. You can do coco in plastic pots with a tray underneath and your still hydro. I started out with this same light in my closet using coco and hand watering.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074Y32PFZ

Out of stock now, but it's just a cheap kit that let me be pretty flexible with how things are set up. Only $40 at the time of purchase. I zip-tied them to the underside of a dish rack.

Welll I wouldn't take it that high on anything if you start with 500 and you want 500 I'd maybe go to 800 and compromise if that makes sense. So if you are 500 add 900 then i'd do like 1000-1200? Really if you can do filtered you need to with that quality of water. They make some basic filters that may be able to help. https://amzn.to/2yJLfJ4 I haven't tested how good it is but worth a shot?

I use this stuff. It works great, and is incredibly potent. 8 oz treats 45,000 gallons.

I used these

I installed them "backwards" on most of the totes because I wanted the flexibility of being able to take them apart or expand it without having to cut the PVC.

I am currently in the process of building one of these OpenAg Food Computers and this item is not on the list that I purchased. I do have some white LED adhesive strips off amazon, which it looks right now that they will be for illumination of the computer side of the unit. Inside the growth chamber we have two Erligpowht 45W LED: https://www.amazon.com/Erligpowht-Indoor-Garden-Plant-Hanging/dp/B00S2DPYQM/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1443799150&sr=8-2-fkmr2&keywords=grow+led+panel+erwl

These will be the main source of lighting growing the plants. The white LEDs are only for visual appeal, which I'm assuming would be the same for those LEDs by GE.

Ahh sorry I thought the clear vinyl you used at the top was a drip ring. I didn't see it full sized.

I posted a chart a long time ago that had the different ph's and concentrations for different things, you definitely have to find stuff that survives in the same ranges.

I'd say run with what you're doing and just avoid that kind of thing next time. If you think about it, many people in soil farming don't use different soil for what they grow in their backyards. I like to use dry nutrients that you can mix yourself (it's much cheaper) and you can adjust for example how much calcium nitrate so you're less likely to burn your plants.

If you are using nutrients that aren't the best for either type of plant, you may have to dump your mixture and remix new stuff a bit more often so you don't get a buildup of a certain nutrient.

Peroxide (in higher concentrations) is also very expensive and is doing the same thing that the sun would do (oxidizing)

The "unmarked bulbs" are unfortunately worthless to you. Not because they are CFL (like Samizdat_Press proposed), but because they aren't! =) Those are incandescent lights. GE still sells "plant lights" that aren't really plant lights... they just have a different color that makes your plants look greener. Lame as fuck, I know.

Now for the whole T-5, T-8 thing, those are of course florescents. And like CFLs (compact fluorescent lights), you can use them. The key here is watts per sq. ft... for CFL it is recommended to have ~100w a sqft for fruiting plants and ~50w a sqft for leafy greens and such. The smaller the number on the "T" (T-5, T-8, T-12) means more efficiency. That is why if you are going to buy something, you spend money on T-5s, not T-8s (or even T-5 VHO (very high output)).

Now for your heat. The heat comes from the fact that those incandescent lamps are terribly inefficient. You see, when the bulb is burning up that filament to produce light, it is losing around 50% of it's energy to heat, not light. That's why we don't use those bulbs. If you got enough in there to produce enough usable lights for the plants, your place would be on fire =) In fact, they banned incandescents a while ago in some country, and distributors got around it by selling them as "mini heat lamps", because they literally are as efficient at producing heat as they are light =)

I have this LED grow light on the pepper plant only. Seeing the price now I might buy more as it's less than half of what I paid originally.

Graf's Exotica. But it's not a hydro book, just a plant book.

I am using this probe:
American Marine PINPOINT pH Probe
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EHJO64
$43

One thing I am having a problem with Light selection is I am pretty clueless about all things electrical, and get a tad overwhelmed at the idea of wiring. I look at Amazon listings and really just have no idea how to make heads or tails of whether things like this or other products are of reliable quality. Do you know of any resources where I can learn more about what to keep in mind when looking at lights?

Score! They are also rebuild able so don't throw them out if they stop working

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JIGL28/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xFT4xbN4C1ENR

I have never even heard of Hygrozyme. I have one of these on the way.

http://www.amazon.com/Green-Killing-Machine-Internal-Sterilizer/dp/B001KP9B2W

UV Sterilizer, Now I know I am going to hear a bunch of "your killing beneficial bacteria" people.

Please do not post amazon affiliate links. You may have copy/pasted that from elsewhere but it gets caught in the spam filter.

Here is the link for those who don't want to click on the affiliate link

I have been looking at two systems (minus the lighting)
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MGSYS-Hydroponic-Megagarden-System/dp/B0001XLP9G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1407790605&sr=8-2&keywords=emilys+garden

or

http://www.thehydrosource.com/8-site-hydroponic-dwc-system-kit-with-nutrients.html?gclid=CIHbm8SLjMACFTOZMgod8nkAaA#!prettyPhoto

Aside from the lighting and ph up/ph down, am I missing anything?

anyone else using, or thought about using, those LED light strips like this? http://www.amazon.com/LEDwholesalers-Controller-2034RGB-3315-3215/dp/B0040FJ27S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375383479&sr=8-1&keywords=led+stripe

I got one as a gift and have been wondering if I can use it to supplement my current lighting(HPS150 on one rig and 6xCFL 60's with 2x 4"tubes on the other). thought it might be actually to use this thing for something other than mood lighting in my mancave. I was thinking about using it to wrap around the lower section but didn't know if that would be a complete waste or not