HYDRO First grow, first grow journal (bubbleponics)

[Aevin1387]

After posting a question yesterday and getting some great advice, I’ve decided to start a grow journal. I’m following the bubbleponics tutorial for the most part, in a 4x2x6 tent. I’m growing in a five gallon bucket with a premade filter lid that I got from a local homebrew and hydroponics shop.

I’m located in Illinois, so for the time of year and because the tent is in my basement, unconditioned furnace/laundry/storage room, there is a radiator inside the tent. It’s actually turned off right now, because it seems the light in full power is warm enough and I’m actually having more problems with keeping the humidity over 40% than keeping the temperature between 75-80.

If you read my post last night, you know that my seedling toppled over, either from the light not being close enough, me adding an intake causing too much wind, or just nature, who knows. I did lower the lights, which are a Qb288v2 clone, from around 36 inches to 20 inches, and moved the intake so it’s blowing more toward the floor than the bucket.

Those changes seem to have helped for the most part, though some of the initial leaves seem to be dipping. I’ll keep an eye on it for now, the actual fan leaves seem to be okay. I’ve attached some new photos for those interested in reading.

[Daskahn]

Beautiful set up I’m sure in no time yourll be growing with the best of em!

also love to finally see another Midwesterner I thought I was all alone out here lol

side not it looks like some of your pebbles are a little dry.. my rule of thumb is until your roots reach the water it’s a good idea to poor like 1/4-1/2 cup of water over the pebbles/rock wool it’ll imitate the top feed method speeding up early stage growth.. and help astablish strong roots

[Aevin1387]

I'm actually doing top feed, the water pipe is clear so I have it hidden under the pebbles pointing directly into the rapid rooter cube. Should I still water the rest of the pebbles or just leave it as is?

[Daskahn]

I don’t think it would hurt but if the roots are getting a top feed then it’s really only an extra step or like making sure

[Aevin1387]

The seedling is looking a lot better today, it's starting to stand on its own again. I do see a bit of yellowing on one of the leaves, I'll be keeping a close eye on it.

I think I might need to buy a new humidifier, the one I'm using right now is just barely keeping up, if I reduce the fan speed a bit lower, the temperature will go above 80.

[Aevin1387]

My seedling continues to grow slowly, based on the seedling problem guide I think I have my temperature too low, I was sticking closer to 75, whereas the guide suggests 80-85 for seedlings . For those following along, what are your thoughts? Attached are some photos from this evening.

[Farmall]

Aevin1387 from my own experiences in hydro and soil. My tents average 80 in summer and 72-74 in late fall 68-62 in winter. I would believe there is a fair amount of latitude in these numbers a nice growing humidity for veg is around 65 and 50 in flower or thereabouts . I would not believe you need to worry about a very specific single number as long as your priorities are light and nutrients when needed.

from the two pics above, they look fine

[FlyingDutchPaddy]

it look happy enough

maybe.... you could give it a fine foliar spray with nutrient water...

expert tip: add in some fulvic acid - it helps transport the nutrients into the plant cells.

[Aevin1387]

Just did my second water swap, I'm sticking to 1/4 tsp per gallon of the GH trio, but this time I added 1 tsp per gallon of GH BioRoot, as the roots still aren't growing out of the bottom of the hydroton rocks yet. I have some Mr Fulvic on order which should be coming in tomorrow.

I also got the new humidifier in yesterday. It's huge, but it's managing to keep the RH around 50%. I'm working on adjusting the temperature back down to around 75 after rereading the FAQ on hydroponics. Some say seedlings should be around 80, others suggest 75 to prevent root rot. I'm using hydroguard to help prevent the root rot as well, but to be on the safe side I'm adjusting the temp down to 75.

I've attached new photos, definitely some good growth over the last few days!

[FlyingDutchPaddy]

looks happy

another 3 weeks and you'll wonder, how fast they grow...

[Aevin1387]

Looks like I definitely have the temperature and RH locked in 😊 I'll update on the next water change, unless something significant comes up.

[Aevin1387]

Yeah, it works great, pretty similar readings to the other hygrometer you occasionally see on the bucket, I just explain the difference by different locations. I emailed them and found out they actually do have an API, so I’ve now put together a live dashboard: https://p.datadoghq.com/sb/2188a2fe8...1f1484d7461cd7. With a bit more work I should have the script I wrote available for others to use

[Farmall]

Very nice... what do you think accounts for the rhythmic swings in your temperature? Thermostatic vent?

[Aevin1387]

Likely a combination of things. I have both intake and exhaust fans, and there’s also both a humidifier and a oil radiator (Yay Midwest). A significant amount of the swing is likely the radiator turning on and off, and the longer term swing is likely from changes in home temperatures between daytime and evening settings. The tent is in a laundry/storage/furnace room in my basement and is the only room in the house that is not vented to by the heater/ac.

[Aevin1387]

I'm using a Sensor Push with its associated app and gateway. You don't technically need the gateway if you sync your phone with the device daily. If you look in my past photos, the SensorPush is the blue box you see hung up in the air, I try to keep it on a close level and point to the top of the seedling

[Aevin1387]

I figure I should probably link their website: https://www.sensorpush.com/ I just wish I could find a way to access that data without the app, I would love to have a live public dashboard with the graphs and latest temp/humidity

[Aevin1387]

I know I said I wouldn't post until Sunday, but I turned the bucket a little bit and it's much easier to see just how much it's grown. In other news, I emailed the SensorPush folks and they linked me to their API page, so now I've created a live dashboard of the temperature and RH: https://p.datadoghq.com/sb/2188a2fe8...1f1484d7461cd7

[Farmall]

here Is a screenshot of what I am using called “WATCHMAN’. It was about $40 on Amazon. In the last two years it has been good and you can define the parameters for notifications and emergency notices via email alerts it texts ... the people thing I don’t use but it is a total of many phones or devices attach to the WiFi. The argument being if you rented your house to 4 people and 16 people are logged into your WiFi you can assume something is screwy. Like a vacation bungalow or? PARTY?

[Aevin1387]

It's time for my Sunday update! She's definitely starting to grow fast now, and looking pretty good. Another week or two and it'll be time for the first topping for mainlining. I've bumped the nutrients up to the vegetative level, going to keep an eye on it for a few days for signs of nute burn. Also, the roots are finally showing through the pebbles and making it into the water (and getting good photos of the roots is hard)

[FlyingDutchPaddy]

just noticed, what are the white hoses for?

if you can, try replacing them with black tubing..

prevents light reaching in...

[Daskahn]

Flying dutchpaddy those are air hoses.. the amount of light they allow in is very little.. but they are much easier to find then black ones

[Aevin1387]

That’s both air line and the top feed hose. I’ve replaced the air hose with a black hose, but swapping the top feed will be a little trickier without disturbing the roots

[SoOrbudgal]

I'm no DWC but I do know healthy roots and thems healthy

[Aevin1387]

I topped her for the first time today because she had six modes, but after trimming I think I topped a bit early. It'll slow her growth down for a while, but she should be fine. Plenty of roots now to provide oxygen and nutrients, that's for sure.

[Daskahn]

Wouldn’t this be considered manifolding