How to NFT and DWC

[iTiC]

Hi Im interested in an info on NFT and DWC, if you've done this or know how to set it up then pls post up. ATM I figure Two tents are a minimum, one to run a mum under CFL's or a 250-400 MH to harvest for clones, so a separate clone area would be good, Ive been looking at Turbo cloners.

Then how to run them. ATM I guess...

The clone area would be used to cut clones off a mature mum. One these have viable roots are they ready to flower? In a SOG NFT grow Im guessing the new clone wont need much time to 'veg' into its new area,and I guess that depends on how many pots you put in. I have a 1.4x1.4 area so an easy 1meterx1meter tube frame would fit in there. I've no idea how to run the "in and out" of the nutrients. I guess I need to zig zag this some how over a 1x1m frame.

ATM I think re fitting with a closed water system like the DWC recirc will be the smartest simplest refit. and they can really yield. My over all aim is to drop the humidity down in the tent by decreasing the amount of water exposed to the air

Cheers for the input.

[merl1n]

You are correct about the number of plants in a SOG. More plants means less veg time to fill your space BUT if one of your plants gets root rot and you're running recirc, all of the plants will become infected. This is a problem I've had previously.

"One these have viable roots are they ready to flower?" Yes and No. Yes, They can be turned to flower BUT if there is only one budding point, you will only get that single bud. If the developed clone has had the centre plucked then that budding point will divide making 2 budding points. And if those 2 budding points are plucked once they have developed you'll end up with 4 budding points. This is a process I use in SCROG. By plucking the centres repeatedly I multiply my budding points.

 

"I've no idea how to run the "in and out" of the nutrients. I guess I need to zig zag this some how over a 1x1m frame." No, not necessarily. What I have is 1x13mm feed line from my reservoir. From this single line I have T joiners. I run 6mm lines to each feedring for each pot. Now you can do the same thing with your returns, just have a single 19mm return line and run T joiners from each pot to that return line BUT often the root growth will invade my returns, restricting the return flow. When I was running a multi pot system this restriction caused floods and ran my pump dry DOH. Not what you want. To relieve this I had 2x 19mm return lines with 2 pots on each return line.

My primary tub or 'heart' presently running one plant has two mainlines, in and out. My out line is 13mm being smaller helps the pump to maintain its pressure. If it was 19 mm the pump would need to push more volume. My return is 19mm, this is to allow for any root growth or blockages. From those 2 mainlines I can connect 4 pots and have their returns unhindered without any problem.

 

Merl1n

[iTiC]

Thanks for that, I think I'm gunna have to 'phone a friend over the engineering. I can see what sort of plumbing I might use. I think my circular saw will go through it.

I dont spose you have pix or a photo type tute M1?

[merl1n]

Hey iTiC,

Sorry, but presently I don't have any photos. But I will have within a couple of weeks (fingers crossed). In the meantime here is a bit of a mud map

All of the T junctions have hose clamps to prevent leaks. I started off with the plastic irrigation clamps but they deteriorate over time so now I use steel hose clamps. For the 6mm feedlines to the feed rings I use zippy ties as hose clamps as there is a problem using standard clamps on such a small tube.

On the ends of the feedline and return I use taps rather than bungs. By doing this I can flush both lines easily if needed.

I use 2 types of medium, perlite and clay balls, in layers, not mixed. The reason for this is that the perlite compresses with the fluid running through it. This compression causes the perlite to turn to dust and the dust smothers the roots at the base of the pot, reducing the roots ability to breathe. By using the clayballs there are airpockets for those roots. Both the clayballs and perlite MUST be washed/rinsed prior to use to reduce the dust. When the dust gets wet it goes a bit like a grinding paste and is real harsh on pumps, so washing is a MUST imo.

 

Hope it helps

Merl1n

[cap'n yNg]

Both the clayballs and perlite MUST be washed/rinsed prior to use to reduce the dust. When the dust gets wet it goes a bit like a grinding paste and is real harsh on pumps, so washing is a MUST imo.Hope it helpsMerl1n

Sorry I can't help with your enquiry ITIC, just have a pic of the said sludge that comes off of perlite when washed pre usage. Yuck. This was just from putting 6L of perlite in a bucket and rincing it through with a hose once, removing the floating perlite and emptying the water. I rinse it through 3 times before use.

 

 

Good luck matey

[merl1n]

Sorry I can't help with your enquiry ITIC, just have a pic of the said sludge that comes off of perlite when washed pre usage. Yuck. This was just from putting 6L of perlite in a bucket and rincing it through with a hose once, removing the floating perlite and emptying the water. I rinse it through 3 times before use.

 

DSC_0202.JPG

 

Good luck matey

Exactly Cap, and the clayballs are the same. The fine dust that comes from them is worse imo. I make up a sock with shadecloth, fill it with clay balls and suspend it in a barrel of water overnight. This allows all the dust/sediment to sink to the bottom of the barrel. The following day I set my pots up.

 

Merl1n