Automating PH Management with Growee
Maintaining stable pH is crucial for nutrient uptake in hydroponic cannabis—especially in RDWC setups. The Growee pH Managment System automates pH monitoring and adjustment to keep your plants in the ideal range, reducing manual checks and preventing nutrient lockout. You’ll learn how Growee’s integrated pH/EC probes, dosing pumps, and mobile app work together to minimize human error, streamline daily tasks, and boost yields. It also covers setup tips, calibration, and the option to add automatic nutrient dosing at any time. This Blog Articlexplains the benefit to automating your pH management with the Growee System integrated pH/EC probes, dosing pumps, and mobile app working together to minimize human error, streamline daily tasks, and boost yields
Automating Nutrient Dosing
Growee’s modular system automates nutrient delivery and pH management for hydroponic grows, cutting manual feeding out and guesswork by automating the delivery of nutrients to your RDWC Hydroponic System. Read the full Blog Article “Automating Nutrient Dosing with Growee” to see how you can easily implement automated nutrient dosing maintaining optimal nutrient levels for greater yields with less daily work.
UnderCanopy Lighting
- Under-canopy lighting (sometimes called side lighting, though positioned beneath the canopy) shines light upward into the lower branches and leaves, which typically do not receive as much light as the main canopy.
Why Use It?
- Improves Yield Quality Throughout the Plant: Lower buds often receive less light, resulting in smaller, “larfy” buds. With under-canopy lighting, buds at the bottom can develop more densely.
- Reduces “Top vs. Bottom” Discrepancy: Your harvested colas will be more uniform in size and density—no more “popcorn buds” on the lower branches.
- Eases Trimming: Densely formed buds are more uniform, simplifying the post-harvest trim process.
| Determining the Number of UnderCanopy Lights | |
|---|---|
| No. of Plants | No. of UnderCanopy Lights |
| 4 | 3 |
| 6 | 4 |
| 8 | 5 |
| 9 | 5 |
| 12 | 8 |
Visit Craft Farmers website to purchase these aluminum and glass UnderCanopy LED Lights.
Upgrade to 8″ Net Pots
- More Root Space: Using Co2 will require extra room for root expansion in search of more nutrients. Upgrading from 5.5″ Net Pots to 8″ Net Pots will give your plants the room they need for a larger root mass.
When to Upgrade
- You can swap out your existing 5.5” net pots and lids before starting Co2 so you will have the additional space you need for root growth from Co2.
- The additional root space supports more vigorous growth and larger bud development when combined with other Phase 2 additions.
- Need to get a Current Culture 8″ Lid and 8″ Net Pot for each bucket.
Adding Carbon Dioxide
Do You Need CO₂?
- Not mandatory for quality bud: You can grow good cannabis without CO₂.
- Essential for bigger yields: If you want 20–30% larger yields, CO₂ can make that happen.
Why Bottled CO₂?
- Mycelium Bags: Produce some CO₂ but are generally ineffective in a tent with an air conditioner.
- Gas Burners: Common in greenhouses but generate heat—not practical in a confined grow tent.
- Bottled CO₂: The most practical option for sealed or semi-sealed tent environments.
CO₂ Bottles
- 50 lb. Size: Easiest to handle while still providing enough CO₂ to last. Smaller tanks run out too quickly, and larger tanks are too cumbersome.
- Rent vs. Buy: You only need to purchase a CO₂ regulator; the gas supply shop, usually also a welding supplier, typically rents the bottle.
- For a 10×10 tent, you’ll need two regulators/bottles, so costs roughly double.
- Recommend having “backup” spare Co2 tanks so you can replace once they are empty and refill at your convenience. Saves trips to the gas store; you can swap in the spare when one runs out.
Costs
- ~$200 per bottle deposit or first-time purchase.
- Expect around $40 in to refill a 50 lb. CO₂ tank. Co2 costs have doubled in the last 5 years.
Co2 Setup and Usage
- You will need a TrolMaster MBS-S8 CO₂ Sensor connected to your TrolMaster ECS to measure and CO₂ levels and a TrolMaster DC-1 CO2 Device Station for activating one or two Co2 Regulators, each with a 50 lb. Co2 tank. You can rent the co2 tank at your local gas store with your first purchase (usually about ~$200).
- Multiple regulators can be plugged into a single power strip connected at TrolMaster Co2 Device Station that the ECS activates as needed.
| Determining the Number of 50 lb. CO2 Tanks | |
|---|---|
| No. of Plants | No. of 50 lb. CO2 Tanks |
| 4 | 1 |
| 6 | 1 |
| 8 | 2 |
| 9 | 2 |
| 12 | 2 |
Water Chiller
- Optimal Nutrient Uptake: Keeping water temperatures between 65–70°F maximizes nutrient absorption.
- Higher Oxygen Content: Cooler water can hold more dissolved oxygen, which in turn promotes healthier roots.
- Reduced Pathogens: Most harmful bacteria and fungi prefer warmer conditions; keeping water cooler helps minimize the risk of root rot.
Is It Essential?
- Not Mandatory: You can still grow quality buds without a water chiller, and many growers never experience root rot.
- Beneficial Upgrade: If you’re looking to optimize your hydroponic system for robust root health and want a safety net against common pathogens, a chiller is a worthwhile investment.
- Timing: You can delay purchasing a chiller until you’re ready—unlike an air conditioner, it’s not a must-have from day one.
Choosing the Right Water Chiller
Match the chiller’s horsepower (HP) rating to the total water volume in your system. Below is a general guideline:
| Chiller Size | Water Volume | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1/10 HP | Up to 40 gallons | Up to 4-plant 13-gallon RDWC system |
| 1/4 HP | 40–80 gallons | Up to 10-plant 13-gallon RDWC system |
| 1/2 HP | 80–120 gallons | Up to 15-plant 13-gallon RDWC system |
Tip: Always choose a chiller with a slightly higher capacity than your exact volume to ensure it can efficiently handle variations in ambient temperature.
Light Lifter
LightLifter: Automating Grow Light Adjustments in Your Hydroponic Setup
Adjusting grow lights, ductwork, fans, and environmental sensors as your plants grow taller can be one of the most tedious tasks in hydroponic cannabis cultivation. The “LightLifter” is a solution that automates this process, saving growers time and effort while ensuring consistent environmental conditions for optimal plant health. The Blog Article “LightLifter” will explain the benefits of the LightLifter, how it works, and how you can build one yourself for about $400.
