Hydroponics Unlimited Blog

Need a little Jump Start?  Hydroponics Unlimited is giving you a free litre of Advanced Nutrients Jump Start when you purchase $100 or more of any Advanced Nutrients products from hydroponicsunlimited.com. If that’s not enough we’ve got a full line of hydroponics and growing supplies for beginners to experts.  Furthermore, got a question, need some help getting started?  Contact us and we’ll help you start growing GIANT TOMATOES!

What’s the best light for seedlings?
I have a 250w MH and a 400w MH. I think I’ll go with the 250w to keep electric costs down. I would use fluorescents but I’m not sure if they’ll put out enough light. Is the 250w too much on seedlings?
The best light for cloning and seedlings is a fluorescent T-12 tube.  This full spectrum fluorescent is ideal for seedlings.  You can purchase this light from HydroponicsUnlimited.com.
http://www.hydroponicsunlimited.com/product/BUAG24.html

Can I grow in a dark basement with lights? I have sodium light and would like to set up a hrdro in the basement. How many hours of light do I need to supply?

Unrooted Clone & Seedling (1” – 6”) = 20 hrs. on; 4 hrs. off
Vegetated Small Rooted Clone & Seedling (6” – 12”) = 18 hrs. on; 6 hrs. off
Flower (13” – 48”) = 12 hrs. on; 12 hrs. off
Final, Flush & Water (24” – 48”) = 11 hrs. on; 13 hrs. off

I am wanting to build a very small NFT system. I have 8 foot of 6inch PVC. I only want to grow 3 plants. If yall dont mind me asking, which pump would you buy and where would you get it?

We recommend a 550 GPH pump.  You can purchase this pump from Hydroponics Unlimited, http://www.hydroponicsunlimited.com/product/AAPW550.html.

I have tried to clean my grow rocks using a diluted bleach water solution and brushed them around with a big brush.  There is still a white lime looking residue on some of them that doesn’t seem to come off.  Just wondering if you know a good way to clean this off using stuff found around the house?

The grow rocks are dry and need to be soaked in solutions with specific oils to rehydrate.  A product called SM90 from Nutrilife works really well for this.

Plants need a specific ratio of the following nutrients; Nitrogen, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulfer, Copper, Boron, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, and Zinc.  These are the elements necessary for the life of plants.  It is extremely important to keep the nutrient proportions accurate, something almost impossible to duplicate at home.  Check out Hydroponics Unlimited for a wide variety of growing nutrients.

Has anyone successfully used compact fluorescent lights lights, 100 watt to 150 watt equivalents (swirl type) for every growth stage?  Why or why not?

Yes, but the results will not be as good as the results with HPS and/or Metal Halide bulbs. The 100 watt to 150 watt bulb will produce a smaller plant with little fruit.