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cheapskate said:
First post!

As my name indicates, I am a very frugal grower.

I started out in DWC, and 5+ years later, guess what, still DWC.  It's so easy a caveman could do it.

I have also come to the conclusion that it is NOT NECESSARY to change your nutrient solution during a grow.  Personally I change my res between grows for practical reasons, but I have talked to dudes who have successfully ran 6+ bloom cycles in the same res using only lucas formula addbacks.

So, here's what you need to do DWC, aside from the stuff you'll need for any other kind of hydro system: the reservoir, sturdy lid for reservoir, net pots, hydroton, an aquarium air pump or two, and some airline tubing.  Even the net pots and hydroton are negotiable.  Note I also left out air stones.  You don't really need them, either.

If you are DIY capable to the extent of being able to fit a hole saw to a drill and brace/lightproof the res itself you can make your own setup.

The downfall of many newb DWC'ers is temperature.  Keeping your water 75 degrees or less (i consider around 70 ideal) can be tricky, during the summer i find that keeping some water frozen in 2liter bottles can come in mighty handy, especially in the early stages when the canopy hasn't developed enough to shade the rez.  Tin foil on the lid can help reflect heat as well.

I like to remind people what they're growing; folks don't call it "weed" for nothing.  It is very very easy to obsess over every little thing and end up overreacting and screwing your plants up.

Cheers!

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