one issue i've had with my grow

[syvel]

Before I explain the issue, let me quickly describe my setup:

I think it'd be best described as DWC - it's a setup that I've been using for years to grow my own fruits indoors, and it's worked well with cannabis too. I've basically got 3 plants growing in a closet, one extremely large one, and 2 medium sized ones.

They're set up basically all the same, in plastic tubs filled entirely with liquid nutrients. In the middle of the lids of each tub, I've cut out a hole for a single hydro net, filled with rockwoll and hydro rocks. The roots basically dangle in the water, and I've got an air stone in each to keep oxygen levels high.

The only difference between the two is with my large plant, I've got it in a 2-gallon tub, and the other plants are in single-gallon tubs.

The issue I've had is that sometimes the plants get damaged when I'm changing out the liquid each week, nothing major, like last week I think 2 fan leaves got snapped off, but I'd still rather have it not happen.

I've got two possible solutions, but I'd like y'alls input.

The first idea, and the more complicated one, would be first to install nozzles like the ones you have in camping coolers that allow you to drain the melted ice easily. Then, I'd set them on some sort of platform that would lift up the tubs by a decent amount so that I could easily drain them without moving the plants, and then just refill them by pouring the solution into the tub via the hydro net.

The second idea, which might be more practical, would be to flower the plants earlier. The only plant I'm having problems with is the large one, which is about 3.5 feet tall. The medium sized plants (I think they're 2 feet, but I haven't measured) don't have this problem.

What say ye?

[suckerfree]

Sounds like a lot of worry and work over just a couple fan leaves... I wouldn't bother.