BigTokes ~ "How-To" Of The Bio-Buckets 101

[localhero]

to the bottom for a few reasons, one id like to be able to use the intake as a siphon for draining the buckets instead of building up an entire drainage system like Big Toke did. also to better disperse the intake solution and get rid of dead spots. plus i might be getting 15 galon buckets and id rather have a bottom fed system for them.

 

[roorfanatic]

Hey guys i am currently in the planning stages of my bb design, and was wondering what you pros out there would suggest for an inline water pump for a 6 bucket system. I was looking at the TNC 1/4 hp, but was thinking that it might be overkill for a 6 bucket system. I do not want to use a submersible water pump because i feel res temps might get too high. Any advice feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kp^]

Hey guys i am currently in the planning stages of my bb design, and was wondering what you pros out there would suggest for an inline water pump for a 6 bucket system. I was looking at the TNC 1/4 hp, but was thinking that it might be overkill for a 6 bucket system. I do not want to use a submersible water pump because i feel res temps might get too high. Any advice feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I have no advice on the specifics of a pumps. I know BigToke uses a Mag-Drive..I've been lookin around myself for 3400GPH, and found good info about reeflo pumps.. suppose to be quieter, and more commerical... I.E it lasts longer... etc I'm buying mine this weekend, so I will know more then

Comes to...

• ·6 buckets = 4.5-gallons reservoir, 1ft drop, 258GPH pump @ 8.5 per/hr.

That's low end for the pump. That does not take into count head pressure, etc. More GPH is good, but you want to take into account how many times you want to recirculate the bucket per hour. Also you may need a larger res, but thats suggested minimal. etc etc

• ·GPH / #(buckets) / 5(gallons in bucket) = TPH(Times per hour)
• ·2400GPH / 20(buckets) /5(gallon buckets) = 24TPH

Good luck and happy growing!

 

[localhero]

nice one i was looking into the reeflo too, the barracuda (found it for 280)
my big question is this:
what the hell counts as head height? now its about 36 inches from the ground to the fill PER bucket - so is head height just the one time up or is it multiplied by how many times it flows upwards? so 3' x 12 buckets = 36' of head height or 3' of head height?
does it matter if you take the line up to fill level and then branch off to the individual buckets, or branch off at ground level and then send the lines up the way BT did? the first way im thinking will have too much water weight pushing down onto the pump.

 

[Seneca]

I looked at a lot of external pumps before buying a Iwaki WMD30RLXT Water Pump - (American Motor). It runs very smoothly and quiet and cannot be heard over the sound of the waterfall. Isolating the PVC from a solid surface helps keep down the vibrations.

My only complaint is that the outflow connection isn't at 90 to the mounting bracket.

 

[Tarbosh]

how do ya'll light proof your buckets?

was thinkin about goin the spray paint route..... now thinkin more along the lines of wrappin in panda.... or maybe jus cuttin a piece of wood to fit inside the cab over each bucket.....

using the casa depot orange buckets.... that and the rez needs to be light proofed ya? is spray paint enough?


also..... found this revolutionary way of adding more dissolved oxygen into your rez...... instead of drawing from the bulkhead fitting with the pump and then pumping straight to buckets..... I run the line back through the top of the rez...... horizontally straight across the top of the rez...... and since my pump is too much (pentair 3000 780gph) for two buckets..... I drilled three holes in the line going through the rez...... so on the way to the buckets..... water is pushed out the holes and back into the rez at a pressurized rate..... its excellent...... no more worries about waterfall heights!


anyone with answers to the light proof questions would be much appreciated

lots of light!

Bosh

 

[Beowulfagate]

Thanks for the great tutorial

 

[onegreenday]

I 2nd that; great work & presentation. R U a teacher???
very nice.

 

[Grow4Flow]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

Big Toke,

This is my first post but i have been lurking around here for a couple of months and I wanted this post to be in congratulations for all that you've done, it says alot about your expertise gained in this endeavor.

This thread has been running for 4 years now and that is Amazing to say the least. I have read every single one of these pages overnite and have gained a wealth of knowledge to the point that I need not ask any newb questions as they have all been answered. this weekend I will start the build of my own Bio-Bucket system and I can only hope that it comes out as great as yours.

Again, Toke, Congratu-fuckin-lations man

 

[Organixx420]

do the bacteria naturally build up over time or are you supposed to innoculate them?

 

[kp^]

do the bacteria naturally build up over time or are you supposed to innoculate them?

Yes, builds up over time.

Here's a quote from BB.

The Beneficial Bacterium that I use is air born spores………fill system up with plain old tap-water let it run 24/7 and after 24 hours the chlorine will be gone and then the air bone spores will begin to colonize in the system (lava rocks), btw if you will place a fan to blow over the reservoir it will speed up the process a great deal and should be able to start putting your cuttings in the Bio-System within a week, it really depends upon amount of lava rocks your using and how well you have them submerged and the exchange rats of each Bio-Bucket, plus a very good waterfall!! If every thing pan’s out I would say you would be safe to put them in the system within a week, btw I do not add anything to speed up the colonization process other than put a fan to blow over my reservoir……….it is very important that your reservoir is not sealed, it needs to have anywhere from 2” to 4” cracks to let gas’s out and to get fresh air in. this is were your 02 is added in the Bio-System, as the waterfall turns the water it mixes the 02 back into the system, so if you seal it up there will be no were to get the 02 from.

 

[Organixx420]

thank you very much!
thats exactly what i needed

 

[moses224]

​

Part two – Bucket Design​

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​

The next couple of things that I’m going to mention are imo options, but keep in mind if your wanting to go big you need a way to get things done fast, so I will number them for you.

1. In each of my 36-buckets I installed a ¾ drain plug with a ¾ shut off valve so as to make draining of the buckets fast and simple. Note: since I do no flushing in my Bio-Buckets I only use them at the end of the grow, but it makes draining 205 gallons very easy!!
   

   Thanks my man

 

[Organixx420]

what is this called?

i am having trouble finding them online..

 

[Organixx420]

bump

anyone? i cant find them anywhere and its the last thing i need to make my setup!!!

thanks!

 

[javtfs]

Hi Big Toke,

Great thread , thanks for sharing.

I would like to know your opinion about using bio buckets for keeping moms under fluos in a big cabinet that I have .

I do not want monsters just keeping some strains in an "easy way ".

Another question : I live in a Volcanic Island and therefore lava rocks are cheap . I have read that its better small lava stones than the big ones , but I have seen your lava rocks and they are much bigger than the ones we use here for gardening altough it is easy to find bigger ones. The most common size here is like a bean, maybe a bit bigger. Of couse red or black are common both.
I suppose I am fine using the little ones.

Thanks in advance

 

[petemoss]

what is this called?

i am having trouble finding them online..

That's a bulkhead fitting. I tried using them for a top drain, but it was hard to get a good seal when the surface is curved, like the side of a 5 gal bucket.

 

[the_lonely_one]

BigToke I just want to thank you for the wealth of information in this thread. They say knowledge is power, and after reading this a few times I feel so empowered.

Keep an eye out for my Flip flop bio-bucket setup.

 

[socbutter]

That's a bulkhead fitting. I tried using them for a top drain, but it was hard to get a good seal when the surface is curved, like the side of a 5 gal bucket.

So, what do you use instead? A bucket with sides?

I currently using a WATERFARM (yeah I'm noob), but for my next setup I'm leaning towards what you have PETEMOSS. Possibly a six bucket system inside a MILLs PRIDE Closet with a reserve tank outside.

Man I love your setup!

 

[petemoss]

So, what do you use instead? A bucket with sides?

Same kind of fitting as BigToke used but 1.5 inches. I hot glued it. It's not pretty but it's cheap and does the job.