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DWC vs RDWC

PhenotypeX

Member
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Just found this nice diagram to show the advantage of RDWC over DWC
 
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cyberwax

Well, a combination of the two would be better, besides why run a system that has no new air coming into the roots?
 

stoney917

i Am SoFaKiNg WeTod DiD
Veteran
an airstone in the bucket never hurts depending on the amt of buckets you have rdwc would be the way to go i have had 6 seperate buckets and thats was alot of work but you can add airstones to any bucket i would
 

FreezerBoy

Was blind but now IC Puckbunny in Training
Veteran
Depends on the garden. DWC for me. The R is just an unneccessary pain. Extra heat, extra equipment, extra cost, disease transmittal, no gain. I'll pass.
 

mpd

Lammen Gorthaur
Veteran
I can't do hydro without the reservoir and the recirculation. I designed my own system to suit my needs and found nothing else would do. You may find different issues and different values but both methods will produce results that are consistently outstanding.
 
Man finally some honest negative opinions about RDWC!!!

I am going to be putting a new system together soon. I was planning on doing 9 plants under a 1000W and I was thinking about going with Blazeoneups tutorial. What do you guys think? RDWC or individual DWCs?
I would like to have individual bucket control as far as nutes, pests and whatnot but it just seems like so much work for each site. Those of you who have worked with both chime in.

Cheers!
 

jordan471

New member
you need an air stone and they are really cheap you can hook up about ten pots to a pump and itll cost about $100 but its worth getting air tothe roots
 

Japanfreakier

Active member
Veteran
The diagram is completely wrong, that is not a RDWC, that's a single bucket aero-dwc combination, while it does circulate the water in that bucket so does an air-pump.
 

Hash Zeppelin

Ski Bum Rodeo Clown
Premium user
ICMag Donor
Veteran
in rdwc you still need an air stone if your water level is that high in the bucket your plants will grow super slow. that model is in correct. sorry. air stones and air pumps are under a 100 dollars for all of it, and will make your grow more than 100 times better. plus you only need one water pump to feed to a splitter from a rez to drip circles over the top of the rock wool.
 

sneakyheatsig

New member
The diagram is completely wrong, that is not a RDWC, that's a single bucket aero-dwc combination, while it does circulate the water in that bucket so does an air-pump.

Thank you!!! :jump:
I've come across that diagram a few times and kept thinking to myself "I thought the 'recirculation' in rdwc referred to the circulation between res and buckets..." As a semi-noob I just thought I'd missed something. Amazing how many seemingly seasoned growers I've seen discussing that diagram without anyone making the point you did.
My other point of related confusion: does RDWC generally incorporate aero? If not, why not? And if so, how?
Many thanks for any light shed on this!!!
 

Japanfreakier

Active member
Veteran
Most RDWC does not use aero. There really isn't much point in adding aero to a dwc, the same thing could easily be accomplished with a drip line.

I grew in aero for 5 years and it's a kick-ass way to grow but the only really benefit is in early veg, once the roots hit the water or tray it's either NFT or DWC. It can however knock about 5 days of your veg time.
 

onegreenday

Active member
Veteran
how deep is DWC?

how deep is DWC?

I'm building a recirculatng DWC (but very shallow on the water)
and will use a venturi pump (the kind with fractioning impeller)
to put extra air into the water feed line.

I'm using the HD 'tough box' (750 lb capacity for the spray/aero chamber and it will hold 4 good size plants (more plants if needed for SOG.

I'm using the spray spinners (aqua color from Lowe's/ made by a florida irrigation co) and will go down through the cover. Only need 2 spinners for 4 plants and the point down and hit the net pot with a real nice spray ( I can add more spinners if needed)

I'm using a simple 3/4" PVC pipe in the groove along the tub bottom
and out through hull rubber grommet.

I'll control the water depth by the position of the outlet drain house and can vary it from minimal to as deep as I like.

I'm guessing very shallow level will leave more air space at the roots for aero performance.

Yes you may not tweak each plant on exact nutrient profile but the
performance and ease should outway that.

Besides moving around 5 gal DWC and getting to the back row
to check bubble stones is out of the question for my work load.
 

Japanfreakier

Active member
Veteran
I don't know if there is a consensus on just how deep it has to be, I see some people use the term SWC (Shallow Water Culture) but most of the dwc's out there seem to be in those 5 gallon buckets with water up to or a few inches below the bottom on the net pots so about 40cm deep?

I shouldn't have really sad the only advantage to aero is shorter veg, what I should have said is the advantage for systems that are dialed in and meet the needs of their environments. It's easier to reach a higher D.O. in aero than dwc and you almost never have to replace parts. I still use my spray heads I got 8 years ago in my aero-cloner.
 

sneakyheatsig

New member
Most RDWC does not use aero. There really isn't much point in adding aero to a dwc, the same thing could easily be accomplished with a drip line.

Thanks for clearing that up.
As for accomplishing the same thing via a drip line, in your experience, is that a worthwhile road? I'm building a RDWC system (after another few weeks reading that is...) and am looking at ways to increase the DO, if it is possible and necessary, that is. I do want a permanent, stable system though, with as little need of repair as possible, so maybe it's not worth the extra complication if yield wont be hugely effected.
Does anyone have any experience of a side by side between identical DWC buckets with a spray nozzle, drip line or any other means of introducing DO added on one of them?
This seems on topic to me, if it isn't please just ignore my post. :)
 
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