Bubble bucket... Am I doing it right?

[Squire5683]

Hey all... Doing a little experiment with what I think is a bubble bucket. Single plant from clone(Bubba Kush) 3" netpot with hydroton. It took a bit for it to start growing, but now its taking off. Been in there for 3 weeks. Im using lucas formula, its still vegging. All looking good.
Setup: 5 gall bucket, two 6" airstones huge air pump, submergable pump with 1/2 pvc manifold with 4 outlets to churn the water.

I started as an Aero setup with the manifold and 4 360 sprayers. It wasnt growing much, so I just filled it to the bottom of netpot and let it go. It took off, now I keep the water about 1" from bottom of pot.
PH 6.0 PPM 800 Rez temp unknown.

Am i in for a learning experience, or is it this easy? Thanks for any input!!

PS... When should I flip to 12/12? How big should I let it get?

 

[kannubis]

that was how my Casey Jones experience went
smooth & easy up until I smoked her

 

[crazybear]

That's how mine have been going ! Pretty much anyway I don't have a ec meter , using ph test kit & other than almost killing with too much nutes mine are still looking pretty good! Knock wood!
I am using black buckets, hopefully the looks like white buckets your using won't let in too much light . I just have an air pump & air stone in my buckets & they do pretty good roots look like a mop!!!! Good luck! Looking good!

 

[BeaverHuntr]

Light proof that bucket some how some way .. I would get a PH and PPM meter I dont know and wouldnt want to trust those PH Strips. Light proof that bucket so you wont ever have to worry about root rot also try and keep that water in the bucket 65-68 degrees.

 

[Squire5683]

Kann... Thanks for stoppin by

Crazy... Thanks bro... I would definately at least get a cheap $20 ph pen off ebay or something

Beaver... I have all my meters, and check everyday... Yeah, I think I will seal the bucket before I put it into 12/12... Itll be in my 5000W finish room with my Ebb&Flow system. Just thought id give it a whirl.... Im in the process of building the JonJaffer setup in one of my spare rooms so I thought id get my feet wet with a similar setup.

Should I kep the pump in the bottom of the bucket to stir things up, or just use the bubbles? Its like a jacuzzi in there right now with the jets churning things up. Is this good, or will it tear my roots up?

How big should I let it get before flipping. Its only in a 3" netpot.

 

[Han Grolo]

Just remember when using a small bucket for a res to swap out to fresh nutes often.
I would say every 2 weeks is good, others might say otherwise.

A pump in the bucket would help keep the nutrients mixing but would add heat. I would stick with the bubbles.

The size of the netpot isn't your limit, its root space and headroom.

Good luck! -Han

 

[Squire5683]

Thanks Han... I think ill swap nutes today, just to be on top of things, as well as clean bucket, and light proof!!
Thanks All!!

 

[Squire5683]

Nutes swapped... All looking good

 

[johnny drama]

i'd get some plant training wire and tie them down to the lid befor you flower em. far as nutes i only swap when i switch to flower nutes and 12/12

 

[Asil]

Squire- There are a few ways to run a DWC system. U can change u nutes out when u have added back water that equals the total volume of the res or u can just top off with adjusted nutes to maintain ur ppm's.

There is no need for that pump in the bucket, it will just heat up ur nute solutions. The air stones should keep that bucket churning. Also, that three inch net cup will be fine but depending on how long u veg, your stalk could very well get that large. My last run had stalks between 1.5" and 2.5"'s in diameter, with one week veg in a undercurrent system. One thing I have learned is that this plant will adapt though.

While LSTing a plant this run, I split it right at the node where it was topped. I wrapped some yarn around the split and after about a week I could not see the yarn any more it is now part of the plant.

DWC's are great and easy to run, IMHO. The only thing I would do is lower ur Ph some. I tend to run at about 5.5-5.7 and let it dirft up to 6. here is a chart for nute uptake in hydro.

 

[Squire5683]

Johnny/Asil... Thanks for the info... Ive never trained, topped, etc. I just grow straight up. Ive got plenty of room. Are there any easy links to LST tying down, etc?
Thanks

 

[Squire5683]

Heres a little update. This thing is growing nuts!! It completely blew away my plants in my Ebb&Flow system. I topped it halfway through veg and its a bushy monster!! I am just feeding this the simple GH Lucas formula at 1050ppm, and a little cal/mag... For some reason if I dont put it in my plants show deficiencies.. I need to have my water tested... Im having major issues with my flowering bucket system. AND this thing is thirsty!! Its drinking about a gallon a day!! Nuts!! Im not sure if its evaporation from the mass amounts of bubbles, or just the plant eating... The rootball is fully taking over the bucket. Im afraid to pull it all the way out!!

Anyways, this thing is sweet, cant believe the results!! I have just started 4 hempy buckets that I thought was gonna be my new room system, but im not liking the work. I think im gonna do a 8" pipe DWC system with 18 plants... Look up JonJaffer here... its a bitchen system!!

Happy New Years All!!

 

[zachrockbadenof]

!! I am just feeding this the simple GH Lucas formula at 1050ppm, and a little cal/magl!!

yo squire.. can you advise the amount of nutes u are using per gallon or liter??

i see everyone talking about the lucas formula, and have tried to understand it, but i am lost.. thanks

 

[Squire5683]

Zach... Really easy:
How do you use it? Simple. Add 8ml of Flora Micro (dark red stuff) to 1 gallon of water*, mix, and then add 16ml of Flora Bloom (pink stuff) into the water, and mix. Done

Check www.lucasformula.com

Good Luck!!

 

[zachrockbadenof]

Zach... Really easy:
How do you use it? Simple. Add 8ml of Flora Micro (dark red stuff) to 1 gallon of water*, mix, and then add 16ml of Flora Bloom (pink stuff) into the water, and mix. DoneCheck www.lucasformula.com
Good Luck!!