DIY 4 buckets R-DWC Grapefruit - NYCDxBB - Kushage

[noreason]

Hello stoners.Jars are going to be empty soon so here I am again.
This time I decided to try R-DWC and thanks to tjo for help me to understand and my girl with the work,now 4 little ladies are running in the system.

I bought 5 buckets from IKEA.

Four 14 liters buckets and one 39 liters.The plastic is the same of the hard plastic used for hydroponic tank etc.

With a 25mm drill bit I did an hole 2,5 cm above the bottom of each bucket and polished the edges




I know people use ebb&flow fittings for tubing everything but I used just tap fittings,the one used in everyone's house



Using teflon to seal everything...



...it look like this



The lids need the hole for the pot



Now the two little holes for air and water delivery



Connecting a barb for each hole and connecting the air stone at the lower one



I used a cheap black 16mm tubing for all lines.
Connected a small piece on each bucket with an elbow at the end



The buckets are ready.
I made 5 holes as shown in the pictures on the controller bucket.25mm each.I used the same size for in-out but I should avoid overflow because each bucket has its own link to the controller.



After put the fittings in the controller and sealed them I add a shut-off valve for each connection (I realized after they wont work good so I needed to replace with a better ones)
I used a butane torch to help me with connections





Cut 4 pieces of tubing for each return line



After placed the water line too it look like this



Now just connect every line to its bucket.



From the upper fitting I made the water line using one more elbow and a cap to close the line at the end.
I used 4 little barbs sealed with teflon and a little piece of tube



The water line is the one in the center



Placed the pump (800 lt/h) with some sort of tube sealed with teflon and added an air stone,the controller is ready (for now)

 

[noreason]

Now the system is pretty ready to work



Just add nutrients,correct pH and insert rooted plants or clones



That's all.I did this little construction report so if any of you has some tips or whatever it will be much appreciated,as ever.I know my shits about simple dwc but this is the first time with R-dwc.Let's see what it could do and if it worth.

Soon I'll add a reserve tank and I don't know where to buy a float valve...where I should look for guys?

A little modify I already made is to use an elbow for the water barb in the bucket because I think it's better and help to prevent sketches all around the floor when the lid is raised.

I also know this bucket are not so big...so I'll let the plants vegetate few days more

Do you guys thinks 800 lt/h is too much for water recirculation?

That'all for now.Any input is welcome and appreciated,hoping to see some nice buds in some months

Peace growers

 

[TheTimeKeeper]

Hey noreason, nice clean looking setup there mate, I'll pull up a chair! What nutes you running with? Be sure to keep an eye on those roots, as those tap fittings are pretty small and don't allow for much 'clogging' unlike the E&F fittings, it won't take much to plug 'em! TTK

 

[noreason]

Hey noreason, nice clean looking setup there mate, I'll pull up a chair! What nutes you running with? Be sure to keep an eye on those roots, as those tap fittings are pretty small and don't allow for much 'clogging' unlike the E&F fittings, it won't take much to plug 'em! TTK

Thanks TTK

I already took in consideration roots going into return lines and I hope that the bubbles coming from the air stone,placed just in front of the fitting in the bucket will prevent this.
In my old grows in a single big bucket (100 lt) I noticed the roots did not develop just where the air stone was,because of the bubbles going upwards from the bottom...
As said I hope this is enough but I'll take a closer look every while to keep the things safe

The base nutrients are ''advanced hydroponics of Holland'' 3 parts.
Atami Atazyme as enzyme source.
Advanced Nutrients Carboload as carbohydrates supplement.
Advanced Nutrients Bud Factor X as foliar integration for pest prevention and stimulating plant response

pH is 5.7
Ec is 0,8 mS\cm
Air temp : around 20,5°C all day
Water temp : around 20°
Co2 : 1000 ppm (the grow is sealed and I use artificial co2 coming from a 5 kg tank)

Now they're running 18\6 for a few days more,I just wait to see roots expanding well from the net pot and the plants start to grow fast and then I'll switch to 12\12.

 

[TheTimeKeeper]

Hey nr,

Interesting regarding the roots not growing where the bubbles coming from, I only ever ran DWC twice many many years ago & can't remember how the root growth went - a good bit of knowledge there if it's commonly like this (i would have presumed the roots would love the bubbles)! Have you tried different airstones, i.e. smaller bubbles still have the same effect?

Something I did with a hydroton system to aid in keeping the return lines free of roots was so stick a small netpot over the return line, when I ran RDWC though, I had the return feed high up in the bucket, this meant the water level never fell below that level (just a safety measure for my peace of mind!) and the root mass sat down much lower!

Seems like you've got your room dialed in nicely, I presume you'll need to put up a support net to support the fat buds?

TTK

 

[Scrogerman]

Thats a work of Art my friend, very nice build!
Always wanted to try the AN of Holland line, & your flow the more the better imo, seems youve perfect conditions bro!

G'Luck with the grow buddy ! k+

 

[cjk]

bad ass!

 

[noreason]

bad ass!

Thats a work of Art my friend, very nice build!
Always wanted to try the AN of Holland line, & your flow the more the better imo, seems youve perfect conditions bro!

G'Luck with the grow buddy ! k+

Thanks guys.

Scroger I use dutch formula from years now and they are good fertilizers.I have not much experience with other brands btw.
Just need to say,in DWC,the dilution suggested by the manufacturer are not correct.I experienced N overfert several times,so I run:
2 part ''grow''
1 part ''bloom''
1 part ''micro''
only in the first stage.Before the switch to 12\12 I use 1-1-1 and after the switch I stop adding grow at all.

Hey nr,
Interesting regarding the roots not growing where the bubbles coming from, I only ever ran DWC twice many many years ago & can't remember how the root growth went - a good bit of knowledge there if it's commonly like this (i would have presumed the roots would love the bubbles)! Have you tried different airstones, i.e. smaller bubbles still have the same effect?

Roots love bubbles for sure.They are just mechanically moved from the bubbles going upward.If the bubbles are big enough and concentrated in one point there will be a pretty strong current and roots can't go trough without being moved away.
I don't like small bubbles also because they don't mix continuously the water as big bubbles do.
I just hope this will be enough to keep roots away from the return line.

Something I did with a hydroton system to aid in keeping the return lines free of roots was so stick a small netpot over the return line

I have a lot of small netpot,but how can I stick'em?wich king of glue is good for this things?no-acetate silicon? I don't want to use toxic shit around but I'm sure there is some glue good for this,no?

when I ran RDWC though, I had the return feed high up in the bucket, this meant the water level never fell below that level (just a safety measure for my peace of mind!) and the root mass sat down much lower!

Honestly I didn't understand,sorry.Can you explain me better?

Seems like you've got your room dialed in nicely, I presume you'll need to put up a support net to support the fat buds?

No net for these ladies.I'll crop and bend each of them to keep separated and if some bud is too heavy it will be not a problem...just some line and it's done

The NYCDxBB is a regular seed and it could be a male...
The other grapefruit and kushage are female plant...or they should be.



This morning I went to check up the growroom and find a bed smell in the room.I remove the controller's lid and find a load of some sort of flocculation.After check every bucket I assumed this shit is everywhere.So I removed all the water and clean everything,then add new water,fertilizers etc...but without Carboload,because I think it is the guilty.
Both fertilizers and atazyme and PH- too are well known by me and never gave me this kind of problem...but this is the first time I'm using carboload.
pH and Ec was still the same,no fluctuation.
I exclude root rot at all,because the smile was not on the roots but on the buckets walls and on the pump,airstones etc....



Any of you know something about carboload in hydroponic?


More news soon

 

[Scrogerman]

Looks nastie, obviously not compatible with your recipe,(ANH & the AtaZyme). Ive used carboload without issue in DWC(Canna & Vitalink it was fine. ehgggggg! looks weird to me?? My money would be on mixing it with the Atazyme. IDK

At least you know it doesnt mix! Thanks for the ratio mixes on the ANH, good feedback, cheers bro!

 

[noreason]

Looks nastie, obviously not compatible with your recipe,(ANH & the AtaZyme). Ive used carboload without issue in DWC. ehgggggg!

Let's see what happen without it in the water.If no smile show I'm pretty sure it's carboload reaction.

I will try to make some test in a stand alone bucket

 

[gertnaerd]

hey man ...i havent much time....
but let me say ...it looks the bomb diggity...looking forward to the kushage ...my favourite weed out of amstedam ,,,anno 09...just superb ...i purchased it in the mellowyellow - coffeeshop...allth best your way man ...

 

[noreason]

hey man ...i havent much time....
but let me say ...it looks the bomb diggity...looking forward to the kushage ...my favourite weed out of amstedam ,,,anno 09...just superb ...i purchased it in the mellowyellow - coffeeshop...allth best your way man ...

Thanks bro

Kushage was a freebie taken somewhere I don't remember and I never smoked it.Hope it will be a killer pot

 

[tjo]

nice work my friend! i was sure about this andi have some notes
for ya!
the return lines are 16mm right? beware for clogging! i saw what
you said about the airstone, but keep an eye on the roots
just 2 b sure..
i had overflow some times last year..terrible thing bro!
now i have 21mm return lines and 12mm feed line with bigger
pump for better circulation!
what about the buckets?? they are white and this is not good..
i suggest you to take a black/white mular and put it above of
ALL the buckets..just cut the place where the pot is..
i dont know exacly if you understand me..lol

im tired with the writing bro..my english skills are poor
and i cant tell you all that i want...
we have the time with us..
cheers and good luck..

 

[noreason]

nice work my friend! i was sure about this andi have some notes
for ya!
the return lines are 16mm right? beware for clogging! i saw what
you said about the airstone, but keep an eye on the roots
just 2 b sure..
i had overflow some times last year..terrible thing bro!
now i have 21mm return lines and 12mm feed line with bigger
pump for better circulation!
what about the buckets?? they are white and this is not good..
i suggest you to take a black/white mular and put it above of
ALL the buckets..just cut the place where the pot is..
i dont know exacly if you understand me..lol

im tired with the writing bro..my english skills are poor
and i cant tell you all that i want...
we have the time with us..
cheers and good luck..

Hi my greek friend I was waiting for you and don't worry about the language,your english is ok to me,the sense is always pretty clear.

Yes man,the line are all 16mm and I will be very careful with overflow In any case no electric stuff is on the floor and the water can damage quite nothing if overflow happens.
This is my first run and next time I'll do it better for sure,learning step by step

What's wrong with white bucket?do you mean troubles with algae?
if so don't worry the buckets filter UV-A and UV-B radiation.
The buckets I bought from IKEA are the same of these and I already used them for my past dwc run without trouble

Stay strong and medicated bro and thanks for stopping here

 

[cyat]

Nice build looks clean and well planned!

 

[TheTimeKeeper]

Hey nr,

Hey nr,

I Hear 'ya with the movement of water pushing the roots around !

Any silicone safe for fish tanks would be fine, though now your growing you would need to empty, dry the area and let it set some before re-filling, though I'd read the instructions as I think some will set underwater (!?).... a bit of a pain at this stage maybe?

Regarding the recirculating system I made.. it was like the image below, this way if I went away for example, and for some reason, something went wrong, the buckets don't have the chance to leek out all the nutrients (as return line not at bottom of bucket), thus killing the plant, and if they drink alot, the main res is emptied but the buckets still have plenty to keep them alive (at the cost of a water pump)!! TTK

 

[noreason]

Nice build looks clean and well planned!

I Hear 'ya with the movement of water pushing the roots around !

Any silicone safe for fish tanks would be fine, though now your growing you would need to empty, dry the area and let it set some before re-filling, though I'd read the instructions as I think some will set underwater (!?).... a bit of a pain at this stage maybe?

Regarding the recirculating system I made.. it was like the image below, this way if I went away for example, and for some reason, something went wrong, the buckets don't have the chance to leek out all the nutrients (as return line not at bottom of bucket), thus killing the plant, and if they drink alot, the main res is emptied but the buckets still have plenty to keep them alive (at the cost of a water pump)!! TTK

Thanks TTK,I will try to fix a net pot with aquarium silicon in a stand alone bucket and see how much time it takes to dry.

I understand your tip on higher return line...but if so...how do you change the water in the system?
I use to empty the controller and the water in the buckets will return in the controller as the water level falls down in the controller.
If the return is so high how the water in the buckets come back to controller?
Am I missing something?

 

[TheTimeKeeper]

Hey nr ,

No your not missing anything - and yes you have a good point! If I remember correctly, I never drained all buckets, I just flushed the system with plain water, at the same time pumping out as much water as tap water was going in - and here tap water is 0ppm and about PH6-7 so it's easy, I then brought the nute solution back up slowly over a few hours. I think in hindsight maybe not the best way to do it (in the eyes of some) but I worked off the basis that you shouldn't need to dump a nute soltution, and I was away alot and this not only kept my mind at peace but also worked a charm!
DWC growth rates completely blew my mind, you can pretty much watch your plants grow, if I had the ability to setup in a 'room' and not a grow cabinet etc, I would def go DWC again, but I'm loving the ease of COCO (and it's even better for my long trips away!). I think if I went DWC again I'd use the same system but have another drain line at the bottom of the bucket (have a tap on it) for if/when I wanted to dump the whole solution, and use rubber grommets instead of fittings which may leak...

So how your babies going?

 

[noreason]

Hey nr ,

No your not missing anything - and yes you have a good point! If I remember correctly, I never drained all buckets, I just flushed the system with plain water, at the same time pumping out as much water as tap water was going in - and here tap water is 0ppm and about PH6-7 so it's easy, I then brought the nute solution back up slowly over a few hours. I think in hindsight maybe not the best way to do it (in the eyes of some) but I worked off the basis that you shouldn't need to dump a nute soltution, and I was away alot and this not only kept my mind at peace but also worked a charm!
DWC growth rates completely blew my mind, you can pretty much watch your plants grow, if I had the ability to setup in a 'room' and not a grow cabinet etc, I would def go DWC again, but I'm loving the ease of COCO (and it's even better for my long trips away!). I think if I went DWC again I'd use the same system but have another drain line at the bottom of the bucket (have a tap on it) for if/when I wanted to dump the whole solution, and use rubber grommets instead of fittings which may leak...

So how your babies going?

I understand what you mean about the higher return line...I will be at home for next months so I can keep a close look everyday

This is the first time I heard about ''rubber grommet'' and they should fit better on the bucket wall due to their elasticity,right?

Plants are growing fine,they're expanding their roots from the netpot just now,I'll take some pictures later

 

[TheTimeKeeper]

'Ello NR ,

and they should fit better on the bucket wall due to their elasticity,right?

- Indeed, they fit tight into the hole drilled, gotta love a tight fit , the fitting you push into it makes a beautiful snug, watertight fit (using some dry-lube or vasoline helps get them in nicely!).

The rubber grommet's are easily avail here, surely you'd be able to pick some up on ebay or an online shop, if not locally (see e.g. link below).. I used these with a hydroton sys (where I had bottom return line) - but this was after my experimenting with DWC! The grommet's are the way forward for sure! 25mm is what I used for the return lines... check them out here! TTK