Building a uc system any pointers or opinions wanted:)

[nightol2013]

So its been a long time since ive done a full hydro grow have been stuck on soil for a long time. but Im in a better position to put the extra time into a full on hydro system.

So im looking at setting up a 8 pot uc system under 4x 600w lights using magnum xxxl aircooled hoods in a 2.4mx2.4m tent.

Im gonna build the system myself but dam its taken some time to locate the bits i think im gonna need. now im 100% gonna be getting a hailea 250a chiller & 3000ltr p/h water pump and a air pump ,buckets 25ltr, net pots clay pebbles.

the pipe work for the under current im thinking 50mm i would like to go to 75mm but dam the pipe fitting etc start getting expensive.
Is 50mm enough?
now i have 2 options in terms of the pipe fittings do you think i can use the solvent to seal the pipes or will the pushfit be ok under the pressure? i feel safer with the solvent but im worried it may poison the plants?

so the pump is going push the water from the system which will create the under current through the chiller then return the chilled water into the side of the buckets (just below the lid)which will have a 13mm elbow to to direct the water straight down create more dissolved oxygen. air stone in each bucket
will adding the top feed mess things up do you think??

now i want to keep things as simple as possible and im thinking of going along with canna aqua and cannas full range any opinions?
i have always been a strong believer less is more when it comes to your nutrients if environment is perfect they will pretty much look after them selves.

the strain i have is crimera blue from barneys i have jut done one plant in soil with my blue cheese grow and its a defo keeper. on week 7 and im sure its ready to come down buds are a great size and as hard as wood leaves 95% yellow.

so any input guys & gals that would be great

 

[JamesFarmer]

As far as your plumbing questions:

50mm (2") PVC pipe for your lines linking the buckets should be fine. I started with 1/2 and had issues. I am on my "3rd generation" design and am using 50mm (2") and it works very well. I see some out there having great success using 1.5" pipe (Snype). You should take a look at his design.

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=267918
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?threadid=267178

You will definitely want to glue your plumbing anywhere you are using a "slip" joint. Teflon tape on threaded connections.

I don't see mention of your air pump. Sizing your airpump is critical. Snype gives some great advice on this in the threads above. This was a real problem for me when I built my current system (320 liter capacity). I did not add enough air capacity and killed many plants. I finally wound up with 2x 110lpm air pumps.

I highly recommend reading Snype's various threads on RDWC. He is very knowlegable and successfull at RDWC. The only thing I have trouble wraping my brain around is using Chlorine instead of H2O2 to sanitize.

Hope this helped.

FJ.

 

[JamesFarmer]

Another suggestion: Do a search for "Lucas Formula".

It is nutrient regimen very similar to what Snype recommends, is very simple and has worked very well for a lot of growers.

 

[TheCleanGame]

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[nightol2013]

Jamesfarmer: thanks for them links they very informative links im reading through them again there is loads of interesting pointers there. I still undecided about which air pump im going for i do understand this is a crucial aspect of the system I have a air compressor which does 55lpm. Im not sure that will be enough but im looking for further info today on this. One thing that im interested in is what is the noise like of the system when its all running??

Oh the Lucas formula looks like it may be the way forward, im very reluctant to hand over hundreds of pounds for the entire canna range

 

[nightol2013]

I just don't see any advantages to going with a UC system.

DWC (If your temps are 65-70ish) is cheaper and just as effective and Drip through a medium is also just as effective and cheaper. They also use less power and make less noise.

Significantly fewer places for a DWC or Drip system to leak from as well.

Not bashing UC as I've seen some rocking systems... it's just that with over 4 decades under my belt, I'm more focused on using what time and resources I have more efficiently and effectively. UC just seems like a lot of extra work.

That and I really prefer cannabis grown in a non-sterile res. UC systems have a LOT of tiny nooks and crannies that gunk grows in so you're constantly battling pH dropping from bio-activity. Chlorine buds are not my cup of tea and yes... damnit... I CAN tell the difference. LOL

Yes... Lucas is great information, read as much as you can on it because it goes hand in hand with cannabis growing.

Keep it Clean!

cheers for ya input, i will be honest i was offered a IWS system very cheap but was put off of by the complaints of the roots chasing them 19mm lines and blocking. with doing screens by turning the inner pots are out of the question.
I stumbled across the uc by mistake and it seems to fit for me, building the system, also the stability of the ph ec etc (that remains to be seen lol) I did years of drippers in coco & pebbles did really well until one year i got a massive spider mite problem the a gnat infestation then a serious issue with shrooms growing out of the coco?? had the rip the ceilings down damp proof the basement to get things right after that i went to soil and never looked back. But its time to start pulling some proper decent Yields. I think the uc is the way to go for me also the Lucas formula looks attractive.
I hear ya concerns about the potential noise that does concern me also the potential leaks.

 

[overbudjet]

I use 3' uniseal now(growing tree)in previous system it was 1 1/2‘ and was ok, but have tendency to clog over time(10 +week genetic)ph and ec are also rock solid in uc system.

 

[TheCleanGame]

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[JamesFarmer]

" The electrical usage is significantly higher than DWC,"

Are you sure?

Adding a recirculating pump raises power consumption that much?

I have not noticed much difference with my system.

 

[alilderanged]

my homemade rdwc in use the small ones were jus t put in today and the others were put in at about 10 inches tall and immediately flowered. they have about 3 weeks left

 

[nightol2013]

I'm planning on writing an article on the subject actually... I've looked the UC systems over and thought long and hard about it and I just can't see getting even close to the ROI you get with other systems.

They're much more expensive, even if you build it yourself. (Compared to E&F or Drip through anything or even straight DWC)

You talk about the pH stability (which is there because of the large amount of water in the system) as a good thing when I've consistently seen better results from hydro systems that utilize the full pH swing that cannabis likes.

The electrical usage is significantly higher than DWC, E&F or Drip and is more in line with the pricing you pay for aero systems each month.

Unless your area is cool enough... you'll have to add a chiller (more electricity) to cool the water back down from the pumps heating it up. Should that be the case you'll be using electricity to both heat & move water with the pump... then more electricity to cool the nutes down from the pump heat.

Just contemplating the extra work each day... makes me think about time away from my family.

Every time you bump it you're going to be moving the seals and you'll have extra "Is it leaking" overhead in your psyche.

Think about how much less brain power you put toward car tires when you're rolling on a set of new ones... the thought of getting a flat really doesn't come up. Spend that brain power on other subjects that help advance you in life, eh?

Return on Investment... How much return am I going to get for the amount of work I'm putting into this... how much work will it require to maintain that level of output?

UC just screams "Kids with no families" to me. lol Kids and young adults with no families have lots and LOTS of time to put into things like this and their lower return isn't a problem.

I'm too old for that now. lol I try to make every minute I spend count for something and work to make sure as many of those minutes are being put toward the health and happiness of myself and my family.

Do what you're gonna, just trying to keep things in perspective.

Keep it Clean!

Hay up thanks for your comments but to totally honest where i am if i was to get caught growing im in shit my only expencess are equipment, rent and nutrients time and water the lecky is foc so extra power usage does not come into the equation.

I have been a dedicated hand watering soil grower for a long time now and my past hydro grows have been pretty much self reliant once tweaks have been made. Also once i start adding nutrients understanding what and how my plants want.

i agree with you 100% regarding the ph swing now i want a little swing good but wild fluctuations means more crap needs to be added to my bud, ill work with it as things get up and running.

im hoping this will give me all the extra time for my family as i want to cut the growing back through the summer months. This is why I want to get onto the uc system the high yields the plan is to have 2 tents 8 lights and get 2 grows per tent through the cold winter months. Its taken me may different strains to find what suits me this crimea blue is looking really good i hope she likes the uc.

 

[nightol2013]

so im dead set on the uc system 100% I managed to get my food grade 25ltr buckets foc very lucky a plastics company had just cleared out old stock.

could anyone offer opinion on ec& ph meters im inclined and prepared to spend money on the bluelab meters but im thinking of separate meters or do i go for the tri meter?? I have meters but they are old ec meter is a Chinese thing off ebay ive had it maybe 10 years and the ph meter is maybe 5 years old and possibly no as reliable as i would like but ok to keep as a back up i like the idea of the replacement probes.

ok so im set on the uc system 2 plants per 600w so 8 plants in my 2.4mx2.4m tent

water pump:http://www.h2osupplies.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=70
Air pump: http://www.hailea.com/e-hailea/product3/ACO-9820.htm

what im happy about the most is the lucas formula i was about to spend nearly £400 on cannas range.

 

[nightol2013]

https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=49877&pictureid=1164699View Image my homemade rdwc in use the small ones were jushttps://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=49877&pictureid=1164698View Image https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=49877&pictureid=1164700View Image https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=49877&pictureid=1164702View Image https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=49877&pictureid=1164701View Image t put in today and the others were put in at about 10 inches tall and immediately flowered. they have about 3 weeks left

looking nice and frosty. where the plants in late flower as short as the ones you have just put in?

did you use bulk head fittings or uniseals to connect the pipes to the buckets?

 

[nightol2013]

I use 3' uniseal now(growing tree)in previous system it was 1 1/2‘ and was ok, but have tendency to clog over time(10 +week genetic)ph and ec are also rock solid in uc system.

how did find the uniseals any issues?? when preparing the holes for the uniseal, if your using a 50mm pipe you would drill a 50mm hole put your uniseal on and slip your pipe in, or would i have to drill a 51mm hole?? to accommodate to uniseal.

thanks for stopping by,,,,

 

[humanYoda]

how did find the uniseals any issues?? when preparing the holes for the uniseal, if your using a 50mm pipe you would drill a 50mm hole put your uniseal on and slip your pipe in, or would i have to drill a 51mm hole?? to accommodate to uniseal.

thanks for stopping by,,,,

2" Uniseal Specs:

• Pipe ID - 2" or 50mm
  [*]Pipe OD - 2.375" or 60mm
• Holesaw size: 3" or 76.2mm

HY

 

[TheCleanGame]

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[nightol2013]

2" Uniseal Specs:

• Pipe ID - 2" or 50mm
• Pipe OD - 2.375" or 60mm
• Holesaw size: 3" or 76.2mm

HY

hay cheers yoda appreciate that but having major issues sourcing these uniseals for less than £15 in the uk. but I have seen a alternative such as Grommets £2.50 i may end up using these. otherwise ill be pushed to use bulk head fittings which work out about £5 but with these ill have to place the 2 inch pipe a 3rd the way up the buckets, I carnt imagine this will have a negative impact??

 

[nightol2013]

Proven formula for determining proper res size for a steady DWC pH swing has been (for at least ten years now)... Watts divided by 25.

2 600's is 1200 watts, divided by 25 is 48. Less than that and you'll have wild pH swings... more than about 55-60 gallons and the pH swing will be too slow.

Wishing you the best... can't wait for the journal.

Keep it Clean!

Ive never heard of this if i remember right i always aimed for 5.6 to swing up to 6.1 ideal over 3-5 days. I did this on a home made vert eco system which worked great apart from the bottoms of the rock wool slabs becamelng saturated.
the figure 25 is this the bucket size?

im looking forward to starting this more than any grow ive ever done.

 

[humanYoda]

hay cheers yoda appreciate that but having major issues sourcing these uniseals for less than £15 in the uk. but I have seen a alternative such as Grommets £2.50 i may end up using these. otherwise ill be pushed to use bulk head fittings which work out about £5 but with these ill have to place the 2 inch pipe a 3rd the way up the buckets, I carnt imagine this will have a negative impact??

On ebay,co,uk they cost £ 3.30 for 2"... but they are from the US so you would have too check the shipping. but I Think it would still be cheaper then £15. I cant remember how much i paid for the shipping...

good luck HY

 

[Hydroman00]

Proven formula for determining proper res size for a steady DWC pH swing has been (for at least ten years now)... Watts divided by 25.

2 600's is 1200 watts, divided by 25 is 48. Less than that and you'll have wild pH swings... more than about 55-60 gallons and the pH swing will be too slow.

Wishing you the best... can't wait for the journal.

Keep it Clean!

I think this is for you and what works for you. I have been growing in water for 15 years and have never heard of this. Nor do I think it is relevant what size resy you have. I have always ran less water than most people in buckets. In a 4 bucket system with a control bucket the same size, I only have 12 to 15 gallons MAX in the recirculating system, and I don't experience PH swings. PH swings can be many different things. Usually most wanna know if it is going up or if it is going down. If it is swinging it is usually do to pythium or root problems or Nute Lock. Having the water temps at the right temps is KEY!