[familystone]

Plan on using 6-8 5 gal buckets with 8" or 10" net pot lids filled with some sort of diatomaceous earth ( diatomite or higromite prob). Would like to have an efficient system that isn't real high maintenance.

[mg75]

ebb & flo

[familystone]

really? was of the impression I'd have to have a large reservoir that would require weekly or so emptying and refilling with new water/nutes. I have done a few grows but not been able to in years. One of those grows was hand watering with Gh 3part on some bluegod but that got very laborious at the end so would like to simplify it a bit.

I was thinking that drip, bottom feed, or the ever popular blumats would be more along the lines.

I have found that the problem with trying to look through old post similar to what I'm trying to do is fairly hard cause icmag's search feature sucks when trying to add two or more words, like: "5 gallon", "10"", "net pot lid", "drip to waste". So any help/links would be appreciated

[mg75]

ebb & flo is a proven hydro system that plays well with organics.
if you want you can do passive like a wick or hand-water (hempy), but i will not mess with drip irrigation if you are gonna use thick organic liquid nutrients.
imo DWC can be troublesome for organic grows.

you asked for simple. ebb & flo is very simple.

[familystone]

Would it be recirculating? I am not really understanding the dif in that and RDWC. Are there any links with good pics of a similar setup. even trying the "ebb flow" site:icmag.com search and coming up with very little to take notes of.

I know this can't bee this damn hard. Its just some buckets and pvc pretty much. It just seems like the info is spread out all over the place to the point of ridiculousness

[familystone]

Going to be using Blumats. Definately a high impulse buy that I may regret n the morning but from the posts I've read about them (vatransplant's hooptie) they seem pretty nifty.
Plus it seemed that the pump, timer, etc would be the weak link and would cost more anyway.

Probably going to be using an oildri product that is 100% diatomaceous earth. WAY cheaper than higromite, diatomite, etc. Plus I can pick up locally.

Any other blumat users out there using soilless media?

Coco for blumats.
If you are going to try and use only hydroton or hygromite as your medium then blumats won't work.
If you are set on hygromite for the silica content then go DWC or SWC and not worry about changing the bucket.
If you go coco because of the blumats then consider either adding a liquid silica product, or amend your coco with some of the hygromite, but don't let the chunks come in contact with the blumat carrot.
As to what system uses the least amount of nutes and is most efficient...
Many different answers.
I would say hempys for the overall ease of use and success.
And you can use your hygromite at the bottom of your bucket instead of pearlite!
Good luck with your set-up!

[familystone]

Welp, like I said, the deed is done. They are bought as of 1am or so. The DE is med pebble size not like lava rocks. Any particular reason the blumats won't work? Gonna try it anyway but would like to know in advance. Coco is cheap. is it just because a lot of people don't use DE? Used it before with some Lifesaver and Mountain Jam but, again, hand watered.

[mg75]

your blumats might clog with the liquid organic nutes you will push through them. it often happens with chemicals which are much more soluble.
you better off amending your medium with organic fertilizer and running pure water through the blumats.
hempy is nice because you can handwater anything you want into it and flush it with ease.

[cyat]

oildri by itself didnt work for me. layering and or mixin works fine(hand water or rope wicks). it also stays much wetter than coco or perlite. this is a totally different beast than higromite which performs more like hydroton or lava. also it doesnt kill gnants, it actually attracts them cuz it stays so wet.
have fun