[Hooked-On-Grown]

OK... Gonna go with the buckets again, just a few changes.

Going to have 12- 5 gal buckets with 3.5 gal buckets inside. I am using 3/4 " connectors and hoses instead of 1/2". My controller bucket is a tall 5 gal bucket and I am NOT going to be using a float valve controller bucket on this system. I have done several runs and the buckets get filled the same time as the controller. I think it has alot to do with the 3/4" hose and connectors. Better flow in and out I feel.

Here are some pics.........




OK..... with the controller bucket being taller then the other 12....... I can fill it more then the others there for I am able to bring the water level up and have it stop with the RW cube getting wet and still having about 2" or so from the top of bucket being filled.

This is the level with a 14 min fill time........The third pic shows the water level just below the first set of holes on the net pot. Plenty to get the RW cube soaked........The first pic shows the bucket right next to the res and the last pic shows the bucket farthest from the controller. It fills and drains nice and even.



I have 2 digital timers. One is on the pump inside the controller bucket.....the other is on the pump inside the res. It takes 14 minutes to fill and 21 minutes to empty. The pump inside the controller never runs dry and can suck down to 1/4". After it is done there is about maybe a half inch of water in the bottom of each bucket. This will serve as a wick feed system later and is mixed with the water from the res when it is flooded. SO the little water left behind is fine.


I washed these lava rocks both before and after I put them in the buckets. I then did several test runs and still got some smaller stuff fall through. I emptied out the test water and shop-vac'ed the insides of the buckets. I then refilled the res and ran the system through one more time. Once you run it through for the first time.....remember that a little stays in each bucket and not all returns to the res the first time through. You will need to top off your res and adjust your nutes.

OK....so I am going to be running these in the 12 buckets.
9- Raspberry Cream
1- NLxKush
1- Super Skunk
1- Bubblegum x Blueberry (unsexed)

It is mostly a RC run. Had 3 not looking to good and had the others ready to go. Gonna throw in the BBGum x Blue for the hell of it. Hopefully she will be female!!
I had them started and going in a small E&F table until I buillt the sysytem. They all had nice roots coming out the bottom of the pots.
I have the PPM at 600 and a pH of 5.8.

I will post some more in a few. Running into uploading pics problem. More in a minute........

[Fuzzy&Sauce BBG]

HOg.. Nice.. New Setup... 3/4 " connectors and hoses instead of 1/2". Flow should be a steady waterfall... Looking great... I'll be poping my head up.. To see this awsome system take flight.... HOG your a monster with your skills...

Sauce

[Hooked-On-Grown]

thanks sauce .........should be a nice one!

BuzzBob....... I will respond to your ??'s you sent me in a few. Trying to figure out my pic uploading problem. I try and log in on the pics upload page and it says it does not recognize my password.

[bartender187]

Hell yeah Hog!

Bring in the Calvary! Nice selection there, those RC's are goin to be gorgeus.

[Hooked-On-Grown]

Here's a couple of shots after the system stops filling.........



Keep in mind that without a float valve controller to regulate the filling. You will need to check the levels more and adjust the timers once the plants start getting bigger and taking up more water and nutes. I had to adjust my fill time during the last grow twice in flowering. I just bumbed it up one minute.

[friendlyfriend]

Excellent!

I am looking forward to mimicing this system very soon its very shiek! Looks quite clean and perfect for decent yeilds. Wonder what these buckets could do with a scrog

[Smokey McPot]

Ya thanks HOG, I understand now that the system is pretty simple and I have it all sorted out. I will be making a system identical to this one probaly b/c the larger hose idea is a nice one. Do your timers turn on/off between each watering around 2.5 hours (i was wondering if you had to use digi timers to get all the times it turns on and off)? Well I bought some Serious Seeds AK-47, should be some dope stuff, If I dont have the money to get this system right now, I may just grow the AK in a moist soil mixture with a 400w MH and a 400w HPS, do you think it would be ok to run both of these at the same time 18 hrs (growing) then 12 hrs light (flowering). HOG, question, do you leave the small inner basket that your plants are now in with the ceramic balls or are you removing it? I was wondering if this would have any effect on the roots and why you have it in your buckets.

Damn, that is a nice setup. I like how you enlarged the tubing size it must flow like a river through those buckets. I am tempted to build these bigger buckets now, could easily reduce my plant number by 1/3. All aboard, this trains about to leave the station ! *choochoo* I'm sticking around for this one Great selection

ps: how many watts are going to be over them this round?

[Hooked-On-Grown]

yes you need two digital timers. The ones that have 7 day 24 hour programming. They are like 20 bucks a piece at Lowes or HD. A must for this system or build kryptos controller with float vavles. my waterings go like this..........

8:00am- timer #1 turns on for setting one-pump inside res turns on........filling controller bucket.
8:14am- timer #1 turns off for setting one-pump inside res turns off.
8:20am- timer #2 turns on for setting one-pump inside controller bucket puts water back into res.
8:42am-timer #2 turns off for setting one-pump turns off.

the same as above goes for the following times........
12:00pm- timer #1 on(setting #2)
12:14pm- timer #1 off
12:20pm- timer #2 on
12:42pm- timer #2 off

4:00pm- timer #1 on (setting#3)
4:14pm- timer #1 off
4:20pm- timer #2 on
4:42pm- timer #2 off

8:00pm- timer #1 on (setting #4)
8:14pm- timer #1 off
8:20pm- timer #2 on
8:42pm- timer #2 off

12:00am- timer #1 on (setting #5)
12:14am- timer #1 off
12:20am- timer #2 on
12:42am- timer #2 off

4:00am- timer #1 on (setting #6)
4:14am- timer #1 off
4:20am- timer #2 on
4:42am- timer #2 off

The digital timers I use have 20 settings. Each has a on and off time and choice of one to seven days. Be sure it is set for 7 days and watch that it says AM and PM. Missing a watering can kill your plants.
Times may vary but fill and drain times stay the same. You may not have to water as often if they are seedlings or clones. 3-4 times would be good. Increase to 6 waterings a day once they hit good vegging or you notice the RW cube drying out to fast between waterings(or your medium of choice.)
If you are not using medium at all ......look at the roots and see if they are dring out between waterings. If so.....increase the number of flood times.

Hope this helps.

[ezozo]

Hi HOG,
Hope you don't mind that I will ask it in your thread ?
If you do please let me know.

I am thinkin to build me an hydro system and I saw your thread and it's look like some thing that I can do

But I like to ask you, don't you have problem with fertilize different strains on the same system ?

can you put plants in the system in different time/stage ?

thank's in advance
zozo