[BigToke]

I’m glad ya liked it bro, any time I can help just ask that’s what were all here for my friend to help each other out and to have good friends to chat with, good luck with your project we’ll be here if ya need us.

[amsterdame]

Hey BigToke, you available for on-site bio-bucket consultations and contracting? If so, I got a job for ya here in chilly New England!

I'm a little engineering/tool challenged, but I may be able to enlist some local aid in helping me set this up. (If not, I got a plane ticket w/your name on it.) I've been doing autopots this last grow, and while they're great in terms of low maintenance, I SOooo miss the yields of DWC. I'm thinking the bio-buckets would satisfy both desires -- easy maintenance and higher yields.

Thanks again! Yo da man!!!!!

A*dame

[BigToke]

A*dame – thanks for your kind words and your confidents in me as a hydro Bio-Bucket engineer, that’s a very sweet offer and it sounds like it came from the hart but I’m going to have to turn you down on that, I’m still just a little bit to skittish about meeting folks, although I’m sure you’re a wonderfully person and how know some day maybe I’ll be in that part of the county and I’ll look you up, but for now every body will just have to settle with my teaching here at IC, but don’t you think that I didn’t appreciate the offer!!!

A*dame, for now all I can offer my friends here at IC it the information that I’m giving and my experience with it, if you have any questions at all just ask and I’ll do my best for ya, and if you don’t understand something that I’ve said/written just ask again and I’ll try to explain it again in a different way.

[the protege]

WOW! Big toke, that was nice. I have only done DWC once and that's it so I am pretty much a total noob. But if I were to build a 2-4 bucket system how long do you suppose it would take?

Would it even be worth it with only 2-4 buckets?

Is it the pump that forces the water in one side, and pushes the water out the other side into the 4" pvc pipe? Is the PvC pipe angled so as to flow directly back into 55 gallon drum?

I don't think I can completely understand, I guess I will re-read. I am mainly interested because I am tired of monitoring reservoir temp.

[BigToke]

Protégé, when I decided to build my Bio-System I took a lot of things into consideration that I wonted out of a hydro system like: low-maintenance, simple-operating, back-to-back 24/7 365 days a year operating-system in other words a lean mine growing machine that would pump out the green, if you know what I mean…I first looked at the open market to see what I could find and to me for what I wonted there was not a system to be found at that time, so I built something more in the lines of a commercial hydro system that would do what I wonted, you could say that it was special built for me and my needs.

Let’s get down to business and answer some of your questions, and they are:

Would it even be worth it with only 2-4 buckets?

I can’t tell you whether or not it well be worth it, that’s really left up to you? And it really depends on what you wont, but if your asking me can the Bio-Buckets be down sized then the answer is yes!! I can tell you that the Bio-System will grow some of the best plants that you’ve ever seen and in the fastest time you’ve ever seen!!

Is it the pump that forces the water in one side, and pushes the water out the other side into the 4" pvc pipe?

Yes!!

Is the PvC pipe angled so as to flow directly back into 55 gallon drum?

Yes!! You wont to have a plumber’s level and lay it on the end of the 4” pvc drain pip that’s furthest away from the reservoir and it should break a half a bubble, and on the other end that goes to the reservoir it should break a full bubble. I will include a picture of that and many more once my harvest is completed the tutorial is a ongoing project of mine and hope that many growers will gain new prospective and insights to the wonderful world of the Bio-Buckets Systems, but for now here’s what I am talking about.

If you will proceed to the section call Part four -- Supply and Return you will see what I am talking about.

[the protege]

Whoa! I think I got it. It's like a break through in your brain when you've been studying something and then pow, it makes sense. So what determines the level the water stays at? Is it just where you place your sump hose that leads to the 4" PVC? That is the most ingenious thing ever.

Also, what about you stands? How high off the ground do you have your buckets? And does it matter if your res is elevated or not? Does the pump actually push water all the way through the small PVC pipe to every bucket?
Final question. If the 'waterfall effect' is say 1.5-2 feet, would that help? So you have no oxygen sources other than the water being pumped in the buckets from the res?

Sorry for so many questions but this system really has me intrigued. Thank you for taking so much time to help.

[sunnyside]

Originally Posted by the protege

Whoa! I think I got it. It's like a break through in your brain when you've been studying something and then pow, it makes sense. So what determines the level the water stays at? Is it just where you place your sump hose that leads to the 4" PVC? That is the most ingenious thing ever.

Also, what about you stands? How high off the ground do you have your buckets? And does it matter if your res is elevated or not? Does the pump actually push water all the way through the small PVC pipe to every bucket?
Final question. If the 'waterfall effect' is say 1.5-2 feet, would that help? So you have no oxygen sources other than the water being pumped in the buckets from the res?

Sorry for so many questions but this system really has me intrigued. Thank you for taking so much time to help.

hey protege...I used to build koi ponds back in the day...turns out this is the same idea!!!

lets see if i can help and give toke some time off
you come off of the supply line that is 1” ¼ pvc pipe, with a ¾ water/hose and ran it up to each bucket
the pump doesnt actually push the water through......the pump pushes water to the buckets...when they fill to the 'sump line' it overflows into the sump hose, then the pvc, then eventually dropping via the waterfall..
The more drop the merrier...more oxygen...just watch your splash!!

The waterfall effect produces more oxygen in the water than an airpump could so no other oxygen sources are needed.

I beileve the elevation of the pots is merely to let gravity and the waterfall effects be able to work properly...

Hey BT,

I am so impressed with bio buckets that I found a new grow room (a spare bedroom somewhere) to try them out in. Can you give me a list of all the items I'll need for an 8 bucket system? Can you also show me a good layout for this room?
It is a 12' by 12' room and I will be using a 400w light. I can't go with a higher wattage cuz of electric bill. The reservoir will be in the room.
I will most likely use one corner in the room for this setup, so I can use 2 of the rooms walls for light reflection, I will probably have the other 2 walls be temporary ones that I build. I would appreciate any help you can give.

Thanks, Rule35sub1

[the protege]

Ok, so is that the only way for your return pipe to drain? So you must have it propped up at least a couple feet for it to flow by gravity back into the res? So when looking for a res, you want a wide short tub so it's easier to make that 1ft. clearance for the water to drop? I hope I'm right.

[BigToke]

Thanks Sunnyside, for backing me up and helping me out any time bro!!

Let me clarify some arias up for ya if I can,……. Protégé, there is no stupid questions were all learning here bro so ask all you like and we’ll do aware best and hopefully in well sink-in. so let’s get down to it:

So what determines the level the water stays at? Is it just where you place your sump hose that leads to the 4" PVC?

Yes, sunny said it right.

Also, what about you stands? How high off the ground do you have your buckets?

From the bottom of my Bio-Buckets to the floor is 14”.

does it matter if your res is elevated or not?

My reservoir sets on the floor.

Does the pump actually push water all the way through the small PVC pipe to every bucket?

Again it’s like sunny said, but I do believe I did a typo!! I have a 5000GPH Mag-Drive Pump, and the pvc pip that connects to that is 1” ½ not 1” ¼ my mistake sorry about that, but yes each buckets is supplied from that 1” ½ pvc pip, and then braches off with a ¾ line to each bucket.

If the 'waterfall effect' is say 1.5-2 feet, would that help? So you have no oxygen sources other than the water being pumped in the buckets from the res?

let me put it this way, I did no guess work on this I actually bought a DO-Meter and let me say that by doing a water-fall-effect in my reservoir by one foot creates enough dissolved oxygen to keep alive 36 very healthy plants, I believe I included a photo of this.

Ok, so is that the only way for your return pipe to drain? So you must have it propped up at least a couple feet for it to flow by gravity back into the res?

Yes!! You’ve got it!!

when looking for a res, you want a wide short tub so it's easier to make that 1ft. clearance for the water to drop? I hope I'm right

Well you might need just a little help with this one. Look at my res-photo it wide but not short, from the water level in my reservoir to the top of the reservoir is 12” to 14” with a lid!! You don’t wont stuff flying into your reservoir.