Help me plan my setup

[newguy123]

So I'm thinking about doing a DWC grow in a 2x4x5 how tent. I would be using COB LED for the light and will be doing a scrog.

How many buckets would be optimal for my tent? Maybe 2 buckets I was thinking. Also should I go for 3.5 or 5 gallon?

 

[Organic Miner]

Go 2 larger buckets, give them roots some room to grow!

 

[Enigma]

Two five gallon buckets for flowering and one five gallon for a reservoir, at least.

 

[FennarioMike]

Two five gallon buckets for flowering and one five gallon for a reservoir, at least.

I concur. 2 5 gallon buckets. You need to leave some room in the tent to be able to get at all of the plants as well as lights, ventilation fans & stuff.

 

[Enigma]

Five gallon bucket are usually fifteen inches tall and twelve inches in diameter, one for each flowering plant and possibly one outside of the environment, it can be inside but a chiller would be recommended to maintain nutrient solution temperature.

 

[Vumar]

Five gallon bucket are usually fifteen inches tall and twelve inches in diameter, one for each flowering plant and possibly one outside of the environment, it can be inside but a chiller would be recommended to maintain nutrient solution temperature.

He is running COB LEDs which won't generate as much heat on the buckets/rdwc as say 600+ watts of HID. He'll be able to counter high temps simply with good air flow and a weekly reservoir change. I don't see going scrog as a good idea for your first couple of runs if you are a "newguy123".

 

[Enigma]

Ya know, I didn't know about reservoir temps when I started DWC. I lost six plants all that long ago.

Live, learn, grow.

 

[FennarioMike]

Hydroguard = no need to worry about rez temps whatsoever. I just got done vegging 4, 5 gal buckets with Hydroguard, and another 4 maintaining a sterile rez with UC Roots. The rez temps stayed in the mid/hi 70's and even went into the 80's. I also didn't change the rez a single time for the whole veg cycle - I just topped off with fresh nutes/RO as needed and re-added UC Roots every 2 days. Hydroguard doesn't need to be re-added. All 8 grew great - zero root issues and zero nute issues. I'll always use Hydroguard from now on!

6 of the 8 were moved down to my flower room which is an Under Current 6 plant RDWC. That system, for now, I still run sterile with a chiller.

 

[Enigma]

I'll run a chiller before I add chemicals.

 

[FennarioMike]

I'll run a chiller before I add chemicals.

Hydroguard is bacteria - no chemicals. Chilling alone won't prevent root rot. It needs to be combined with either beneficial bacteria, or a sterile rez approach using a disinfectant like UC Roots.

Through comparison and experimentation I'm sold on beneficial bacteria for 5 gallon bucket DWC and it's ability to remove the need to chill. I'll always do it this way now. I still run sterile rez in my bigger RDWC system for flowering - but I may switch to Hydroguard for that too on my next run. I need to do more research.

 

[Vumar]

I'll run a chiller before I add chemicals.

You should google before you post....

 

[Enigma]

You should google before you post....

My mistake, I'll amend my statement:

I'll run a chiller before I use additives.

I've never had the need for Hydroguard and since it is a Botanicare product I'll never purchase it in the future.