Heres some basic info on running a DWC bucket system.
I use 2 and 5 gallon black buckets with 6in net pots. I use 1in RW cubes and hydroton.
For air I use sunleaves pumps with silicate stones 12' or 6' both seem to work ok but I like the 12' because it wieghts itself down. The pumps with 1 and 2 ports work well but the 4 port pump they have is loud so i suggest useing a 1 or 2 port pump.
Seedlings and clones are ready to go in when the roots are visible on the bottom of the cubes.
The cubes are placed near the top of the pot allowing just enough room to put a layer of hydroton on top of the cube.
The water level is kept 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch above the bottom of the pot till
i get a good root system in the res then i put the water level at the bottom of the net pot.
I water the cubes daily by hand till the roots start comeing out of the bottom of the pot. (only water the cube not the hydroton)
Nutrients are set to 5.5ph after mixing and should be kept between 5.5 and 6
I use dutch master gold and it tends to slowly drift up. Adjusting the ph daily isnt good and is annoying I try to hold off till its atleast .4 off.
I wait till it gets to 6.0 then adjust back down to 5.5 (slowly adjust).
When the plants get bigger and start drinking like a liter a day I top it off with ph5.4 water and this keeps the ph in check. The nutes are changed every week.
I put a water level tube on the side because its annoying to try to stare in that dark bucket and judge the water level from the bottom of the pot. Also I cant put the same amount of solution in when the roots get massive because it would make the water levels go to high since the roots take up so much space in the res. When the roots are massive i place the plant in an empty bucket, dump the old solution and rinse the bucket and stone. Then i place the plant back in and pour fresh nutes to the level i marked on the tube.
Nutes should be used at 1/3 strength
24 hour veg can cause heat build up in your water so your better off with 18/6
Use a CF at all stages or its gonna smell like nutes in your room (closet growers).
Thats about it i think.
The 2 big problems with this kind of system is res heat and theres no place to put a support stake if needed.
This is a simple design for personal grows and people who want to try a simple dwc.
If you notice anything wrong feel free to point it out.
I use 2 and 5 gallon black buckets with 6in net pots. I use 1in RW cubes and hydroton.
For air I use sunleaves pumps with silicate stones 12' or 6' both seem to work ok but I like the 12' because it wieghts itself down. The pumps with 1 and 2 ports work well but the 4 port pump they have is loud so i suggest useing a 1 or 2 port pump.
Seedlings and clones are ready to go in when the roots are visible on the bottom of the cubes.
The cubes are placed near the top of the pot allowing just enough room to put a layer of hydroton on top of the cube.
The water level is kept 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch above the bottom of the pot till
i get a good root system in the res then i put the water level at the bottom of the net pot.
I water the cubes daily by hand till the roots start comeing out of the bottom of the pot. (only water the cube not the hydroton)
Nutrients are set to 5.5ph after mixing and should be kept between 5.5 and 6
I use dutch master gold and it tends to slowly drift up. Adjusting the ph daily isnt good and is annoying I try to hold off till its atleast .4 off.
I wait till it gets to 6.0 then adjust back down to 5.5 (slowly adjust).
When the plants get bigger and start drinking like a liter a day I top it off with ph5.4 water and this keeps the ph in check. The nutes are changed every week.
I put a water level tube on the side because its annoying to try to stare in that dark bucket and judge the water level from the bottom of the pot. Also I cant put the same amount of solution in when the roots get massive because it would make the water levels go to high since the roots take up so much space in the res. When the roots are massive i place the plant in an empty bucket, dump the old solution and rinse the bucket and stone. Then i place the plant back in and pour fresh nutes to the level i marked on the tube.
Nutes should be used at 1/3 strength
24 hour veg can cause heat build up in your water so your better off with 18/6
Use a CF at all stages or its gonna smell like nutes in your room (closet growers).
Thats about it i think.
The 2 big problems with this kind of system is res heat and theres no place to put a support stake if needed.
This is a simple design for personal grows and people who want to try a simple dwc.
If you notice anything wrong feel free to point it out.
