Blackforest's RDWC ^2 Grow

Starting my RDWC undercurrent system back up. 6 site w/ epicenter. Going to run Lucas formula GH nutes again (unless convinced otherwise) in my 4x8 tent. I'm here in CO, so keeping it legit. I can have 6 in flower between the wife and I. Going to run blue power (sin city seeds) again. This pheno I got out of a pack of beans from the cup in Denver in '14 is straight up ridiculous. If you get a great strain via clone or from seed, keep it. Lots of sub par strains out there. I put my system back together, and it was leaking a little around the uniseals. The first time I put it together, no problems at all. I basically took it all apart, cleaned the seals and put it back together. I added some silicone on a problematic bucket and all seems good to go. Clones are about 10" tall, will make their way into the system mid week. In the past I've averaged 24oz per harvest with 2x 600w lights. I'm hoping for more this time.

I put up the 4x8, still need to install the filter and fan. The 4x4 will be done on 6/17, coming along nicely. 1 blue power and 3 green cracks in there. Hoping for about 10-12oz. Those girls are in ocean forest in smart pots feeding gh floranova bloom lucas formula at 8ml per gal. They seem to really love it. Anyway, the goal of this rdwc grow is ease and automation. The last one was awesome, pretty much changed the water out once per week and that was it. I don't like my cool tubes, but it's all I have at the moment, and it is in a 99% reflective tent, so.... They are nice because they are super light weight and being a tube, the air going through them cools them with max efficiency. Clones go in tomorrow.

Well, the day after I set everything up, we were told the house we were living in was going up for sale, and we didn't like it enough to buy it, so everything came down and we moved recently. Well I got everything fired back up, and we're growing again!

I had a hell of a time getting these clones to root properly. Too wet, too dry, roots were turning brown out of the bottom of the rockwool, total nightmare. I finally got a clue and fixed the root problems with some DM zone. Roots are nice and white and growing quickly now. I'm running Lucas formula GH micro and bloom with Calmag and DM zone. Trying to keep it simple and automated. I learned a lot by searching the boards and fixing the problems. Thanks to all those that contribute. Clones are finally starting to grow and the roots are coming out of the net pots now, so hopefully I'm in the clear for a good run.

Question...
Now that the roots are coming out of the pots, should I lower the water level to 1" below the net pot? Right now I have the water level right at the bottom of the pots.

Right at the bottom is fine,as long as you already have roots hanging in the water,if not keep in right at the bottom of the rock wool cube,later,it wouldn't really matter 1' lower or 1' higher though.
But Me personally,I like it right at the bottom when i got my roots dangling.

i would keep it 1" below the net pot (my own preference)

mainly to stop the rockwool becoming saturated and rotting the stem/roots.

happened to me before and lost the whole lot..

if there are roots coming out, then you can lower the water level no problem.

i do hempy buckets just like you. lucas (trying the flora duo this go round) , dm zone and a vitamin/hormone booster. simple is the way to go for sure.

I'll have to check into the flora duo. Have not come across that one yet. I had leaks in my system so the girls suffered, but are coming back nicely. Right now ppm's are 800ish ph 5.7. Finally on cruise control, at least it seems.

What'd you do to fix the leaks?

The roots are getting watered from the airstones in each bucket... you do have them in there? If so, then the water should be an inch below the netpots. Drowning problems are best avoided.

I don't use airstones, but I know what they're for.

The six month hiatus goes by real fast in the reading above, but it had to be frustrating! Glad to see you're up and running!

Vumar said:

What'd you do to fix the leaks?

Click to expand...

I took the system apart, used e6000 (adhesive) then some of that spray waterproofing rubberized stuff. Still had a micro leak out of one uniseal, it eventually stopped by itself. Next round will be with square buckets and bulkheads. It was a nightmare, but fixed....for now.

ttystikk said:

The roots are getting watered from the airstones in each bucket... you do have them in there? If so, then the water should be an inch below the netpots. Drowning problems are best avoided.

I don't use airstones, but I know what they're for.

The six month hiatus goes by real fast in the reading above, but it had to be frustrating! Glad to see you're up and running!

Click to expand...

Yep, airstone in each bucket. I'm going to try your waterfall effect on my next build. Seems very simple and it makes sense too. Wonder how I could add sink aerators (or similar) to the elbow going into each bucket. Not that they would need them, but the concept sounds cool. Everyone has responded very well and roots are growing major again. Hopefully only a couple more weeks of veg. I wasted almost 4 weeks of veg growth due to difficulty rooting clones and having the water level too high. I don't remember it being this difficult last round, LOL

blackforest said:

I took the system apart, used e6000 (adhesive) then some of that spray waterproofing rubberized stuff. Still had a micro leak out of one uniseal, it eventually stopped by itself. Next round will be with square buckets and bulkheads. It was a nightmare, but fixed....for now.

Click to expand...

Bulkheads will flatten out a five gallon bucket and seal just fine.

ttystikk said:

Bulkheads will flatten out a five gallon bucket and seal just fine.

Click to expand...

That's good to know, I wanted to get larger buckets and move to a bigger setup. Was thinking 13 gal buckets or good sized totes, still only 6 due to CO laws, but wanted to maybe go 4x 1000w in a larger setup. My 4x8 tent is in a room that is 12x12. If the wife and I can only have 6 in flower, might as well make them monsters...

blackforest said:

That's good to know, I wanted to get larger buckets and move to a bigger setup. Was thinking 13 gal buckets or good sized totes, still only 6 due to CO laws, but wanted to maybe go 4x 1000w in a larger setup. My 4x8 tent is in a room that is 12x12. If the wife and I can only have 6 in flower, might as well make them monsters...

Click to expand...

Check out my lil girls;

ttystikk said:

Check out my lil girls;
View attachment 3519588 View attachment 3519589 View attachment 3519590

Click to expand...

That's just silly @ttystikk.... rdwc with vert... my god. I have neighbors! Quit giving me ideas like this!

blackforest said:

That's just silly @ttystikk.... rdwc with vert... my god. I have neighbors! Quit giving me ideas like this!

Click to expand...

I have neighbors... and a five foot tall carbon filter, lol Just wait until you see what I'm doing next... with LED lights I designed myself.

Super impressive. Can't wait to see your LED's in action. I'd love an alternative to heat producing energy sucking HID's.

ttystikk said:

Check out my lil girls;
View attachment 3519588 View attachment 3519589 View attachment 3519590

Click to expand...

looking sikk bro

Roots are coming along nicely. I have to hand it to that DM zone. So far I like it quite a bit. Bleach white and finally starting to really thrive up top.


It's really a man cave/gr, at least this go round. Hopefully I'll just fill the space next time. We'll see.