Noob Alert!: Do I have to water from top?

I have read a bunch of DWC guides and none I have read have made it clear whether you have to water from the top or if you just let the roots feed off the nutrients in the res?

I've seen DWC units with a water pump, feeding to the top but doesn't that kind of make it a drip system?
I do not want a water pump in my system all I have is a 5 gal bucket, air pump, air stone, and tubing.

I'm really confused about this and I'm starting my first grow soon so help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks RIU :peace:
 

Xrtnfx

Active Member
What I did was let the water level hover at the bottom of my pot filled with hydroton. The air bubbles from the bottom of the bucket sprayed the substrate and cohesion allowed the water to keep the hydroton wet.
 
What I did was let the water level hover at the bottom of my pot filled with hydroton. The air bubbles from the bottom of the bucket sprayed the substrate and cohesion allowed the water to keep the hydroton wet.

Would this work using a 4" rockwool cube? Im also using hydroton(pretty much) just a different brand name called Via Stone, And im using an 8" net pot. I probably should have got a smaller net pot and ditch the 4" cubes but I'm gonna try and make this work. Thanks for the help.
 

randr

Active Member
i also just rose the water level to the bottom of the baskets till the roots hit the water
 
Oh and one more question, has anybody ever used the grey 5 gal buckets from Lowes? Do you know if they are completely light proof or not? I can't find black buckets ANYWHERE and I don't want to pay 8-10 dollars shipping for a $3 bucket. I also don't feel like wrapping the whole bucket in tape, Anybody?
 

rotor7ven

Member
Oh and one more question, has anybody ever used the grey 5 gal buckets from Lowes? Do you know if they are completely light proof or not? I can't find black buckets ANYWHERE and I don't want to pay 8-10 dollars shipping for a $3 bucket. I also don't feel like wrapping the whole bucket in tape, Anybody?

spray paint the bucket black. (outside)
 
I

Illegal Smile

Guest
Good questions. Read the link below for good answers.
 

sixstring2112

Well-Known Member
Oh and one more question, has anybody ever used the grey 5 gal buckets from Lowes? Do you know if they are completely light proof or not? I can't find black buckets ANYWHERE and I don't want to pay 8-10 dollars shipping for a $3 bucket. I also don't feel like wrapping the whole bucket in tape, Anybody?
i dont know if they are COMPLETELY light proof but they work great. i have converted my black buckets to lowes because they dont get as hot and I cannot see through them.
 

smppro

Well-Known Member
Oh and one more question, has anybody ever used the grey 5 gal buckets from Lowes? Do you know if they are completely light proof or not? I can't find black buckets ANYWHERE and I don't want to pay 8-10 dollars shipping for a $3 bucket. I also don't feel like wrapping the whole bucket in tape, Anybody?
The gray buckets from lowes are light proof, ive used them and checked that, i still covered the lids though. Easy way to check something is to take a flashlight and sit the bucket upside down on top of it, then turn off your lights and you will see if it is light proof or not.
 
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