DWC Res Help

[Meast21]

Thinking about getting this rez and just doing 2 plants.. https://www.monstergardens.com/Hydroponic-Supplies/Hydroponic-Systems/Deep-Water-Culture-DWC?product_id=492


Will this work for 2 plants under a 600 watt hps ???

1.)Will it be hard to keep rez under 72 degrees to avoid bacteria ??
2.) Anyone know how many inches the net pots hang into the water with this unit ?? It says it holds 10 gallons and its only 8.25 " tall. So is that before or after the net cups ???

 

[waterdawg]

Seems to me its a bit small but I guess pails are 5. I use basically the same thing as my upper tray with a 30 gallon res below. I've just switched to low pressure sprayers doing 4 plants and it gets pretty crowded. Just curious but why not just use pails ifdoing dwc? Seems to be kinda pricy imo.

 

[Penny wise]

Your link says out of stock! Lucky for you . Make your own system for the cheap

 

[FrostyPelican]

That's way too expensive! Don't waste your money.

See my post on page two over here https://www.rollitup.org/t/dwc-hydro-vs-bubbleponics.26645/page-2#post-10960116

If you want two (or more) plants growing in something you can just buy a large tote tub ($10.00 or so) and drill the holes on the lids to hold your netpots using the same equipment with the addition of an extra air stone or two. This can be done with a 10.00 two outlet air pump or even a 2.00 air line splitter.

All you need is a drill and the hole saw blades to make the circle cuts.

Below is all you need to make your own.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-Pcs-Hole-Saw-Kit-W-Case-2-mandrels-Cuts-Plastic-Wood-Thin-Metal-Hex-Key-/111135127428?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

12.00

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubbermaid-Cleverstore-29-Gallon-Tote-Blazer-Blue/38664641
$17
(a ten gallon would be enough and can be found almost anywhere for $5-$6 )

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Culture-20-60-Gallon-Double-Outlet-Aquarium-Air-Pump-1-Ct-Fish-Aquatic-Pets/10532634
$10.57

X2

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Culture-Bubble-Aquarium-Stone-1ct-Fish-Aquatic-Pets/10532636
$2.77

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-3-or-3-75-Heavy-Duty-Net-Pots-Plastic-Bulk-Qty-inch-pot-mesh-aeroponics-/221338224510?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0
$5.75 for ten

Use pea gravel or lava rock from home depot or lowes at $5.00 for a gigantic bag or buy hydroton

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HYDROTON-Clay-Pebbles-Growing-Media-Expanded-Clay-Rocks-U-Choose-in-LITERS-SAVE-/321470823337?pt=US_Hydroponics
$5.75 for a half pound, more than you will need.


The problem with that setup you're looking at is one, it's way over priced and two, it's too shallow(not enough volume) to support mature plants. The thing is sure it will work when they are small but once they get into flowering they will start to drinking about a gallon a day each. Even a five gallon bucket per plant is a pain in the ass because everyday you need to add more nutrients.

If you buy that hole saw, the air pump and stones you start with a 2 gallon bucket from home depot, it's 3 dollars or so, then move them to the big tub so you can go some time in between res topping. You want 2 systems. A small one when they are seedlings because you don't need all that nutrient solution. It's a waste of money to have 5 gallons when you only need 1. You need a large tub when they are mature so you don't run them dry if you have to be gone for a few days.

I learned from youtube. Search DIY DWC and you'll find some good videos.

Another good thing about the DIY is you can build all the systems you want in the future for virtually nothing other than new air stones and a cheap tub.

 

[TheChemist77]

i agree, build ur owne, very easy to build and you can easily expand in the future.. i think just about everyone build their own systems today, unless gowing with airo,, even then its still not to bad to build ur owne...DWC and ebb n flow are very simple even for beginers to build..in my opinion home made units are better than store bought systems because you can determine how far apart or close together you want your plants...

 

[joespit]

skip DWC all together and build stinkbuds areo/nft rig. It's cheap, waaay easier than DWC no airstones buzzing all day long just a zen-ful water fall noise every 5 min

 

[jijiandfarmgang]

How is aero/nft easier than simple DWC?

I don't like Stinkbuds aero/nft. It has some good traits but overall its not worth it. Mine went in the trash.

- Jiji

 

[joespit]

How is aero/nft easier than simple DWC?

I don't like Stinkbuds aero/nft. It has some good traits but overall its not worth it. Mine went in the trash.

- Jiji

I had a hard time in DWC keeping roots healty. If it wasn't slime it was not enough D/O plus I was only able to fit 3 buckets/plants and be on top of them daily. Now I have 6 plants, I can walk away for 4 - 6 days and everything is fine. Now I have an abundance of oxygen as roots hang in the air, no slime (although res heat still happens but because the pump is on for 1on/8off it takes a few days to get up to high 70's but after this harvest I'm going to make pump external) less electrical demand to the point I could run it off of a battery back up for days, with areo you can let your pH fluctuate pretty wildly I bashfully admit and no problems. Really everything is mind-numbingly simpler with areo/nft and it's more quite, and it looks more futuristic. For me anyways DWC was like plate spinning.

 

[WestDenverPioneer]

Thinking about getting this rez and just doing 2 plants.. https://www.monstergardens.com/Hydroponic-Supplies/Hydroponic-Systems/Deep-Water-Culture-DWC?product_id=492


Will this work for 2 plants under a 600 watt hps ???

1.)Will it be hard to keep rez under 72 degrees to avoid bacteria ??
2.) Anyone know how many inches the net pots hang into the water with this unit ?? It says it holds 10 gallons and its only 8.25 " tall. So is that before or after the net cups ???

10-gallons is going to be the amount of solution in normal operating conditions.
There are other options to your link/choice to consider.
If temps are going to be an issue consider ebb/flow instead of DWC.
Botanicare make some very nice setups that you could put under a 600.
They have a 25-gallon res/tray combo that's pretty sweet.
There are other manufacturers as well.
Stick with food grade ABS plastic. Avoid the totes and short-cuts as much as possible.

 

[waterdawg]

How is aero/nft easier than simple DWC?

I don't like Stinkbuds aero/nft. It has some good traits but overall its not worth it. Mine went in the trash.

- Jiji

What issues did you have? Just curious as I've had the rails sitting in the garage already drilled but never hooked up. I just convertered my tote to use low pressure sprayers and have had no issues yet but just hope the sprayers dont plug! There is no hope in hell I can get the lid off as all the roots have completely grown around the tubing lol. The nute levels are a 1/3rd higher than my flood and drain, but I gotta say growth is very good. The rails seem a tad small for the roots and again sprayer issues would be a worry imo.

 

[waterdawg]

10-gallons is going to be the amount of solution in normal operating conditions.
There are other options to your link/choice to consider.
If temps are going to be an issue consider ebb/flow instead of DWC.
Botanicare make some very nice setups that you could put under a 600.
They have a 25-gallon res/tray combo that's pretty sweet.
There are other manufacturers as well.
Stick with food grade ABS plastic. Avoid the totes and short-cuts as much as possible.

Has anyone studied the leaching of plastics used in totes?

 

[WestDenverPioneer]

Has anyone studied the leaching of plastics used in totes?

You can google yourself all night long.
I haven't found cannabis specific studies on totes but I know it to be a plant used for phytoremediation. There is a very good chance of it sucking up bad stuff if it exists.

Here's an article on plastics and resin codes:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/04/11/plastic-use.aspx

 

[TheChemist77]

https://www.rollitup.org/t/chemist77-pic-journal.850252/#post-11036271

if anyone wants to check out my dwc build,,very simple..great root development, and even get an under current thing going when the 4'' pvc is recirculating water from the res with a 400gph water pump..the water always stays at the same depth,,i think ebb n flow and DWC are the simplest to build, even beginners could get great buds..

 

[jijiandfarmgang]

What issues did you have? Just curious as I've had the rails sitting in the garage already drilled but never hooked up. I just convertered my tote to use low pressure sprayers and have had no issues yet but just hope the sprayers dont plug! There is no hope in hell I can get the lid off as all the roots have completely grown around the tubing lol. The nute levels are a 1/3rd higher than my flood and drain, but I gotta say growth is very good. The rails seem a tad small for the roots and again sprayer issues would be a worry imo.

Stinkbuds flower unit is designed to leak. The unit gets bumped or shifted, the resevoir stays where its at. When the rails flow, if its not setup just right it will splash on the lid of the res and eventually go to the ground.
Also, plants nearest the res will grow down outside of the rails or build up so high in the rails, that it will effect water flow.

You can try to mitigate the issue by making the holes in the res larger, but your probably letting more light in than you should.

It'd probably work better using it as a kind of sea of green with a rail in the middle, maybe not.

Anyways when it worked it worked well.

- Jiji

 

[ttystikk]

skip DWC all together and build stinkbuds areo/nft rig. It's cheap, waaay easier than DWC no airstones buzzing all day long just a zen-ful water fall noise every 5 min

I haven't used airstones in my RDWC system for years now. My waterfalls run constantly, bringing their happy Zen tinkle to the bloomroom 24/7.

 

[joespit]

I haven't used airstones in my RDWC system for years now. My waterfalls run constantly, bringing their happy Zen tinkle to the bloomroom 24/7.

That's what I was trying to do, I had an 800gph pump that I was going to make he waterfalls with but there were just too many leaks from the uniseals, even after I tried fiberglassing them. Plus I was using 5gal Gatorade coolers that were all just slightly different resulting in different water level in each. It was a mess for me. But hen again the more clever I thought I was being the messier it got

 

[ttystikk]

That's what I was trying to do, I had an 800gph pump that I was going to make he waterfalls with but there were just too many leaks from the uniseals, even after I tried fiberglassing them. Plus I was using 5gal Gatorade coolers that were all just slightly different resulting in different water level in each. It was a mess for me. But hen again the more clever I thought I was being the messier it got

Simple one inch bulkhead fittings. Use the same five gallon buckets.

 

[waterdawg]

I haven't used airstones in my RDWC system for years now. My waterfalls run constantly, bringing their happy Zen tinkle to the bloomroom 24/7.

It is a very nice sound isnt it. I have a few air pumps gathering dust myself lol

 

[Tone5500]

Stinkbuds flower unit is designed to leak. The unit gets bumped or shifted, the resevoir stays where its at. When the rails flow, if its not setup just right it will splash on the lid of the res and eventually go to the ground.
Also, plants nearest the res will grow down outside of the rails or build up so high in the rails, that it will effect water flow.

You can try to mitigate the issue by making the holes in the res larger, but your probably letting more light in than you should.

It'd probably work better using it as a kind of sea of green with a rail in the middle, maybe not.

Anyways when it worked it worked well.

- Jiji

I'm using ebb n flow drain on mine , and I tjink these rails should only be used to havest 2.5 to 3 oz plants just for thy reason of the roots , I'm also using 6x6 fence sleeves for more room ... I'm hoping it goes well if not no biggie I got 6 rails already plumbed with sprays drilled out and fittings for 50$$ in all and I already had timers and pvc hoping it works out thought if not back to DWC but with 15 gallon totes 5 gallon buckets suck during flowering

 

[rory420420]

grow however you want..but dont gamble..fuck all the snake-oil bullshit found on this site,get a water chiller,be done with worry.