Dwc/drip

[monkz]

Hey guys,

Doing my first hydro grow and, as the title implies, I'm doing a drip/dwc.
Now, I get the dwc, seems quite simple in terms of what equipment I need and how to set it up, but it's the drip part that confuses me. I'll obviously need a water pump, but I don't know which one. I've seen ones that pump 2500lph and others that pump way more than that, but surely I don't need one that's so powerful? Can I get one pump which can supply, for example, 4 pots? Is there an accessory which I can add that regulates the drip regardless of how powerful my pump is? I live in Europe, so any links to where I can get this stuff online would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Monkz.

 

[Banana444]

If you were wanting to setup a drip system for your dwc, which is not necessary to do in dwc, but will help early in the grow (shouldnt have to handwater until roots grow into water), all you need is a very small water pump like 75gph and get a 4 way splitter to connect to it and it should slow it too a drip. That said, i am not familiar with the timing you would need for the drip system. I wouldnt think it need be constant since you are doing dwc. Hopefully someone else might chime in, i see alot of questions go unanswered in this subsection. Hope that helps...sometimes trial and seeing how your plants respond is how it goes.

 

[monkz]

Yeah, hydro in general seems to be a mysterious subject with more 'bro science' than actual tried&tested experience. That said, thanks for the info dude, much appreciated.

 

[tip top toker]

Absolutely no need for a drip system in DWC. The bubbles do all the work for you.

Bucket, air pump, hose, air stone, net pot, rockwool and some clay pebbles. Job done.

 

[monkz]

Is the reason you don't need a drip system because the bubbles create humidity for the roots which are in the net pot, which is sufficient for those roots to survive? I'm guessing I will need a drip for the first few weeks though until the roots grow through the pot, or is there a way around this?

 

[Banana444]

The reason you dont need a drip is because once the roots grow into the water they have everything they need. The bubbles increase the dissolved oxygen in the water so the roots dont drown. If you used a drip system, it would only be for the first 2 weeks max until your roots are in the water. Shit takes off fast once roots hit water. Water temps are important since as temps rise, DO decreases.

 

[tip top toker]

Is the reason you don't need a drip system because the bubbles create humidity for the roots which are in the net pot, which is sufficient for those roots to survive? I'm guessing I will need a drip for the first few weeks though until the roots grow through the pot, or is there a way around this?

Nope. You do not need a drip system at all, at any stage of the grow. You have to work out the correct water level, but basically the splashing of the bubbles and the increased humidity keep the rockwool at a consistent moisture level. you drop/raise the level of the water to change how moist the rockwool is. To start off, just run the system without any plants in (just the net pot, clay pebbles, and hydroton/starting medium), to work out the suitable water level and then you can go from there (if you pick up the rockwool cube and squeeze it gently at the corners, water should slowly drip out, not pour out). I did this from day one with DWC with no previous experience with hydro and it worked just great. Alternatively you can just get the seeds/clones going in a propagator and then just move to the DWC once rooted. The point about DWC is that it is so simple. You don't need fancy bells and whistles. An airstone and air pump and you're all good

 

[monkz]

Thanks for the input guys!

 

[I Grow My Own]

Nope. You do not need a drip system at all, at any stage of the grow. You have to work out the correct water level, but basically the splashing of the bubbles and the increased humidity keep the rockwool at a consistent moisture level. you drop/raise the level of the water to change how moist the rockwool is. To start off, just run the system without any plants in (just the net pot, clay pebbles, and hydroton/starting medium), to work out the suitable water level and then you can go from there (if you pick up the rockwool cube and squeeze it gently at the corners, water should slowly drip out, not pour out). I did this from day one with DWC with no previous experience with hydro and it worked just great. Alternatively you can just get the seeds/clones going in a propagator and then just move to the DWC once rooted. The point about DWC is that it is so simple. You don't need fancy bells and whistles. An airstone and air pump and you're all good

This is a big help thanks