DOVESPRINGSGROWER
Well-Known Member
Wat good diggity i got a couple of question 1 could you flower and harvest in the 3 gallon dwc 2nd how do you deal with temp as for water temp i had a recent dwc setup got bad due to root rot
DIY 3 Gallon Rubbermaid DWC
- Thread starter diggitydank420
- Start date
gigabyteC2D
Active Member
Well for a dwc you SHOULD reach harvest without changing the system. The 3 gallon size is what I am using and there is no problem with it. I recommend keeping at least one gallon of liquid in each tub, and possibly more if you have multiple plants per tub. I do a single plant per tub, and it allows them to get nice and big!
As for water temps, you should not need to cool or heat it. The temp should be at room temperature, unless the room is much too hot or cold, then just set the room temp at 75 degrees F (the temp that plants grow best at). The thing that controls the growth of pathogens, i.e. root rot, algae, and others, is the pH of your solution. With DWC you want your pH to be between 5.1 and 5.9, where 5.2 is optimal. Also it helps to have some H2O2 in your system, since it kills bad anererobic bacteria and also feeds you plants oxygen!
Hope that helps!
diggitydank420
Well-Known Member
To answer your first question, yes you can flower in them.
As far as temperature issues go, I haven't had any at all. The dark color of the tubs combined with evaporation seems to work. Of course I run my lights at night when the temps are lower.
diggitydank420
Well-Known Member
Dr Shakalu
Well-Known Member
Looking good man, i like that set up. if i were to start with grow plugs in the clay pellets do i start with a higher water lvl until the roots become a little more developed????? i have been using coco for my first grow and it is cool but i need to get some sort of res set up, and im thinking for a veging mother plant this would be awesome, and low maintenance with fast growth under a t5 fixture 
diggitydank420
Well-Known Member
I keep the rez level touching the bottoms of the pots until they have developed some root structure. Then I let it get about 1/2-1/3 and top off with 1/2 strength nute solution for first top off, 1/4 strength for second, then just ph'd water for the third top-off. After the third refill, it's time to purge and start anew with full strength solution.Looking good man, i like that set up. if i were to start with grow plugs in the clay pellets do i start with a higher water lvl until the roots become a little more developed????? i have been using coco for my first grow and it is cool but i need to get some sort of res set up, and im thinking for a veging mother plant this would be awesome, and low maintenance with fast growth under a t5 fixture
Hope this helps!
koolhand77
Well-Known Member
can't wait to find a few min to read through this thread. looks good
Good thread man. love it.
Good thread man. love it.
blackdog
Well-Known Member
why did you put the hole on the bottom, just make another hole at the top with the other one and run your airline through the hole...I have made the same setup and I run airlines and the heater from holes at the top and I don't have to worry about leaks and the lid shuts over everything nice and tight....next time use a black rubbermaid container.
diggitydank420
Well-Known Member
I did it that way so that I could get the airstones in straight without worrying about the air hose getting pinched. It also keeps the tubing out of the way of the root systems.
But hey, do as you wish.
As far as black tubs... blue seems to be working just fine and they didn't have any black ones that I could find.
Dr Shakalu
Well-Known Member
hell ya that's perfect! thanks man, i will be doing this for fun to see if its better than coco!I keep the rez level touching the bottoms of the pots until they have developed some root structure. Then I let it get about 1/2-1/3 and top off with 1/2 strength nute solution for first top off, 1/4 strength for second, then just ph'd water for the third top-off. After the third refill, it's time to purge and start anew with full strength solution.
Hope this helps!
koolhand77
Well-Known Member
Dig I have a seedling in some rockwool and put hydroton pellets in the my cups are pretty big so I have the water a 1/3 to 1/2 way up the cup with a long airstone. spray the rookwool couple times a day... what do you think any help would kool.
diggitydank420
Well-Known Member
Bro, I wish I could help you, but I don't use rockwool.
The only advice I can give you is keep the rockwool out of the rez. I've read a few threads on rockwool. It is very absorbent and can lead to root rot if kept saturated because the water in it will lock out oxygen. If you haven't already, put a layer of pellets down first before you place the rockwool in the pots.
Don't let the cubes get dry, keep them moist, just don't saturate them.
koolhand77
Well-Known Member
thanks man the rock wool is sitting real close to the res so i will change water tommrow and keep it lower. I only have bag seed in there. what is your method?
diggitydank420
Well-Known Member
I start my seeds in soil, here's a rundown:
- When seedlings are at 2nd or 3rd node, I gently remove it from the soil by loosening the soil underneath and around.
- I then drop the seedling into a bowl of water and get as much soil off the roots by gently swirling them in the water.
- I drop the roots into the net pot trying to get as many tendrils throught the holes as I can.
- hold the seedling by the top and fill with pellets
Then I just drop the little bitches(hopefully) into the tub and let em rip.
koolhand77
Well-Known Member
ya I was thinking that is what you did. I like it. you gonna post yourwhole grow? I have a micro grow going just really trying to get my feet wet. thanks for your help.
diggitydank420
Well-Known Member
I don't have a journal going(waiting until I get a good camera), but I did make a little post about my ladies.
https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/104010-my-garden.html
diggitydank420
Well-Known Member
My tallest (and most mature) is 31 inches tall at the moment. The next smallest one is at 24 inches, but she's almost a month younger.