New Style Growing Bucket! Opinions Wanted!!

[TuffyTuesday]

don't get me wrong I think it's awesome that you have put forth the effort to create something and actually see it go from idea to reality, that's definitely commendable!

as a DWC veteran though it just doesn't get me excited, mostly because it solves a problem that's not actually a problem, by using a medium that retains water in your net cup you can just plop your cutting right in, same for seed, into any dwc system(5gal buckets are cheap and everywhere) I like a mix of chunky perlite and verm about 50/50 but I'm having good results with promix atm.

having the connection for the water pump outside the bucket means it will have to be used in an RDWC configuration, which is costly compared to a stand alone unit, for the grower who wants RDWC that's fine, but you eliminate virtually all your "one or two bucket" customers, and any like myself who don't want the hassle of tweaking and maintaining an RDWC just to get the same results. that's not to say RDWC folks wont like your design though. I would go a step further and mold in some threaded connection points at the bottom to attach pipes for the RDWC setup, that's a HUGE problem for folks getting into RDWC, solid water tight connectors built right in.

make sure your test grows use the same variables and the tests have to be cuttings for the side by side or no one will value the results, my prediction is they will be nearly similar as your design doesn't add anything that would increase yield over regular DWC, mostly because the design is quite simply still DWC, roots suspended in aqueous solution. Aeroponics is roots suspended in air, the nutrient solution is aerosolized by a special high pressure pump, special misters that can handle that pressure and deliver a uniform droplet size. This combo is teamed with a special timer that allows intervals of less than one second. The timer hits the pump, a burst of mist hits the roots, the ultra tiny droplets are absorbed completely and run off is very slight if any. Intervals must be carefully timed to keep roots moist but not wet. This allows for the least possible waste and the most efficient possible grow with higher yields relative to the amount of nutes used to produce it.

marketing on bigger yields is a mistake, there are way more variables at play besides the bucket, i would steer your design toward integrating useful things like connection ports, a drain and fill with a level indicator for one or two bucket growers, think about how to take the hassle out of DWC and market your products that way.

Avoid china like it was the fuckin French Finger! Your blueprints become State property, they'll quote your price for say, 10000 units, they'll use the money to run 30000 and warehouse 20k until yours begin to sell, then they start trickling them in as "Grow Boss Halo Buckets 6 site hydro tent" or something like that. See "selfie stick"

The conclusion I'm coming to is that I would have to provide the option for two different style systems. One being what I have now, low pressure, and another being high pressure aeroponics.

 

[OLD MOTHER SATIVA]

i am so hydro..have done dwc/swc/rdwc...using home made pex feed grid now..and coco in 4 gal nursery pots ..on top of a 4 x 4 ft res withholes in the f and d lid to drain..

idid hydrotubs the last few years..from large res

each one f the res's is it own system..i did this for the led panels i had made in [china]


i do not really understand the science of this bucket system..since i can not see inside..its aeroponics or is the hose inside that enclosed circle..?

i see small net pots..are they oem replaceable.. since net pots can break

cloning in the same larger area you grow in..of course it will work..but ikinda like to keep
my cuts/clones /growing clones in a different room..

how much will you sell this for..where do all the roots go..i guess you use any substrate?


big congrats for your hard work and patent!!

you may be onto something..

 

[morgwar]

You're on the right track. I'm a soil organic guy but with mods previously mentioned id give it a go.
High pressure and a drain system are a must for aeroponics.
A square version might be cool too for space saving purposes.
If I could do aero organic id jump on it.

 

[PetFlora]

I'll have a whole system put together soon. Including drain. I've also had trouble using those drip rings. They're a waste of money imo. As for the design there's honestly no price difference in production. It's just my preference I guess lol

But by tapering it in there is less room for roots to spread

How long before they're available?

 

[PetFlora]

The conclusion I'm coming to is that I would have to provide the option for two different style systems. One being what I have now, low pressure, and another being high pressure aeroponics.

High Pressure demands a big root chamber. When growing hpa I had massive cotton candy roots, way bigger than yours

 

[WeedFreak78]

Where's the hole for the drain/ recirculation hook ups? Why isn't it molded in? I wouldn't want to spend money on something I need to modify to work the ways its supposed to. I'd be pissed if it didn't seal right or the plastic cracked. With some irrigation tubing, a t fitting ands a grommet I can turn any dwc bucket into this for about $5. It'll be good for people who can't drill a hole in a bucket, or if its going to be under $10/ bucket it might be worth the initial investment, if it had all the ports necessary.

 

[Observe & Report]

I have received one quote for a plastic manufacturing mold out of China. What makes you say that there will be knock offs if I outsource? I have this design patented already so that would make it tough.

You get knock offs when the design becomes popular and people perceive they can make money knocking it off. Not before.

I listened to an interview with the guy that makes "TRX straps" and he said that Amazon, for the most important instance, doesn't give a rats ass about your patent until you take someone to court and get an injunction. So you'll be handing over truckloads of money to lawyers for a couple of years while your sales are savaged by knock offs. Sure, it's better than not having a patent or not having any sales/knock-offs, but a patent isn't a magic talisman that wards off all related problems.

 

[PetFlora]

Where's the hole for the drain/ recirculation hook ups? Why isn't it molded in? I wouldn't want to spend money on something I need to modify to work the ways its supposed to. I'd be pissed if it didn't seal right or the plastic cracked. With some irrigation tubing, a t fitting ands a grommet I can turn any dwc bucket into this for about $5. It'll be good for people who can't drill a hole in a bucket, or if its going to be under $10/ bucket it might be worth the initial investment, if it had all the ports necessary.

Like my DIY in post #18?

 

[TuffyTuesday]

This is a quick system I put together for testing. Not a huge fan of the setup but I will say it works like a charm (although no grows yet). I prefer a separate control bucket and a recirculating under current. I think the LPA (low pressure aeroponic) and deep water culture will work well together.

 

[TuffyTuesday]

Couple more pics

 

[TuffyTuesday]

Like my DIY in post #18?

Yes for sure

 

[PetFlora]

This is a quick system I put together for testing. Not a huge fan of the setup but I will say it works like a charm (although no grows yet). I prefer a separate control bucket and a recirculating under current. I think the LPA (low pressure aeroponic) and deep water culture will work well together.

The problem with RDWC is there is no good way to drain and add fresh nutes. One would need to remove the plant to dump. Never a good thing. PLUS, IMHO plants do prefer a dry period between feedings, which would better allow microbes to develop on the roots. Typically, I flood every 2 hours in veg and 3-4 in flower

 

[Dr. Who]

I really appreciate the input. I didn't know that about the Chinese market.

He's right! They don't honor anyone's patent! All those Chinese dirt bikes, atv, utv and mopeds are all Honda designed engines. Honda had them making Honda products for their market in country. (China requires you to make it there to sell it there - other then cars) They stole the engine designs and began making their own lines....Honda cried foul and went to the Chinese government. They basically have them BS compensation and slapped the "factory" with a minimal fine. Never stopped the manufacture. Honda pulled out of China.....

That was years ago! Writing on the wall and no one has paid heed to that either.....Happens all the time.

I agree with Pet Flora. Why taper it at all? Looks like it would be unstable..... Even with a full res. Appearance sells too!
1 lb plant in a 5 gallon bucket? That'll be top heavy.....as hell! Bigger plants by RDWC works great......I think you're attempting to solve a non-problem...

Confusion is the point of the day here. It is a single unit right? Mist's from the res via an air line outside the unit and drains back into the res.?

I'm watching though!

 

[Dr. Who]

i am so hydro..have done dwc/swc/rdwc...using home made pex feed grid now..and coco in 4 gal nursery pots ..on top of a 4 x 4 ft res withholes in the f and d lid to drain..

idid hydrotubs the last few years..from large res

each one f the res's is it own system..i did this for the led panels i had made in [china]


i do not really understand the science of this bucket system..since i can not see inside..its aeroponics or is the hose inside that enclosed circle..?

i see small net pots..are they oem replaceable.. since net pots can break

cloning in the same larger area you grow in..of course it will work..but ikinda like to keep
my cuts/clones /growing clones in a different room..

how much will you sell this for..where do all the roots go..i guess you use any substrate?


big congrats for your hard work and patent!!

you may be onto something..

There's the other point! Not able to pull up a net pot from a veg area and move it into a bloom area for perpetual. You would have to move the whole unit...

 

[ttystikk]

The problem with RDWC is there is no good way to drain and add fresh nutes. One would need to remove the plant to dump. Never a good thing. PLUS, IMHO plants do prefer a dry period between feedings, which would better allow microbes to develop on the roots. Typically, I flood every 2 hours in veg and 3-4 in flower

This is simply false. The pump in my control bucket is hooked to a drain line in seconds, it drains the whole thing flat in 10 minutes and I'm ready to refill with fresh.

This is a design issue, it's absolutely not a basic flaw of RDWC.

Moving on to the other error in your post; plants need oxygen to their roots, not necessarily air. RDWC provide explosive growth while keeping their feet wet 100% of the time. That wouldn't happen if they had to have air, would it?

 

[TuffyTuesday]

This is simply false. The pump in my control bucket is hooked to a drain line in seconds, it drains the whole thing flat in 10 minutes and I'm ready to refill with fresh.

This is a design issue, it's absolutely not a basic flaw of RDWC.

Moving on to the other error in your post; plants need oxygen to their roots, not necessarily air. RDWC provide explosive growth while keeping their feet wet 100% of the time. That wouldn't happen if they had to have air, would it?

 

[PetFlora]

This is simply false. The pump in my control bucket is hooked to a drain line in seconds, it drains the whole thing flat in 10 minutes and I'm ready to refill with fresh.

This is a design issue, it's absolutely not a basic flaw of RDWC.

Moving on to the other error in your post; plants need oxygen to their roots, not necessarily air. RDWC provide explosive growth while keeping their feet wet 100% of the time. That wouldn't happen if they had to have air, would it?

Seems we have a misunderstanding. His design appears to be dwc, not RDWC. I do both dwc and f & d.

The separate rez allows for ease of draining/adding nutes, checking/adjusting pH and ppm. Rez is oxygenated by a separate pump with a venturi on a separate timer.

By having a pump inside my outboard rez, the nutes get both pumped into the grow tote then drain back into the rez via one tube.

 

[Budley Doright]

You've been given some great feed back by people that have "been there, done that" and that's a great place to start. The other thing I see is how are you going to stop the roots from growing into the return pipes? I am about to build a RDWC and am using 3" pipe and still plan on using silk screen as filters as it's the only thing I've found that stops them. Also with using sprayers and black buckets there will be heat issues in the root zone from lights that's my "been there, done that" lol. Good luck, your on the right track.