Dutch buckets + aero?
- Thread starter MikeGanja
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Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Don't really understand. Could you explain a bit more in detail what would be going on in a system like this?
MikeGanja
Well-Known Member
Hi Airwalker 16,
Sorry, I'll try to be more specific. I am planning my next grow and are going to buy or build a low pressure aeroponic system. My first thought was a PVC pipe system like The StinkBud System or like the GHE AeroFlo20. With this kind of system 4-5 plants grow together in each pipe. The pipes are 8-10 inches wide. There are other aeroponic systems with dutch buckets. I think the size is 11 litres. Platinium aero pro or the GHE Panda system have this kind of buckets. Some people on other forums says that the bucket system are more effective, allowing bigger roots and better drainage. I would like to know if one of the systems are better than the other when growing indica strains.
Sorry, I'll try to be more specific. I am planning my next grow and are going to buy or build a low pressure aeroponic system. My first thought was a PVC pipe system like The StinkBud System or like the GHE AeroFlo20. With this kind of system 4-5 plants grow together in each pipe. The pipes are 8-10 inches wide. There are other aeroponic systems with dutch buckets. I think the size is 11 litres. Platinium aero pro or the GHE Panda system have this kind of buckets. Some people on other forums says that the bucket system are more effective, allowing bigger roots and better drainage. I would like to know if one of the systems are better than the other when growing indica strains.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
So you still didn't explain what you want to happen inside these buckets.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
And for what it's worth, I don't see any piping whatsoever in your picture.
MikeGanja
Well-Known Member
Each bucket is irrigated individually with a 360 degree sprayer, one plant in each bucket. The water is drained from a hole in the bottom of the bucket into the reservoir below. It looks like the roots from each plant have more space compared to similar systems built with PVC pipes. I don't know if the extra space makes any difference. It looks simple and effective but I am not sure.
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Darkoh69
Well-Known Member
Do you think there would be enough root surface area? I grow in a dutch bucket type system 27 litre buckets recirculating continuously. The roots take every bit of space they possibly can. I dont understand how you will spray all that root mass through evenly? Maybe you mean a recirculating deep water culture system?
MikeGanja
Well-Known Member
Thanks Darkoh69, that's valuable information. I'll start looking for larger dutch buckets. Would you recommend 27 litre buckets or even larger?
MikeGanja
Well-Known Member
I think you are right. I can't understand why the growshops market this size as "perfect for larger crops". What you say about 27 litres buckets have me convinced.
Mak'er Grow
Well-Known Member
I wonder if they maybe mean like a small crop is say 4 to 8 buckets and larger crop is just more buckets say 16 or more.
If you keep the plants below 20"...I usually let mine get about 16" to 18" at most and scrog...those buckets should work fine, but bigger plants will for sure need more room.
I find with my setup (not this one shown) the root mass is almost equal to the plant mass...so if you want to grow trees then use garbage cans...lol
Not sure why they use a 360 sprayer...seems useless to spray the buckets...I would probably convert it to 2 x 180's with one on either side.
Good luck and happy growing
If you keep the plants below 20"...I usually let mine get about 16" to 18" at most and scrog...those buckets should work fine, but bigger plants will for sure need more room.
I find with my setup (not this one shown) the root mass is almost equal to the plant mass...so if you want to grow trees then use garbage cans...lol
Not sure why they use a 360 sprayer...seems useless to spray the buckets...I would probably convert it to 2 x 180's with one on either side.
Good luck and happy growing
MikeGanja
Well-Known Member
No, I mean low pressure aeroponics. The roots will be hanging in air. I guess you can call it aeroponics/NFT if there is water on the bottom between spraying cycles.
MikeGanja
Well-Known Member
Yes I mean a small crop. I'm not sure exactly about the plant size but I am thinking grow/flower cycles much like what people use in Aeroflo or Stinkbud systems. I think you are right about the 360 vs 2 x 180, why spray the side of the buckets..I wonder if they maybe mean like a small crop is say 4 to 8 buckets and larger crop is just more buckets say 16 or more.
If you keep the plants below 20"...I usually let mine get about 16" to 18" at most and scrog...those buckets should work fine, but bigger plants will for sure need more room.
I find with my setup (not this one shown) the root mass is almost equal to the plant mass...so if you want to grow trees then use garbage cans...lol
Not sure why they use a 360 sprayer...seems useless to spray the buckets...I would probably convert it to 2 x 180's with one on either side.
Good luck and happy growing
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
I dont see why it wouldnt work. Its essentially the same as a cloner with separate compartments imo.
This will really depend on how big you want your plants to grow. Ive had plants that had root balls that took up most of a 17 gallon tote (64L). I personally wouldnt do it in anything smaller than that 11L per plant. What youve posted looks like its meant for smaller plants, but would be a nice setup to mature some young clones or seedlings before transplant. The more the roots outgrow that space, the more they will grown down that drain hole too.
Look at the most recent pics ive posted. Those plants were still on the mothers 6 weeks ago and they are each in a 3 gallon (11L) bucket. Some of them are already trying to grow down my drains.
This will really depend on how big you want your plants to grow. Ive had plants that had root balls that took up most of a 17 gallon tote (64L). I personally wouldnt do it in anything smaller than that 11L per plant. What youve posted looks like its meant for smaller plants, but would be a nice setup to mature some young clones or seedlings before transplant. The more the roots outgrow that space, the more they will grown down that drain hole too.
Look at the most recent pics ive posted. Those plants were still on the mothers 6 weeks ago and they are each in a 3 gallon (11L) bucket. Some of them are already trying to grow down my drains.
Fragile back at it. DIY RDWC with the things.
So today was training day! Everything has been super stable and they're starting to EAT. Quite a ppm drop in the last 2 days so I bumped them up a bit from the picture. Chopped, topped, and cropped all around, they got abused. My lights have a great height range, its fun. If anyone was wondering...
www.rollitup.org
Mak'er Grow
Well-Known Member
Has anyone figured a good way to (lack of a better term) "block" the drain from the roots, but of course allow the water to still drain?
When I started building mine a couple years back I couldn't find any good solutions so I had everything contained in the res tote, but then had to add a small second pump to control water flow in the tote to keep the roots out of the main pump. I also didn't want to risk putting holes in totes and praying for them not to leak...I live in an apartment and I'm sure my landlord wouldn't like any water damage...lol
Basically the second pump pushes from the center of the tote to both directions left and right so it makes 2 circular flows of water circling in opposite directions. The roots grow in the pattern of the flows and very rarely are even close to the main pump.
I have no idea what type of system this would be called...just kind of a Frankenstein thing I've been working on...seems to work fine for my needs.
Red lines show water flows from 2nd pump (little 12VDC @ 240 LPH) and the temp sensors have been, or will be soon, changed to temp & humidity sensors in 1.
Also added a pic of the roots from a plant that veg'd about 50-60 days...I do 35 days now.
When I started building mine a couple years back I couldn't find any good solutions so I had everything contained in the res tote, but then had to add a small second pump to control water flow in the tote to keep the roots out of the main pump. I also didn't want to risk putting holes in totes and praying for them not to leak...I live in an apartment and I'm sure my landlord wouldn't like any water damage...lol
Basically the second pump pushes from the center of the tote to both directions left and right so it makes 2 circular flows of water circling in opposite directions. The roots grow in the pattern of the flows and very rarely are even close to the main pump.
I have no idea what type of system this would be called...just kind of a Frankenstein thing I've been working on...seems to work fine for my needs.
Red lines show water flows from 2nd pump (little 12VDC @ 240 LPH) and the temp sensors have been, or will be soon, changed to temp & humidity sensors in 1.
Also added a pic of the roots from a plant that veg'd about 50-60 days...I do 35 days now.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Something we all try to figure out a working solution for
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
I have not seen anything that's worked 100%. I've seen grows that used like a fabric and the roots still eventually grew through that.
Darkoh69
Well-Known Member
Hanging in the air inside those little containers?
MikeGanja
Well-Known Member
Has anyone figured a good way to (lack of a better term) "block" the drain from the roots, but of course allow the water to still drain?
When I started building mine a couple years back I couldn't find any good solutions so I had everything contained in the res tote, but then had to add a small second pump to control water flow in the tote to keep the roots out of the main pump. I also didn't want to risk putting holes in totes and praying for them not to leak...I live in an apartment and I'm sure my landlord wouldn't like any water damage...lol
Basically the second pump pushes from the center of the tote to both directions left and right so it makes 2 circular flows of water circling in opposite directions. The roots grow in the pattern of the flows and very rarely are even close to the main pump.
I have no idea what type of system this would be called...just kind of a Frankenstein thing I've been working on...seems to work fine for my needs.
Red lines show water flows from 2nd pump (little 12VDC @ 240 LPH) and the temp sensors have been, or will be soon, changed to temp & humidity sensors in 1.
View attachment 4454519
Also added a pic of the roots from a plant that veg'd about 50-60 days...I do 35 days now.
View attachment 4454528View attachment 4454529
I sometimes have the same problem. Copper mesh and copper piping has been effective preventing roots growing into drainage. [EDIT: I have tried copper in recirculating hydroponics and DTW, but not in aeroponics]
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