CHECK OUT MY BUILD!! DUTCH BUCKETS!!

Rickypsimer

Rickypsimer

Well-Known Member
This is my 4 site dutchbucket recirculating system.tell me what you guys think and any advice would be appreciated I tried hydro once and gave up after spending tones of money lol now I feel i built a system that I can work with without all root rot I felt with BEFOR this is perlite double buckets with drain bucket separate from grow bucket .. gonna be using the general hydroponics.
 

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Renfro said:
All the water will go straight down the center of that perlite and leave most of it dry.
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I'm doing something similar. I've timed the inflow/outflow and the pump shuts off when the pots are 2/3 full (drain is smaller than inflow). I'm using Perlite & it wicks out to the rest, except for the top inch or so.

Rooting clones now & plan to water 3 times/day @ 10 mins. each. What would you think about just "watering" with nutrient-rich water (1/4 to 1/3 "standard" nutrient PPM)? Hazards, better ideas, ridicule - all accepted, lol!!!
 
The system itself looks good to me, I've used 100% perlite and wouldn't recommend it for your system it needs constant watering to sustain any decent sized plant, coco+perlite perfect! (IMHO)
 
Star Dog said:
The system itself looks good to me, I've used 100% perlite and wouldn't recommend it for your system it needs constant watering to sustain any decent sized plant, coco+perlite perfect! (IMHO)
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So you don't see any problems with light nutes in the water? I've got 200 PPM well water and using Jack's 123, planning to start with total PPM of 600, maxing at 800-1000 by the end of veg.
 
GreenthumbUPMI said:
So you don't see any problems with light nutes in the water? I've got 200 PPM well water and using Jack's 123, planning to start with total PPM of 600, maxing at 800-1000 by the end of veg.
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Some people just use water I like nutrients 800ppm? 0.8ec.
I would root clones before putting them in the system but that's just personal.

You might find your perlite can go green if you don't cover it my perlite did, it's not a problem apparently but it looks unsightly I ended up making lids.
 
Star Dog said:
Some people just use water I like nutrients 800ppm? 0.8ec.
I would root clones before putting them in the system but that's just personal.

You might find your perlite can go green if you don't cover it my perlite did, it's not a problem apparently but it looks unsightly I ended up making lids.
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LOL! I HAVE lids drilled out (I'm using empty cat litter buckets). This is an experiment for now, so the greening of the perlite is okay. And I'm currently rooting clones for the system. Thanks for the input. I started with river rocks topped with clay pebbles to keep the perlite away from the screen over the drain but SOMETHING shifted and partially blocked the outlet. If I hadn't been observing when it happened the bucket would have overflowed. Tonight/tomorrow I'm installing a "floor" of screen and ditching the rocks & pebbles.

Every day's a learning opportunity!!
 
GreenthumbUPMI said:
LOL! I HAVE lids drilled out (I'm using empty cat litter buckets). This is an experiment for now, so the greening of the perlite is okay. And I'm currently rooting clones for the system. Thanks for the input. I started with river rocks topped with clay pebbles to keep the perlite away from the screen over the drain but SOMETHING shifted and partially blocked the outlet. If I hadn't been observing when it happened the bucket would have overflowed. Tonight/tomorrow I'm installing a "floor" of screen and ditching the rocks & pebbles.

Every day's a learning opportunity!!
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Your'e going to end up with clogged drains on and off throughout the grow.
I never found a "good way" around it for my automated system that uses 3/8" & 1/2" hoses like yours.

World Of Hempy

yeah I’m not a fan of the dust. It always makes me sick after breathing it. It mixes better when everything is wet also. I have to do this sorry Use your N-95 mask and you will never have to worry about the dust ever again!
www.rollitup.org

That'll why after 1.5yrs. of running perlite/vermiculite, I'm testing a new Deep Water Hempy system that uses 100% hydroton on an automatic feed/drainage system.

World Of Hempy

https://www.amazon.com/John-Guest-Copolymer-Fitting-Straight/dp/B005XTZDN2?pd_rd_w=LjYjC&pf_rd_p=4eebd874-436f-4f05-a794-09646834b2dd&pf_rd_r=JYK1H1FYPX95S9FEWYFP&pd_rd_r=5144eef9-d8d3-4ef8-8e08-81e469509c1c&pd_rd_wg=cJOu0&pd_rd_i=B005XTZDN2&ref_=pd_bap_m_rp_1_20_sc&th=1&psc=1 Nothing that...
www.rollitup.org

Best of luck and I hope it works out for ya.
I know I got tired of fighting it...
 
.Smoke said:
Your'e going to end up with clogged drains on and off throughout the grow.
I never found a "good way" around it for my automated system that uses 3/8" & 1/2" hoses like yours.

World Of Hempy

yeah I’m not a fan of the dust. It always makes me sick after breathing it. It mixes better when everything is wet also. I have to do this sorry Use your N-95 mask and you will never have to worry about the dust ever again!
www.rollitup.org

That'll why after 1.5yrs. of running perlite/vermiculite, I'm testing a new Deep Water Hempy system that uses 100% hydroton on an automatic feed/drainage system.

World Of Hempy

https://www.amazon.com/John-Guest-Copolymer-Fitting-Straight/dp/B005XTZDN2?pd_rd_w=LjYjC&pf_rd_p=4eebd874-436f-4f05-a794-09646834b2dd&pf_rd_r=JYK1H1FYPX95S9FEWYFP&pd_rd_r=5144eef9-d8d3-4ef8-8e08-81e469509c1c&pd_rd_wg=cJOu0&pd_rd_i=B005XTZDN2&ref_=pd_bap_m_rp_1_20_sc&th=1&psc=1 Nothing that...
www.rollitup.org

Best of luck and I hope it works out for ya.
I know I got tired of fighting it...
Click to expand...
In reading here I've decided to try "paint strainers" (fine mesh bags, around 1.50 each from Walmart). They're round & my cat litter pails are NOT, but...

Now if THEY get clogged up, it'll be back to square one - AFTER I clean up the mess, lol...
 
Star Dog said:
I put root spreader mat in the bottom of my pots, it lets run off through quite freely.
Click to expand...
I have some, but testing it I thought it slowed up the drainage too much, so I tried nylon window screen, held in place by river rock with clay pellets above, then perlite. Something shifted, though, blocking the outflow - and I was lucky I caught it before a few gallons overflowed in my 3x3 tent. Trying paint strainer bags next, but I can always go back to the root spreader. Thanks!!
 
GreenthumbUPMI said:
I have some, but testing it I thought it slowed up the drainage too much, so I tried nylon window screen, held in place by river rock with clay pellets above, then perlite. Something shifted, though, blocking the outflow - and I was lucky I caught it before a few gallons overflowed in my 3x3 tent. Trying paint strainer bags next, but I can always go back to the root spreader. Thanks!!
Click to expand...
What about women's nylons/tights as a pot filter?
 
Rickypsimer said:
This is my 4 site dutchbucket recirculating system.tell me what you guys think and any advice would be appreciated I tried hydro once and gave up after spending tones of money lol now I feel i built a system that I can work with without all root rot I felt with BEFOR this is perlite double buckets with drain bucket separate from grow bucket .. gonna be using the general hydroponics.
Click to expand...

To be honest this is very poorly designed. I don't think anybody would really want to copy a Wilma system? Why do you have netpots in the middle of the pots when you already use perlite?

You loose to much vertical space. Piping and watering is not going to be sufficient causing blockages. Perlite has very low "wicking" capability, you need bigger rings with better coverage and water spread.

When you design a system you should always aim to have the reservoir outside of the grow space to keep temperature down. It's always a good thing to take pH, EC and water temp measures outside without even having to go into the grow space with unnatural high amount of light intensity.
 
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