System Advice - Current Culture

[smokey0418]

Bulkhead fittings $4 each pack of 5:

Botanicare Ebb & Flow Barbed Fitting - 3/4" Bulkhead - hydroponics tub head in | eBay

Interior threads which accept 3/4 in standard pipe thread. Use as ebb and flow fittings and bulkhead fittings. Increased versatility: thread PVC pipe fittings into bulkhead fittings - ideal for use in aeroponic and drip applications.

www.ebay.com

Yes I use those exact one for my drain out.

But also chose 3 inch bulkhead fittings.

 

[xtsho]

Damn. $1600 for that? People actually pay that? Is it April 1st? Scratching head in disbelief.

 

[Porky1982]

I used current culture for years and it's great when it works but when it doesn't its a cunt!!
I had the old system not the new system.
I will say when stuff did go wrong it was because I was trying to cut corners.

I have been eye-balling the current culture dwc....

https://hydrobuilder.com/brands/current-culture/under-current-systems/current-culture-under-current-6.html

That's $1600+ for the bare system.
I would need a chiller and other toys still.

Is that a good system?
I currently grow in soil so I dont know a good one from a bad one.

Is there a comparable system on Ebay/Etsy that you would recommend?
I looked at some but the bucket spacing is not to my liking (they are 26" on center).
My lights hang from the rafters which are spaced at 24" so I would want something less than 24".
I guess I could always shorten the connecting pipes though.

Let me know, PLEASE!!!

 

[myke]

$200 with flexible drain lines so you can move plants as they grow.Honestly if one cant build there own system then hydro isnt for them.

 

[xtsho]

I used current culture for years and it's great when it works but when it doesn't its a cunt!!
I had the old system not the new system.
I will say when stuff did go wrong it was because I was trying to cut corners. View attachment 5037751View attachment 5037752

Nobody's saying they don't work. They're not worth $1600. I couldn't imagine paying that for a 6 site hydro system.

 

[zzyx]

$200 with flexible drain lines so you can move plants as they grow.Honestly if one cant build there own system then hydro isnt for them. View attachment 5038004View attachment 5038004

You use bulkhead fittings on those buckets?

 

[myke]

You use bulkhead fittings on those buckets?

Yes 1.25" No problems with roots plugging.1/2" flexible hose for feed lines.Res outside of room,easy to do with flexible drain hose.
Hydro is hydro,you can make it complicated and expensive or simple and cheap both will work just as well.

 

[Drop That Sound]

I make my bulk heads for like $2-3 a piece.

I'm talking 2 inch bulkheads, good for under current return lines.

I use size 331 o-rings (the red silicone ones from.. Dr O-ring?. 5-10-25 packs on amazon..) One o-ring per bulkhead.


Then, I use 2 inch electrical PVC male and female conduit terminal fittings. Not the cantex brand home depot junk ones, but the better Carlon brand fittings from lowes.


Only 3 cheap parts, and I've never had problems or leaks for many years on any RDWC system I've built.

 

[zzyx]

Nice

 

[Incredible4Mr2E]

I built my own for 2 plants. The 2” current culture bulkheads were like 15-20 bucks after tax and shipping. I didn’t like the idea of a cheap or homemade fitting holding back gallons of water. I needed 5, and it was worth the 100 bucks. The craftsman totes are awesome too! For the pipes going thru the tent, I ordered the secrete jardin make a hole kit not what they’re called, but the 2” pvc goes thru it perfect! I did have a root problem 2 weeks ago going into the 1” return line. The pump has a filter on it and wouldn’t let it pass into the blade. If you do Undercurrent, make sure to screen off the back holes. Undercurrent makes one that will fit right into the bulkhead

 

[Porky1982]

Nobody's saying they don't work. They're not worth $1600. I couldn't imagine paying that for a 6 site hydro system.

I got the system of a mate for free because he moved and couldn't have it at his place.
Yeah I wouldn't pay that for one either ide build my own.

 

[Patricf1]

Thank yall for sharing your setups and opinions.
I truly appreciate it.

With such a system(Current Culture), will I be able to set it up and be gone for a few days?
Or does it need checked, etc. regularly?

I travel for work occassionally and am hoping that on the rare occasion that I do travel, it will get along fine with out me.

 

[MisterKister]

You can automate everything...

 

[Incredible4Mr2E]

Thank yall for sharing your setups and opinions.
I truly appreciate it.

With such a system(Current Culture), will I be able to set it up and be gone for a few days?
Or does it need checked, etc. regularly?

I travel for work occassionally and am hoping that on the rare occasion that I do travel, it will get along fine with out me.

I can leave my undercurrent for a couple days. My PH always drops, but not bad enough. Make sure you have water to return into the system or over fill it to let them drink. Not like over, over fill, just three, four more gallons then you’d normally put into it.

 

[Incredible4Mr2E]

Thank yall for sharing your setups and opinions.
I truly appreciate it.

With such a system(Current Culture), will I be able to set it up and be gone for a few days?
Or does it need checked, etc. regularly?

I travel for work occassionally and am hoping that on the rare occasion that I do travel, it will get along fine with out me.

Also, get the bulkheads as low as possible. As the plants are growing the roots are keeping the water below the bulkheads from moving and not really letting it pass. I shopvac the bottom once a week on Sunday. Every week the water on the bottom is getting browner and browner and tells me it’s not moving like it should thru the system. Just do yourself a favor and get them down.

 

[smokey0418]

I run a 4 pot system and at the highest point my 4 ladies consume 2.5 gallons a day.
So I would think , yes one could leave a very thirsty set up for a couple days and one not so thirsty even longer.

 

[Patricf1]

Thx all!

You can automate everything...View attachment 5041761

Sweet baby Jesus....

 

[rkymtnman]

Also, get the bulkheads as low as possible. As the plants are growing the roots are keeping the water below the bulkheads from moving and not really letting it pass. I shopvac the bottom once a week on Sunday. Every week the water on the bottom is getting browner and browner and tells me it’s not moving like it should thru the system. Just do yourself a favor and get them down.

when i built mine, i used shower drains (basically a bulkhead) but on the bottom of the totes. almost all the water would drain out.

 

[rkymtnman]

I run a 4 pot system and at the highest point my 4 ladies consume 2.5 gallons a day.
So I would think , yes one could leave a very thirsty set up for a couple days and one not so thirsty even longer.

something like a top off res into your control res and that would buy a lot of time.

the biggest issue is pH stability over a certain time frame.

 

[myke]

A good rule in hydro is to have more than twice the water outside your room than inside.Keep it covered and your good for 4 days.