Deep Water Culture Suggestions

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reefcouple

Well-Known Member
Thinking about converting my 3'x3' ebb and flow table to a deep water culture.. I'd add a couple airstones.. I use a cover for my tray to keep the light out..

Is there anything I should keep an eye on or any hints to dwc I should know about?

Thanks

I use RO, BC nute line, 1000w hps and an aero cloner
 
reggaerican

reggaerican

Well-Known Member
i would like to see the cover you plan on putting on it and also the baskets you will be using... not much room for roots on a 3x3 table but as long as you dont try and grow to many plants you should be fine
 
R

reefcouple

Well-Known Member
the lid actually raises it by about an inch and a half leaving the bottom of the netpots (5") about 2 inches off the bottom of the tray.. I had it special made from botanicaire.. It houses 9 plants total on the 3'x3'. Its an outverted lid (raises on the edges) Hope that makes sense..

Should I try to fasten the airstone tubes to the bottom of the tray? I was pllanning to use 2 stones, will that work? More, less?

I was going to put about a 3 inch riser and 2-1/2 inch over flow and flood about every 3hrs to cycle the water.. But this will be my first time doing it this way..
 
reggaerican

reggaerican

Well-Known Member
well it sounds like you did some homework.. your method should work just fine..
2 stones will also be good for that tray unless they are real small..
you should start a journal, sounds like nice system you are putting together..
 
R

reefcouple

Well-Known Member
reggaerican said:
well it sounds like you did some homework.. your method should work just fine..
2 stones will also be good for that tray unless they are real small..
you should start a journal, sounds like nice system you are putting together..
Click to expand...

Thanks, i've been growing for awhile i just never dwc'ed and a friend of mine does exclusively and i like his results.. When I get my beans next week I will take your advice and start the journal..

Thanks for the compliment, as you know the learning never stops in this crazy world of growing..

I would also like to try my hand at an organic soil soon... maybe a side/by side with my dwc??
 
L

leftreartire

Active Member
as long as you see air bubbles coming from your stones then they are planty big enough. keep an i eye on your stones as they do clog up with salt build up and such. a quick dip in a little clr will clean those airstones up to good as new but rinse them well after the clr. it claims to be none toxic but i like to play it say.
i love using dwc. i like the whole science behind all of it and i enjoy it very much. best of luck to you and hope you enjoy it as much as i do
 
R

reefcouple

Well-Known Member
leftreartire said:
as long as you see air bubbles coming from your stones then they are planty big enough. keep an i eye on your stones as they do clog up with salt build up and such. a quick dip in a little clr will clean those airstones up to good as new but rinse them well after the clr. it claims to be none toxic but i like to play it say.
i love using dwc. i like the whole science behind all of it and i enjoy it very much. best of luck to you and hope you enjoy it as much as i do
Click to expand...
correct me if im wrong but doesnt the airtube go into the water but the unit sit outside the tray? or does the entire stone get submerged? should i just buy a couple ten dollar cheapies from the local walmart?
 
reggaerican

reggaerican

Well-Known Member
yes airstones go directly in your table submerged in the water..

and tell me about it man i been growing for years and the learning never stops..
 
R

reefcouple

Well-Known Member
reggaerican said:
yes airstones go directly in your table submerged in the water..

and tell me about it man i been growing for years and the learning never stops..
Click to expand...
True that, I was reading this months high times and theres an article in there on "tissue culture" for cloning.. My brain was fried after reading it, ok, maybe before i read it too ;)
 
TaoWolf

TaoWolf

Active Member
I know this isn't a biggie, but 'shallow water culture' would be a more legitimate term. The only reason I bring this up is it might help you find more information/ideas if you scour the internet looking for that term or 'SWC' grows.
 
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reefcouple

Well-Known Member
TaoWolf said:
I know this isn't a biggie, but 'shallow water culture' would be a more legitimate term. The only reason I bring this up is it might help you find more information/ideas if you scour the internet looking for that term or 'SWC' grows.
Click to expand...
Thanks Tao! I will do just that
 
R

reefcouple

Well-Known Member
OK!! I went and got a couple airstones today!! Waiting on my WW to mature a week in the cloner (6 of them) and will convert one of my ebb and flows to a SWC/DWC for my first run at this!! I am very excited!!!

I will soon start my first journal on here with many pics :)

Love this site, full of great posters with great advice!!

I hopefully will be getting my beans in this week (snow white and bubblicious) for my next dwc project under the big boy (1000W)...
 
R

reefcouple

Well-Known Member
redi jedi said:
If I understand you correctly...you plan to still flood and drain the table?
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Glad you asked because as I see its not going to work as i thought it would

I want to convert my ebb and flow tray to a swc/dwc. I went and bought the airstones but the baskets get submerged by about an inch with the risers in place, is that ok? and i have the airstones placed between the baskets because there isn't enough room directly below the baskets. Is that ok?

And I will continue to use the resevoir, cycled about 25 galllons of water...
 
BSIv2.0

BSIv2.0

Well-Known Member
Buckets are a lot easier to work with...Problems are limited to one plant more times than not.
 
redi jedi

redi jedi

Well-Known Member
reefcouple said:
Glad you asked because as I see its not going to work as i thought it would

I want to convert my ebb and flow tray to a swc/dwc. I went and bought the airstones but the baskets get submerged by about an inch with the risers in place, is that ok? and i have the airstones placed between the baskets because there isn't enough room directly below the baskets. Is that ok?

And I will continue to use the resevoir, cycled about 25 galllons of water...
Click to expand...
If you still have the flood cycle going you should be ok with the baskets submerging.

I like to have the stones under the plants, but it's not necessary.

Just a suggestion here...It wouldn't be hard to rig that table into a RDWC...add an overflow at your desired water level and run the pump 24/7?
 
R

reefcouple

Well-Known Member
BSIv2.0 said:
Buckets are a lot easier to work with...Problems are limited to one plant more times than not.
Click to expand...
I agree, but I currently have multiple tables. Gonna play around with what I have before switching up entirely.. But you're right the single buckets are pretty nice.
 
R

reefcouple

Well-Known Member
redi jedi said:
If you still have the flood cycle going you should be ok with the baskets submerging.

I like to have the stones under the plants, but it's not necessary.

Just a suggestion here...It wouldn't be hard to rig that table into a RDWC...add an overflow at your desired water level and run the pump 24/7?
Click to expand...
Crazy you should mention that (RDWC) because I was thinking of precisely doing that.. I have a few extra pumps lying around, I think "the bigger the better" huh? As much water flow as I can get? Keeps the res and the tray moving and oxygenated?

I need to tweek the cover a little so the baskets dont sit so low and add a couple more airstones!! I have a couple weeks before the girls are ready, so no pressures just yeat ;)
 
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