Ok, I give...... Need some advise..

[AKBud]

DWC- 16 gal main res., water pump out to first 5gal bucket, daisy chained through 6 5gal buckets and then back to main water res. 8" airstone in main water res. 4" dia. airstone pads, 1 per 5gal bucket. Also going to run 1/4 line to each 5gal bucket with a drip nozzle, this system has shut off valves so after the roots get down deeper I'll leave the drip nozzle going.

Does this sound set up right? Going off of soemones advise, but the more I put the system together, it just doesnt look right; thoughts?

TIAV!

 

[cannabineer]

How are you plumbing the six buckets? How will you control liquid level in the buckets? cn

 

[AKBud]

How are you plumbing the six buckets? How will you control liquid level in the buckets? cn

6 Buckets are "daisy chained together" fed from the main 16gal tub, in a loop back to the main feed tub. water pump pushes water from main feed tub to first bucket, then that bucket is piped to the next bucket and so on till it dumps back into the main feed tub.

Fill the feed bucket till the level of water is the same in all buckets, 2" below the basket.

 

[cannabineer]

I guess I'm asking if the return line is submerged "undercurrent" style, or if it's set at the liquid level. I tried making a similar rDWC setup, relying on return barbs set at my desired liquid level, and it didn't work very well. I used 1/2-inch hose. What hose or pipe diameter have you selected? Apologies if the questions don't make the most sense ... I'm trying to develop a mental picture here. Since i am mental, it's appropriate. cn

 

[AKBud]

I guess I'm asking if the return line is submerged "undercurrent" style, or if it's set at the liquid level. I tried making a similar rDWC setup, relying on return barbs set at my desired liquid level, and it didn't work very well. I used 1/2-inch hose. What hose or pipe diameter have you selected? Apologies if the questions don't make the most sense ... I'm trying to develop a mental picture here. Since i am mental, it's appropriate. cn

LOL, I hear ya........ yes the return line comes back in the main feed tub twords the bottom "undercurrent", and the lines between the buckets are plumbed 2" off the bottom. 1/2" line is what I am using.

Thanks for the help!

 

[cannabineer]

That ought to work then, but you'll probably need to keep an eye on the setup to mind liquid level. My other teenytiny bit of advice is to make damn sure your hose barbs are leakproof, especially under the shear strain of the tubing and the occasional bumped bucket. Thirty-some gallons of nutrient gurgling "freeeeedom!" across your carpet can simply RUIN your day. Verily, I say unto Thee: a strong shop vac is a highly recommended accessory. Peace, cn

 

[AKBud]

True to that, thank god leaking water is no issue, the whole floor is raised with a drain out the side. Heres a shitty diagram that I just drew up, main tub on the left, submersible pump out to the first bucket and so on back to main tub.

 

[cannabineer]

That looks good to me; it's basically a single-circuit undercurrent setup. However I would suggest going with bigger tubing and fittings. Running six buckets in series on one pump could lead to significant level diffs between bucket #1 and #6. Also, I'll suggest having some way to regulate the amount of liquid the pump is delivering to the first bucket. Diy Undercurrents are best run at low flow rates. If you're exchanging at even 1/2 gpm at the outlet, you're doing fine. And that might still overwhelm the 1/2-inch tubing. Have a way of partitioning the pump output between the buckets and a waste circuit/output that'll simply serve to agitate the res.
If you're wedded to 1/2-inch tubing, you'll find that a rather slow exchange or flow rate is what'll work. I'd do a flow test and adjustment with plain water before committing plants. cn

 

[AKBud]

That looks good to me; it's basically a single-circuit undercurrent setup. However I would suggest going with bigger tubing and fittings. Running six buckets in series on one pump could lead to significant level diffs between bucket #1 and #6. Also, I'll suggest having some way to regulate the amount of liquid the pump is delivering to the first bucket. Diy Undercurrents are best run at low flow rates. If you're exchanging at even 1/2 gpm at the outlet, you're doing fine. And that might still overwhelm the 1/2-inch tubing. Have a way of partitioning the pump output between the buckets and a waste circuit/output that'll simply serve to agitate the res.
If you're wedded to 1/2-inch tubing, you'll find that a rather slow exchange or flow rate is what'll work. I'd do a flow test and adjustment with plain water before committing plants. cn

Sweet, thanks again for your help; I'll continue the build! Should have water flowing through system tomorrow afternoon for a plain water "dry run" test. I'll have pics to post tomorrow in my grow journal.


Rep's sent!

 

[lvtokerr]

heres how i plumbed my buckets. its still working 5 weeks into flower. https://www.rollitup.org/dwc-bubbleponics/511347-hlep-me-bubble-bucket-plumbers.html

 

[nitro harley]

True to that, thank god leaking water is no issue, the whole floor is raised with a drain out the side. Heres a shitty diagram that I just drew up, main tub on the left, submersible pump out to the first bucket and so on back to main tub.

I run a six bucket system.....

I use six buckets that are plumbed into each other like your photo....I don't use pumps I use gravity from my barrell to my water level control bucket and that keeps my water level right where I want it...I will post some pic's....It might give you something to chew on.........nitro......

 

[guerrilla medic]

the 1/2 inch line is where your gonna run into a headache. it might work ok in your test run depending on the size of your pump, but once those buckets are full of roots you're going to have problems with flow. you'll want to use as small a pump as possible to avoid overflowing bucket #1.

 

[AKBud]

Nitro & Medic; thanks for the info, both cover other thoughts I have, thank you!

Rep's

 

[AKBud]

I run a six bucket system.....

I use six buckets that are plumbed into each other like your photo....I don't use pumps I use gravity from my barrell to my water level control bucket and that keeps my water level right where I want it...I will post some pic's....It might give you something to chew on.........nitro......

Thanks man! I've read your threads, great info; but looking at your grow; it's weak. By The look of your cola's, I'd say you could do better! Lmfao j/k!

 

[nitro harley]

Thanks man! I've read your threads, great info; but looking at your grow; it's weak. By The look of your cola's, I'd say you could do better! Lmfao j/k!

I agree.....It can allways be better......Good luck with your set up..........nitro....

 

[onthedl0008]

Take a look at this picture man i just built a few dif versions started with what u have whats going to fix all your problems is adding equalizer pipe connect each bicket up otherwise your going to continuousy flood the front buckets before it gets back to the last bucket. The bigger the pipe/hose u use the better flow keep that in mind too. I can tell u tho that this thing purrs like a kitten lolz
Peace n good luck with ur grow.

 

[guerrilla medic]

heres a six unit and an inline 3 unit with 1 1/2" abs connections and 3/4" return. 950 gph pondmaster for the sixer 500 for the inline 3. i keep em on timers 15 on 45 off. i made a recirculator using 1" hose but jus didn't trust it enough to to run it so went with the abs pipe.

 

[guerrilla medic]

Take a look at this picture man i just built a few dif versions started with what u have whats going to fix all your problems is adding equalizer pipe connect each bicket up otherwise your going to continuousy flood the front buckets before it gets back to the last bucket. The bigger the pipe/hose u use the better flow keep that in mind too. I can tell u tho that this thing purrs like a kitten lolz
Peace n good luck with ur grow.

what sized lines are you using and do you have to change those after each grow?

 

[onthedl0008]

what sized lines are you using and do you have to change those after each grow?

Im useing 3/4 inch pushing inline thru the buckets back to the controller bucket as seen as well as the natural drainback to the controller it really is working like a charm got a nice whirlpool effect in all the buckets... Its only my first run in this rig so ill let u know if the tubeing needs to be replaced or not im gonna imagine not tho my buddies running ebb n flow and constantly tearing them down and putting them back together and hasnt had to replace his i think they will be fairly easy to clean as well just tie a rag off to a piece of string i guess and pull it thru im telling u tho aside from elevateing the buclets and useing gravity this was the easiest thing i could think of altho i am half ass useing gravity as well i dropped the inlet an inch lower than the equalizer tube and its flowing well. Excellent actually

 

[AKBud]

great info and ideas guys, thanks! Going to finish the plumbing today, fill the system with water, find the magic height in the feed tub to supply all the buckets, and let ER run! If all looks well, I'll Ph it and let it just run to stable out. If it doesn't work, you'll know! Lol