I'm thinking about with my next harvest building a complete new DWC system. I had one built at a local hydro store and was not quite happy with it . My plan is to make a 4 bucket system using 5 gallon buckets and a reservoir. I would like to keep it in my current tent which is 4 feet wide × 4 feet long × 7 feet tall . If I need more room for this I could figure that out . My question is what parts would I need? What diameter pvc should I use ? If anyone would give me a parts list I would need ? I just need to know more about the pvc pipes and what connectors I would need .
4 bucket DWC system build suggestions
- Thread starter DA4202020
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Bushbaby11
Well-Known Member
Just buy 1, saves the fucking about and it's done properly
myke
Well-Known Member
Pending on the vendor.Theres some really poorly designed systems on this site.
Distortionist
Well-Known Member
I agree with buying one although good ones are very expensive, unless you are good at handy work and plumbing. I am not and my crap is leaking. I also keep modding it to make it better but its becoming tiresome. I am at the point where I just want to buy a good setup ready made, no fuss. I see one that looks really nice and good, I did not look up reviews yet but its expensive as hell. 2 grand, but its ready to go, all the piping, pumps etc. That sounds sweet to me. I just need to rob a bank.
J232
Well-Known Member
I assume you mean RDWC, the bought ones are so expensive, just use round buckets and uniseals, prep the holes right and they won’t leak, waterfall a 1/2” barb in each bucket, put the control res outside the tent. Don’t overthink it, it’s simple and straight forward. I can post some links for members builds on here if you are interested.
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
for sure . those black and yellow totes are awesome. nice flat surface vs rounded. and like you said, more water, more stable
I would appreciate it
J232
Well-Known Member
The few links I would post are in my 3 page thread from May. I originally built a RDWC then switched it to waterfalls. I’m between runs now but it worked well and was very stable. A parts list wouldn’t be hard to make. Read threw this post and the responses I got.
A RDWC question
Well I haven’t had time to waterfall yet, I grabbed a ac unit, was getting hot and it was on sale haha. Anyways just thought I would share a pic of my peyote critical. You can see the scars on the early leafs from my early calcium booboo.
www.rollitup.org
Here’s the link for my waterfall update.
70gal RDWC Waterfall update
Alright, it wasn’t the most fun I had at 3am on a Monday night, but I got it done. After the idea was planted to update my month old system to waterfalls I just had to do it ASAP. I currently have a grow on the go but I am at half capacity so it worked out. Systems is 5x25gal totes filed to...
www.rollitup.org
J232
Well-Known Member
Here’s the totes @rkymtnman mentioned. Easy to work with and could fit in a 4x4. I use the 109L version, and those slots around the edge work good for training.
J232
Well-Known Member
This is a uniseal, there’s is only one, uniseal. They come in diff sizes, some hate them, they work good for me. I took the time to prep the holes and used the correct size holes. Just about stroked out pushing pipe threw them. They seal on the thickness of the material you are using them on, not on the front or back like a bulkhead.
myke
Well-Known Member
Simple 1.5” bulkheads and flexible hose. A little polyurethane adhesive on the threads before you tighten. No need in using pvc stuff. Cheap and easy to assemble. Use some soft rubber 1/2” hose. For a feed/ waterfall.
Attachments
J232
Well-Known Member
Video of it running when I was cleaning. Reuploaded with sound. Nothing to trip on in my scenario.
Distortionist
Well-Known Member
Why is one of the pictures pipes in there straight and one has a 90 degree? I love your setup.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
RDWC is easy yet lots of people overthink the design. I used 1" bullhead fittings and 1" flexible tubing to connect to the res or control bucket.
I've used both 5 gallon buckets and 27 gallon tubs. If you use the smaller buckets, you'll want a big res. Water volume is the key to pH, EC and temperature stability; the more water, the better.
Waterfalls (I like tee fittings) from above running off a manifold from a pump in your control bucket or reservoir is the best approach to mix the nutes, churn the nutrient in each tub, aerate effectively and break surface tension to reduce the possibility of pythium. However you do it, you want to keep your water temps below 75F for sure and preferably below 70F.
I've used both 5 gallon buckets and 27 gallon tubs. If you use the smaller buckets, you'll want a big res. Water volume is the key to pH, EC and temperature stability; the more water, the better.
Waterfalls (I like tee fittings) from above running off a manifold from a pump in your control bucket or reservoir is the best approach to mix the nutes, churn the nutrient in each tub, aerate effectively and break surface tension to reduce the possibility of pythium. However you do it, you want to keep your water temps below 75F for sure and preferably below 70F.
Distortionist
Well-Known Member
Its just that I've never ever did anything with PVC before. I never cut it. I never glued it. Nothing. So its a scary thought to be like ill do it myself! I just don't have the confidence. I like those yellow totes, but I also seen one guys setup here that looks just like that undercurrent system. What an awesome job he did. Now between that and the yellow tote, I have no idea which is better but the yellow tote looks easier yo work with but I just need 1 with 4 plants. I am not sure in the end, in my small tent, which will work best. For some reason I'm in love with that undercurrent setup and a DIY one like that would be orgasmic!
I know I want to run 4 plants, a chiller and a res that is out of the tent for topups and maintenance. Which setup do you guys think will be more reliable? I feel like 4 individual buckets would perform better and divide the space up in my tent more evenly but I just guessing.
If you guys had an option between a perfect setup with the totes or the buckets, which would you pick?
Also why are all purchased RDWC setups using individual buckets and you never see a setup with a tote, other than clones? Do they know something we don't? Is it to be modular and can add more?
I know if money was not an issue I would buy that under current setup in a heartbeat. It looks so good!!
I know I want to run 4 plants, a chiller and a res that is out of the tent for topups and maintenance. Which setup do you guys think will be more reliable? I feel like 4 individual buckets would perform better and divide the space up in my tent more evenly but I just guessing.
If you guys had an option between a perfect setup with the totes or the buckets, which would you pick?
Also why are all purchased RDWC setups using individual buckets and you never see a setup with a tote, other than clones? Do they know something we don't? Is it to be modular and can add more?
I know if money was not an issue I would buy that under current setup in a heartbeat. It looks so good!!
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
pvc is about as easy as you get. purple primer, standard cement, they make a special cutting tool for it.
prime it, glue it, hold it together for about 20 seconds, done.
Distortionist
Well-Known Member
Man I so want to try. Once this grow is done ill see what I can do. I need to decide if I want an easy tote or 4 bucket clone like undercurrent. I need to figure out whats better
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