5gal bucket system help?

i want to make a system with 6 5gal buckets connected to an air pump with an air stone in each. i really dont want a res. and plan on changing the water myself. anyone know if this sounds ok and any tips?thanks

Jon, I wanted to do an ebb and flow system then later on basically in the middle of putting some things together for the grow I changed my mind to dwc. I started out using a 5 gallon res. bucket and four 5-gallon pots, then after a nute change I changed a few Ts on the bucket drain lines to elbows and turned the half inch tubing vertical, if I get some blue tubing it will be a great level indicator instead of a drain line. It's my first dwc grow but I don't see why it won't work, I'm doing the same thing with four buckets and air pumps/stones and I'm in my first week of flowering.

but u have a resavor right? is it possoble to do it without one?

I ran a single 5gal bucket with an airstone and grew a plant just fine.
6 is very possible. Just keeping an eye on all 6 ph and water level.
You don't need a main rez to feed all 6 buckets.

here is a little advise from past exsperences,keep in mind that water flows down hill,so its best to keep your buckets elevated so changing nutes will be easy,I use milk crates to elevate mine.you may have a problem with keeping your nutes at the right temp,trying to put frozen bottles of water in the buckets is a pain in the ass,as is checking ppm and ph. I now have a 4 bucket set up with an 18 gallon tote for my res with a 400 gph pump that runs for a 1/2 hour every 2 hours,if you leave the pump run all the time it will warm up your nutes over time.I think haveing a res makes life much easyer than not haveing one,I have mine set up with a few valves so I can use the pump to pump out my nutes when I change them, its alot faster and easyer than just haveing buckets with a level indicator/drain tube on each bucket,these are things I learned the hard way and once you get started you will be looking for ways to make your set up better. good luck on wich ever way you choose to go

seperate buckets are safer than an integrated system with a res as if your ph or ec goes haywire in one at least the rest may be ok

I would think that you would want to recirculate your water somewhat. What's the point in connecting them if you don't recirculate the water in them? Just go with 6 separate buckets.

can you start a dwc bucket with a cutting

Da skunky monkey said:

can you start a dwc bucket with a cutting

Click to expand...

if it has roots

doesnt it recirculate if i have an air stone in it connected to a pump? and ithe water will be changed weekly or twice if needed

You should at least connect all 6 buckets with a common drain, for ease of water changes and a larger nutrient solution volume. No res is needed, the buckets themselves are the res. Even if you don't use a water pump to recirculate, your air pumps will stir it all up and keep everything the same- this is what you want.

BigJon626 said:

doesnt it recirculate if i have an air stone in it connected to a pump? and ithe water will be changed weekly or twice if needed

Click to expand...

No because to recirculate it would have to have a rezzy... Just stick with the 5 gallon bucket with an air stone idea... It works

I have been thinking how one could link the buckets without a res. and get some good circulation without top feeding. You could link the buckets end to end in strings. Run a small 50 gph pump or so from one end to inside the bucket at the far end. This would give adequate "reservoir" room for the solution, added O2 for the solution and plenty of recirculation if that is a concern. I don't know how big of a concern it is but I like heavy recirc and think it makes sense to do so.

Of course I could be wrong.