Can you setup a bucket system like this?

http://i50.tinypic.com/2v9d8ua.png

So basically you just have one pump. One bucket has 2 lines that run to the res, a large diameter overflow at the top a small diameter tube at the bottom. The system fills because a 1/2 HP pump will output a lot more water than gravity will pull through the small tube (also put filter membrane over the small tube, or even a PVC filter with a screen).

Sweet? 1 pump, 1 timer, no float switches.

Downside - the res has to be below the buckets, which means digging a 3x3x3 hole, building plywall forms, casting concrete and then waterproofing it with either liquid rubber (plastidip) or swimming pool paint to 2 part epoxy.

Add 2 pumps and 2 timers, offset them, and you can have 2 bucket groups with less water.

Add another pump and a chiller.

thats design is not going to work. The roots wont touch the water because your return line is too low. the water will go to the return line, ans on the last bucket it will fill up to the top while the other ones will be ONLy as high as the feed line..

if you did top feed U DWC hybrid it can work, but you wont need to have the rez below plants.
Not a good system by any means...

check out sqydro and his UDWC hybrid. easy to build great results.

I use a passive gravity return in my system and it works fine.
This is what I use.

6 Buckets fed off a single rez with a single pump 1/2 inch line.
Each Bucket has its own separate 1/2 inch drain line at the bottom of the bucket that goes directly back to the bottom of the Rez.
The buckets are elevated 3 to 6 inches higher than the rez. This means there is a big overlap in height. Which means you can control the level of the water in the buckets by adjusting the height of the water in the rez.
I have had my share of floods. Usually because one of the drain lines became blocked with roots or F@#$ing Hydroton pebbles.

I added an overflow line that drains all 6 buckets back to the rez. The overflow drain is located 3 inches below the top feed line on the buckets. No more floods.
Periodically I use an air compressor to blow out the drain lines from inside the rez. Clears the roots. My buckets are under a SCROG. So I can't get into them.


I will try to add some pics.

tibberous said:

http://i50.tinypic.com/2v9d8ua.png

So basically you just have one pump. One bucket has 2 lines that run to the res, a large diameter overflow at the top a small diameter tube at the bottom. The system fills because a 1/2 HP pump will output a lot more water than gravity will pull through the small tube (also put filter membrane over the small tube, or even a PVC filter with a screen).

Sweet? 1 pump, 1 timer, no float switches.

Downside - the res has to be below the buckets, which means digging a 3x3x3 hole, building plywall forms, casting concrete and then waterproofing it with either liquid rubber (plastidip) or swimming pool paint to 2 part epoxy.

Add 2 pumps and 2 timers, offset them, and you can have 2 bucket groups with less water.

Add another pump and a chiller.

Click to expand...

Check this video I made of my friends system. It works the same way. It's a bit of work but once it is set up you can run it for a million crops.

[video=youtube;_R7z7o3R_ik]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R7z7o3R_ik[/video]