DWC Bucketeer Questions

mike43rd

Active Member
:joint::joint:hey everyone this i what i got going on.i got 2 air stones air pump and hydroton grow rocks and the rockwool cubes,and a gal bucket.i've been reading i fill the water up right under the net pots basically touching them,the system is setup i guess to put all the hydroton rocks in the bucket and put the rockwool 1 inch down under the rocks.should i do it that way or get a lid for the 5 gal bucket and cut out a hole for 1 net pot and put the rocks in there and not in the bottom of the bucket.and just kinda usa the bottom as a reservoir.im kinda confused about that part,the 1 thing that is kinda worrying me is the water in the bucket(reservoir).is it going to circulate everything good with just the air stones?how often am i adding nuts into the water? i'm wanting to use fox farm nuts.and how often do i change the water? right now i got 2 going on in my closet in soil.ould it be possible to transplant 1 into the buckteer system.any help would be great first timer going out on a limb!:joint::joint:
 

mike43rd

Active Member
:joint:i have a ph test kit for aquariums can i use that? and i can get you some pics of what i got going now one has just sprouted a couples days ago is looking great the other i had outside for awile and we got some bad storms and messed it up a bit but i got it going good now inside. got them both under 24"ecolux bulbs flors one red spectrum and one blue.the two i got going now though are in soil,i havent started nething yet in the 5 gallon bucket system.,was wondering if i could transport one into the 5 gal bucket hydro system when i get it going.how should i set the bucket up? i got rockwool cubes should i just fill the whole bucket with the rocks with air stones on the bottom and let er rip.or get a lid for the 5gal bucket and cut a hole and pot a net pot in and just use the bottom as a res,and fox farm i hear alot of people praise it should i go with that stuff?
 

scias

Well-Known Member
i use 20 gal dwc with scrog and fim technique. works beautifully. ill get some pics. a lot of people do like fox farm. i personally use advanced nutrients. you can also find several DIY dwc systems if you look around on google. there are also plenty you can buy premade. look at those to get an idea how to do it. i personally bought all mine, so i cant really help out with the diy schematics.
 

mike43rd

Active Member
i got a 5 gal bucket should i put all the hyroton rocks in the bucket without net pots and get a lid and put a hole for a net pot and put the rocks in that
 

scias

Well-Known Member
ok the rocks need to be in the pot, not in the bucket. the rocks act as a catalyst for the roots to cling to initially.
 

scias

Well-Known Member
the purpose of getting a net, and putting the rocks in the net as opposed to the bucket is to maximize root space in the bucket, therefore increasing plant size
 

mike43rd

Active Member
ok kool ill got with that glade i ordered some net pots in the directions they tell you put the rocks in the buckets idiots!
 

scias

Well-Known Member
lol, i dont know why they would say put the rocks in the buckets. thats beyond me... anyway, i go with the recommended feeding program depending on what strain im growing. when im growing mandala, i dilute a bit because they have some super genetics behind them. you have to use the lid to put the pots in, and to keep the light from the roots... i thought you wanted to use only the lid with no net, i didnt know how that would work, but if you found a way.. more power to you lol
 

mike43rd

Active Member
appreciate the help would it be easy to transplant the one in the soil into the rockwool and put it in there,would i puncture a hole right through the rockwool to get the roots through it
 

scias

Well-Known Member
it wouldnt be easy if you're not experienced. stick with a soil grow on this batch and move to dwc on the next one
 

mike43rd

Active Member
ok guys this is what i got going on i am planning on using the fox farm schedule for hydro on there web site.does anybody use this that could tell me if its good or give me there own schdule.second thing i got it growing in a 5 gallon buck,2 air stones in the bottom and on the lid of the bucket i got 4 netpots.i just planted 4 seeds into my rockwools and put them into the pots.i only put 4 gallons of water in the bucket and used fox farms nut setup for the seedling and cuttlings.alittle thing im confused about on there site they tell you week 1 you add 2tsp to a gal,and 1 tbl to a gal.i already have my nuts in the res so each week it changes i always add that much more into the same water.it does tell you on the site when to do res changes but it seems like the nuts would be all out of whack.it tells you to change the res after the second week.so that 3 times i add nutes to the same water.i dunno somebody explain this! :hump:
 

pencap

Well-Known Member
How old is the dirt plant you want to trans plant into your DWC??? If it's still pretty young, you can do it fairly easy....except dont try pushing your roots through the rock wool...instead put them straight into the netpots with pellets. Wash off all the dirt very gently, scoop out some of the pellets, gently put the baby in and fill in the rest of the netpot with the pellets....just like transplanting into a bigger pot....
I would only do one plant in the 5 gallon bucket....Idealy you would use a 15 gallon "tub" for 3 plants. I am about to set up a 21 gallon tub for only 3 plants....2 4 gallon buckets for 2 plants also....


Your nutes....1/4 strength for seedlings.....
7-10 days later when you do a res change,up it to 1/2 to 3/4 strength...
7-10 days later change your res, and go full strength.
 

mike43rd

Active Member
:blsmoke:thanks for the advice man,are you using fox farms schedule? wheren your increasing the nutes there in tsp or tbl? thanks for the help and post
 

mike43rd

Active Member
i got the 4 seeds sprouting up looking good so far.bout to change the nuts soon and continue wat im doing.:hump:
 
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