How to start large dwc

I have BEEN thinking about O2 Grow Technology...I like it, But air Stones are more common place & cheaper
I dont want to INVEST in a O2 Grow Kit & burn it out or fuck it up

I used to want Ultra Sonic Foggers ...to put Inside the Bucket...
Then I get DWC Roots, Aero Roots, & CoCo Roots...Trifecta
However, They Heat Up The Water & cause All Manner of Havoc
So I didnt follow through with That Research

When I saw O2 Grow Tech...I instantly wanted it...
I couldnt fit an Atomizer Inside My 5 Gal. without DIY holes & Epoxy ...SO, fuck that
O2 Grow Tech APPEARED to be a solution...However, It also Appeared to be Highly Technical & Very Lab Grade
Which Turns Me On..
IF I can test 1 Bucket with O2 Grow Tech & I can SEE The Results...
Ill Convert
IF O2 Grow Tech, Can Keep The Room SILENT; With Better Results...Its a definite Green Light
Bye Bye Commercial Air Pumps, Air lines, & Stones

I have to do the research 1st hand...Then, I can back it from a Cannabis Growers POV

These are Silent...
They suggest you use 4 buckets...
I used These --1 per bucket, 1 per 2 buckets, & 1 per 4 buckets
Small T adaptors are required to channel 4 outputs to 1 Air Line

You can build you own o2 cells with stainless wall plate switch covers (or even a stack of cheese graters), and hookup a battery charging system to it, for cheap, lol.

The reason I don't like it, is because I don't get the bubble action like aeration provides. Also, I tend to want to crank up the power, and create lots of HHO gas. Also, have stainless water chiller coils that I don't want to corrode, if that even happens.. not sure on that.

Beesbuds said:

Yahoo medical grade air I'd be inhaling it myself. I need a quiet pump. I'm doing it in a shed that's beside a sidewalk, it's also damn quiet here, you'd hear a pin drop especially in the evening when people walk dogs. I'll shop around I know the air curtain things definitely bring humming down alot

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Make a spray bar coming off your supply. My biggest root yet when I had the spray bar

I was going to use Air Stones & O2 Grow Tech...Same Time ...1 bucket.
BUT..IF O2 Grow Tech...works as a stand alone...
Ill Upgrade

Beesbuds said:

I'm relatively new to DWC. I've had two very successful grows. They are only in 12 litre/ 3 gallon buckets. I'm having to refill them every day, they almost drink half of the bucket in a day it's insane. I'm getting a kick ass 8x4 tent and was thinking of just 4 large totes in that tent maybe just 3 actually. I was wondering how the hell are you supposed to start in 40 litres of water. That's a lot of waste. Can you just increase the nutes as the plant grows without changing the solution. Any1 ever grow in large totes. I think it would be easier to handle 3 or 4 large plants. Any advice

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This is a 17 gallon tote, one plant and the roots filled the hole thing and looked like a huge block of Ramen noodles. I got rid of air pump/stone and just turned my supply into a spray bar. It's 90% quieter and was like a root spa lol.

Drop That Sound said:

I kept splitting open 3.75" netcups when growing big plants, so I switched to 4", lol. Most people would never have a problem though, with 3-4" ones

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My last one destroyed a 6" net pot. I haven't been able to reuse a net pot yet.

Bucsfan80 said:

This is a 17 gallon tote, one plant and the roots filled the hole thing and looked like a huge block of Ramen noodles. I got rid of air pump/stone and just turned my supply into a spray bar. It's 90% quieter and was like a root spa lol.

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Some spring onion and chilli sauce and that looks like it would make a great soup! Add some spicy pork and you've got a really good meal there

come to think of it, these plant are quite nutritional... anyone done any cooking with the roots? save just composting them or putting them in the garbage?

Any suggestions for a good water pump in 4, 5 gallon RDWC buckets? I am tired of buying these by the pair since they clog up with dead root matter every 3-4 weeks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077955YC2?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

DrHill said:

Any suggestions for a good water pump in 4, 5 gallon RDWC buckets? I am tired of buying these by the pair since they clog up with dead root matter every 3-4 weeks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077955YC2?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

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Cheap, but reliable! Inline capable fixed flow pumps. Been using ecoplus for probably 10 years, and never have problems with any of them.

Careful you don't over torque the fittings though, because they do crack easily, and are some weird size that isn't even standard or metric, lol. That is the only problem I've found with these pumps, but no big deal IMO.

Pretty sure everyone uses them now. I've got bigger ones too, but never have tried their new "mag drive" premium versions.. I just stick with the same ones. I buy the 396 pumps all the time, and they're on sale right now too. Used to get them for 19.99!

I'm using a MAXIJET mj1000, it has a 'cage' over the inlet, and i've fitted an inline filter too on the outlet, but you could fit it to the inlet too, with a bit more hose to connect..

DrHill said:

Any suggestions for a good water pump in 4, 5 gallon RDWC buckets? I am tired of buying these by the pair since they clog up with dead root matter every 3-4 weeks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077955YC2?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

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put it in an aquarium filter (mesh) bag.

This is the pump I use, VIVOHOME Electromagnetic Commercial Air Pump, 20W-102W, 317/950/1110/1750 GPH for Aquariums, Fish Tank and Hydroponic Systems https://a.co/d/iteO9t3. It’s a bit loud, but my tents got its own room. Paired with some paw fly airstone plates it works great.

do not cheap out on airstones, there’s a huge quality difference between the cheap ones and name brand and it’s only a few dollars difference

I might be a cheap stake on some components, but I never skimp on RDWC filtration, or submerse the pumps in the res making more heat than needed. Not even inside aquarium media filter bags, although that does work pretty good.

I use huge 2" banjo y-strainers, that have 10x the amount of surface area around the mesh screens compared to smaller 3/4 or 1" y strainers, which I see all the other systems use for some reason.

Spendy, but worth it. I even use their camlock fittings with gate valves too, to stop the water on both sides of the strainer, so I can just unhook it at any time, and take strainers outside to wash out, without draining the whole systems.

My newest RDWC system i'm building has a spare container just for the pumps\filters, with clear 2" PVC pipe going into filter like a sight glass, and clear tubing everywhere inside the box to keep it away from light. That way I can see when the crud builds up, by taking the lid off. OR take the whole tote out to work on it if needed, while the plants still have water in the rest of the system.

Even if my plumbing wasn't 2" on most the systems I build, I would still use the larger 1-1/2" or 2" y-strainer (same size really, but 2" actually cost less), and use reducer fittings to get down to the size I needed to install it.

Bucsfan80 said:

This is a 17 gallon tote, one plant and the roots filled the hole thing and looked like a huge block of Ramen noodles. I got rid of air pump/stone and just turned my supply into a spray bar. It's 90% quieter and was like a root spa lol.View attachment 5232502

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Any info on how you made the spray bar would be greatly appreciated

Lpt said:

Any info on how you made the spray bar would be greatly appreciated

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Well my set up has a 2" return from totes to control rez and I have a submersible pump in control rez with ¾" pvc running to plant tote. The ¾" goes thru tote above water line about 15" with a cap on the end and I drilled a bunch of holes in it.