its been a while, new project UC RDWC DYI

Well I haven't posted in a while. I have been using bubble buckets (5 gallon bucket, 1 air stone per bucket, 70L pump between 4 buckets). I have been looking at the current culture UC systems. I love them, but 1000+ fpr a 6 site system is a bit much.

So I'm building my own. It is missing some of the fancy bells and whistles, no chiller, no filters, air stones are comming.

I would love comments, suggestions, this is the first one I have tried to build, hopefully I will have three fully up and running when I move to the larger room on the 1st of January.

Heres the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4k9R2g022c&feature=plcp

Stones probably not needed if you are running into your control bucket.. should produce sufficent DO from the waterfall effect. Now chiller and insulating the buckets and pipes, yes that's probably a good idea.

BigBuddahCheese said:

Stones probably not needed if you are running into your control bucket.. should produce sufficent DO from the waterfall effect. Now chiller and insulating the buckets and pipes, yes that's probably a good idea.

Click to expand...

I am not 100% convinced the insulation is needed, but I might end up buying a chiller. IU have been told about some DYI chilling that is slightly labor intensive, just freeze some 2 liter bottles and pop them in the rez when the lights come on or an hour or so after.

As far as air I know more can't hurt, I am, at the very least, adding one 70L air pump to the center with a house in each bucket (it is an 8 manifold so ill just close one off and put a stone in each bucket) having air on each root is great.

I did however just fully glue it all together, patch up the leak or two (accomplished by the glueing of the pipes together) and I traded the 1/2 inch intake and exhaust on the water pump for 3/4 (it was the standard the pump came with and seems to greatly increase flow. Once I get the air stones all in I will post a new vid.

I just finished a under current system for the first time, total do it yourself. Some issues I ran into, screens for the pump. It would be very nice to have, if you don't go with a screen then MAKE sure your hydroton or whatever your using is shaken out extremely well. I had the pump get blocked up, seemed like everyday for a week from the tiny pieces of hydrocorn falling though the basket.
I moved my control bucket out side the room and elevated it 6" or less for the temp control. I did not notice much of a difference. I used the frozen blocks for a while. I would not recommended them unless you have a problem. My rez temp is 70 at its high, so its not a problem yet but I would like it cooler. I was using the frozen ice 3 times a day and getting about 2-3 degs temp change but it was a pain. I did not insulate my buckets but I did wrap them in the extra Mylar, I have no idea if the Mylar does anything. I use a air stone in all the buckets as well tried some buckets without. The ones without air stones did not grow as fast.
good luck with yours

Sure pop bottles will work but how effectively and efficiently with your system or systems? I mean a few buckets no problem, but it is going to more then a few bottles per reservoir to chill all that water in every bucket. What happens if you are busy or cant put bottles in one day or few days? All for a few bucks after the time and money to do RDWC in the first place?

Would you buy cheap as tires for a Lamborghini with all that power behind it?

Why go half way when your trying to be serious with RDWC? Get a chiller and wort coolers if you want to do it right. Insulation is indeed recommended no matter the labor, especially if you are in warmer climate.

Skimping on the little things can be the deciding factor in a successful grow or not, I mean your buckets are already too close for RDWC but you stated you had a plan, but RDWC is to grow BIG plants and BIG plants NEED room, or it will make the light, your time and the grow go more complicated then it should be.

Chances are if I ran into a problem with my grow temp consistently, I would just buy the chiller, you are right about the pain of a daily routine chore. However I was also told I would need a chiller for my other set up, which is a 27 gallon tub with a RDWC kinda thing going, one pump just in it moving water and a few air stones supporting 6 plants in veg, although the watter gets up to 75 or so sometimes I have never had stunted plants, and my current bubble buckets are just an airpump as well, I have no cooling method for any water. I am sure if I ran into a problem I would look more into it but as of now I don't think I'm convinced it matters if the water isn't getting to 80+

Your nutrient will hold the most D.O. at 65 degrees. Get the chilled and a cool coil, in the uc rdwc, I have read that brown slime problems will be there with water not cool enough.

Root rot is probably in your future. Stay between 65 and 68 and u don't have to worry about it and your.root zone will have much.dissolved o2.

Your planning for air is Way overkill! For what you are spending on those industrial pumps, you would be much happier purchasing a good Pondmaster AP-100 which would take care of each UC setup itself! With the spacing you have between the buckets, you won't want to be in vegetative stage very long, because you will run into overcrowding in a hurry as well. I would also suggest putting an inline filter prior to the pump, as you will collect dirt/debris/dust/root matter and save yourself from dismantling your pump on a regular basis cleaning it out. Water temperature is crucial as well. Keep it under 70 no matter what in this type of setup! Shit happens way faster than any other one and can go south in a hurry! I don't run a chiller, but have only 2 bins and a control bin(18gal rubbermaids) which have roughly 80% filled. I am in my last week of flower, and have my res temps down to 60 atm! Only other thing I can add, is keep all organics out of the system if you don't want to encounter root issues!