DWC method

[sparkyblue]

Howdy all

 

Just have a query regarding air pumps for dwc method. What is the best L/ph pump size for a 25L bucket? I was looking at buying one off ebay.

I only want one bucket going, but would like to be able to expand to two later on. Is a two outlet pump enough to drive 2 10cm airstones in two buckets? Or aim I better off buyng individual single outlet pumps for each? also what are the best airstones to use?

 

I know sweet fuck all about them to be honest. Any tips on pumps and airstones would be greatly appreciated

 

 

Cheers

 

SB

[Pleb Scrubber]

I would get a dual outlet pump to feed both, in the mean time use both outlets in your one bucket.

 

With airstones, the bigger the better. But avoid the long flexible ones they dont put out a lot of bubble.

You want a big solid ones.

[Chato]

Hey Sparky,

 

I have used a lot of different airstones and without doubt the round/disc shaped ones are the best. Slightly more expensive than the conventional bar (long, thin) ones but much better at producing the bubbles you want for dwc. Small fine bubbles are what you want and plenty of them, you want to avoid the ball/stone type as they produce a washing machine affect that agitates the roots.

 

 

Air-pumps are another piece of equipment that need do to be replaced every so often, they simply don't last for huge length of time without losing power, vibrating more and of course getting noisier. So no need to spend up too big, a simple 2 outlet regular style pump will be enough for your needs. If you really want a brand name then i've found Hailea to be quite good but the greatest pump in the world is only going to be as good as the air stone that is producing the bubbles so concentrate on the disc more than the pump imo. And try and use black hose rather than the usual clear stuff for your airlines.

 

You don't need to over think it too much, small decent sized pump and round discs and you'll be laughing

 

peace

c

[sparkyblue]

Hey Sparky,

 

I have used a lot of different airstones and without doubt the round/disc shaped ones are the best. Slightly more expensive than the conventional bar (long, thin) ones but much better at producing the bubbles you want for dwc. Small fine bubbles are what you want and plenty of them, you want to avoid the ball/stone type as they produce a washing machine affect that agitates the roots.

 

 

Air-pumps are another piece of equipment that need do to be replaced every so often, they simply don't last for huge length of time without losing power, vibrating more and of course getting noisier. So no need to spend up too big, a simple 2 outlet regular style pump will be enough for your needs. If you really want a brand name then i've found Hailea to be quite good but the greatest pump in the world is only going to be as good as the air stone that is producing the bubbles so concentrate on the disc more than the pump imo. And try and use black hose rather than the usual clear stuff for your airlines.

 

You don't need to over think it too much, small decent sized pump and round discs and you'll be laughing

 

 

 

 

 

peace

c

 

Thanks heaps chato think i can get 8" mineral airstones from hongkong for about $11 off ebay.

Dual pump it is then.. I actually already have a stash of 4mm black pvc tubing so that will work out well.

 

I'm just chomping at the bit now to get this lot harvested...and then have a crack at the bucket.

 

Im excited

 

Thanks again .

[sparkyblue]

Howdy all Back again. Have been a busy little bee while on holidays trying to get everything ready for my next crack.

 

Decided to fashion my own bubble buckets and see how they work.

 

Basically two white 25L food grade buckets, spray painted black.

two net baskets. (drilled 4x5mm holes through pot and lid and secured with cable ties so it will lift off in one piece)

 

4mm grommets and black tubing for airstone 4mm 'T" for both lines of twin channel air pump.

19mm-13mm reducer , top hat grommet, and 13mm end cap. (just an extra drainage point or potential sattelite bucket )

 

22mm holesaw, 6mm drill bits, cable ties, 13mm black tubing.

 

 

I also decided (due to space issues and lessons learnt from my first grow) that i would try a SCROG method. Also, I just want to try one really decent plant instead of two. I have two clones on the go, both the same strain (lucky bagseed) will keep one just in case things go pear shaped and keep cutting clones from it.

 

Its a bit of a learners attempt at setting it up but i think it should work ok. (using a 400w hps SON T Agro) I want to try and make the most of the total lumens coming from the light.

 

I've used my dear great grandfathers walking frame (with his blessing im sure ) with a 700x680 piece of fencing wire cable tied to the frame.. and the trays it all sits on are two old tree seedling trays cabe tied together to keep everything off the ground.

The walking frame is adjustabel height and so is the jack chain supporting my light. Hoping to get the ideal distance through trial and error for maximum yield.

 

Anyways ... here's a few pics of my handy work

 

 

Any feed back is greatly appreciated.

[Chato]

Hey SB looking good so far

 

I'm not really sure what the go is with the two buckets and the frame though? What's your plan? You say you are probably only going to do one bucket yeah? As i don't fully understand your setup yet it's hard for me to comment more but from the way you've presently got the 2 buckets plumbed i'd be thinking your going to use one as a control bucket? The black hose up the side of the bucket looks like a water level but it's not plumbed back into the top of the bucket only the bottom so i;m not sure... If you make that hose clear it will act as a level, showing you how much water is in your bucket.

 

Your net pot is pretty large, I prefer the smaller pots as I find you want the roots to get thru the pot as quickly as possible and i think more roots exposed above and below the water is better than in the netpot with clayballs. But the larger ones will work too.

 

Didn't mean to hit you with so many questions mate but i do like dwc

 

peace

c

[sparkyblue]

Hey SB looking good so far

 

I'm not really sure what the go is with the two buckets and the frame though? What's your plan? You say you are probably only going to do one bucket yeah? As i don't fully understand your setup yet it's hard for me to comment more but from the way you've presently got the 2 buckets plumbed i'd be thinking your going to use one as a control bucket? The black hose up the side of the bucket looks like a water level but it's not plumbed back into the top of the bucket only the bottom so i;m not sure... If you make that hose clear it will act as a level, showing you how much water is in your bucket.

 

Your net pot is pretty large, I prefer the smaller pots as I find you want the roots to get thru the pot as quickly as possible and i think more roots exposed above and below the water is better than in the netpot with clayballs. But the larger ones will work too.

 

Didn't mean to hit you with so many questions mate but i do like dwc

 

peace

c

 

 

hey Chato sorry I probably didnt explain myself that well .

 

Am only going to do one bucket at a time. (I just made two up so I had a spare) I stacked them on the walker just to take a pic.

 

The hose up the side is for water level and draining (just chucked black pipe on for now) have to go to get some clear hose for that bit and swap it

 

I havent really got anything set up to go as yet... more just a get shit ready and photo's on the way through. (that way hopefully someone liekm yourself wlill offer me their sage advice on where Im going right and wrong )

 

The plan is the bucket will sit under walking frame and I train it through the wire. when I change nutes I can just lift the whole thing up in one and move bucket out to change. Am going to redesign the space in my room to accomodate this set up as opposed to whats in there now. The pics were just taken just in an old wetspace/shower area. Once I have harvested whats in the main room... then I'll get it set up properly. and post more pics.

 

Hope that sorta gives you an idea of what im planning

 

Thanks for your interest

[Chato]

No worries mate i understand it now and it sounds like a tidy a plan

 

Only thing i would do different is set up the second bucket now as a control bucket and feed and drain from that rather than lifting the lid and removing the bucket. The roots will grow long an unless you can lift that frame real high it won't really work i don't think. Using a control bucket makes dwc so much easier, all you need beside the bucket (which you already have) is a small water pump and some more 4mm black hose, and 2 13mm joiners and some hose.

 

Keep the pics coming and good luck.

 

peace

c

[sparkyblue]

No worries mate i understand it now and it sounds like a tidy a plan

 

Only thing i would do different is set up the second bucket now as a control bucket and feed and drain from that rather than lifting the lid and removing the bucket. The roots will grow long an unless you can lift that frame real high it won't really work i don't think. Using a control bucket makes dwc so much easier, all you need beside the bucket (which you already have) is a small water pump and some more 4mm black hose, and 2 13mm joiners and some hose.

 

Keep the pics coming and good luck.

 

peace

c

 

 

 

Thanks for your help chato Can I be a real stoner and ask you to explain in detail about the contrl bucket? does it sit higher or same level?... is the water pump submersible type? Ive got two of those sitting in amongst my crap.

Sorry to be so green about this stuff. I already have more 4mm hose, grommet, 13mm hose, couple of in-line valves and some joiners.

 

Just cant quite picture in my head how to set it up. (may be something to do with the with the 20 or so

 

idiot proof instructions would be awesome if you can spare the time

[Chato]

Hey mate no problem I really do like dwc and i actually just kicked off a new little dwc venture myself

 

Basically you just link two buckets together with 13mm joiners and hose. If the buckets are level then when you fill them with water the level will always be the same between the buckets because of gravity.

 

In the bucket that you don't have the plant (the control bucket) you put a small water pump and run either 13mm or 4mm hose from it to the bucket with the plant. You can do this any number of ways and place whatever fitting or hole your using anywhere high on the bucket just be aware of where the water is going to hit and aim it away from the roots and net pot.

 

You might have to add a tap or some sort of valve to regulate the flow.

 

Also adding a T and another length of hose from the pump in your control bucket will allow you to drain your system easily.

 

I have a thread in cannaversity that details a bigger 4 bucket system but same principle applies to 1 bucket and control.

 

Here's the link Re-Circ DWC

 

peace

c