Lets Build a Bubble Bucket *Step by Step*

[zake]

Its going to be my first grow. I am using a 30 gallon DWC setup. I will list all of my plans and maybe everyone can make sure I will be ok with my grow.

Stealth Closet Dimensions: Height: 56'' x Width 40'' x Depth 28''(Planning on
wrapping aluminum foil or mylar)

DWC Dimensions:
Height: 17'' x Width: 32'' x Depth: 20'' (Planning on wrapping
aluminum foil or mylar)

6 - 5'' Net Pots w/ rockwool sunk into top of course

2 - 20-60 Gallon Aquarium Pumps w/ dual outputs

4 - 14'' Airstones (makes tons of tiny bubbles no big bubbles, is
this a problem?)


Light:
400w Metal Halide (During veg. state 24hrs/day)
400w HPS (During flowering 12/12)
Timer for lights

I am going to buy ph up and down and hydroponic nutrients
I also plan on getting a digital ph reader and nutrient reader
I plan on installing input and exhaust fans
I will have to mess with it when it is set up to get temp/humidity correct.
If I need to make more space for upward growth I can modify ceiling/shelf to accomodate
Thanks in advance for your input!!

[Rumpleforeskin]

Don't use aluminum foil. If you can't use mylar then just go with flat white paint.
R.

[Apache]

Bump to the top

[sth]

How much actual nutrient solution is in your 5-gallon resevoir? It seems like as the root ball gets bigger you lose a lot of room for liquid.

[Rumpleforeskin]

How much actual nutrient solution is in your 5-gallon resevoir? It seems like as the root ball gets bigger you lose a lot of room for liquid.

Good question. To hook up a reservoir to this style of bucket, all you have to do is attach a hose/tube from the drain of the reservoir to the drain of your grow bucket/buckets. Now when you fill your reservoir the grow buckets will fill at the same rate (your drain valves must be open ).

I use a normal grow bucket as a reservoir except a solid lid and no bubbles. I keep it filled with 3.5 gallons of nutrient mix. 3.5 gallons is my full mark that puts the nutrient level at 1" below the mesh basket with no plant installed. When the root-ball grows, it will still follow the same liquid level as the resevoir. Even if the grow bucket will only hold 2 gallons of nutrient, I can still have 3.5 gallons in the reservoir and everything will show the same level mark. It will only follow the height not the quantity.

Can someone explain this better? I don't even understand what I wrote.
R.

[mrtwomuchskill]

hey Rumple I added it up and cost about 60 to make you think I would be better off getting the hyfrofarm www.discount-hydro.com/systems.asp

[tolhas]

mrt i saw that same one but i think it is drip feed and no air pump

[Rumpleforeskin]

tolhas I think he is talking about the Waterfarm made by Hydrofarm. It comes with an air pump and everything you need to get started. I started hydro with this system. After my first grow with the Waterfarm, I wanted to make some changes to the unit. I wanted a drain valve to make changing nutrients simple. You can use the sight indicator to drain the tank but it was a pain in my grow to do. Then I noticed the air pump it came with made very little pressure and the bubbles all came up in one spot.


I did not want to ruin my store bought unit, so I made my own with the gear that suited my grow and grow style. I ripped-off the sight indicator idea from the waterfarm. I felt more bubbles would be better so I got a good pump that could run 2 stones. After it was said and done, I spent more money making my own unit (like mrtwomuchskill stated above). The pump was 75% of the whole cost.

I grew another cycle with my home made job and the waterfarm. I got alot more growth from the 5 gallon bucket then from my waterfarm. I posted the question on Overgrow.com, "why do I get a faster growth rate from the 5-gallon bucket then from the Waterfarm?". Most everybody had the same answer, root space. I felt it had to do with air bubbles but no one agreed with me. The waterfarm has 2.5 gallons of root space and the 5-gallon bucket had almost 5-gallons of space for roots to grow.

I tried the waterfarm a few more times before I gave it away.

hey Rumple I added it up and cost about 60 to make you think I would be better off getting the hyfrofarm

My answer to this is you might want to think about buying the complet Waterfarm unit. It will cost less then my method and you won't have to build anything. I still feel my unit is better and fits my grow needs more. I posted this to give people ideas and another prespective to DWC growing.
Peace, R.

[Apache]

This needs to be a sticky

[Rumpleforeskin]

Thanks Apache, but I think some folks here have an issue with the clear sight tube. Many believe it will cause pond-scum to grow. I have had great luck with it. Not a bit of scum. But..... I change my nutrients every ten days. I have not tested it with any other nutrients or watering methods.
Thanks, R
Thanksgiving Day harvest:

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[Rumpleforeskin]

I don't mind all the private messages I get from this thread. But... If you want the best answers to your questions, posting it here for all to see will give you multiple prespectives and better answers then I can give alone.
R.

[Modnar]

Originally Posted by Num

i fill mine directly thru the net pot & to drain, I undo the top fitting & turn the view pipe downwards, letting it drain off into a spare tub.
It's worth adding an extra grommeted hole in the top for ph'ing between change-outs (make sure it's big enough so u don't drop ur wand in!)
I didn't bother with the fancy airstone holder either, but put 2 x 2" stones in the bottom of each tub - great results.

They really are that easy to make & are far more reliable that drip, nft & aero rigs as they have no internal pumps & nozzles to clog up.

Make sure the airline is opaque btw

respect for a good no-nonsense guide m8.

Why does the airline need to be opaque? Wal-mart sells really cheap clear air line.

[CFLdorm]

Wait. Wtf? How are roots growing in just water? That is sweet.

[mrtwomuchskill]

Originally Posted by Rumpleforeskin

I grew another cycle with my home made job and the waterfarm. I got alot more growth from the 5 gallon bucket then from my waterfarm. I posted the question on Overgrow.com, "why do I get a faster growth rate from the 5-gallon bucket then from the Waterfarm?". Most everybody had the same answer, root space. I felt it had to do with air bubbles but no one agreed with me. The waterfarm has 2.5 gallons of root space and the 5-gallon bucket had almost 5-gallons of space for roots to grow.

I tried the waterfarm a few more times before I gave it away

I think I already gave you + rep but gonna try one more gonna be building this some time in the future after my first two or three soil grows

[Rumpleforeskin]

hy·dro·pon·ics (hī´drö-pŏn'ĭks) n. (used with a sing. verb). Cultivation of plants in nutrient solution rather than in soil.