Lets Build a Bubble Bucket *Step by Step*

[fdebozo]

Originally Posted by amnesiac

i was watching a very interesting youtube video that discussed the many ways of growing with hydroponics. ive watched em all. they were using like a styrofoam hot pocket sock for a 5 gallon bucket. looks like mylar and styrofoam to me. keeps the heat out of the buckets. i would also like to add a serious thank you for this brilliant post. without it i would be headed in a much different direction. i bought a 12 valve koi pond air pump i was wondering what you thought of her. here are the links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-C4v...eature=related skip to 9:10
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...TODAY.m238.lVI

hey, i saw that video on youtube and i dont know if those insulation mats are technically made of styrofoam and mylar, but those are already factory made. if you are familiar with them, many sunshades for your car are made with this material. insulation can be found at most hardware stores

happy growing!

[amnesiac]

http://www.insulation4Less.com/foil-bubble-foil.asp
is that the stuff. looks nifty. bubblefoil.

[amnesiac]

Im gonna go ahead and get some bubblefoil on ebay. Ill let you all know how it works out. Whats more is that i have a larger 10'x10' office downstairs 8' high for my moms and clones. Im really a little nervous thinking about the potential. Botany is in my blood, and working with quality greenhouse fems under so many watts with so much space and with the help of everybody here, its a little nerve wrecking. I sold my pride and joy 1800 dollar canon gl2 for this.. I would cry if it went awry.

[BeltManana]

great post! another one of many thanks for this post! has really helped out

[jtthunder]

could u post the Lucas Formula pls
the link doesnt work
ive heard this recomended before and id like to see it

[Rumpleforeskin]

General Hydroponics Flora Series Feeding Strategy - Lucas Formula

G-M-B (Grow-Micro-Bloom)
0-5-10 - For Vegetative cycle (24/0)
0-8-16 - For Flowering cycle (12/12)

The numbers above indicate the number of milliliters (ml/cc) of Flora Grow, Flora Micro or Flora Bloom formulas that I use in one gallon (US Liquid) of nutrients.

You will notice I dont use any of the "Flora Grow” formula, do not need to, the "Flora Micro" provides plenty of Nitrogen.

1. Top off the reservoir daily using a pH corrected water solution as required to maintain full reservoir level. After adding back an amount of water equal to the amount of your reservoir capacity you should change the reservoir and put in fresh solution.


This is not the whole formula. He gives you a few other ways to execute his formula. Like adding nutrients back insted of draining and making a fresh batch. I like it simple, so I do it the way I put it here in this message.

You can read the whole thing if you want here.

[jtthunder]

thanks rumpleforeskin

[Gooch]

I got about 10 pages into this thread and gave up. Will read the rest later, so much helpful info. What I wanted to know is can I use my Organic nutes I already have (Dr. Hornby's Iguana Juice Grow+Bloom by Advanced Nutrients) in this system? I don't see why not as there are no drip lines or anything to get clogged but I figured someone on here had some experience with this and might be able to drop some knowledge on my newb ass. I'm just entering week 3 of flowering with my first grow (FF Ocean Forest Soil) and everything seems to be going well so I thought for my next go round I'd do 2 buckets and 2 or so in soil and if all goes well with the buckets I might be switching to those.

Also I made a small change in the plans but for most part everything is the same. I was able to pick up black buckets at my hydro store as well as black lids with net pots already built in. I figured fuck it one less step. The change I made is I got a 5" round air stone by Topfin. I used black aquarium silicone sealant to stick them in the center of the bucket. You think these should suffice? I also sealed the airline to the bucket on the inside. My reasoning for this is less malarkey for the roots to get tangled around. I could just envision myself pulling up the lid and tearing some roots that got tangled on an airline or something.

Any suggestions or criticism is greatly appreciated. I know that there are great chemical nutes out there but love the idea of all organic. + I know this hippy chick who is psyched to try my first all organic harvest

[Rumpleforeskin]

Like I always say "it's good to have a psyched hippy chick around".

I try not to give alot of advice on nutrients (because I don't know much). If you know how much to add and have a feel for them, then it wont matter one bit. I bet it comes out great. I have been going through all kinds of air stones. I gave up on the PVC pipe holder for the air-stones a while ago. I am using the same glue as you on this grow. I dont like the blue air stones/disks because they tend to desolve after one use. I'm using ceramic pipes about 3" long. Two per bucket.

Best of luck, R.

[Whodi]

I read through this whole thread, so forgive me if I missed this question:

When you drain.. do you hook a pump up to the drain fitting, or do you have to drain it without a pump? How long does it take to drain and fill? I don't know much about pumps. I'm assuming the pump has 2 hoses, 1 on each end...

Also, what are your yields?

I want to grow trees with about 1 month veg time and i'm hoping this type of bucket can grow trees for me.

[Rumpleforeskin]

I don't weigh my take every harvest. I have done it a few times to see what the difference was between a three plant harvest and a two plant harvest (same cycle time). I get a pound (most of the time) give or take. Three plants yeilded the same as two, but I had less scrap with two. I only do two plants now, and I get between 14.5oz to 17oz per harvest. Heat is the factor in the yeild. I get an ounce or two less during the summer (14.5). I can't always get the weight data because I don't own a scale. I have to borrow it every time I want to check. Scale=Jail for medical growers.

I noticed alot more people are veg'n less and getting great harvests. I only veg 10 days (from rooted clone). I dont top or LST anymore. I found I get more by harvesting more times a year. LST and topping added alot to my cycle time. My screen method seems to produce the same results as LST, but with faster results. It could be my plant and setup, I have no science to back it up. I would rather plant more plants then veg for 30 days.

Any small $14 pond pump will help make draining and filling a breeze. I have done it with gravity and it works ok at best. The pump comes with no hose. You have to buy that and add it on.

Good luck, R.

[OG Line]

Hey Rumple, I have a question for you maybe you can answer it? If instead of straight water could you put carbonated water in the bucket? or maybe some kind of mixture? I only say that cause it would cause a lot more bubbles. Or would that kill the plant because of to much co2? thanks for any help you can provide.

[Whodi]

Do you think 10-20 gallons buckets would yield much more and lower the maintenace a bit?

[RobsGreen]

Originally Posted by Rumpleforeskin

14.5oz to 17oz per harvest.

.....

[Rumpleforeskin]

Originally Posted by OG Line

Hey Rumple, I have a question for you maybe you can answer it? If instead of straight water could you put carbonated water in the bucket? or maybe some kind of mixture? I only say that cause it would cause a lot more bubbles. Or would that kill the plant because of to much co2? thanks for any help you can provide.

Are you messing with me? Carbonated water is only good for mixed drinks.

They make stuff to add to aero-cloner water. I tried a bunch of stuff in the water and on the cuttings. Nothing could beat water. I just cut and add water now. Nothing more is needed. I get 100% results with plain RO H2o.