control bucket for dwc

Discussion in 'Hydroponic Growing' started by pdasterly, Jul 28, 2015.

  1. #1 pdasterly, Jul 28, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 28, 2015
    I have a simple two bucket dwc, going to connect the two buckets together with some pvc pipe and some uniseals, I want to add a control/mixing bucket to system, can i just plumb in another container into system without pump and does bucket have to be same size as rez, i actually have two totes with two plants in each. I want to use ph controller on the control bucket to control ph levels


    I want to add whats in the red
    [​IMG]

     
  2. Yeah, you can do that, as long as your control res is as tall as your totes.
    However, without circulation, any changes other than water level are going to take a while to effect the grow totes. As well as be equalized.


     
  3. #3 pdasterly, Jul 29, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 29, 2015
    what if i add air stones to each bucket?
    also having hard time finding suitable container to fit my grow space, does container have to be as tall as others or just does the water line has to be same height?
     
  4. Airstones won't do anything for getting it to circulate.
    And, correct, it's all about water level. Your res can't be any shorter than the water level in your totes. It can be fifty feet tall. It just can't be shorter.
    Water will self-level between connected vessels
     
  5. I would put the uniseal & pvc tube or hose on the bottom of rez. and bottom of the totes. That way as u add nutes/water to the rez it will flow to the totes and settle to the same level at the rez. no pumps needed. I grow my tomatoes on the patio this way.
     
  6. #6 GoldGrower, Aug 13, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 13, 2015
    how come you don't want to circulate the solution? A tiny pump is enough to move the solution from the control res to the first plant res, then it just flows to the next, and then back to the control res via gravity.


    If you connect them with hose at the top then it's an overflow type and then you can have the waterline in the control res lower if you wanted to
    [​IMG]
     
  7. As others have said.. the values of the grow buckets and the controller will be different without recirculating.. I actually had the same set up (two grows, one control), and the control bucket was usually 4-6 points higher in regards to ph.. It helped to postpone add backs but had no positive effects regarding ph stability or aggregation. If you're going to go this route be sure to aerate the controller as they have a tendency to get stale when just sitting there for a week or two.. I went as far as just using the control bucket for full changeovers as it was no help when trying to adjust the grow buckets..I'd add back to the grow buckets individually for more predictable results .. If not, the parameters in the control bucket and the grow buckets would have to be taken into account when preparing the add back solution, and it just gets messy and less predictable.. Personally I would recirculate but do yourself a favor, install valves on the supply line of the recirculating system as they will be helpful in adjusting the flow... If not, the first bucket will most-likely overflow before it makes it back to the control.. I know that from experience [​IMG]
     
  8. #8 GoldGrower, Aug 13, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 13, 2015
    I always recommend having the feed line half the diameter of the return lines. That way the reservoirs won't overflow.


    You only need a small pump too, there's no need to have the NS wizzing around the system
     

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