I decided to make a FAQ on Rumpleforeskin's Bubble Bucket. This FAQ should answer 99% of questions on the Bubble Bucket. Some questions in here aren't even related to it but decided to throw them in anyways since they were asked in the original thread. This isn't the greatest FAQ but I think it will answer the majority of "important" questions and what you need to get your Bubble Bucket up and running with great success! I didn't post every single question answered in the thread. Either it was unrelated to the Bubble Bucket or questions that haven't been tested out yet. Some questions might be answered twice but it will help when absorbing all the information First off, a link to the original Rumpleforeskin's Bubble Bucket. This will show you how to build it: http://forum.grasscity.com/general-indoor-growing/121335-lets-build-bubble-bucket-step-step.html When you change your water and/or check your ppm, and other stuff do you take the plant out and just sit it on the ground or what? “I install a 1/2" ball valve at the base to drain and draw samples. I put in a fill plug at the high water point to add back nutrient solution. I do use a small pond pump to speed up draining, filling, and recirculating.” – R Where can I find information about the Lucas Formula? http://forum.grasscity.com/general-...d-bubble-bucket-step-step-31.html#post2132713 “The lucas formula is a feeding formula for GH Flora series only.” –R “Lucas gives three ways to work the formula: 1.Top off with water, 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 (my case its 10 - 14 days). Very simple. All you do is fill a spare bucket with water, when its empty from topping-topping off, replace your solution. 2. Top off the reservoir daily using a pH corrected 100% strength nutrient solution as required to maintain full reservoir level. Continue to use this nutrient solution without dumping the tank unless the PPM rises above acceptable levels. 3. The "addback" method. This is to add nutrients back to your solution to get the correct PPM. I do the first one. So I don't need to check EC/TDS.” -R What is the correct O-Ring size for the fittings? “The correct size is 1"x3/4"x1/8" – R Picture: http://forum.grasscity.com/general-...uild-bubble-bucket-step-step.html#post1285061 Alternative to grommets: http://forum.grasscity.com/general-...uild-bubble-bucket-step-step.html#post1285061 Can I use aluminum foil for my grow room walls? “Don't use aluminum foil. If you can't use mylar then just go with flat white paint.” – R NOTE: Cool idea by 421oops: http://forum.grasscity.com/general-...d-bubble-bucket-step-step-20.html#post1840585 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. What about the Waterfarm made by Hydrofarm? It’s a lot cheaper than building one? “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 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.” -R NOTE: Someone added up all the costs for the Bubble Bucket and it comes to about $60. It could go more or less depending on where you get your supplies from. What’s the issue with the clear tube sight indicator? “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.” – R Why not just use a black 5 gallon bucket instead of taping? “Black buckets will work real good. I looked all over my local area for some when I did my first build. I would still use them if I could get my hands on some. Folks will say black absorbs light, but with a taped or white painted lid it would not matter. Black buckets are hands down the best color. I would still tape the whole thing for my grow, because I like everything silver. My white buckets leak light if the tape falls off or gets torn. A great tip from "IceCold".” – R I bought all the PVC connectors/fittings and for the most part, when i try to screw in the threaded parts together, it will only go about half way and then stop. only a few are ok and, with some resistance still, will screw in all the way, but for most of these parts i cannot get them to screw in all the wya for the life of me. i am not a weakling and i am so frustrated w/ this. “They all should be that way. They make the threads slightly oversize, so when you screw them together the threads will make a water tight seal. It is the same with metal pipe. If you use both O-rings (one on the inside of the bucket and one on the outside), the fittings will screw together by hand and form a good seal. You might need to use a wrench on a few of them, but be careful not to over tighten. You want both O-rings to be compressed a little. If the O-ring starts to push out, back off a half turn. This setup will be water tight, but not so tight you cant rotate the fittings. I feel your pain man, I did the same thing when I first started to work with PVC.” – R NOTE: People have mentioned to use a fine grit sandpaper to sand down the edges. What size pump do u use ? Ive had bubblers but got a lot of pond skum as u say i it was thought it was because i was trying to run to many buckets off the one pump please in ligthen me. “I have tested a few air pumps. I like the ones that put out a shit load of air. I have no data to back up this view-point, it's just a feeling (could be BS). I have grown nice bud with the $12 pumps and the $60 pumps. I am using General Hydroponics dual diaphragm pumps, one on each bucket (way over kill). I use Whisper 60 as backup. Sorry, I'm hard to pin down on this subject..” –R NOTE: Whisper 60s are quieter than the General Hydroponics according to Rumpleforeskin. RobsGreen recommends the Whisper 100 over the Whisper 60. I messed up one of my holes drilling but I’ll just patch it up. I’m not going to put any PVC through it so it will be fine. “I would start over on a new bucket. You have five bucks. Tape it before you drill next time. So much love will go into your grow, don't let it fail due to some sealer and duct tape. I have failed doing the same kinda thing, it really sucks.” –R So how many buckets do u run off each pump ? “My rule of thumb is; one air stone off each pump outlet.” – R How do YOU grow weed in your Bubble Bucket? my stealth closet grow -R Can I grow from seed in the Bubble Bucket? “The clay pebbles don’t hold enough water for a seed or a sprout. An easy way is to grow your seeds in rock-wool until roots show then put it in the bucket with the water level touching the bottom of the basket for a week or two. Then drop it to an inch below the basket. They have a million other ways of doing this” –R What about those water coolers? “Ice probes don't work. I have two of them in my junk box.” - R What’s your method of feeding? “I use the Lucas Formula.” –R Thread about the Lucas Formula: http://forum.grasscity.com/general-indoor-growing/484416-lucas-formula.html Do you have pictures of your growing supplies and nutrients? http://forum.grasscity.com/general-...d-bubble-bucket-step-step-64.html#post3245872 When do you drain your water and replace the nutrients? Every 10 days. What nutrients do you use? “I use General Hydroponics Flora” –R How do you get water from the reservoir to the Bubble Bucket? “Reservoir is connected to the bubble-bucket's drain valve. All buckets hooked together will find the same level. Fill the reservoir and all the buckets fill.” –R Do you filter your water? “I use a RO system that I got off Ebay for $100.” –R How high should the water level be? “I keep mine at around 1" below the net pots. New clones I keep it touching the bottom until I get roots coming out that can touch 1" below the pot.” –R NOTE: From my understand, Rumpleforeskin clones using his Clone Machine. Once he gets good roots, then he can put it in the Bubble Bucket. So until the roots grow and dive into the nute solution, the plant feeds only on water? Since vapor can't contain anything.. or am I missing something here? “its not really water vapor, its more like little splashes, from the bubbles bursting. Honestly I bring my nute solution right up to the bottom of the basket, the hydrotron natrualy absorbs the solution and the plant gets it that way, I tryed having it an inch or two below the basket but it didnt work out for me, perhaps my pump wasnt strong enough, YMMV. just pay attention to the plants, they will tell you when they are happy and when they arent.” – mordgrow “You want the top of your rockwool near the top of your basket's hydrotron level, and the water level at the bottom of the basket. trust me, its easier than you'd think, these guys Want to grow, you just have to lend a hand occasionally” -mordgrow You wouldn’t happen to have like a ppm chart or somethin for week to week of growth would you that lets me know how much nutrients should be in the water durin each week? Sorry, I dont go by EC or PPM to mix. NOTE: He changes water/nutrients every 10-14 days so it’s not needed. It seems the drain placement will leave a little left in the bucket after draining. Does this matter when changing out water? “I can never drain 100% of my buckets. Does not seem to matter much.” –R How long are the air stones good for? “I have tried all kinds of air stones. I don't know if one is better then the other. The ones I have listed in this thread are only good for one cycle. They fall apart after one grow, but they only cost a buck to replace. I just tried the flexible snake type, they can be used again.” –R What are your thoughts on PH meters? “Don't do anything without a good PH meter. Please spend more then $20 on one. It will be worth it to have a real good one or even two. It is possible to grow hydro without a TDS/EC meter, but extremely difficult if not next to impossible with no PH meter. PH will change alot, and if gone unchecked it can turn to acid real quick.” -R How often do you check your PH levels? “I plug my pump into each bucket daily to stir the nutrients and check PH.” –R How do you check your PH levels? “I adjust my setup through the reservoir. It has a lid that I can take off. Before I had a reservoir I would draw a sample through the drain into a cup. I would use a long eye-dropper and insert some PH up or down through the fill plug and mix with a pond pump.” -R How do you remove/add water/nutrients? “I never remove the lid, but thats just me. Just open the drain valve and let it all drain out. A few ounces of nutrient will be left, but it does not seem to effect anything. Then I fill it up through the fill port. I have done it without a pump, but a pump makes it go real fast.” -R Can’t I just lift the lid when I replace water/nutrients? “During flowering my buds get so heavy I have to hold them up with ties. No way in hell to lift the plant out of the bucket. Most of us grow through some sort of support like a screen or tomato tube to train for even/uniform growth. It helps to yield more and utilize your space and lamps (scrog).”-R I have a leak, what should I do? “Smooth out the hole you drilled. Use a razor to clean any burrs. I run a drimmel tool with sand paper through the holes after drilling. Remove the tape around the hole. Don't over tighten. Back off and make sure the O-ring is not popped out of place.”-R How much water do I need to add when starting out? “3.5 gallons is how much I add to each bucket.” -R Why the top hole for visual level tube? “This is a good question. The sight indicator has to be open at the top in order to work. I could have plugged the top of a clear tube and poked a real small hole in the plug to allow air to escape as the water level rises. Or just left it open all the way at the top. This would work if I used a ridgid glass or plastic tube that would always stay upright. The problem is if the tube bends or falls over it will drain your whole bucket. The Waterfarm unit I used had an open sight tube held in place with a clip. It was the cause of a few spills. So I plumbed it right back into the bucket at the top to keep it from spilling or ruining my grow. It seems to work better and is alot stronger.” -R I have roots coming out of the bottom of my rockwool cubes but they wouldnt reach the water yet if i put them in my bubble bucket with hydroton. Do i just put them in anyways and keep the cube wet by hand watering it until the roots hit the water or do i continue to grow them out of the bucket until they will already touch the water when i put them in? Surround the rockwool with the hydroton in a net-pot. Nutrients should be at 50% of veg formula. Place the net-pot in your bubble bucket. Bring the nutrient level up to the bottom of the net-pot. Turn on your air pump. Check plant two or three times the first day. If drooping or wilting, bring level up 1/2". Most people will only need to bring nutrients to the bottom. It depends on your air-pump. Lots of bubbles will give the basket lots of water. When you see roots, change to full veg formula and lower level to 1" below net-pot. – R How far to keep my lights away from my plants http://forum.grasscity.com/general-...d-bubble-bucket-step-step-42.html#post2550051 How often do you flush your system? “I only flush 10 to 14 days before harvest.” – R Do you use a water pump to pump water from the bottom of your buckets to the top of your plants? Or do your roots just sit in the bubbles and soak up nutrients? “I only use a water pump to fill and drain. The bubbles do the rest.” –R How do I hook up a resevoir or have a multi-bucket system??? http://forum.grasscity.com/general-indoor-growing/121335-lets-build-bubble-bucket-step-step-57.html#post3067341 Does c02 system make a huge difference? Or will I be alright without? “Yes to both questions. CO2 made a big improvement but you will be fine without enrichment. CO2 has helped my yield and growth rate by more then 20%” –R Do I need a reservoir? “You don't need a reservoir. Single buckets work just fine.” –R What temp is your water at? “The plants are doing just fine in that 80*F nutrient bath.” – R How can I drain my bucket when I can’t move it due to scrog? “If you have to drain it to another bucket at the same level, then a pump will be necessary. They are around $15 for a good one. I have used the ViaAqua in the past. It works great. I now have an over-kill pump that makes lots of noise.” –R Can I use soil in the plant basket? I don't have access to a hydro store “No you can't put soil in the net-pots. Buy your stuff online. I never go to any hydro stores, I just go to the website and order. It's safe and the best deal.” -R Any last tips? “I use a 400W cool tube, CO2 tanks, and feed using the Lucas Formula. Every grow seems to teach me something and results get better. Start basic and make improvements as you go. Don't spend alot of money if you don't have it. Some seeds, soil and a cheap HPS lamp can give great results. Reading the forums here is your best tool. Don't limit yourself to one growers opinion. One tip I give new growers is to keep it neat. Neat and clean grows will give you pride in your space, keep the mold to a min, and will reduce safety issues.” - R You have to try and maintain your nutrient level 1" below your net pot at all times (regardless of cycle). DO NOT LET IT GO EMPTY OR HALF EMPTY. EVER. “This is my rule for lights: 100W per plant if you want to see maximum potential yield and quality. Less light will give you less yield and could have effects on quality. It's ok to use less light, but you have to be willing to except less from your grow. Florescent lights are good for cloning, thats about it.” -R “What matters is the pump. The more volume of air, the faster the growth and nutrient use (my opinion). My plants health got noticeability better when I boosted the air volume in each bucket.” –R “Mold sucks. I tell folks not to mist their plants or add humidity in any way.” -R “Talking to your plants will increase CO2 levels. Will be more then enough.” –R “I recirculate my nutrients manually. I do it everytime I check the PH (about every day).” –R “Check for leaks before you add your plants to the buckets.” "I can't help much when it comes to pond scum issues. I have never had it come up yet. I cant remove my buckets and clean them between nutrient changes because the plants are fixed in a screen. Yet I still have no scum. I do clean them with bleach and water after harvest. I drain and change nutrients every ten days or so. It could have alot to do with my method of feeding. I use the Lucas Formula. Very simple and seems to work good.” -R “Buckets need to run 24/7 with bubbles, NO BUBBLES =DEATH” – RobsGreen I started with the whisper pumps (they worked just fine), wanted more bubbles so I thought I would upgrade to a more powerful air-pump. The GH fit the bill for my power and noise needs. They make twice the racket as the whisper pumps, but with the blowers and oscillating fan cycling, who will ever notice the air-pump with all that other noise? The GH pumps went a few grow cycles before the diaphrams went out. I replaced them with my whisper pumps until I could rebuild them. It's good to have backup air-pumps. Check them often. I had one of my whisper pumps break a diaphram as well. I will be changing my pumps out every few cycles. I have tried all kinds of air stones. They all work. Most only work for one cycle. I found some ceramic 3" disks. I have no idea who makes them, but they happen to be blue in color. They have lasted three cycles now and do a good job making bubbles. Skip that whole PVC air stone holder thingy. It's not needed unless you want to use the little stones. Get the disks even if they are not ceramic. 2" or 3" will be fine. I add a glob of sillicone to hold them in place. I use two disks. I am not an expert on plant food. I know most folks here over feed, causing slow growth and small plants. Make an effort to under feed your plants, the results will be better (weird logic, I know). A hungry plant will yeild more, with less problems. This is a lesson everyone has to learn for themself, no one ever takes the advice. If you feed a cow a lot of food, it grows real fast and fat, this is how most of us think. We are not growing cows.” – R “You can clone at any stage. My mom plant always has hairs. I made her after I knew the sex, so I am stuck with her at that stage of growth. No big deal at all.” –R “You can't bail for a month and expect your plants to live. Perhaps in soil with a drip system. No way to do hydro and split. Hydro needs to be looked at daily. Adjusting PH and filling your nutrient level is about every day. Bubblebucket plants will die in about five days of neglect. Soil is always recommended for first time grower. A good soil mix that requires no extra nutrients in the water. Like "Vic's Super Soil" (do a search). You can put your new rooted clone or sapling in the bucket and take a cutting off it to make a mother while you grow your first plant (kill two birds with one stone). Some folks will tell you to veg with CFLs. I am not one of them. Sure it will work, but it takes twice as long as veg'n with a HID lamp. I would rather get my plant done fast then save $16 on my electric bill. One plant will do good under a 100W HPS. It's all your need to get started. You can veg and flower under that lamp just fine (I did HPS only grows for a few cycles). Smell gets bad if un-treated. Don't take this problem lightly. Carbon scrub or Ozone. Has to be done if you are growing in close to neighbors. Even one plant in flower puts out a lot of stink. I like the White Widow. Big yields and great smoke. Simple to grow.” -R Rumple, if I missed any important points, please feel free to add to this. Hope this helps out, guys!!
Nice work (and a lot of it). The question I get most is: "How do I start from seed". I did not see that one. Plus Rep my brotha.
It's buried in the FAQ : Can I grow from seed in the Bubble Bucket? “The clay pebbles don’t hold enough water for a seed or a sprout. An easy way is to grow your seeds in rock-wool until roots show then put it in the bucket with the water level touching the bottom of the basket for a week or two. Then drop it to an inch below the basket. They have a million other ways of doing this” –R I'm sure in the next few weeks or months, more questions will pop up so I might have to make another FAQ. :
Awesome! I wish i would have found found this thread a long time ago. Rumple you are a f*cking awesome grower man! One question...the water in my dwc buckets is like a warm bathwater (I have no temp) i would assume like 75-80ish. They're in veg under 225 watts of cfl right now. What's the highest temp you can go to without affecting the health of the plants? Thanks for any help ahead of time!
If you have a two bucket system, one where the plant is and one where you just maintain the nutes, when using the top off method for the lucas formula and it mentions when you have added back the capacity of the reservoir are they talking about the reservoir alone or the total amount in the system? Ex, Rump mentions that he has about 3.5 gallons of water per bucket, so in two buckets I'd imagine its somewhere around 7 gallons or so, would you replenish with fresh nutes after topping off 7 gallons? or 3.5?
[quote name='"logistixz"']If you have a two bucket system, one where the plant is and one where you just maintain the nutes, when using the top off method for the lucas formula and it mentions when you have added back the capacity of the reservoir are they talking about the reservoir alone or the total amount in the system? Ex, Rump mentions that he has about 3.5 gallons of water per bucket, so in two buckets I'd imagine its somewhere around 7 gallons or so, would you replenish with fresh nutes after topping off 7 gallons? or 3.5?[/quote] U would top off in ur reservoir bucket
how exactly does he plug his pump in and what does he do step by step to check his PH and add PH Up&down+water how do you top off?
Ok, not trying to be a smart ass (could not resist), but I plug the air pump cord into the wall outlet. Only plugs in one way. I know I read that question wrong. I use a small pond pump to transfer, drain, and mix nutrient. I recirculate the bucket/buckets by pluging the pond-pump into the drain and fill connections of the bucket. Let it run for a minute or two. I will get a big glass or one of them big plastic drink cups you get from fast food, and fill it up with a sample of the nutrients (via pond-pump plugged into the drain). I test the PH/TDS and add adjustment fluids or powders (like PH Up or Down) to sample (this will somewhat dilute the adjustment fluid/powder). I then use the pond-pump to transfer the sample back into the bucket system. I will recirculate and retest. At times I will just put the adjusted sample right back through the basket (base of the plant) and pump nutrient solution through the basket for a few seconds. I seldom need to test now days. After you have been doing this for a while, you will be able to make adjustment without testing at all. I dump my nutrients every seven days, so PH never gets a chance to go way off.