http://forum.grasscity.com/do-yourself/121335-lets-build-bubble-bucket-*step-step*.html Its expensive, like 45 bux or more each, but it is completely worth it. Hope you have a little skill with tools though. They work for me quite well, and you can check ph, add/remove water, and monitor levels without opening the bucket up. The first time I made one it didn't have the extra's, wished I did.
I went through that whole thread and it doesn't sound like having a res is a good thing and how can all that stay ph balanced there would have to be circulating water. I have some good idea's on how to deal with these problems. Has anyone came up with a system that has a res that is for topping off buckets. I want to setup a series of valves so I can drain buckets and top off buckets with a res. I need a setup that wont kill my back. Its still in the thought stage but I hope you have a idea what im thinking.
airstones man....this is pretty much full hydro....the water isnt stagnant because of the airstones blowing oxygen upwards in turn pushing water down and mixing everything up...with enough air the roots will thrive! also you could just created another res on a table somewhere full of water and nutes with just airstones in it and maybe pumps to circulate the water(venturi pump would be best of both worlds) then just have a tube go to the bucket to and inlet with a valve and there you go
I get that but ideally I would like to not use water pumps at all. I also like the idea of isolating each bucket for better control. I just want to put alot of thought into this next upgrade and I want it to be easy to maintain and easy on my back and neck, I had a spinal surgery.
well if you want it to not use pumps then go flood and drain and just cut holes in the buckets and set them all on a table that you can flood ...are you still looking for a bucket design or what?...im kinda confused because you cant do hydro except flood and drain or some sort of wick system without using pumps...
I was thinking of a bubble bucket setup that had a res that was higher then the buckets so you could release a valve to top off the buckets and then have all the buckets drain through 1 line for water changes. Im still thinking of what else I want to do but Im open to suggestions.
well then you can pretty much do this....have the main res on a table with a ton of airstones in it (like 2 or 3 per gallon) then have the two bubble buckets infront of the table...and all your tubes and supplies and air pumps are underneath the table...then have both drains go to one drain line via a Y connector....the res on the table would be connected to the buckets via an intake line with a shutoff valve on it...simplest way i can think of
Sounds pretty simple really man.... its just a gravity fed system just like he said up there put some air stones in there depending on how big ur res is is gonna be the judge of how many airstones u use id say u need a max of four or five 6 inch airstones throw a ball valve on ur res and just crank it open to fill up the system good luck man