JSB99
Well-Known Member
Uniseals have o couple tricky things about them. You have to take a Dremel or grinder, and bevel the edges of the pipes to be able to easily pass through the uniseals. Otherwise the pipe edges catch on the seals.
RDWC setup
- Thread starter TIMtoKILL
- Start date
TIMtoKILL
Active Member
I’ve heard that rubbing some petroleum jelly will help that problem.
I need to find a way to get my stuff apart. Everything but the threads on the bulkheads are welded so I’m kind of at a breaking point. I have figured out that it’s not the bulkheads leaking though both of my leaks are from the threads. I don’t have a heat gun though and that would cost more than re assembling the whole thing. Since all I need is pretty much the fittings.
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
Id say salvage what you can and regroup and start over.
My first setup failed miserably and I would have flooded my tent had my outside res not run empty first.
I had to take it all out and come up with a hole new plan which didnt include most of the stuff I bought for the first attempt. I tried to do something I came up with by myself because I hadnt found this forum and it didnt work out.
I was pretty upset, but it made the end result that much better. My setup ended up way simpler and better.
My first setup failed miserably and I would have flooded my tent had my outside res not run empty first.
I had to take it all out and come up with a hole new plan which didnt include most of the stuff I bought for the first attempt. I tried to do something I came up with by myself because I hadnt found this forum and it didnt work out.
I was pretty upset, but it made the end result that much better. My setup ended up way simpler and better.
TIMtoKILL
Active Member
That’s kind of what I’m feeling man. It sucks but what yah going to do.
I’m kinda looking at it and in a 4x3 tent I may just need one big bucket. I never planned on growing two strains at the same time anyway. With one 55 gallon hdx container it would be so much less complicated. 2 buckets instead of 3 and not having to worry about splitting the intake in anyway. What are your thoughts on the matter? I see people growing two plants in the same bucket all the time and ass long as they are the same strain it should work fine right?
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
I use one of those 55s as my outside res, theyre pretty massive 46x21 lid and they are 19" tall, it will fill your tent.
With bigger net pots (i use 6" 5 gal bucket lid ones) the water level to a couple inches below the pot would probably put you around 35-40 gallons which should be enough water for 3-4 pretty decent size plants.
Around 10gal per plant seems to be plenty and too far beyond that youre arguably wasting water and nutrients to fill all that space that isnt being used for a majority of your grow cycle. I use 17gal 2/3 full per plant, seen some that use 27gal 1/2 full per plant and these are on the bigger end of most of what ive seen. If you only want to do 2, I would try to find something similar but smaller so you can grow your plants a little bit taller and have a little bit more space.
Plenty of hydro growers that grow all of their vegetables in one big flood tray so it should be fine, your only real disadvantages i can see are that after a certain point the roots will all grow together and you wont be able to move one plant and once the plant gets to be a certain size it may get difficult to get inside the res when you need to.
With one big bucket you dont even really need a secondary res, you could just make it all one self contained waterfall system. You could even get creative and make a sprayer bar or a top feed system that you can put in for the first few weeks when you dont need a full res of water because you dont have any roots sticking down yet. Use the same pump to accomplish several different tasks just by switching what goes on the output. Even just throw a piece of hose on it to drain the res.
Just stuff to think about,
With bigger net pots (i use 6" 5 gal bucket lid ones) the water level to a couple inches below the pot would probably put you around 35-40 gallons which should be enough water for 3-4 pretty decent size plants.
Around 10gal per plant seems to be plenty and too far beyond that youre arguably wasting water and nutrients to fill all that space that isnt being used for a majority of your grow cycle. I use 17gal 2/3 full per plant, seen some that use 27gal 1/2 full per plant and these are on the bigger end of most of what ive seen. If you only want to do 2, I would try to find something similar but smaller so you can grow your plants a little bit taller and have a little bit more space.
Plenty of hydro growers that grow all of their vegetables in one big flood tray so it should be fine, your only real disadvantages i can see are that after a certain point the roots will all grow together and you wont be able to move one plant and once the plant gets to be a certain size it may get difficult to get inside the res when you need to.
With one big bucket you dont even really need a secondary res, you could just make it all one self contained waterfall system. You could even get creative and make a sprayer bar or a top feed system that you can put in for the first few weeks when you dont need a full res of water because you dont have any roots sticking down yet. Use the same pump to accomplish several different tasks just by switching what goes on the output. Even just throw a piece of hose on it to drain the res.
Just stuff to think about,
TIMtoKILL
Active Member
Okay here is a sketch of what my next pro type is going to work
I’m thinking one 55 gallon hdx container with 2 net pots. One 27 gallon hdx container as my res. I have a hole already existing for my 2” line and would rather have 2 extra pvc 90s than worry about patching another hole.
The intake I’m thinking is going to be an inch and a half with my waterfall lines going above it. This will keep the under current going as well as get DO to the plants.
I’m going to reorder the bulkheads and weld them closed. Since all of my leaks were the threads I’m confident that I can make this system work. Does any one see any major flaws in the system that would inhibit my growth.
I wanted to do the res in this grow so I can easily work with a scrog and not have to manhandle the system when I need to add water and nutes. I don’t know if the 27 gallon tote is the right one. Let me know if I missed anything I’m going to order the bulkheads tonight and grab the fittings tommorow I have most everything already so it should be a cheap round at HD.
I’m thinking one 55 gallon hdx container with 2 net pots. One 27 gallon hdx container as my res. I have a hole already existing for my 2” line and would rather have 2 extra pvc 90s than worry about patching another hole.
The intake I’m thinking is going to be an inch and a half with my waterfall lines going above it. This will keep the under current going as well as get DO to the plants.
I’m going to reorder the bulkheads and weld them closed. Since all of my leaks were the threads I’m confident that I can make this system work. Does any one see any major flaws in the system that would inhibit my growth.
I wanted to do the res in this grow so I can easily work with a scrog and not have to manhandle the system when I need to add water and nutes. I don’t know if the 27 gallon tote is the right one. Let me know if I missed anything I’m going to order the bulkheads tonight and grab the fittings tommorow I have most everything already so it should be a cheap round at HD.
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fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
was there supposed to be a picture?
TIMtoKILL
Active Member
Yes, yes there was.
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
id still do at least 3 or youre kinda wasting water and nutrients with how full the box will have to be to get close to your pots.
Heres a size comparison of the 55 vs the 17
Youre looking at nearly 2x as much water and in turn nutrients.
Heres a size comparison of the 55 vs the 17
Youre looking at nearly 2x as much water and in turn nutrients.
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
Idk if you have reasons for doing it like that, but you're using a bunch of unneeded pipe.
I would do it in one of these ways. That box will fill your tent. You will not be able to go inside it at all, so I'm confused by your pipe routing.
I would do it in one of these ways. That box will fill your tent. You will not be able to go inside it at all, so I'm confused by your pipe routing.
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fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
What's the difference between growing 3 strains in 1 big bucket vs 3 different ones that are connected to that extent? Theyd all get the same light and nutrient levels anyway.
The amount of light and nutrients is what varies by strain. You wouldn't really be able to cater to individual strains in any rdwc setup like this. You just find a happy medium for them all.
I have 5 different strains in my tent.
The amount of light and nutrients is what varies by strain. You wouldn't really be able to cater to individual strains in any rdwc setup like this. You just find a happy medium for them all.
I have 5 different strains in my tent.
JSB99
Well-Known Member
Too much water for such a small system.
TIMtoKILL
Active Member
My closet is only 55 x 66 which is why I had to down size to a smaller tent.
So your suggesting not having a control res at all? The only reason I had so much pipe is so I can keep the under current. I thought in order to keep DO oxygen in your rootball you need to have a constant current going through it? The pic that you attached would have intake and return on the same side. I’m just spitballing by the way I’m looking for a good way to remove the airstones out of my system.
So your suggesting not having a control res at all? The only reason I had so much pipe is so I can keep the under current. I thought in order to keep DO oxygen in your rootball you need to have a constant current going through it? The pic that you attached would have intake and return on the same side. I’m just spitballing by the way I’m looking for a good way to remove the airstones out of my system.
I didn’t see that they have 38 gallons; that should be more than enough to grow two plants. Should I down grade on the res too? Go with one of the 15 gallons?
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
With that strong of a pump youre going to be creating flow no matter how little piping you have. Youll also have to clean the inside of the pipes from time to time so keep that in mind.
Split your intake line inside the box and you can make a waterfall manifold down the inside or just run 2 to the back corners. You could run the pipe on the outside too and just run some elbow fittings through the side to create your falls. This will create current. DO is created by surface turbulence where your waterfall hits the res water
Split your intake line inside the box and you can make a waterfall manifold down the inside or just run 2 to the back corners. You could run the pipe on the outside too and just run some elbow fittings through the side to create your falls. This will create current. DO is created by surface turbulence where your waterfall hits the res water
JSB99
Well-Known Member
Never mind, I misunderstood you.
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
Not really suggesting anything, you do what you feel works best for you, just helping you brainstorm by throwing options at you.
You could go either way and likely achieve the same results, there are some downsides in accessibility with no control res, but you have no pipes leaving the box so no potential for leaks.
you should be fine to use the 27gal with the 38 if you really want to reuse stuff, but id probably go down to a 17 or maybe even a 12 to save space and water. You just need something that youre able to maintain the same water level as your inside res. Ive seen guys that use a single 10 gal bucket for a 16 res system.
Ive actually been considering down sizing my 55gal control res to a 27. it only gets like 8" of water in it so its complete overkill even for my 12x17gal res system.
I would personally stay with a dual 27 gal system like @JSB99's with 2 plants each in your space though.
You could go either way and likely achieve the same results, there are some downsides in accessibility with no control res, but you have no pipes leaving the box so no potential for leaks.
you should be fine to use the 27gal with the 38 if you really want to reuse stuff, but id probably go down to a 17 or maybe even a 12 to save space and water. You just need something that youre able to maintain the same water level as your inside res. Ive seen guys that use a single 10 gal bucket for a 16 res system.
Ive actually been considering down sizing my 55gal control res to a 27. it only gets like 8" of water in it so its complete overkill even for my 12x17gal res system.
I would personally stay with a dual 27 gal system like @JSB99's with 2 plants each in your space though.
TIMtoKILL
Active Member
Dude by all means throw some suggestions my way. I really like that idea but I do want a res so it’s easier to maintain I can cut and cover a small hole by the return to manage the root system. If I were to go smaller with my res would I need to lift it so the tops are the same length to the ground?
I still think 38 should be big enough for 2 plants. That along with a 27 or 15 gallon control res should be fine.
I’m going to scrap the buckets as well as the pipe. I’m going to order the bulkheads right now. I’m going with the same ones but I will weld the threads together. That’s what was giving me problems before.
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
Nope, your pipes are along the ground so gravity doesnt care how tall the boxes are as long as they can hold the same depth of water.
I think the 38 and 17 would pair nice. The 12 would probably be a little too short. Its awesome how many sizes these boxes come in though.
I would advise against using cement on your bulkhead threads, youll have seconds to make sure its all the way tight before youre not moving it again. Once it stops you'd have to cut it out or home you can heat the glue enough to move it without destroying the side of your box. Just out the seals on the inside and tighten them as tight as theyll go and you should be fine.
All of my bulkheads are slip on the outside and threaded on the inside.