RDWC setup

[TIMtoKILL]

If I get the slip/ thread ones I wouldn’t need to weld the threads together since I’m just going to be slipping the pvc in. I probably should weld that though correct? I think having the slip in ones will make all the different since there are less failure points in the system.

 

[fragileassassin]

Yeah I would cement the pipes going into the slip side on the outside, but dont put anything on the threads on the inside where the nut is.
Since its all ABS you could probably seal the inside of the bulkhead with cement afterwards. Put it together and cement the outside pipes and make sure its all good and doesnt leak and once you know its good you could put a layer of ABS cement around that inside nut.

 

[TIMtoKILL]

Yeah I would cement the pipes going into the slip side on the outside, but dont put anything on the threads on the inside where the nut is.
Since its all ABS you could probably seal the inside of the bulkhead with cement afterwards. Put it together and cement the outside pipes and make sure its all good and doesnt leak and once you know its good you could put a layer of ABS cement around that inside nut.

Sounds good man thanks a lot. Does it matter if I just use clear pvc cement and primer I got it at Home Depot of the Oatey brand.

 

[fragileassassin]

I generally try to match the cement. PVC cement on PVC, ABS cement for ABS and all purpose cement anywhere that PVC meets ABS.
You dont need a primer on ABS. Ive used PVC cement on ABS but ive never done it on anything that had pressure or potential to leak so I can speak to its strength. Id probably play it safe and grab a small can of ABS cement. You wont need much, the smallest cans are only $4

They are actually chemical solvents that have a reaction and weld the pieces together.

 

[Major Blazer]

The only problem with that is I don’t have 3 of the same strain seeds. I heard that’s a no go for growing in the same bucket.

It's a "no-go" to share a res with different plants for reasons that don't play into growing in the same bucket/tote. The primary argument is that since nutrient demands can vary dramatically between strains (and even phenos), if you're sharing a res/tote/bucket you'd want to start from identical cuttings to really dial in your grow properly. That said, you'd have to have done a few grows with cuts from the same mom and identical environmental conditions before even really getting to totally know a plant that well so really what I'm saying is don't get caught up in that small shit. This seems to be the pitfall of most newbies, over complicating everything. I did it too so I'm not picking on you - I got wayyyy too caught up in details. Back when I had an rdwc system I had an led readout for everything from res temps to site temps, ph, ec, etc and I felt like a fucking chemist and a plumber, fighting to balance all of these factors on a day-to-day while keeping all the plumbing from turning my floor into a pond. I was even debating developing a raspberry pi based hydroponics controller, coding my own apps...ridiculous shit. Currently I'm only in veg (well cloning now) since I moved and had to start over from scratch but my shits so basic that I'm hand feeing by dipping fabric pots into buckets of solution (if I can even remember that day) without even owning a single meter for anything and my plants have been growing so well that I wish I could go back in time to the former me and remind myself of the KISS theory. I just read ph with the GH dropper kit lol but I do always start with RO. Good luck!

 

[TIMtoKILL]

It's a "no-go" to share a res with different plants for reasons that don't play into growing in the same bucket/tote. The primary argument is that since nutrient demands can vary dramatically between strains (and even phenos), if you're sharing a res/tote/bucket you'd want to start from identical cuttings to really dial in your grow properly. That said, you'd have to have done a few grows with cuts from the same mom and identical environmental conditions before even really getting to totally know a plant that well so really what I'm saying is don't get caught up in that small shit. This seems to be the pitfall of most newbies, over complicating everything. I did it too so I'm not picking on you - I got wayyyy too caught up in details. Back when I had an rdwc system I had an led readout for everything from res temps to site temps, ph, ec, etc and I felt like a fucking chemist and a plumber, fighting to balance all of these factors on a day-to-day while keeping all the plumbing from turning my floor into a pond. I was even debating developing a raspberry pi based hydroponics controller, coding my own apps...ridiculous shit. Currently I'm only in veg (well cloning now) since I moved and had to start over from scratch but my shits so basic that I'm hand feeing by dipping fabric pots into buckets of solution (if I can even remember that day) without even owning a single meter for anything and my plants have been growing so well that I wish I could go back in time to the former me and remind myself of the KISS theory. I just read ph with the GH dropper kit lol but I do always start with RO. Good luck!

I appreciate the input man. I just live in the country so growing in dirt seems like I’d be fighting bugs left and right. I used to do bubble buckets but I want to be able to scrog and i need to have something like an rdwc where I can measure necessary factors.

 

[Major Blazer]

I appreciate the input man. I just live in the country so growing in dirt seems like I’d be fighting bugs left and right. I used to do bubble buckets but I want to be able to scrog and i need to have something like an rdwc where I can measure necessary factors.

NP - and 100%, every dude I know locally who grows soil based is always messing with some kind of bug or mite. Fuck that. Hydro is clean.

 

[fragileassassin]

I just read ph with the GH dropper kit lol but I do always start with RO. Good luck!

I picked up a nearly brand new Bluelab guardian locally for $100, guy said he just had stuff laying around for a while and want his space back. Was super happy to snag that deal. Thats wired into my outside res. Have a few float valves that keep my water system to the point that I pretty much just have to monitor ec/ppm and add nutrients to my system.
Thats about as complex as I think it needs to be until you get into large scale stuff.

 

[fragileassassin]

Oh, just a side note.
This is a 1 part nutrient that a lot of people seem to be happy with. As new growers I feel something 1 part will be much easier to deal with as we figure everything else out. Removing some of the variables will help your chance of success.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/greenleaf-nutrients-and-mega-crop-happy-to-be-on-riu.946071/

I will be using this stuff for at least the next few grows. I had bought the GH flora trio and several of their supplements and decided to sell them locally and go this route instead of dealing with measuring out 7 different bottles.
Hydro guard + Mega Crop + their bud explosion pk booster for flower, and some people using LEDs and some strains need cal-mag but most dont need any, even with RO water.

 

[TIMtoKILL]

Oh, just a side note.
This is a 1 part nutrient that a lot of people seem to be happy with. As new growers I feel something 1 part will be much easier to deal with as we figure everything else out. Removing some of the variables will help your chance of success.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/greenleaf-nutrients-and-mega-crop-happy-to-be-on-riu.946071/

I will be using this stuff for at least the next few grows. I had bought the GH flora trio and several of their supplements and decided to sell them locally and go this route instead of dealing with measuring out 7 different bottles.
Hydro guard + Mega Crop + their bud explosion pk booster for flower, and some people using LEDs and some strains need cal-mag but most dont need any, even with RO water.

The flora trio is what I’m used to using so I’m going to stick with that until I can really eat the system working. I try not to throw too many new things my way. If the seeds are from the same strain do you think I will have that much of a problem? Especially since I plan on training them.

 

[Major Blazer]

Like I said before, don't overthink the small details too much. In a perfect world, you wouldn't start from seeds at all but it will be just fine. In fact, if you've never cloned before, its a great chance to try that and do some pheno hunting along the way. Plan on topping? When you cut the tops, clone em, label them, and let them root in small pots somewhere else under some little light and then at harvest time, pay attention to which plant grew and smoked the best and boom, there's the mom you keep and then you're one step closer to a perpetual grow.

 

[GBAUTO]

TTK, I've run my 8 site RDWC rig for 3 years now. Started with GH Flora trio and switched to Megacrop last year. MB is correct on multi strain grows- it's tough to find the right mix of nute concentration so that everyone's reasonably happy. That is the reason I decided to run a mono crop next year and switch to 4 trees rather than 8 shrubs. Megacrop seems to work well for me and is much easier to store and mix.

 

[TIMtoKILL]

Like I said before, don't overthink the small details too much. In a perfect world, you wouldn't start from seeds at all but it will be just fine. In fact, if you've never cloned before, its a great chance to try that and do some pheno hunting along the way. Plan on topping? When you cut the tops, clone em, label them, and let them root in small pots somewhere else under some little light and then at harvest time, pay attention to which plant grew and smoked the best and boom, there's the mom you keep and then you're one step closer to a perpetual grow.

Learning how to clone would be awesome but I’m so torn between trying to clone and trying different bud. This is going to my only source for green and it’s not like I have a whole lot of room to grow.

 

[TIMtoKILL]

Just did my first run on the new system. Bulkheads are working awesome. Only issue I have is one of the holes I drilled is too close too the end of the container on the waterfall. Going to seal it up with some aquirium sealant. Should work like a charm.

 

[Vonkins]

Here's what it looks like with the air pump and stones...

How do drain the two reservoirs?

 

[JSB99]

How do drain the two reservoirs?

Using the valves on the pump manifold. I can use the pump to drain through the wall, to the side of the yard.

 

[TIMtoKILL]

I have an extra Polyvinyl line that will take water too another tub and from there I can dump it out on my yard.

 

[TIMtoKILL]

Update the aquirium sealant has dried I’m going to run the system for an hour or so to make sure everything holds under pressure. If all goes well the seeds will be started tonight. Got my light set up and my ventilation will be set up by end of week.

 

[Vonkins]

Is rdwc or any hydro setup worth the big change. I currently grow in soil in 5 gallon containers. I would have to change my veg and flower setup if I went the hydro route. Currently I can put 25 ladies in my growroom. I can yield anywhere from 3 to 5 lbs every 10 wks. Is all the money and time spent worth the change. Plus I already have 5 gallons of EJ bloom and grow for the soil. Not only would I be changing my flower setup but I would have to veg differently also. No more vegging in half gallon pots, then upping to 5 gallons for a few weeks before flower. Do u think all the change will be worth it? I hate the slow veg time with soil. I currently veg for 6 wks before flip, sometimes 8. Seems way too long to me. My girls end up being 4-5ft tall minus the bucket height.

 

[TIMtoKILL]

Here is a better look at the main tank with the pump running