How do I D.W.C. with E.C.?

[ActToBeGood]

Hello RUI,

I have a question: How do I D.W.C. with E.C.?

The main issue I foresee, as I just learned how to E.C., is that I use a scrog net instead of stakes to hold up my buds because I D.W.C. Consequently, I cannot raise the bucket to test the water with the E.C. pen. Therefore, I am curious what the experts are doing who E.C. their D.W.C. grow.

I can imagine only being able to measure the nutrients before I fill the buckets, or is there another way to do it?

 

[xbiox]

thats a tricky dicky right there i tell you what

 

[Billy the Mountain]

Hello RUI,

I have a question: How do I D.W.C. with E.C.?

The main issue I foresee, as I just learned how to E.C., is that I use a scrog net instead of stakes to hold up my buds because I D.W.C. Consequently, I cannot raise the bucket to test the water with the E.C. pen. Therefore, I am curious what the experts are doing who E.C. their D.W.C. grow.

I can imagine only being able to measure the nutrients before I fill the buckets, or is there another way to do it?

It looks like your DWC bucket doesn't have a water level indicator.
Normally, that's how you'd access the contents for testing; pour off a bit into a cup to test.
If not, that may be a good reason to add one.

 

[Drop That Sound]

^ You can also drain the buckets easily that way, without raising the lid or moving the scrogged plant. Just twist the elbow fitting and the tube will go down to the left/right, either way. It will spin inside the rubber grommet, but still should keep a good seal without leaks. Takes awhile to wear out. May I suggest covering most of the tube though so you don't allow light in. Leave the upper half clear, and keep a sleeve you can slip around it when your not around.

I would always put an extra barbed coupler fitting on the end of the tube as well, so I could quickly plug in more longer tubes, and sometimes even a pump for fast draining or refilling. You can get most of the water out with just that single tube, but adding extensions is nice, especially if you have wide scrog nets\canopies to crawl under.

 

[OldMedUser]

The problem with testing from the overflow tube is you need to run enough out to get what's in the actual bucket as the tube will be full of fresher nutes that can have a higher EC than what the roots are sitting in. I did all my DWC in RubberMaid tubs and always cut a 2" hole in the lid for getting water in and out, adding nutes and taking samples. I just put something over the hole to block light like one of the larger disks from cutting holes for the net pots.

You should be able to cut a square hole beside the net pot big enough to use a turkey baster or big syringe to suck a sample out for testing. If you are going to dip your test pens in the hole make sure to tie a lanyard to it and around your wrist in case you drop it. Ask me how I know.

 

[ActToBeGood]

It looks like your DWC bucket doesn't have a water level indicator.
Normally, that's how you'd access the contents for testing; pour off a bit into a cup to test.
If not, that may be a good reason to add one.

View attachment 5367923

I do have a tube, but I have the different model seen in the photo.

 

[Hollatchaboy]

You could always go with one of these...... lol

 

[ActToBeGood]

Considering this discussion, I am thinking about installing these on my buckets. What do you growers think?

The only problem is there will be a small space which I cannot attain the water.

 

[OldMedUser]

Considering this discussion, I am thinking about installing these on my buckets. What do you growers think?

The only problem is there will be a small space which I cannot attain the water.

Are you running RDWC or stand-alone buckets? If separate bucket you would be better off with RubberMaid tubs or something like them. I just went to a tool rental place and rented hole saws to make my holes. You run them backwards so they don't bite into the plastic and shred the edges of the holes. The air lines go in under the handles above the waterline so there is zero chance of leaks. A drill pump makes removing water easy.

Not sure about your water issues but I've always bought RO water and lugged the jugs downstairs to the grow room for 20 years.

 

[ActToBeGood]

Are you running RDWC or stand-alone buckets? If separate bucket you would be better off with RubberMaid tubs or something like them. I just went to a tool rental place and rented hole saws to make my holes. You run them backwards so they don't bite into the plastic and shred the edges of the holes. The air lines go in under the handles above the waterline so there is zero chance of leaks. A drill pump makes removing water easy.

Not sure about your water issues but I've always bought RO water and lugged the jugs downstairs to the grow room for 20 years.

View attachment 5368132

Hello OldMedUser,

I actually have the Vevor 8-bucket 5-gallon set with an upgraded pump and airstones. But, thanks for the information. It presents an alternative in the event I run into issues with my current system (I have only completed one grow in this system).

 

[Drop That Sound]

Considering this discussion, I am thinking about installing these on my buckets. What do you growers think?

The only problem is there will be a small space which I cannot attain the water.

I probably wouldn't use those specific angled valves your showing, mostly because they are thin and white, to the point I can even see the light shining through right in the main product picture. Maybe if they made thicker & better quality black ones like that, but even then they might be pretty restrictive, or not sealed very well from leaks. Probably not graded for potable water, but anyway..

IMO you're better off just buying a 1/2" or 3/4" rubber grommet, and matching straight or angled barbed connector. Just like in the picture Billy showed above. They are cheap irrigation fittings found at most any decent hardware store, just like the ones hydrofarm would sell you but without buying bulk ten packs, etc.. You could add your own inline valve to that fitting if you wanted, or maybe just push the valve straight in instead of the other connector. You already have a thinner level indicator tube installed right?

Suppose you could drill right into the smaller hole like a pilot hole with a bigger bit, and replace the current tube setup with the bigger one. It will flow much better, whether draining or refilling.

 

[Drop That Sound]

Back when I did stand-alone DWC tubs, I would pump (sometimes blow, lol) air through the bigger level/filler tube, and it would help to churn up the solution better, before taking a sample. Or I would drain some out in a container, and then keep pouring it back in through the access port/netpot a few times, but yeah It always worked good enough to get a reading.


I also used dollar store water blaster squirt gun tubes to reach down through the small ports on the lid to both swirl the solution around, and suck up a large sample to test. Haha

 

[ActToBeGood]

I probably wouldn't use those specific angled valves your showing, mostly because they are thin and white, to the point I can even see the light shining through right in the main product picture. Maybe if they made thicker & better quality black ones like that, but even then they might be pretty restrictive, or not sealed very well from leaks. Probably not graded for potable water, but anyway..

IMO you're better off just buying a 1/2" or 3/4" rubber grommet, and matching straight or angled barbed connector. Just like in the picture Billy showed above. They are cheap irrigation fittings found at most any decent hardware store, just like the ones hydrofarm would sell you but without buying bulk ten packs, etc.. You could add your own inline valve to that fitting if you wanted, or maybe just push the valve straight in instead of the other connector. You already have a thinner level indicator tube installed right?

Suppose you could drill right into the smaller hole like a pilot hole with a bigger bit, and replace the current tube setup with the bigger one. It will flow much better, whether draining or refilling.

Hello DropThatSound,

Thanks for commenting on the thread. The spigots actually have a 4.6 Amazon rating with over 900 reviews (https://a.co/d/0KnHjf4) They are high-quality.

Are you certain that you are seeing through the spigot and not the rubber gasket?

 

[Drop That Sound]

As far as the tiny bit of water in the bottom of the bucket, due to the height of the bulkheads\gromets.. Its not enough to worry about, as long as you keep on top of res changes. Or you can suck it out with the dollar store blaster, lol.

 

[Drop That Sound]

Yeah those are the same ones in most 5 gallon water/drink coolers, etc. They'll work, but kinda slow for my taste. We all know how long it takes to fill up dixie cups from those valves..

 

[ActToBeGood]

As far as the tiny bit of water in the bottom of the bucket, due to the height of the bulkheads\gromets.. Its not enough to worry about, as long as you keep on top of res changes. Or you can suck it out with the dollar store blaster, lol.

Thanks, I appreciate the information. I think that I will try a rinse or two during flower. No need for a scroh during veg. I will throw in some R/0 water, and try to give the bucket a swirl, then give an extra drain.

 

[Drop That Sound]

I guess i like having the grommet better because the connectors can spin. I used to be able to twist it to the side, and drain my buckets right into the floor drain I installed, which ran down and out to a barrel outside for the runoff. Before I had the floor drain, I would hook a longer hose up that reached all the way out the door, so I could drain way easier.

Eventually I went to making RDWC systems instead, but I still keep solo buckets around and use them often.

 

[amneziaHaze]

Hello RUI,

I have a question: How do I D.W.C. with E.C.?

The main issue I foresee, as I just learned how to E.C., is that I use a scrog net instead of stakes to hold up my buds because I D.W.C. Consequently, I cannot raise the bucket to test the water with the E.C. pen. Therefore, I am curious what the experts are doing who E.C. their D.W.C. grow.

I can imagine only being able to measure the nutrients before I fill the buckets, or is there another way to do it?

You see that little rubber plug at the bottom you pop ot out take a straw and pull little bit of nutes out

 

[OldMedUser]

Hello OldMedUser,

I actually have the Vevor 8-bucket 5-gallon set with an upgraded pump and airstones. But, thanks for the information. It presents an alternative in the event I run into issues with my current system (I have only completed one grow in this system).

Are all those pails interconnected to a main reservoir? Most RDWC setups like that I've seen have a lot of 2 inch pipes connecting them for good flow with a pump constantly circulating the water thru all of them.

Too many spots for leaks and other complications so I never wanted to get something like that.

 

[ActToBeGood]

Are all those pails interconnected to a main reservoir? Most RDWC setups like that I've seen have a lot of 2 inch pipes connecting them for good flow with a pump constantly circulating the water thru all of them.

Too many spots for leaks and other complications so I never wanted to get something like that.

No. They are seperate from each other.