Going to hook up 8 DWC tubs together. Instead of a bubblier in every tub I only put it in a reservoir tub. Then I make 2 3" holes in every tub. One near the bottom and one near the top. Then I use 2 under water fans. One on top to pull the water and one on the bottom on the other side to push the water. so it creates tons of water movement. No stagnant water. And moves the bubbles from the reservoir to all 8 tubs while creating a lot of surface movement like a river. and pushes water through the roots.
Holy Shit! Would this be a BETTER DWC??
- Thread starter pftek
- Start date
fatman7574
New Member
Just use a two large needle wheel pump (Sequence Reeflo Orca needle wheel pump) with a venturi valve attavched to the pumps inlet. It pumps about 2500 gph of water full of minature i airbubbles. Use 4" diamter PVC pipe at the bttom sides of each tub set up in a rectanglular layout. The pipes interconnect each tub and thesecond pump is at the opposite end of the rectnlular tub layout so that thw air filedwater is pimped in acircle through te bottom of each tube. The small bubbles rise to the waters surface as the water is pumped through the systems. The pumps use about 90 watts each. Basically I just described a vastly improved under current system. Under current systems use a cheap Danner pump and airstones. Sad, but better than a typical DWC system. Reeflo Orca pump: http://www.aquacave.com/sequence-reeflo-orca-needlebr--wheel-water-pump-1348.html No, at $300 each they are not cheap. But a Counter Flow system runs $1200.
To connect the pipes to the tubs use uniseals: http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/829/Uniseals/uniseal/0
lol. there has to be a cheaper method. went DWC cause it cost like $10 to make. and it's pretty damn alright now.
fatman7574
New Member
The typical DWC system is not really an OK system. It is fraught with the constantly discussed root rot problems. If your happy with a $10 dollar system then the standard of performance you find acceptable is very low in comparison to most growers with a few grows behind them. And that is fine If that is fine with you. In that case you must just look over the photos of better systems rather than learn what is needed to build a good system. That is your perogative. However, I try do great things rather than just view or read about the results of others that at least attempt to do great things. Their attempts at greater systems always produce a great deal better result then a $10 DWC even when their attempts don't produce the best system possible. Itry to help thi ose you wish to do great things with growing systems.
It is about learning and applying what you learn rather than just copying the work of others and still knowing nothing and therefore producing little to nothing of value.
It is about learning and applying what you learn rather than just copying the work of others and still knowing nothing and therefore producing little to nothing of value.
woodsmaneh!
Well-Known Member
Some people have lots of luck with just using what they know and that's cool but as fatman said if you want to learn check out some grows to see what's possible. I have about 7400$ invested in my grow and you can check it out in my signature. Why so much, well I do things right and want 1 to 2 pound plants, yes that's right1 to 2 pounds per plant in RDWC. I love DIY and in fact will have a monster system up in a few weeks, you can follow along on how I put it together if you like. If your getting 1 pound plants don't change a thing.
Just a couple things, not having an air stone in the bucket is just wrong, without it you have less DO. (Desolved Oxygen)
As for root rot warmer temps in the system help it grow but the big killer is stress if plants are stressed and not well fed here comes root rot. I have a chiller and run my res at 60 to 62 degrees 24/7. Water holds the most DO in that temperature range, and Root Rot does not live or grow well in that environment. There are also products like Dutch Master Zone that stops it and prevents it. Lots of others to.
Just a couple things, not having an air stone in the bucket is just wrong, without it you have less DO. (Desolved Oxygen)
As for root rot warmer temps in the system help it grow but the big killer is stress if plants are stressed and not well fed here comes root rot. I have a chiller and run my res at 60 to 62 degrees 24/7. Water holds the most DO in that temperature range, and Root Rot does not live or grow well in that environment. There are also products like Dutch Master Zone that stops it and prevents it. Lots of others to.
Moses.Lyons
Active Member
look into an under current system. this is exactly what they are.
@ karkonis moving the water will aerate it a lot without an air stone; however an airstone in every tub is like money in the bank in the 80's
@ karkonis moving the water will aerate it a lot without an air stone; however an airstone in every tub is like money in the bank in the 80's
hazyintentions
Well-Known Member
I will respectfully have to disagree with that statement. When I grew in my 250w cab using DWC my two AK-48's absolutely thrived. The roots masses were so large and pearly white at the end they closely resembled two over sized soccer balls! I would trust a $10 set up, mine cost me about $40-$50 after it was all said and done. I think as long as one is doing to correct things such as thoroughly light sealing the reservoir, maintain a res temp of <80 degrees F and using a large enough air pump and decent quality air-stones then a DWC is a superb way to get into hydroponics.
It's all about knowing why and how it works just just knowing it works good. It's when people don't understand a concept and jump into that the shit hits the fan. I've done it myself.
With that said I kind of like the idea you have been I the roots not being quite as happy as having a air stones directly under them, but then again, aerated water is aerated water and the constant movement will also be an excellent way to enforce an even nutrient mixture at all times..
skunkd0c
Well-Known Member
well as far as i know it is about making the water move, (in layman's terms)
to increase the surface area of the water with bubbles or ripples OR water movement, like a shallow stream, as with NFT
the action of the bubbles pulls air into the water from the air around the surface of the water
its not about putting air directly into the water from the air pump
This might be of interest, its my way of aerating my DWC. I call it SRDWC! Maybe it'll bring some new ideas to the table. Check out my video on Super Recirculating Deep Water Culture http://youtu.be/2nd-p8uyxeA