I could use help with RDWC I'm building

SevenStoned

SevenStoned

Member
Hey guys and gals! I'm very new to growing and ROI. I'm currently on my first grow which is in soil. For my second grow I'd like to switch to RWDC. I'm not very handy so I've had to put a lot of time into researching how to make my own. I've finally compiled a list of the things I think I'm going to need. I have a drill but that's about it. Please let me know if there is anything I'm missing or if you have any advice. Thanks!

Here's my list so far - for a 4 point site with a reservoir in a 4x4

From Lowe's:

5x 5 gallon Commander totes - COMMANDER 5-Gallon (20-Quart) Black Tote with Standard Snap Lid in the Plastic Storage Totes department at Lowes.com

2" Pvc Pipe - Charlotte Pipe 2-in x 2-ft White PVC Pipe in the PVC Pipe department at Lowes.com

From Amazon:

2" hole saw - Locisne Hole Saw Set 11 Pieces 3/4'' - 2 1/2 " Hole Saw Kit Hex Key and Install Plate for Wood, PVC Board, Plastic Plate Drilling: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

1/2" drill bit? - I cant find one under $20 McJ Tools 1/2 Inch HSS M2 Drill Bit Hole Saw for Metal, Steel, Iron, Alloy, Ideal for Electricians, Mechanicians, Plumber, DIY Craftsmen, Metal Workshops, Metal Professionals: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Glue! - Amazon.com: Oatey All Purpose Cement Low Voc 8 Oz Clear: Home Improvement

deburring tool - VASTOOLS Swivel Head Deburring Tool 6-1/2“/ Metal Handle Chamfer Tool with a HSS Blade/Removing Burr from Aluminum, Copper, Brass and Plastic Pipes: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Air stones - Amazon.com : AQUANEAT Air Stone, 4 X 2 Inch Large Air Stone Cylinder, Aerator Bubble Diffuser, Air Pump Accessories for Hydroponic Growing System, Pond Circulation, Aquarium Fish Tank (4 Pack) : Pet Supplies

4" net pots - Amazon.com: Coolrunner 25 Pack 4 inch Garden Net Cups Pots, Plastic Plant Nursery Pots, Slotted Mesh Wide Lip Round Heavy Duty Net Pot Bucket Basket for Hydroponics(Black): Garden & Outdoor

Vivosun airpump - Amazon.com: VIVOSUN Air Pump 950 GPH 32W 60L/min 6 Outlet Commercial Air Pump for Aquarium and Hydroponic Systems: Sports & Outdoors

Eco 66 aquarium pump - Amazon.com: EcoPlus ECO-66 Submersible Hydroponic/Aquarium Pump: Garden & Outdoor

1/2" vinyl tubing - Amazon.com: TotalPond Vinyl Tubing, 1/2-inch: Garden & Outdoor

1/2" vinyl tubing fittings - Amazon.com : URATOT 40 Pieces Drip Irrigation Fittings Kit 1/2" Tubing Set, 10 Tees, 10 Couplings, 10 Elbows and 10 End Cap Plugs Drip Irrigation Barbed Connectors for Drip Sprinkler Systems : Garden & Outdoor

Clay Pebbles - Amazon.com: Mother Earth 714123 Hydroton Original Expanded Clay Pebbles, 50 Liter, Terra Cotta: Garden & Outdoor

From Marine Depot:

10x 2" bulkheads - Double Slip Bulkhead Fitting - Marine Depot

I think that's everything? Grand total before taxes would be about $250 (not including clay pebbles). Since about $50 worth of stuff is in tools and glue, my second rdwc I build should be about $200. <- I hope that info helps some people doing the research I was doing. I found this same basic setup on ebay for $300 without the pumps and thought it was a deal. Then I compiled this list. I'm looking forward to this! I've never built anything lol.
 
SevenStoned

SevenStoned

Member
I missed a hacksaw for the pvc pipe. On second thought I should also do a larger reservoir. Probably one of the 27 gallon hdx totes.
 
GBAUTO

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
I'm not too prone to small containers because every plant I've grown has a root mass that's easily that big.
Think floods...
Minimum I'd use would be 10 gallons, I have 4-17's connected in my room with 6" netlids that will grow trees.
The 2" is what I use. I just use Permatex UltraBlack rtv from the auto parts store instead of glue.
It makes it possible to disassemble(with some effort) for cleaning.
I also apply a thin film on the rubber gasket on the bulkhead(make sure the gasket isn't on the side with the nut, it'll twist the gasket otherwise).
I started my rdwc odyssey five years ago with buckets, air stones, and a cobbled-together recirc/drain that I fought for 2 years.
I like simple, elegant solutions to my growing. I loved the growth rate I saw in hydro, so I wanted to retain some type of dwc. Totes offered more room for roots as well as a flat surface for plumbing connections.
I decided to ditch the air pump/stones in favor of using high water flow volume into waterfalls/jet sprays.
All my system consists are 4-17 gal totes connected with 2" bulkheads in series.
The end tote has a 1 1/2" manifold I made with a 700gph mag drive.
All that pump does is circulate solution from the end tote back towards the 1st tote. I tap small spray nozzles at the upstream of the 2nd and 3rd totes, but the majority is sprayed into the 1st tote.
This gives me tons of aeration as well as a lot of movement in the solution.
That pump also allows me to dump the system.
Solution temp control will eventually become an issue.
I also have a mag drive plumbed into the return manifold that circulates to a 1/4hp chiller located outside of my grow room.
It runs solution through the chiller and then back to spray nozzle in the 4th tote.
This is in a 5x5 footprint with the aisle. I don't have a pic of the current pump setup, but this is the basic design.
photos.app.goo.gl

2 new items by GBAUTO

photos.app.goo.gl photos.app.goo.gl
 
myke

myke

Well-Known Member
GBAUTO said:
I'm not too prone to small containers because every plant I've grown has a root mass that's easily that big.
Think floods...
Minimum I'd use would be 10 gallons, I have 4-17's connected in my room with 6" netlids that will grow trees.
The 2" is what I use. I just use Permatex UltraBlack rtv from the auto parts store instead of glue.
It makes it possible to disassemble(with some effort) for cleaning.
I also apply a thin film on the rubber gasket on the bulkhead(make sure the gasket isn't on the side with the nut, it'll twist the gasket otherwise).
I started my rdwc odyssey five years ago with buckets, air stones, and a cobbled-together recirc/drain that I fought for 2 years.
I like simple, elegant solutions to my growing. I loved the growth rate I saw in hydro, so I wanted to retain some type of dwc. Totes offered more room for roots as well as a flat surface for plumbing connections.
I decided to ditch the air pump/stones in favor of using high water flow volume into waterfalls/jet sprays.
All my system consists are 4-17 gal totes connected with 2" bulkheads in series.
The end tote has a 1 1/2" manifold I made with a 700gph mag drive.
All that pump does is circulate solution from the end tote back towards the 1st tote. I tap small spray nozzles at the upstream of the 2nd and 3rd totes, but the majority is sprayed into the 1st tote.
This gives me tons of aeration as well as a lot of movement in the solution.
That pump also allows me to dump the system.
Solution temp control will eventually become an issue.
I also have a mag drive plumbed into the return manifold that circulates to a 1/4hp chiller located outside of my grow room.
It runs solution through the chiller and then back to spray nozzle in the 4th tote.
This is in a 5x5 footprint with the aisle. I don't have a pic of the current pump setup, but this is the basic design.
photos.app.goo.gl

2 new items by GBAUTO

photos.app.goo.gl photos.app.goo.gl
Click to expand...
You build your system to match your grow style,Nice work.
 
SevenStoned

SevenStoned

Member
GBAUTO said:
I'm not too prone to small containers because every plant I've grown has a root mass that's easily that big.
Think floods...
Minimum I'd use would be 10 gallons, I have 4-17's connected in my room with 6" netlids that will grow trees.
The 2" is what I use. I just use Permatex UltraBlack rtv from the auto parts store instead of glue.
It makes it possible to disassemble(with some effort) for cleaning.
I also apply a thin film on the rubber gasket on the bulkhead(make sure the gasket isn't on the side with the nut, it'll twist the gasket otherwise).
I started my rdwc odyssey five years ago with buckets, air stones, and a cobbled-together recirc/drain that I fought for 2 years.
I like simple, elegant solutions to my growing. I loved the growth rate I saw in hydro, so I wanted to retain some type of dwc. Totes offered more room for roots as well as a flat surface for plumbing connections.
I decided to ditch the air pump/stones in favor of using high water flow volume into waterfalls/jet sprays.
All my system consists are 4-17 gal totes connected with 2" bulkheads in series.
The end tote has a 1 1/2" manifold I made with a 700gph mag drive.
All that pump does is circulate solution from the end tote back towards the 1st tote. I tap small spray nozzles at the upstream of the 2nd and 3rd totes, but the majority is sprayed into the 1st tote.
This gives me tons of aeration as well as a lot of movement in the solution.
That pump also allows me to dump the system.
Solution temp control will eventually become an issue.
I also have a mag drive plumbed into the return manifold that circulates to a 1/4hp chiller located outside of my grow room.
It runs solution through the chiller and then back to spray nozzle in the 4th tote.
This is in a 5x5 footprint with the aisle. I don't have a pic of the current pump setup, but this is the basic design.
photos.app.goo.gl

2 new items by GBAUTO

photos.app.goo.gl photos.app.goo.gl
Click to expand...
Wow that's a clean setup! Thanks for all of the advice. The 1/2" line is to make waterfalls. I suppose I should ditch the stones. You're not the first person to mention it. I won't be investing in a chiller for as long as I can avoid it. My grows will be in 4x4 tents. The reservoir is important to me so I can dick around with feeding outside of my tent. I'm going to look into some different options other than the 5 gallon totes since you mentioned it. The 27 gallons were just too big and I didn't want to do two plants per tote.
 
myke

myke

Well-Known Member
Plan to keep less water in the tent,so 20g res I dont like to have more then 15-18 g in my room.I cant justify paying for a chiller.
 
myke

myke

Well-Known Member
If ya have too hose in cold air to where your res will be.You,ll thank me later.Your air pump can also live there.
 
GBAUTO

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
I found that running my room in the low 80's for best growth eventually led to some root funk showing up in my first 3 attempts. Didn't kill the plants, but it was definitely present in spite of using bennies and frozen gallon jugs of water in an attempt to keep temps down.
That's the challenge with rdwc, room temps in the 80's and solution temps in the upper 60's.
Physics says that they will equalize without some external influence.
That fact HAS to be addressed.
 
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