Is this a good system for the money or can I make this for less ? http://www.ebay.com/itm/DWC-Kit-AquaBuckets-Deep-water-Hydroponic-system-/120673632763?pt=US_Hydroponics&var=&hash=item1c18b581fb
Is this a good system ?
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gtran
Active Member
Anything you find pre-made on the internet is going to be alot more money. You can buy the five buckets and tubing for about 20-30 bucks and build it yourself. If your going with a DWC system then it is alot easier and more efficient to run each bucket with its separate pump and water. One dubble pump for each bucket does just fine, get two 5 inch air stones and the plants will explode.
Malevolence
New Member
$330 for a 6 site 5 gallon system. You could do it cheaper, but probably still going to spend a couple hundred. An air pump for 6 buckets is going to be like $60, $15 for 10 feet of 3/4" tubing, you are going to have to buy a minimum of 13 connectors for the tubing at around $1.30 a piece, and probably aquarium silicone or something $5... add a couple bucks for a couple feet of PVC pipe. Buckets are gonna run you about $3 a piece after tax, the lids are about $1.50 a pop (and you will probably need a drill and hole saw), then you need net pots and hydroton (although neoprene collars would be cheaper). If you just buy those net basket lids, those ran me about $6 a piece at my local hydro shop. $20 for a water pump.
Once you have all your shit the biggest challenges will be making sure everything is water tight and not leaking, and either plumbing up the system in such a way or making sure you get the right size water pump to match your diameter of tubing or you will end up sucking buckets dry of water before gravity can rush in new water through the tubing. It is not as cheap as you would first think ($40) to DIY.
If you buy a pre-made system like this, look for reviews about the system leaking and what connectors are used for bulkheads.
Once you have all your shit the biggest challenges will be making sure everything is water tight and not leaking, and either plumbing up the system in such a way or making sure you get the right size water pump to match your diameter of tubing or you will end up sucking buckets dry of water before gravity can rush in new water through the tubing. It is not as cheap as you would first think ($40) to DIY.
If you buy a pre-made system like this, look for reviews about the system leaking and what connectors are used for bulkheads.
Uncle Ben
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the input. I have all my stuff ordered, fittings, pumps etc except for buckets, net pots ,and rock. I'll get those at the local store. Like you said and I pretty much knew but the cost of all the stuff needed comes real close to that premade system but it was one off the least expensive systems.. I mighta saved a couple hundred bucks if I don't need anything else . I didn't skimp on the air pumps or water pumps and made sure I ordered enough fittings for what ever layout I decide on. I hope Grommets are sufficient cause that's what I went with. After some reading I'm not sure though. I need to do some research on how to use a larger res than one the same size of buckets with out overflowing. any good links ? Instead of a 55 gallon barrel , If I used a large rectangle tote with the water level the same height of the bucket levels would that work ? I will be running chillers and Danner 250 gph inline pumps.
bird mcbride
Well-Known Member
What I like about growing is the technical part of it where it gives me an opportunity to exercise my various skils. If a plant had to rely totally on me in a pot of soil it would surely perish
I am good at keeping the machinery running good though.
I am good at keeping the machinery running good though.
Uncle Ben
Well-Known Member
Thanks for making my point. Not singling you out but like I've said it a million times, growing a plant is not about "technical" stuff. It's about botany, understanding what makes a plant tick.What I like about growing is the technical part of it where it gives me an opportunity to exercise my various skils. If a plant had to rely totally on me in a pot of soil it would surely perish
I'm dumbfounded why so many in this community have to make such a simple and cheap thing into something complicated, confusing, and expensive.
Good luck with your machinery,
Uncle Ben
Doer
Well-Known Member
You are almost undoubted an Earth sign....Taurus? I am undoubtedly the Air sign. Aquarius. I am not really an astrology buff any more.
But, I realized some things.
For some of us, we like to tinker and build. We turn a cheap thing into something complicated, confusing, and expensive.
1- I bet you have some room outside to grow
2- a lifetime of gardening in the sun
Some like to start with the most simple and then add carefully. Some of us, me, like to start with Rube Goldberg and then pare it down. But, If I had a big yard, I'd have corn and ganga. Now I have to buy both.
But, at some point after I got past my robot stage, computer controlled pH dosing, etc. Now, I have to get success or the wife shuts me down for wasting electricity. Means to me, go simple and don't screw up.
I got attracted to UC-DWC right off the bat, and spend a year and few $$ grand to fail.
It is an attractive hobby, but like Ben says, good luck with the machines. It is all general botany. My big ah ha, was when I realized my house plants are doing much better than my cannabis.....woops. I do too much.
Oh, if anyone wants to buy a pair of air pumps, a 15 set, of big airstones, a chiller, and a bag of small water pumps....it is all going on EBay.
Uncle Ben
Well-Known Member
Another testament that too many cannabis growers will learn the hard way.
Malevolence
New Member
Sounds like doer tried to run before he could walk.
Malevolence
New Member
If its all about the fun then stop being a buzz kill shooting down peoples ideas and setups.
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