Question, how is a "control bucket" used? I really want to have this setup

budtoker0987

budtoker0987

Active Member
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/230671-1st-dwc-1200-watt-quantum.html

In this dudes journal, he has a few DWC buckets for plants
A 55 gallon drum with pumps and what not.
Then there is the "control bucket" and it looks like that is what has the tubes that are going out to the plants, if im not mistaken.

Can someone please explain to me how this works? I tried PM'ing the guy but this thread was 3 years ago and I dotn think he's around anymore or something lol.

I am having water temp issues in my buckets and his setup seems like it would work perfectly in my grow area. The water chiller is SWEET. I just need to understand how it works. Anyone's help on this would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

:eyesmoke:
 
The very basics: Nute solution goes from 55gal res to controller bucket to plants. Nut solution flows back to controller that pumps it back to 55gal res.
 
Mithrandir420 said:
The very basics: Nute solution goes from 55gal res to controller bucket to plants. Nut solution flows back to controller that pumps it back to 55gal res.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the post man! I basically get that much. I think i need to know how the control bucket works..

Is there a pump in both the 55 res AND the control bucket?

So when the pump kicks on in the res to the control bucket, does that bucket like fill up then get pumped into your buckets, how does it not overflow? and how does it know when to stop filling the buckets and when to empty them?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, but I am VERY intersted in using this system, once i understand it of course lol
 
Ahh ok. that makes sense.
Do you guys have anything I could pobbly use as a guidline to make this bucket? and what is needed as far as parts?
 
I've been tempted to change to this system for a while now but the price of the ready made kits have been putting me off. There are a few DIY projects out there, it does not seem that complicated.

Heres a DIY link I've had sitting in my bookmarks for a while... http://www.aquahub.com/store/diygbuildebb.html These guys are trying to sell you a kit but you get the basics of what is involved in the system.
 
Nice, thanks for that Fxbane!

So this is Ebb and Flow what you have here. Can this work for DWC? All im really trying to do is have the res temp be set to like 62 F. My buckets will warm up in the bud room and a few times a day, drain the buckets back to the res, and that warm solution mixing with the cold in the res would bring that solution to around 66 (give or take) and fill the buckets back up.

Does that sound like more work than just doing the ebb and flow full on?

My MAIN reason for even wanting to do this is so I can better control the water temps. As it stis right now my buckets are 74 F I'm just waiting for problams to happen.
 
It should work fine with DWC, I'm sure I've seen DWC controller buckets on the market.

74F is not a bad temperature, a touch too high maybe. Maybe a better method would be to insulate the buckets, you could drop it down a few degrees that way. To be honest, most of the year I have the opposite problem... my rez gets freezing and needs the heater put on.
 
superstoner1 said:
74 is bad and is the opening bad things need.
Click to expand...

:cry: I know man thats why im trying to get this figured out asap. Can I use one of those control buckets for say like ten pots? Is it just as long as there space on the perimeter of the bucket for more holes (hoses to buckets) ?



Most of all man, what would you suggest for my situation? I dont know if you read my last post before this but we were thinking of making a cooling tub with say like 3 or 4 frozen one gallon milk jugs in and 18 gallon tote filled with water and an aluminum coil going through it. That coil hooked up to our air supply intake for the bubbles going in the DWC buckets. And by putting the "device" between the buckets adn the air pump we wont be pulling the "cold" air through the hot lil air pump. In theory this puts cold air in the buckets. Does it sound like it could work tho?

My issue is, we pretty much broke at the moment, lol. Put a bunch of money into getting everything setup and running, stuff needed to be replaced, you know the drill. Anyways, trying to do everything the right way we dont skimp on shit so, hence, we'z broke at the moment.

Thanks Super :leaf:
 

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legallyflying said:
Your control bucket: http://www.aquahub.com/store/product39.html

Make yourself a chiller: https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/453857-cheap-effective-diy-water-chiller.html

Build your own rez.

I would highly highly highly suggest you try ebb and grow type system first instead of DWC.
Click to expand...

You know... I have been pondering this myself. Going with ebb and flow that is. I have grown one run before and it was soil. That was a few years ago. For some reason I chose DWC. Dont really have the best answer as to why but it seemed AWESOME i guess lol.

If i may ask, why ebb and flow and not dwc? Thank you very much for those links too. Their great!

:leaf:
 
DWC is great but can be a colossal pain in the ass!! It can result in higher growth rates and SLIGHTLY higher yields but it can also end badly due to root rot or nute problems.

I run 18 plants under 14 600's. I have had stellar runs and shitty ones. I finally said, you know what, fuck it, going back to ebb and flow.


No chiller, no huge air pumps, no scrubbing 36 air stones, none of that bullshit.
200 gallon Rez, one air stone, and 18 individual buckets. Done.

My buckets are linked together with 3/4" line to the control bucket. Inside those buckets I have another bucket with holes drilled in the bottom. 60% perlite 30% coco and 10% old hydroton and earth worm castings.

Less fuss, substrate is light an easy to manage and gives beneficial bacteria somewhere to live.
 
What your explaining sound awesome! lol! thats really, in the end, what im looking for: Simplicity :)

Do you just use ONE control bucket for all those? I need to figure out how to hook them up properly. I'm thinking we get mmmmmmmm maybe 10 or more plans on our bud room. And I'm deffinetely thinking Ebb and Flow for next grow and on!

Are thos pics up there your setup? Those buckets have all that stuff in them? It just looked like hydroton to me :/ And is that first or last pic your res :) MaN! I wish I was already that setup as you are lol eventually :)

You have or know of some info I could look at as far as setting up the ebb and flow (connecting it all, how long hoses should be and what not) ??

Much appreciation!

:leaf:
 
No need for a chiller as the plants are sitting in the water, so no risk of water borne illness. THe rez is also outside the flower room so it doesn't get that hot. You just need an airstone in the rez to keep o2 levels up. That rez I built is plywood and pond liner. easy peaezy.

Yeah, only one control bucket. You just pipe all the individual buckets to the control bucket with 3/4 hose. Just buy a bunch of 3/4 hose, buckets, and 3/4" T's from home depot, and 3/4 grommets. You would also do well to buy the correct size taper bit from harbor freight to drill the holes.
 
oh yeah..that picture with all the hydroton.. yeah, that is just hydroton from a previous grow. THat was my early veg setup. I just flood that whole bin that they are sitting in. Works great until the plants get to close together. Then I jsut pull the buckets out and set them in the ebb and grow buckets (veg set-up). FInally, when they are fucking ginourmous.. they go into the flower room and the flower room bucket set up.
 
In Ebb and Flow, thats where the solution pumps into the buckets every 15 mins? then out for some time? then back in yes? Sorry if thats a dumb question.. I will be able to look that up if you dont answer lol :)
 
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