Single bucket dwc change ideas?

How's it going everyone. Just wanting to see if anyone has an easier way to do a bucket change on single dec buckets that will end up in a trellis. Had problems in the past when I ran dwc trying to change the buckets with the flowers in the and over the trellis. Checked youtube and a couple other places but found nothing that would help me prevent damaging the flowers during a bucket change.

You mean a scrog screen?

Jypsy Dog said:

You mean a scrog screen?

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Nice setup. I don't think I have the patience for making that. I've ran 6 single buckets in a tent but had trouble changing the water out because of the trellis.

Jonny Jetson said:

Nice setup. I don't think I have the patience for making that. I've ran 6 single buckets in a tent but had trouble changing the water out because of the trellis.

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I just lift the entire setup from one bucket to the next. Gives me a chance to get the fresh bucket stable. Stole the plans from here.

Jonny Jetson said:

How's it going everyone. Just wanting to see if anyone has an easier way to do a bucket change on single dec buckets that will end up in a trellis. Had problems in the past when I ran dwc trying to change the buckets with the flowers in the and over the trellis. Checked youtube and a couple other places but found nothing that would help me prevent damaging the flowers during a bucket change.

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does ur bucket have a drain hole ? mine all do

^^t
That's the easiest solution.
I just used a 1/2" rubber grommet and barb elbow with a tube up the side. A small pond pump makes it easy to dump into another bucket.
It's a hassle if you have multiple sites-that was the reason I made a UC system.

Yeah, back before my friend built his rdwc he used to have single dwc buckets I would take care of for him from time to time.
They all had a 1/2 bulkhead and hose coming up the side. I would drip nutrients or ph adjuster into the hose, then use a turkey baster to push the water down from the hose into the bucket to mix it. To drain it he would just hook a pump up to the hose. FIll it through the same hose. The lid never has to come off.
Here are the kits for it. https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-706335-Farm-Brown/dp/B0002JAY6E/ref=asc_df_B0002JAY6E/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198106292047&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=831890304054943718&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029023&hvtargid=pla-350570733796&psc=1
Here is how it looks.

The hose will move back and forth so you could probably just tip the hose to the side to drain it.

try a shop vac with a long, thin hose attachment. slide the lids over a bit without raising them off the bucket and vac the old water out

I empty through my sight tube and refill with an inline pump through a 1" hole drilled in the top of my bucket. (you can kinda see the rubber plugs in the top of the buckets) Really simple and I can change my buckets in five minutes.

All great ideas! The shop vac would empty it out in no time flat, even one of the small cheap ones they sell at walmart.

rob333 said:

does ur bucket have a drain hole ? mine all do

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Not at all. Wanted to go back to DWC but running 6 single buckets is killer.

GBAUTO said:

^^t
That's the easiest solution.
I just used a 1/2" rubber grommet and barb elbow with a tube up the side. A small pond pump makes it easy to dump into another bucket.
It's a hassle if you have multiple sites-that was the reason I made a UC system.

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Would you happen to have a link to the build?

Laughing Grass said:

I empty through my sight tube and refill with an inline pump through a 1" hole drilled in the top of my bucket. (you can kinda see the rubber plugs in the top of the buckets) Really simple and I can change my buckets in five minutes.

View attachment 4413595

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So you never clean the bucket out until the plant is chopped?

Jonny Jetson said:

How's it going everyone. Just wanting to see if anyone has an easier way to do a bucket change on single dec buckets that will end up in a trellis. Had problems in the past when I ran dwc trying to change the buckets with the flowers in the and over the trellis. Checked youtube and a couple other places but found nothing that would help me prevent damaging the flowers during a bucket change.

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You need a controller reservoir and a recirculating system. Then you can drain the system from the controller.

Do you have a floor drain handy?

i found these to be helpfull if you can slide your lid over a couple inches. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Battery-Operated-Liquid-Transfer-Pump-Handheld-Gas-Oil-Fish-Tank-Siphon-Water-US/153445287959?hash=item23ba0d4817:g:pj8AAOSwLMRcjZA3

Jonny Jetson said:

So you never clean the bucket out until the plant is chopped?

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I've never cleaned my buckets during the grow, just empty and refill. The plants in that pic are getting chopped in the next couple weeks. The only down side is I haven't seen the roots since Sept 10th.

I just cut a hose long enough to reach my bathroom tub (maybe 25ft?) and attach a little pump (66gph, but looking to upgrade to maybe 150gph, just don't want a ton of pressure through 3/8 tubing) to one end and drop it in the bucket through the top.

I know what you mean, and a tip that you're probably already doing is not to snap the net pots onto the buckets. Keep them loose so that you can just slide the net pot over a few inches to drop the pump in. Makes it much easier to check your roots or circulation pressure too.

I pump my nutes in as well. I mix in 5gal buckets and then use the same little transfer pump used for draining the system, to pump the mixed nutes into the system/control buckets.

Laughing Grass said:

I've never cleaned my buckets during the grow, just empty and refill. The plants in that pic are getting chopped in the next couple weeks. The only down side is I haven't seen the roots since Sept 10th.

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So im obviously over thinking not being able to clean the buckets during the grow. This pretty much answers it. I was always stuck on trying to clean them out every res change.

ChiefRunningPhist said:

I just cut a hose long enough to reach my bathroom tub (maybe 25ft?) and attach a little pump (66gph, but looking to upgrade to maybe 150gph, just don't want a ton of pressure through 3/8 tubing) to one end and drop it in the bucket through the top.

I know what you mean, and a tip that you're probably already doing is not to snap the net pots onto the buckets. Keep them loose so that you can just slide the net pot over a few inches to drop the pump in. Makes it much easier to check your roots or circulation pressure too.

I pump my nutes in as well. I mix in 5gal buckets and then use the same little transfer pump used for draining the system, to pump the mixed nutes into the system/control buckets.

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Thank you for that. And yea, I've learned the hard way not to lock the lids onto the bucket. I'll def try dwc again. I was under the impression that everyone had to clean the buckets out every res change. Killed my darn back doing that. That's why I went away from dwc

Renfro said:

You need a controller reservoir and a recirculating system. Then you can drain the system from the controller.

Do you have a floor drain handy?

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I have single buckets. Not enough room for a res outside of the tent.