Which would produce more DO in a DWC?
- Thread starter JSB99
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- dwc hydroponics rdwc undercurrent
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
We’re you just not wanting to use uni seals?
Square buckets are more convenient, but round ones will still work.
If you're set on square buckets and don't mind the cost, you can get 8 and 13 gallon buckets and lids from here
The round buckets will flex and flatten when the bulkheads are tightened. To make your own bulkheads, here's what you use (2" for example):
Male bulkhead adapter (Male PVC conduit adapter) $1.16
Female bulkhead adapter (Female PVC conduit adapter) $1.26
20-pack union Washers $16.63
2" hole saw $13.97
Black 5-Gallon buckets $3.98 ea at Home Depot (lids available too)
Black netpot lids $6.25 ea
- Cut the 2" holes using light pressure
- Sand the sides of the holes to remove burrs and allow the male fitting to easily pass through
- The male adapter can be used either inside the bucket, or outside. It doesn't matter. What does matter is where you place the washer. The washer should always go on the male adapter. This is because of the threads. Water will leak through the threads if the washer is placed on the female side. Having said that, you may have to use a washer on both sides because the fittings really tighten up the more you screw them together. The extra washer will act as a spacer.
- Hand tighten the adapters, but do not over-tighten. You want to tighten them so that a little water might drip out when the bucket is filled. At that point, hand tighten until the water stops dripping. This means you have to do this once the system is in place.
Note: You can cut the female adapter in half so that it only has the threads. This frees up room in the buckets.
Original DIY concept here
Hope that helps
JSB99
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I was trying to keep costs down. Ultimately, I ended up getting bulkheads because the diy bulkheads just didn't work well enough. I was getting a drip here and there, and further tightening caused further problems.
The bulkheads work great and I should've just gotten them in the first place. They really weren't all that much.
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
yep. some people try to cheap out and end up joining the Flood Club. knock on wood, i'm still on the waiting list.
i used shower drains as my version of bulkheads. get the cool metal screen to keep out hydroton too. same price.
Budley Doright
Well-Known Member
Sprayers clog, I hate the things lol. Also if running in warm rooms the root chamber turns into a root killing field as it gets really hot when not spraying, well it did for me lol. Only time I had rot was running low pressure aero 
. I’ve got a bunch of nozzles if any one wants them lol. And yup -9 here C$, went ice fishing yesterday, well actually set a line and watched from the living room lol.
. I’ve got a bunch of nozzles if any one wants them lol. And yup -9 here C$, went ice fishing yesterday, well actually set a line and watched from the living room lol.
PetFlora
Well-Known Member
Sprayers clog, I hate the things lol. Also if running in warm rooms the root chamber turns into a root killing field as it gets really hot when not spraying, well it did for me lol. Only time I had rot was running low pressure aero
I should have wrapped the top from the beginning. It reflects most of the heat, keeping the rez comfortable. Also, I raised the ~ 300w Amre almost 12" (now > 2 ft), which reduced the heat hitting the tote and plants. This aso helped to maintain 59% humidity
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JSB99
Well-Known Member
How warm are you keeping the clones? They're really comfortable at around 81f.
JSB99
Well-Known Member
Right on!
Budley Doright
Well-Known Member
I use insultated tops but my 1000 Watts was raising temps also I have not seen any benefit from running spray heads compared to FD and EF or any other setup but lots of drawbacks
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Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Right on. Yeah uniseals are like $40 for a 10pack of 2". And I'lol need 14 with what I plan on doing. But I feel the uniseal method will make things a lot easier to do.
PetFlora
Well-Known Member
Are you saying you start seedlings and clones in f & d?I use insultated tops but my 1000 Watts was raising temps also I have not seen any benefit from running spray heads compared to FD and EF or any other setup but lots of drawbacks
Budley Doright
Well-Known Member
I start seedlings yes, got some just popping now, but nope not cuttings, I use cubes and dome as I have great success with that.
Budley Doright
Well-Known Member
Someone else mentioned shower drain fittings which I use and they work really well but still more pricey than uniseals
. I was also looking at 2”-3” fittings for a recirc and as much as I hate uniseals I may try them. I have square pails so that helps with leaks as well. Shit gets pricey when your looking at 8-10 pails . I may cut that to 6 if I switch and add on as needed. What are your guys thoughts re bigger is better for return lines? I have lots of different sizes of PVC. I’m thinking 3” but do have 2”-4” as well.
Cold$moke
Well-Known Member
If they are trully flat walled buckets mech bulkheads work like a top.
But most buckets have an angle to them even thought the face might be flat this needs to be accounted for if your gluing up the system which i recommend
But if they are angled and you glue it straight you can get a leaks (ask how i know lol)
Rubber uniseals are more picky about hole size and can "weep" hut will stop with salt build up .
But i did see someone do a cool trick with uni seals was to turn them on the inside of the bucket makes sense to me and im going to try it
But most buckets have an angle to them even thought the face might be flat this needs to be accounted for if your gluing up the system which i recommend
But if they are angled and you glue it straight you can get a leaks (ask how i know lol)
Rubber uniseals are more picky about hole size and can "weep" hut will stop with salt build up .
But i did see someone do a cool trick with uni seals was to turn them on the inside of the bucket makes sense to me and im going to try it
Budley Doright
Well-Known Member
Actually I lucked out and they are perfectly square but we’re not sure about uv protection , they are donut filling pails I got from Tim Hortons lol. Given the cost of 3” bulkheads I will probably get uniseals . I do a lot of boat work and bulkheads are my go to fitting .
Edit: I’m waffling in the recirc thing, seems like a lot of work to get what I basically have now lol.
, they are donut filling pails I got from Tim Hortons lol. Given the cost of 3” bulkheads I will probably get uniseals . I do a lot of boat work and bulkheads are my go to fitting .Edit: I’m waffling in the recirc thing, seems like a lot of work to get what I basically have now lol.
JSB99
Well-Known Member
I'm having to trim every day, right now! I always forget about the up keep after the third week. I had a ton of leaves to clip or remove! Some days I'm in there for an hour or so, just pruning. I've tossed the idea of growing just two, or even one, around in my head. Probably be a lot easier to maintain, but it'd probably take forever in veg to fill up the space with a single plant. I could also ditch the tent, and do a room grow. The room is fairly sealed, and is blacked out when lights are out. That would give me so much room to work on them! I'd have to think of the downsides, like not getting reflection around the sides, from where the tent's mylar is. I'm running a 1k though, and I'm getting above 35k lumens around the sides.
I love my oscillating fan! I can move so much air though the plants without giving them windburn!
I love my oscillating fan! I can move so much air though the plants without giving them windburn!
Budley Doright
Well-Known Member
It’s gonna get real busy in there if you don’t flip soon lol
JSB99
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I'm flipping tonight LOL!