How to build and maintain your own custom bubbler DWC grow

8-7-07 Day #49 of Flowering.
Cab Temp: 77F
RH: 40%
Nutrient Temp: 75.6F
PPM: 1200
pH: 5.8

Hey there, It's been a while since the last post as I've been very busy. I know you are probably anxious to see some new pictures so here they are. The bud sites are getting very plump and we are very near harvest. The grandaddy purple strain is not known for its high yields but more for its potency. Yesterday we took a trip down to San Francisco to renew or medical script and also pick up some grandaddy purple at the clinic there to see what ours would have to compare to.

Anyways, the pictures that show full shots of the plants are good examples of what topping can really do for you. Rather than having one large cola at the very top of the plants that hog the majority of the light, we have several smaller mini-colas that branch out from the middle and get virtually equal amounts of light. We are right at the point where some of the leaves are starting to yellow and die.

To answer some of your questions horrorbusiness: yes, you can use what you linked to for your grow. That is actually what our grow turned out to be since our drippers aren't working too well lately. The bubbler system's water level needs to be just below the net pot for the entire grow. When the roots drop down they will just be suspended and dangling in the nutrients. You can go to the hardware store and buy a sanding bit that basically burns holes in plastic very well, or a regular drill bit works. As far as doing nutrient changes we have two extra buckets that we place the entire mesh pot into just like it were another system. The roots are fine to dangle in the bucket just don't let them sit too long. Happy growing!

8-10-07 Day #52 of Flowering.
Cab Temp: 78F
RH: 55%
Nutrient Temp: 75F
PPM: 126
pH: 5.6

Hey all, we performed a nutrient change today with pH balanced water and 1/2 tsp of hydrogen peroxide in each bucket system as we go into the flushing period. We plan on flushing for about a week and then we will harvest. We are basing this decision on the fact that over 1/2 of the trichomes are milky white (cloudy) on nearly all the buds, plus we are at day 52 and the bud sites are weighing down the branches pretty well. As you can see from the pictures we had to do some tieing which was relatively simple. All we did was screw some small screws into the lip of the net pots and tied string around them.

So far the bucket systems have held up ok, with one of the air stones coming loose, and for a week and a half now we have not had any dripping from the halo's. The pump is still working however, so we have been getting oxygen to the roots which is the important part. We will have to troubleshoot some things once this grow is complete but we are hoping it is just some clogged lines.

Here is some more

Wow those buds look totally amazing. Those trichomes are just packed on those buds. I'd kill for a few of those cuttings lol.

nice lookin buds.

Will have to how much you yield. I might want to give this strain a try.

hey thanks you guys, can't wait to cut them down.

BUDS BUDS AND MORE BUDS!!!!! wow thanks for all the great budshots!!! i like how you give us somethin to look at....

Awesome thread. I cant wait to hear the yeild. I am starting a similar system and hope I can get the results you are getting.

badass log dude, i cant wait to see the final product...wanna grow in a setup like that soon

thanks everyone for the comments, I will be sure to check out your grows and or logs if you have them in the near future. In the mean time, here are some pics to show you what stage in harvest we are in. We did a full flush for about 5 days total with water and hydrogen peroxide to get all the nasties out. We did some semi major trimming the night before the harvest to put the plants in somewhat of a state of shock. By doing this the plants start producing more trichomes as a result of the plant pulling "emergency" nutrients from less valuable parts of the plant to the buds. We have the entire plants hanging in a closet upside down with normal string. The closet is well aerated and also has the oscillating fan at the bottom on low. We are waiting to see signs of stems breaking not just bending this is how you will know your buds are dry enough. Here are some pics.