Question about DWC

In using the 5 gallon bucket setup, airstone, etc. in a cabinet setup, it seems it would be a hell of a lot easier to insert a black hefty bag into the bucket and then fill it, then when time for water change just fill another bag up, remove the old one, drop in the new one, throw your old stuff out. Would this be possible or has anyone tried it?Anybody see anything wrong with it? Would this work? Also would allow for a darker bucket to reduce root rot, am i correct here? I am just learning DWC and trying to find the simplest way possible in a stealth cabinet thats small, res changes and all. I thought about the airline and all and figured i would have to grind out a small part at the top where the lid closes to allow it to be recessed enough to allow the lid to close evenly.

Is a trash bag completely water tight? And does it hold the weight of 5 gallons of water without tearing. I'd test that before going any farther. I'm not sure I understand. Why wouldn't it just be easier to dump the stuff out and refill the bucket?

i'm not sure i really understand either, but I think your saying that you want to put a bag inside the bucket so you can just pull out the bag and not have to dump it? Aren't the roots gonna be hanging into the bag making it hard to remove it? why dont you just drill a hole in the bucket and make a drain. kinda like a waterfarm that way you can see how much water is in the bucket too.

GENERAL HYDROPONICS

Check out the blue tube. try making the drain like that. Then you wont need a bag.- The House

thanks, as i said i am new to this DWC but the main thing of concern is that it would be less inconspicuous removing trash bags than 5 gallon buckets of water...LOL. Lots of eyes where this would be done so a subterfuge is necessary. You gotta understand the sensitivity of the nosiness of some people so its of utmost importance that they dont know exactly what is going on.

Easy, have two buckets to one top... You change to a new bucket and just move the whole setup which is the top to the new bucket. Dump the old solution in the tub or shower.

see thats the problem, walking through this house with 5 gallon buckets is literally impossible..trash bags would fly cause it would look like the garbage was being taken out..

If you wanted to do it, you definitely could. Make sure you buy a commercial-quality can liner so that it will be water-tight and strong enough to carry 40lbs of water.

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Originally Posted by trynagethigh

trash bags would fly cause it would look like the garbage was being taken out..

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I don't want to seem like a buzz kill here, but what about all the full trash bags being taken into your room? Wouldn't that look suspicious? I certainly wouldn't try a stealth hydro grow in a house full of nonbelievers. They are going to wonder why you're always mixing stuff up at the sink as well. If it were really important that I not be found out, I would not grow at all unless I researched what variety had the least strong odor, and I grew in soil. Too much involved in hydro to not draw suspicion, but I might be confident I could get away with it in soil, depending on the conditions. Also I would use fluorescent lights, so nobody wonders why the fans are always turning on and off. You wouldn't be able to hide ventilation for HID lights.

All it takes is one tiny flaw in the trash bag, or catch it on a splinter or something to weaken it somewhere, and it will break open on the living room floor in front of everybody. I don't want to bring anybody down. If you've got a super secret spy plan, then go for it. It's just me and what I might think about in your shoes.

thanks for everyones opinion. basically its kids. I can get away with carrying trash bags that look full because they would think i was going to the garbage with them. My kids are nosey..i guess all kids are but mine are a cut above the rest...LOL. All their lives i have told them to "always be aware of whats going on around you", but looks like this one came back to bite me in the ass here..LOL

If it's just kids, do your grow in a room that has a sink and that can be off limits or even locked. Like a master bathroom. That would solve everthing. I get around my office grow by telling my 4 year old that I'm cleaning stuff. I make sure he is first doing something that is much more interesting to him than wondering what I'm doing, like playing video games, which he lives to do (don't worry we limit it). My whole office is off limits to him, and he respects that. The grow is in the walk in closet which is in the office. I know I won't be able to get away with this for much longer, then I have made up my mind to do all mixing and dumping after he is in bed. You ought to be able to do that with your kids, or are they not yours? The fan noise off and on? Well, that's just part of the whole-house fan system of course.

You still haven't told me how you plan to address the problems of carring full trash bags into your room, and semiconstantly mixing stuff up at the sink. You said, its of utmost importance that they dont know exactly what is going on. If this were true for me I would not even grow. OK, I might consider it in dirt, but probably not. It is very difficult to be stealthy, especially if you choose HID lights and hydro. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Thanks Opie,

Yeah im thinkin i beeter stick to soil for this one cause im in an apartment which kinda makes everything a pain in some way, especially space. Hope to be moved into our house in a couple of months but was tryna figure everything out til then to sneak a quick grow in...LOL

u could always just top off ur res and not dump anything i've got 1 res i do that to as it's hard to change and i don't see no diffrence at all i just let it get real low and then just top it off every 2 to 3 weeks and i have'nt had a problem with anything and other than u being stealthy the bag is a good idea if u get the bags i use to work with u buy them at home depot in a big yellow box it's real heavy duty for construction sites thick this would be good if nothing else but to block out light as i have 1 5 gal bucket i do this with not for what ur trying to do but to keep light out as it's not like a reg heafty bag but alot thicker