Some Recirculating DWC Action

[Racerx]

Figured Id post a couple recent pics here. More can be seen at http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-gr...ml#post1773356 . 6 plant Recirculating DWC. Grapefruit strain. Beginning the 5th week of flowering. 1300ppm. Little burn. Dropping temps to mid 50s at night. 75-79 in the day. No CO2.

1 vertical 600, 1 vertical 750, 4 T5HO bulbs, and an aircooled 750 overhead. The overhead 750 was added a couple weeks ago to supplement.

Racerx Reviewed by Racerx on 12-30-2007. Some Recirculating DWC Action Figured Id post a couple recent pics here. More can be seen at http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-growing/139195-racerx-back-again-recirc-dwc.html#post1773356 . 6 plant Recirculating DWC. Grapefruit strain. Beginning the 5th week of flowering. 1300ppm. Little burn. Dropping temps to mid 50s at night. 75-79 in the day. No CO2. 1 vertical 600, 1 vertical 750, 4 T5HO bulbs, and an aircooled 750 overhead. The overhead 750 was added a couple weeks ago to supplement. Rating: 5

[turtle420]

Wow nice... aproximately, what's the square feet of the 6 buckets?

[herbie the love bud]

Those are beautifully tight plants! What do you attribute it too? Nutes? Light?

[Racerx]

Not sure on the square footage. Ive been using recirculating DWC buckets for over a year now and this is my 5th grow with the system. I started originally with 18 plants, then 12, now down to 6. So far having only 6 plants and the vertical lighting has been fantastic. Its very little work (except tying up branches) and keeps everything nice and warm. The buds at the very bottom of the plants are just as big and juicy as the ones up top, so while there are half as many plants as last time, its like we are getting the same amount of canopy space. The advantage of less plants is more air flow, better equalized temps, no hot spots of humidity, less chance for pests, less chance for mildew.

Weve had absolutely no problems as far as pests or mold are concerned. I actually abandoned the Dehumidifier and I am very happy without it. The added heat created by the dehumidifier seemed to promote mildew rather then getting rid of it. I have found it more beneficial to have low night times with high humidity and high day temps with low humidity. This consistently has been giving me less problems with mildew or anything of that nature. Its also cheaper.

The plants are low and tight because there were never any large lights above them. The vertical lighting sat about equal with the middle of the plants, so growth was out rather then up. Later on we added the 750 digital HPS over the canopy to help stretch things out and to encourage growth beyond the ability of the vertically hung lights.

We expect to yield nearly as much as last time, but with half the buckets and 1000 less watts. The fact that its winter has helped since our water chiller isnt even use for half the day.

For nutrients I use only 3 part, varying levels and ratios. Were at 1300ppm right now, sort of an accident it got that high, not really changing it. I also use a little Big Bud and Hygrozhyme, although its really for peace of mind.

[MVP]

Quite a nice looking setup. What type of yield have you been able to achieve?

[smokenss]

how long do u veg 4? they look fuckn gr8 :thumbsup:



:smokin:

[Racerx]

about 6 weeks veg. its all personal, I am in no hurry so I dont mind losing a harvest in the year. I personally find the bud from a more mature and larger plant more potent, but thats personal opinion. I expect 3+ pounds of prime. They were grown under T5 HO for 3+ of those weeks so they could have been bigger but I saved a lot of money on the electricity bill. This is not my only grow. They are into the 6th week of budding. out of the 6 plants, 4 are just out of this freakin world and one of them will definitely yield a nice half ounce bud. More pics in the next few days.

[lmdesade]

Looks nice and clean.

[bbc]

Can you give us some info on the setup of your buckets ?
Res size pump size
line in and out size and Just some info on how you constructed (parts) you setup and why ? ? ?
Is the buckets on your floor ?
(same level as the res) ? ? ?
Do you have a drip on the top of your buckets ?
Thank`s

[Racerx]

Can you give us some info on the setup of your buckets ?
Res size pump size
line in and out size and Just some info on how you constructed (parts) you setup and why ? ? ?
Is the buckets on your floor ?
(same level as the res) ? ? ?
Do you have a drip on the top of your buckets ?
Thank`s

Sure thing. The buckets are 5 gallons. The reservoir is 40 gallons, but its only about 2/3 full. We use a gravity reservoir to constantly fill up the control reservoir. That is a 32 gallon trash can that sits above the reservoir. Depending on the number of plants you are doing, you can go through over 150 gallons of water a week of you have lots of trees. Can u believe that?!?!

The line in is 1/2" hose from a 350gph submerged pump in the reservoir, and each bucket has a 1/4" line going into the bucket an inch or 2 from the top. The water squirts in pretty hard, hitting the 6" net pot filled with hydroton. This splashes, makes mist, keeps the rootball wet, and recirculates the water. In each bucket there is an air stone. For 6 buckets, I use a 35 watt HD air pump, it pumps them like nuts! More bubbles the better! Airstone is optional, I find it much quieter then an open air line. The water returns from the bucket via 3/4" line, and there is a root filter on the inside of each bucket.

For this system, because it only uses 1 pump, gravity is the return pump and therefore the water level in the reservoir determines the water level in each bucket. I like this system a lot because it requires little input and work, and due to the amount of water and constant recirculating, pH stays very steady.

I never replace my water. I ALSO DO NOT USE RO WATER!!!! Its a complete waste and harmful to the environment. Obviously some people must use it if they have 400ppm and 8ph out the tap, but I am blessed with good water that comes out at 7ph and 220ppm. Id rather not spend money on Calmag either, as my tap water has plenty. I only replace my water to flush, which I do for the last week with straight water, low 6's pH.

Normally I use CO2, this grow I did not. I have found that depending on the location and temperatures you have, CO2 can create more problems then it is worth. This is yet another grow that proves to me that you dont need CO2 for big fat super heavy buds...but it can help sometimes for sure. The only problem I have run into with this system is that if you veg the plants too long, the roots get so massive that they eventually make their way into the return lines. Once I had a nice flood with 2" of water on the floor. I since had flood alarms, and they caught a flooded bucket a couple weeks ago and turned off the pump. The airpump stays on so there really is no negative effects long as it is addressed relatively quickly.

I have considered a larger return line, however roots grow whether it is small or large, it just takes awhile longer if its bigger. What needs to happen is constant checking to make sure the roots are not growing into the lines.

Here are the latest pictures. 7 weeks is up, were on the 8th final week. Flushing started today.