rdwc question

[Mal420xl]

im considering setting up a small rdwc grow to see if it makes things easier for me since soil is being problematic. I understand the idea behind it, but i need to be able to see it in my mind to be able to build it.
I have quik and crappy drawing i made that should explain what i want it to do and that is maybe just how it works in the first place but im not sure.
on rdwc systems do they just constantly drip or spray the roots drawing from a pool at the bottom of their bucket or do you use another bucket as a controller?
i was thinking of something like that. the controller would drain from the pool from each bucket and refill it from the controller while it spays the roots? that way it could run for 4 or 5 minutes every half hour or hour rather than run continuously?
something likle this that i could expand with tee fittings if it works

Mal420xl Reviewed by Mal420xl on 03-19-2013. rdwc question im considering setting up a small rdwc grow to see if it makes things easier for me since soil is being problematic. I understand the idea behind it, but i need to be able to see it in my mind to be able to build it. I have quik and crappy drawing i made that should explain what i want it to do and that is maybe just how it works in the first place but im not sure. on rdwc systems do they just constantly drip or spray the roots drawing from a pool at the bottom of their bucket or do you use Rating: 5

[Shovelhandle]

off topic, but have you tried a Hempy bucket grow?

[Mal420xl]

nah shov never done any hydro or any of that yet... ok i see what that is now. thats like waterfarms.

[low_rdr]

My RDWC Setup: (Current setup, its expanding soon)
(5) 5 gallon buckets
(1) 6 port air pump (40L per minute)
(1) 250 gallon per hour water pump
Various 1/2 water lines, return lines, fittings
(5) 6" airstones
(4) 8" deep well bucket net pots
(2) 10q bags of hydroton


Ok, first and foremost, what most places don't show you is that the drain holes all have to be level (the same distance from the ground) as your controller bucket. Otherwise you'll have improper drainage issues. Best place to put the drain hole is about 1/4" from the bottom of the bucket. Now, I've drilled 1/4" holes in the top portion (just below the lip) of all my buckets and ran air stones into it, the reason for this is to maximize air exposure to the roots in the water - This is the best way to insure good (and fast) growth.

Water doesn't spray onto my roots at any stage, my roots are 95% submerged 95% of the time. The air stones provide the needed oxygen to the roots, so I'm covered there. Now my controller bucket also has an airstone, this is more for helping me with nute exchanges than you might think, I just use the airstone in the controller bucket to help me mix in all the goodness I add. My water pump is set to go on every hour (on the hour) for 15 minutes, considering I only have about 20 gallons of water, this 15 minutes allows me to recirculate the goodness about 4 times per hour (plenty) I have my control bucket setup so that every time the pump kicks on, my hydroton is visibly wet looking at the top down (this way I know if I need to add water just by looking at my hydroton)

All this being said - If you want to constantly run your water pump (I don't) you CAN use less water, only 1 airstone, and spray the water onto the roots, however, for less money, time, and effort into parts, you can have a more rigid system.

The problems with my setup - Honestly, aside from constraint of my grow space, there isn't really any problems, it does smell like an aquarium in there, but I'm building a new carbon filter this week and that should cut the smell. I harvested my first pineapple express from this system about two weeks ago, and it was the sweetest tasting bud I've ever grown. I've got a C99 about a week or two from chop (nutes on the strains vary vastly, this is best setup for 1 strain) and the smell is just amazing (like spun sugar)

Now, traditional RDWC is setup just as I've described above. Using less water, and nozzles to spray roots is airoponics, basically your roots are always suspended in air, and then get a douse of water. I prefer it the other way, roots suspended in water, and doused in air.

Some people suggest when you setup your RDWC system that the water is 1" below your netpots, I think the water should touch your netpots, and then fill the top when it cycles (it will return to normal level after the pump is off for a few minutes) The reason I like this (as stated above) I like knowing when I need to be topped off just by looking at the hydroton, you can use a line in your controller bucket for this, but I'm actually putting a plant in my controller bucket soon

[Shovelhandle]

nah shov never done any hydro or any of that yet... ok i see what that is now. thats like waterfarms.

I don't grow hydro but I've seen very good results with Hempy and some connoisseur growers are making big yields using this very simple system.

[Mal420xl]

ok cool that gives me something to go on. im not in a huge rush since its still cold so i can play around with something. if i do go with it tho i will eventually need a way to control my water temps, cool will never be a real issue my basement never gets much warmer than the 60s but warm will. anyone know about those sonic aerators ive heard the heat up the water some?

[low_rdr]

Wont be needed - I thought I'd need one too since I installed on a concrete floor up north

water temps stay in the high 60's and low 70's

floor is in the 40's

If you do happen to need one (water below 50) I've got 4 spares never been opened.

Oh, and why.... the air pump pulls room temp air, and blends it in with the water

[Mal420xl]

ahhh i hadnt thought about that aspect, good to know thanks!

[low_rdr]

NP bro.

One aspect you may want to consider is a bigger carbon filter. My room STINKS like hell from the nutes, and it smells like an aquarium, I just got all the parts for mine (still missing the cap) I'm building a 30" x 10" cannon filter.

[Mal420xl]

hmm well i guess id have to see how bad it got for smell. odors are not a huge problem at least not yet. the plants i have now seem to really ramp up their stink when the lights are off(and they arent suffering from ph issues) and i can only smell it when i walk into the area where my tents are....for now. as soon as they really stink i will have the filters goin on both tents. they are already set up for them just havent had a need so far. the aquarium smell i guess i can live with or can just cover it up with something like a good candle or just hoot a fatty.