Reservoir Hydroponics

[Cicatriz]

I have been reading many books to see which hydro system would be easier and most simple for a beginner. The two I'm comparing is DWC and Reservoir.

From what I understand Reservoir system works with putting pots into a larger container that is aerated with airstones and pumps and water/nutes is delivered capillary action.

DWC is a pots suspended over aerated reservoir and also works like capillary action. Also the air within the reservoir is kept at 100% humidity.

I am leaning towards reservoir system because it seems much more convient to be able to swap pots in and out for SOG and space saver when using square pots.

Can anyone tell me if they have used reservoir system and the pros and cons? For my growing medium I am planning to use fossil rocks.

Any input comments welcome.

Cicatriz Reviewed by Cicatriz on 07-04-2006. Reservoir Hydroponics I have been reading many books to see which hydro system would be easier and most simple for a beginner. The two I'm comparing is DWC and Reservoir. From what I understand Reservoir system works with putting pots into a larger container that is aerated with airstones and pumps and water/nutes is delivered capillary action. DWC is a pots suspended over aerated reservoir and also works like capillary action. Also the air within the reservoir is kept at 100% humidity. I am leaning towards Rating: 5

[stinkyattic]

You should also look into flood-and-drain.
It is very simple to construct one yourself.

[latewood]

I have been reading many books to see which hydro system would be easier and most simple for a beginner. The two I'm comparing is DWC and Reservoir.

From what I understand Reservoir system works with putting pots into a larger container that is aerated with airstones and pumps and water/nutes is delivered capillary action.

DWC is a pots suspended over aerated reservoir and also works like capillary action. Also the air within the reservoir is kept at 100% humidity.

I am leaning towards reservoir system because it seems much more convient to be able to swap pots in and out for SOG and space saver when using square pots.

Can anyone tell me if they have used reservoir system and the pros and cons? For my growing medium I am planning to use fossil rocks.

Any input comments welcome.

Both descriptions you gave are DWC. Perhaps you might want to rephrase your 2 descriptions.

the easiest to start with for a beginner is DWC...
5 gallon bucket, or 10 gallon tub...you don't move pots around in hydro, generally; You put the netpots in the system and they stay there throughout grow.

I will put my sticky back up for a couple days, and perhaps you will be more interested in a DIY drip system.

DWC: pros, easy to grow...massive plant foliage...
cons: toting water, but you can buy a pump and some irrigation tubing and run a water supply line, if you wish...

re-think your post, and I will put my sticky on DIY aero/drip/recirculating DWC...and if that is not enough info, i have a couple threads that show how to build a 10 gallon DWC unit...peace:smokin:

[Cicatriz]

Thanks for the response Latewood, the reservoir technique I read about is from a book. I have attached a scan of the page describing reservoir system.

Between DWC and Reservoir I understand that in DWC that roots are suspended in a chamber of 100% humidity that also acts as the nute reservoir with air stones.

Whereas reservoir (as described from inset) pots sit in the pool of nute soultion that is aerated with air stones as well. Nutes and H20 is delivered capillary action.

Sorry for the confusion if they two systems are variations of each other, my main purpose was to get opinions of any other members who haved used either system and/or pointers

Thanks again everyone

[Opie Yutts]

Sounds like pretty much one thing. It really doesn't matter a whole bunch. Just make sure you have the basics correct for your first grow and you will be doing good. Most systems produce similar results, but I highly recommend a DWC system for begginers. You'll get great results if you do it properly, and it's very easy. Search Emily's Garden. This is a great set up, and you could build a better one yourself for less than half.

People try to compare systems over and over, but it just doesn't matter. A good DWC system run properly will beat an expensive NFT or fog system if just one or two things are not done quite right. The secret is, no matter what you do, get your basics right, then force as much oxygen as possible to those roots. This is what will get you the big yields. It doesn't really matter how it's done.