Best DWC System And Why?

[Beachbumm]

Can anyone recommend one of these two systems over the other, and why?

Or recommend a better system?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09R1MX1K6/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Amazon.com

 

[DillyTrying2Learn]

I would buy neither and just put together your own set up with buckets and an air pump for half the cost.

 

[Beachbumm]

I would buy neither and just put together your own set up with buckets and an air pump for half the cost.

I understand that and did that back in the '80s when there was no such thing as pre-made hydro systems like this, but I'm not into doing that now

I'm asking for someone to explain the difference between DWC & RDWC and if & why one is preferable over the other?

 

[jadins_journey]

I understand that and did that back in the '80s when there was no such thing as pre-made hydro systems like this, but I'm not into doing that now

I'm asking for someone to explain the difference between DWC & RDWC and if & why one is preferable over the other?

DWC - Deep water culture
RDWC - Recirculating deep water culture

DWC - obviously, a bucket with an air stone
RDWC - same but all the buckets are connected with a supply and return pipe. Lot's of configurations out there but with DWC you feed each bucket. With RDWC you feed one bucket and that solution is pumped through all the other buckets.

For me I like to scrog, or train, my grows due to lack of heigth. DWC is impossible, really hard, to scrog really due to the fact you have to open to lid of the bucket. Hope this didn't cause any more confusion between the 2

 

[Beachbumm]

DWC - Deep water culture
RDWC - Recirculating deep water culture

DWC - obviously, a bucket with an air stone
RDWC - same but all the buckets are connected with a supply and return pipe. Lot's of configurations out there but with DWC you feed each bucket. With RDWC you feed one bucket and that solution is pumped through all the other buckets.

For me I like to scrog, or train, my grows due to lack of heigth. DWC is impossible, really hard, to scrog really due to the fact you have to open to lid of the bucket. Hope this didn't cause any more confusion between the 2

No it answered several questions, thank you

I had a couple years of homemade dwc so I get the fundamentals but this was back in the mid 80s so I don't remember much, changed to flood tables cuz I had a lot of issues with DWC

Another question, if there's no water pump with the RDWC system how does the flow circulate from the reservoir bucket to the plant buckets?

Also when I do a weekly water change do I still change every individual bucket or can I change them all through the reservoir bucket?
Thanks in advance

 

[jadins_journey]

No it answered several questions, thank you

I had a couple years of homemade dwc so I get the fundamentals but this was back in the mid 80s so I don't remember much, changed to flood tables cuz I had a lot of issues with DWC

Another question, if there's no water pump with the RDWC system how does the flow circulate from the reservoir bucket to the plant buckets?

Also when I do a weekly water change do I still change every individual bucket or can I change them all through the reservoir bucket?
Thanks in advance

Typically, a pump is used in rdwc. Not an absolute requirement but most systems utilize a pump

Water change, that's where I have an issue with RDWC. Folks typically top off these systems and not change completely. A float valve connected to a feed tank can run a system for several days. I personally am not a fan of topping off, I want an entire resv. change so I opted for flood/drain over RDWC.

 

[Asmodeus]

My only hydro experience is with the grow ace aircube set up so I cant compare, but this system is pretty awesome. A couple points I love about it, its simplicity. You set the timer for how long you want to flood and its pretty much maintenance free. I don't drain it, ever. When it gets low you simply top it off with more solution. I have it set to flood for 15 mins every hour. And it grows monster plants, fast!

 

[DillyTrying2Learn]

I bought a PA Hydroponics Fallponics system for RDWC, you can buy it as complete as you want or as do it yourself as you want from them. Comes with a pump for circulation and a pump for draining your system and the air pump and everything else needed. Sorry i missed the spot where you asked about RDWC.

 

[Beachbumm]

My only hydro experience is with the grow ace aircube set up so I cant compare, but this system is pretty awesome. A couple points I love about it, its simplicity. You set the timer for how long you want to flood and its pretty much maintenance free. I don't drain it, ever. When it gets low you simply top it off with more solution. I have it set to flood for 15 mins every hour. And it grows monster plants, fast!

View attachment 2233726View attachment 2233727View attachment 2233728View attachment 2233729

This I like! Found the website, thanks for sharing that

Will the 25 gallon reservoir suffice for a 6 site unit ?

Is there a way to heat the reservoir water?

Would an aquarium heater or something along that line work?

 

[jadins_journey]

These types of systems have been around for a little while. Here's a pic of the early version from 2008.

This is the system I learned what little I know about hydro way back in 2007-2008. Some cosmetic changes but it's the same ebb & grow system. That black 55 gl. drum is sitting in my grow room today holding my fresh water supply. Yes aquarium heaters are ideal, get the metal heating element. Start with 20 gl but if were me I'd get the 60. Large plants in flower can and do drink 2 gl per day with these systems.

jj

 

[DillyTrying2Learn]

The PA Hydro fallponis is a very very robust and affordable RDWC. My only complaint is you run A LOT of water so if you're using expensive nutes you'll feel it.

 

[Asmodeus]

This I like! Found the website, thanks for sharing that

Will the 25 gallon reservoir suffice for a 6 site unit ?

Is there a way to heat the reservoir water?

Would an aquarium heater or something along that line work?

I have the 60g reservoir with an 8 pot set up, but I bet the 25g would work for a 6 pot. Only thing is you might be adding to it a lot in flower. I swear in flower they're sucking down well over 5g per day.

I've never seen a reason to heat the water. I think the pumps probably keep the temps where it needs to be. Never had an issue with water temps, and always had awesome grows with the set up

 

[Olddude420]

The PA Hydro fallponis is a very very robust and affordable RDWC. My only complaint is you run A LOT of water so if you're using expensive nutes you'll feel it.

Man you are correct. Burns through nutes like a sailor on leave burns through his paycheck. Lol
Awesome system though.
Your plants are huge. How long have they been growing?

 

[DillyTrying2Learn]

Man you are correct. Burns through nutes like a sailor on leave burns through his paycheck. Lol
Awesome system though.
Your plants are huge. How long have they been growing?

That Pic was week 1 of flower

 

[AZreefer]

I bought a PA Hydroponics Fallponics system for RDWC, you can buy it as complete as you want or as do it yourself as you want from them. Comes with a pump for circulation and a pump for draining your system and the air pump and everything else needed. Sorry i missed the spot where you asked about RDWC.

Hey I picked up one of these for my next grow. I got the DIY 13 gallon bucket fall o ponic set. I'm so excited to put this together. 2-3 weeks about until my tent is available for the build. I'm going to be running a cooler and a filter on my reservoir to prolong the water changes. I'm also going to mainline so I won't have to scrog and I can routinely wipe buckets for inspection. I'm stoked!

 

[DillyTrying2Learn]

Hey I picked up one of these for my next grow. I got the DIY 13 gallon bucket fall o ponic set. I'm so excited to put this together. 2-3 weeks about until my tent is available for the build. I'm going to be running a cooler and a filter on my reservoir to prolong the water changes. I'm also going to mainline so I won't have to scrog and I can routinely wipe buckets for inspection. I'm stoked!

Filter your res? If the filter can pull out the unwanted material I would imagine it will pull out the nutes as well. I change every single week like clockwork. This is a large system too, so expect to go through nutrients. The benefits though are you have much more stable PH and can go longer without topping off. I think if you're trying to extend water changes you are going to run into problems with your plants.

 

[AZreefer]

Filter your res? If the filter can pull out the unwanted material I would imagine it will pull out the nutes as well. I change every single week like clockwork. This is a large system too, so expect to go through nutrients. The benefits though are you have much more stable PH and can go longer without topping off. I think if you're trying to extend water changes you are going to run into problems with your plants.

Naw this filter won't pull out the nutes. A carbon filter might reduce your nutes a tad but not the 5 micron mesh filter I'm going to use. Problems will certainly arise along the way! The first run I'll be using the canna nutes line and enzyme with hydroguard. In the future I'm adding in a UV filter along with the sediment filter. I also have a few tricks up my sleeve as far as water care and system stability go as I've been fucking with big rdwc systems for a few years. Just not ones used for this purpose.

 

[DillyTrying2Learn]

Naw this filter won't pull out the nutes. A carbon filter might reduce your nutes a tad but not the 5 micron mesh filter I'm going to use. Problems will certainly arise along the way! The first run I'll be using the canna nutes line and enzyme with hydroguard. In the future I'm adding in a UV filter along with the sediment filter. I also have a few tricks up my sleeve as far as water care and system stability go as I've been fucking with big rdwc systems for a few years. Just not ones used for this purpose.

I think you are overthinking/over doing it.

 

[AZreefer]

I think you are overthinking/over doing it.

I've been thinking/planning/researching this for the better part of 2 years as I prepared my growing space

Come see my machine in about a year. It's going to take time to acquire and assimilate all the pieces and parts I have planned. Overkill in the right spots is key imo. I think a 50 gallon water change weekly is crazy and lots of work. I have aquariums hosting life that do not require fresh water in that volume or that frequently. If you can prevent your roots from going bad and save water, wouldn't you consider that a winner? Because I assure you this can be achieved in a 50 gallon system that is controlled properly. How long I personally will go between water changes has yet to be determined for my system so that will require testing limits and what not and encountering possible problems. But a dip in the properly sanitized solution (I think people buy it as uc something but I know how to brew it) if you are battling rot and cut off the dead shit and quick sanitation of the system.

Btw are you running a chiller?

 

[DillyTrying2Learn]

I've been thinking/planning/researching this for the better part of 2 years as I prepared my growing space

Come see my machine in about a year. It's going to take time to acquire and assimilate all the pieces and parts I have planned. Overkill in the right spots is key imo. I think a 50 gallon water change weekly is crazy and lots of work. I have aquariums hosting life that do not require fresh water in that volume or that frequently. If you can prevent your roots from going bad and save water, wouldn't you consider that a winner? Because I assure you this can be achieved in a 50 gallon system that is controlled properly. How long I personally will go between water changes has yet to be determined for my system so that will require testing limits and what not and encountering possible problems. But a dip in the properly sanitized solution (I think people buy it as uc something but I know how to brew it) if you are battling rot and cut off the dead shit and quick sanitation of the system.

Btw are you running a chiller?

I'm not running a chiller, highest my water temps have gotten to is 73 and that's now with my 1000W light on 90%. I'm by no means an expert but from everything I've seen, going past a week is pushing it and asking to running into problems. It's not about what you take out of the water with the filter, or even root rot but about what your plants take out of the water and what they don't. They will not consume each nutrient in there at the same rate, certain nutrients will build up more while others are being eaten and you may build toxic levels of certain nutes and experience lock out. My water changes are no problem at all, I drop a pump in, pump the water out and then pump in new water that's been mixing for atleast 24 hours in my mixing resivor. I hope you prove all the old heads wrong and find out a way to go 2 or 3 weeks with no problems reliably and consistently. Are you using RO or distilled water?