DWC questions not in FAQ

Hi im building an 8 bucket system with a controller bucket my questions are: what gph pond pump do i need to feed 7 five gal buckets? i have 1/4" feeder lines and 3/4" return.
also what is a powerhead? should i use a powerhead instead of a pond pump?
do i need airstones in all 8 buckets or just the controller bucket?
by the way this is my first time to post on the net and my first real grow. i have 3 week old dp feminized seedlings 4 BLUEBERRY & 4 WW'S IN A BUBBLER TUB,they need their own homes soon.
man this is fuuun!!cant wait to smoke!
thanks for chekin this out

 

#Moderation Mode


Any hydro gurus in the mood to offer a helping hand?


Moved here

 

i dont know the GPH offhand. it would be great if Overgrow.com were up and running. that has all the info you could ever need in the FAQ and thread archives. try that site. if you can get it to work

 

in address to your other questions, you dont need a powerhead. you need airstones in all your buckets. the water pump will just be to drain and circulate the water in your system. the airstones are what provide your roots with the oxygen to grow big and fast.

 

ya, i had a thread saved with all this info, but the site is down or something

 

350 - 500 Liters/hour should do you. Thats about 75 - 125 gph. I like airstones in each bucket. Powerhead is used in the ressy to provide circulation, but is necessarilly required. Air pump should provide at least 400 liters/hours or 100 gallons/hours volume.


Hope that helps...

 

thanks for the 411, should my 1/4 outputs go directly into the net pots and the medium? does the pond pump just sit in the bottom of the controller bucket? does 1/4" feeding each bucket and 3/4" return sound right? i have a manifold that has nine 1/4" outputs. ill be connecting that to the pond pump with a riser. at least this is what ive got built in my head, although sometimes my head gets me in trouble.


i need all the input i can get at this point.


PEACE OUT!

 

I would use two 1/4" feed lines per bucket. Are you planning on using drip emitters or you just wide open on the feed lines?

 

what do you recommend? this is my first grow with good genetics.my first grow was a nightmare all different size plants.


i want to build a system that is relatively simple to operate, and that is reliable

 

If you're just starting out, use some drip emitters. Only because if you run it wide open you have to have massive volumes of air to compensate so you don't get pythium. You can get drip emitters @ Home Shitpot (Home Depot).

 

Good advice useless. I would just add if you do go with drippers get the largest gph possible. Usually around the 1-2 gph range.(it will be marked on the package)

 

thanks guys, i saw the drip emitters at depo just werent shure if i should use them. do they go into the side of the net pot? do the drip emitters create a backpressure on the pond pump? is there a different kind of pump i should use?

 

what kind of dripers are you using??? Why not go with the waterfarm pumping coloumns, you can make yourself for cheap. Just a question

 

i havnt bought the emitters yet im still undecided but have to make a move pretty quick.can you give me a description of these pumping columns. im just a rookie who knows nothing, but am willing learn all i can from people who know whats up. i hope everyone doesnt get sick of my list of questions, but i want this to pay off (tired of smokin mexican weed that tastes like it was dragged down a dirt road for 20 miles).    


(Edited by smoknMXracer at 8:38 am on Feb. 3, 2006)

 

also my 3 wk old seedlings are on 7.5 ml per gal. my chart says its time to go up to 15 ml pr gal but some of the leaf tips are showing a slight burn. do i stay where im at or go up anyway? the tip burn isnt getting worse or anything but not sure what to do. wish i had a ppm gauge and knew how to use it. cant afford one at the moment.

 

Hey now smokn. I would chill with the fertz if they are showing signs of burn. I would go with the pumping columns by general hydroponics. GH Farm Kit. item #4115. they work great.

 

I had a simple 4 bucket system setup with a controller also, I don't recommend the drippers for a system that in basically maintenance free, for sure do the buckets connect them all ... then just have some simple little giant pump circulating the nuts through all the bucks through the 1/4 inch lines, that way your not spending tons of mulla on high psi pumps filters and replacement drippers when they clog be sure to have as MUCH air as possible in each bucket, I belive there is NO limit that would be considered overkill, less there's nutes ALL over the floors, airpumps are super cheap prolly at wally werld. you could also upgrade your pump a little and go with some sub-aero sprayers for extra aeration inside the buckets.. I'm sure hempcultivationdotcom would have more users willing to help you out and keep in mind an EC meter is almost a must when dealing with hydro preferably PH too otherwise your going to be a blind person leading the blind..... be sure to check out aquarium/pet stores you can get tons of air pumps/ water pumps filters and sometimes even bulk Carbon if you want to get rid of the smell... adios


(Edited by incognyto at 1:55 pm on Feb. 3, 2006)

 

drippers are problem free for me

 

im assuming an EC gauges PPM?

 

Im definitely going with the waterfarm setup. I got on the gh website checked out the columns. i can see them on your buckets now. i think that will work perfect for me. so is there a fluid pump circulating the nutes through the whole system.does the controller ph levels reflect the rest of the system, or would that be to easy .