BigTokes ~ "How-To" Of The Bio-Buckets 101

[Smokin]

Hello everyone!

Coolx - My molde 8" net pots fit perfectly onto the lid without any problems so far. I haven't fired up the system yet since I am still waiting for my Mag Drive pump to arrive.

Craker - I left 6" between each bucket. I'm not sure if my spacing is correct or not since this is my first grow and my first construction. Hopefully, that will be enough room for the plants.

Smokin

 

[Rattrap]

Ok, i had a bit of a read, he recomends the red but doesn't actually say don't use the black. So i guess black it is.

Smokin, 6" should be ok. A little more might be better tho, give them heaps of room to bush out.

 

[Guest]

Man I just managed to delete a long ass post. I hate when that happens! LOL Thanks Ya'll I tried to fit 12 buckets on a table made from an old interior door. 30 by 80 inches, No way anough room

I'm trying to redesign to fit 12 in a 4 by 8 area. I see I will have to go with 10.
RT, I'm rotating the lids also, so far so good.
BG ,I haven't reused the Lr yet but I will. But eventually the pores will clog up with detritus. This is organic waste from the bacteria. In marine aquaria we use porous rock called "Live Rock" to house benificial bacteria for the same reason we are using it! We use a method called "cooking the LR". It entails putting the rock in a darken container with good water circulation. this forces the bacteria to feed on this left over detritus and naturally flushes the rock. LR for the marine trade can cost 20 $ a lb plus shipping! so its worth the expense and labor. But for our use it's easier to just replace it.
This link is way off topic but gives a little insight on Aquacultured Live Rock for the marine aquaria trade for those who may be interested, check out the video clip!
http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/

 

[BudGood2006]

But won't the peroxide clean out the detritus? Basically, when he adds the peroxide solution, he lets it run, so isn't this process somewhat similar, in that the peroxide eats the old organic matter (roots and detritus)? Hmmm.... Where is BigToke when we need him? He could give us a definitve answer.

 

[Guest]

But won't the peroxide clean out the detritus? Basically, when he adds the peroxide solution, he lets it run, so isn't this process somewhat similar, in that the peroxide eats the old organic matter (roots and detritus)? Hmmm.... Where is BigToke when we need him? He could give us a definitve answer.

Both methods are very similar. The peroxide does it chemically while the cooking does it biologically.

 

[BudGood2006]

So that tells me that it is possible to reuse the stones almost infinitely, as long as proper sterilization methods are used. Sweet

 

[Rattrap]

i've deceided to upgrade my outlets to the recomended 1 1/4" or 32mm, plants haven't gone in yet they are still rooting hopefully by the weekend.

 

[Rattrap]

OK well i only had time last night to upgrade the outlet of 1 bucket, real easy. I was lucky that the old hole is just the right size.

**One thing i noticed when i emptyied the bucket into a spare bucket i keep handy was a brownish scum line at the high water mark in the bucket. Is this normal? Is this the good bacteria we're after or nasty stuff? I added some bio-bugs at the recomended rates for the amount of water in the system around a week ago. I also noticed this same build up on the internal pump too.

 

[Guest]

OK well i only had time last night to upgrade the outlet of 1 bucket, real easy. I was lucky that the old hole is just the right size.

**One thing i noticed when i emptyied the bucket into a spare bucket i keep handy was a brownish scum line at the high water mark in the bucket. Is this normal? Is this the good bacteria we're after or nasty stuff? I added some bio-bugs at the recomended rates for the amount of water in the system around a week ago. I also noticed this same build up on the internal pump too.

I would guess it's . Like foam on the beach. It's a bunch of different proteins. when Ya added the bugs they went to town eating and making a LOT of little bugs. Like a bacterial bloom Soon there is not anough food to support their numbers so they die off . It's perfectly natural after a while the bug population will match the amount of food available. next round add 1/2 the recomended rate. Also You could add a little organic ammonia to the system, to kick start the bugs. I hear the end result of knocking down a few brews is a real good source. LOL How did You get away with out having to enlarge the hole? Use a different type fitting? I actually tore my entire setup down today. I need to spread out the buckets. If the stand is 8'6 long & 2 '3 wide and staggering the buckets I can get close to 5 inches between between each. think thats anough? Anyway guys we better get busy, BudGood is making us all look bad!

 

[Rattrap]

Cracker, i was real lucky with the old hole. The first fitting i used was a 1" inner, 1 1/2 inch outer, threaded. This time i'm just using a 1 1/4" poly elbow & i just cut off 1 barb then glue guned it into place.

 

[Guest]

I see, The effort will be worth the enlarging your drains. less chance of clogging You can go with a bigger pump if desired and the water level in the bucket will be better. I'm going to take my chsnces with the smaller draind though. I'm way to lazy. I did get a 4 inch central drain though. this will be about 8 ft long how much drop Ya think I need? I think I can get maybe 6 inch drop over the 8 ft stretch. I'm going with 10 buckets too You guys have a lot more area between.
also have you considered a way to cool the water? I understand it really makes a difference

 

[Rattrap]

I'm not sure how important the amount of drop your drain has cracker. I just used a spirit level & set the drain pipe to full bubble.

 

[BudGood2006]

LOL, no, not makin' you guys look bad, merely providing some....motivation?

Cracker, what I did is just raise the PVC as high as the last two buckets drains would allow it. I only used 3" for the central drain, and even with a 700 GPH (maybe 500 minimum) pump, the drain works great. Now, for larger setups like BigTokes, a 4" is definitely gonna be necessary. 3" just was cheaper and allows me a little more flexibility. As far as a way to cool the water, I have a super powerful fan on top of a hole in the res lid (pics in the construction thread) which is filtered. It keeps the water at 67-70 degrees, heck, I can actually feel cool air pressurizing the buckets and coming out through the lava rock!

Rattrap, man that is lucky! Now, if I may make a suggestion, I believe it is time for you to start a thread, my friend. How about "Rattrap's Bait"?

Take care guys...

 

[Guest]

LOL, no, not makin' you guys look bad, merely providing some....motivation?

Cracker, what I did is just raise the PVC as high as the last two buckets drains would allow it. I only used 3" for the central drain, and even with a 700 GPH (maybe 500 minimum) pump, the drain works great. Now, for larger setups like BigTokes, a 4" is definitely gonna be necessary. 3" just was cheaper and allows me a little more flexibility. As far as a way to cool the water, I have a super powerful fan on top of a hole in the res lid (pics in the construction thread) which is filtered. It keeps the water at 67-70 degrees, heck, I can actually feel cool air pressurizing the buckets and coming out through the lava rock!

Rattrap, man that is lucky! Now, if I may make a suggestion, I believe it is time for you to start a thread, my friend. How about "Rattrap's Bait"?

Take care guys...[/QUOTE
Just kiddin Bud, Nice setup!

 

[Rattrap]

yeah i might fire up a new thread when i put my girls in, hopefully in the next couple of days, my clones are finally starting to pick up really nicely.

 

[xxsicknessxx]

Does your pump have a filter on it? would that be needed?

 

[Rattrap]

I don't have a filter on mine but i have been thinking about adding 1 just in case, not sure if its needed or not.

 

[xxsicknessxx]

once you fill your rez and turn it on for the first week, do you add more water? casue once the Buckets fill with water won't the rez be emty? do you fill the rez once in buckets are emty? or is that the point? fill the buckets then they emty, then they fill, then they emty hehe if so then duu.. but you were saying if all your things drained at same time might overflow, how is that possible? unless you had more water then your rez had? understand my question?
And you don't need to worry about Ph?" Ever? where I live I think the ph is 8 from the tap, should i Just keep a eye on the plants.. im so building this

Im suprised your pump manages I wonder what you payed for that?!

 

[BudGood2006]

OK, first thing you do after they're built and ready, you fill the buckets up to the drain. Then, depending on the size of your system, you fill the res and set your float valve to keep it at that level. In my system, I run 8 buckets, so I have 6 gallons in the res at all times. My res is much bigger tho, it's a 50 gallon, and you absolutely MUST have at least a 1 foot drop from the drain pvc to the top of the water to allow for good levels of dissolved oxygen or DO. I've turned power off, and it can handle all the water that drains into it from the intake and the buckets.

And, as far as the pump goes, don't be cheap, buy a good one. Mine was about $75 shipped 2nd day air. I recommend Mag-Drive pumps, as does BigToke, they really aren't too expensive, google mag drive. I have a Mag Drive 7, its rated at 700 gph, but I have it pumping at about a 2' lift, which derates it to 500 gph. I have 8 buckets, each with about 4 gallons of water, and a 6 gallon res, so that is total 38 gallons, I round up to 40 just to be safe, and divide the total amount of water into the pumps GPH. So in my case, it'd be 500 divided by 40, which means the water is completely exchanged at least 12.5 times an hour, BigToke recommends at least 7-8 times, his system exchanges out at 15-16 times an hour, so do what you think is necessary. Follow the link in my sig to the Hidden Bio-Bucket Construction thread, it might give you some ideas for a smaller sized setup. Also, look for Rule35Sub1's Closet Bio-Tub thread, and quite a few others on here that my stoned mind can't think of at the moment.

Annnnnnd ph, mine has been at a 6.3, which according to most would be bad for hydro, but my girls are flourishing. The beneficial bacteria take care of a lot of problems that normal hydro growers face. My advice is read, read, read and then read a bit more. The info is here, ya just need to dig a bit. Hope this helps

 

[Guest]

where has big toke been lately anyway?