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

[LORD BENIS]

Here's a prelude to an upcoming thread that I'll start after I move.












Much thanks Big Toke, awsome system!

 

[BigToke]

............now see what you’ve gone and done, you’ve got me coming out of my hiding…….now that is one kick ass setup my friend that’s for sharing.

 

[Guest]

Got me out of the shaddows too.
Nice setup, looks effective and cost effective.

What kind of vines are those on the pics?
How are the 10" baskets going for you?

I'm building a bio bucket system with 75 gold fish in the reservoir. Unfortunately it can't to a mj setup with this.

Thanks Big Toke for all your brilliant information. You have inspired me with your system. I'm new to hydro so I spent months getting up to speed with the history of hydro and I don't get why it took so long to get to this. Thanks again.

Does anyone know where I can start a thread for this?

 

[Guest]

Got me out of the shaddows too.
Nice setup, looks effective and cost effective.

What kind of vines are those on the pics?
How are the 10" baskets going for you?

I'm building a bio bucket system with 75 gold fish in the reservoir. Unfortunately it can't to a mj setup with this.

Thanks Big Toke for all your brilliant information. You have inspired me with your system. I'm new to hydro so I spent months getting up to speed with the history of hydro and I don't get why it took so long to get to this. Thanks again.

Does anyone know where I can start a thread for this?

Growitall, I love the goldfish idea! In theory,the waste the fish produce will supply the plant with nutrients. The plants will keep the water free of excess nitrates and phosphates for the fish! Hey Mother Nature has been doing this for millions of years. She did have lots of time to work out the bugs though ,LOL hydroponics & aquaculture concepts are very close in theory. I for one would love to hear what you plan.

 

[LORD BENIS]

Growitall
I planted hyacinth beans for my test run because they germinate very easily. They're eating this system up, fastest growth I've ever witnessed! The 10 inch pots are working out just fine, it takes a while for the roots to penetrate the pots. I too am new to hydro but I'm very satisfied with the results from the bio-buckets. I haven't experienced any of the typical hydro problems that people expect; i.e. ph, temps, dissolved oxygen levels, rot, etc. I can't roll mj in my buckets either becuase they happen to be outside, but I plan on starting lettuce and tomatoes soon as I move.

 

[LORD BENIS]

Another interesting note:
I'm also growing castor beans and a brugmansia cutting in the buckets. I rooted the cutting in my cloner and planted it in soil where it proceeded to grow VERY slowly. I had basically given up on it by the time I finished the bio-buckets and one day I just ripped it out of it's pot, washed most of the dirt off the roots, and stuck it in the bio-buckets. It's now growing new shoots all over the main stem.

 

[BudGood2006]

Seeing your system makes me want to build a greenhouse just to have a organic tomato Bio-Bucket grow. I'm curious, what are your water temps at? The open drain pipe is interesting, what was the rationale of that, more DO? I'd be interested in seeing how you built that system, I don't think the mods would mind, I hope? If not please PM me with a link to wherever you do post.

 

[LORD BENIS]

BudGood2006

Suprisingly enough my water temps usually stay around 78 F, even outside under the hot Texas sun! The highest it's ever gotten was around 90 F and that was in August when it's like 110 outside. I believe it all has to do with how fast your water is moving and being cooled by the fan. I ended up using an open drain sort of by accident. My hole saw is smaller than the drain tube that I bought so water would keep leaking unless the tubes were perfectly alligned with the holes. I think it also gets a little more DO, plus it just looks cool. Give me a week or two and I'll start a thread from ground up with the greenhouse and bio system.
I'll keep ya'll posted.

 

[Guest]

Here is a link to a pump headloss calculator.
http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php
Here is a short lesson on pumps and how they work
http://www.pricepump.com/pumpschool/Column_with_Contents.htm

 

[stonedage]

Ive only got to page 16 so far so either ive missed it, it hasnt been asked or its been asked after i stopped reading but.....you mention if the hydro goes out draining back into your system and flooding it, how does this happen? I see your suply lines are opposite the outflow on the bucket so how can it syphon enought water out? Is it just due to the volume that your system holds in transit? If you would look at my posting about learning to confuse my self how would you set this up? what size rezes would i need? Dont forget there will be 2 systems in a 5X6 area(so 2 3X5). I now have 4 weeks to get one half built, thank you for all of the help that you unknowingly given me

 

[Guest]

BT, do you think incorporating a sand filter would help progress beneficials?

 

[Guest]

BT, do you think incorporating a sand filter would help progress beneficials?

If I may, As I understand the concept, The beneficial / aerobic Bacteria is best concentrated in the Lavarocks and root ball. Another filter such as a wetdry would be unneeded and may complicate the setup. Did you intend a deep sand bed or fluidized type sand filter?

 

[Guest]

Im not sure what type of filter setup would work best. I was curious because I had read an article about how, in new zealand, they are using sand filters to create a bacteria field in agriculture crops. It made me think of biobuckets, which is why i asked...

 

[Rattrap]

Yeah i remember reading something about sand filters being exellent home for good bacteria, not sure where tho. I think fish tanks rely on the same principle to break down all the fish poop.

 

[Guest]

There is an article in the current Maximum Yield, that talks a litttle bit about it. It goes along the same principles of fish tanks and septic fields if I am correct. Im sure it wouldn't hurt to add the filter to an existing system, it just seems like a pain in the ass to setup.

 

[BigToke]

BT, do you think incorporating a sand filter would help progress beneficials?

No I do not think so…….and if anything it will only server as a place to collect dead matter and that’s not a good thing.

 

[Cave Dweller]

Thanks BT!

Well I just read all 39 pages without asking a single question!

Here goes nothin. Can I use clay balls?........lmao, j/k, whoa I sleigh myself.............

CD

The water chum thred was top notch!

 

[BigToke]

...........yep that’s real funny lol…lol…lol, but all joking aside that’s about how some folks do me.

 

[Chronmon]

Big Toke wow this has been alot of help to me thanks alot bro hopefully if your not to busy you can pop into my Thread and give me a little advice If not ill try shoot ya a PM


Stayhigh Stayfly

 

[Guest]

Just finished all 40 pages. All I can say is, thanks for the info! If the system does as well as everyone says, you will be hearing from me