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

[Blunted22]

hey big toke Thanks for the info man im in the process of building my own and wondering if you can help me out with a couple queston on the rez.


Im trying to figure out how to add a float valve with the main rez and a back up which i dont think i need help on but....

I was wondering what was better for a float valve another rez? or just a cold water tap?

Im planning a 24 bucket setup in a 12x24 room. Im in the midst of trying to order all the supplies online but talk about a pain in my ass... lol

So far i found the buckets for 110$ with lids (not sure about shipping)
i got 88$ in just 24 - 3/4" PVC Elbow, 24 - 3/4" White Socket Compact Ball Valve, and 24 - 1 1/4" PVC Coupling.


I still have to get shutoff valves for all off the buckets along with the rez all the hose and pvc pipe along with my pump..... Come to think of it this is getting expensive lol....


Scratch that went to home depot way cheaper just haveign trouble finding a few things.but 1 or 2 more trips should do it. lol.

 

[mysticls]

Bigtoke, with your ak and HDF grow you had 3600w and 36 buckets...and yielded just shy of 10lb.. what kind of yield do you think you would get with 6k watts and 18 buckets spaced out more and growing trees?? shooting for somewhere around 15 lbs.. this possible??

 

[krustytheclown]

Here's a question: What if I make the setup large enough to accommodate, say, 12 buckets, but only initially use 2 or 4 buckets? I'm thinking I would make the drainage tube long enough to handle 12 buckets draining into it and make the reservoir big enough to handle it when all 12 buckets are running, but I would only cut holes in the drainage tube to allow for the buckets I am using.

In that case, do you recommend I place the buckets closest to the reservoir and expand away as I add more buckets, or should I install the buckets at the furthest point of the drainage tube and expand the buckets toward the reservoir?

Any other considerations?

BTW, I currently have one 400W HPS and little to no money for more lights, so I am planning on growing what I can with the 400W light, selling the harvest and using the proceeds to upgrade the lights.

 

[Omega Rasta]

If I'm not mistakened you taught this to Daltron over at Gardenscure.com and he loved this method.....allow me to say thanks for showing our friend this wonder !!!
RIP Daltron and Godspeed BigToke
....now back to my silent studies...

Omega Rasta

 

[gunnaknow]

Hi guys, I just read to the end of page 4 and my heart sank when I saw that there were 46 pages to read! I can't read all that! Big Toke said in his first post that growth was very explosive and he said that he would go on to explain the reasons why. Maybe I missed something but I didn't see him talk much about the reasons why, atleast not in the first 4 pages that I read.

He did say that by not changing the res the dead plant matter accumulates and feeds the friendly bacteria for better growth, or something like that. Is that the only reason? The same thing could be done with other systems couldn't it? Is there any other reason that bio-buckets cause such explosive growth? Or is it DWC in general that does this? Does anyone know how bio-buckets compare to the Ebb n Grow system? Thanks.


Gunna

 

[gunnaknow]

Hello?

 

[gmanwho]

In this pic, it seems u are using the same net pots for all, except some are ontop of the lid while some are screwed beneath the lid.

Any differences noted or experiences?

B-safe

 

[Rattrap]

Hey Gman,
No differences noticed at all in growing just with the netpots sitting in top it makes cleaning & access heaps easier. I had 2 x 6 bucket systems setup, 1 to replace the other as soon as 1 crop was done. When i expanded to 9 buckets i just cannabilisied both systems to make 1 larger 1. I cover all the buckets with panda plastic any ways so it makes no difference in the end.

 

[gmanwho]

Hey Gman,
No differences noticed at all in growing just with the netpots sitting in top it makes cleaning & access heaps easier. I had 2 x 6 bucket systems setup, 1 to replace the other as soon as 1 crop was done. When i expanded to 9 buckets i just cannabilisied both systems to make 1 larger 1. I cover all the buckets with panda plastic any ways so it makes no difference in the end.

ya, i got a grave yard of stuff over here to. Thanks for reply.

B-safe.

 

[BigToke]

Good Friends

Good Friends

If I'm not mistakened you taught this to Daltron over at Gardenscure.com and he loved this method.....allow me to say thanks for showing our friend this wonder !!!
RIP Daltron and Godspeed BigToke
....now back to my silent studies...

Omega Rasta

.....yes this is true, was a good friend and I am sure I will hear from him again some day

 

[BigToke]

Bigtoke, with your ak and HDF grow you had 3600w and 36 buckets...and yielded just shy of 10lb.. what kind of yield do you think you would get with 6k watts and 18 buckets spaced out more and growing trees?? shooting for somewhere around 15 lbs.. this possible??

......very possible.

 

[sharkice_69]

re please help

re please help

hi how r we need some info on fungus took a look at ya gallery and u look like u know what your doing can u help sharkice_69

 

[3BM]

I cant for the life of me figure out the 1 1/4" coupling. It looks like a male/barb poly connector, but I cant seem to locate these locally or online. I know Im overlooking something, but if anyone can clue me I'd appreciate the help. To be clear Im referring to the 1 1/4" drain coupling - what are they, where can I get them?

 

[3BM]

Well, Ive answered my own question but thought I should document it here incase anyone else wondered the same. The piece is called a "spigot barbed adapter", search this name and online distributors will come up. I called around to about 8 local plumbing supply retailers before finding one that carried this piece at 1 1/4", apparently this is a highly specialized piece. Large hardware stores might carry it, but none did in my area. Those places are hit or miss in general anyway, but armed with the name you will have more success than I did. Well, hope that helps someone ... Im just glad I found it.

 

[Cyclonite]

Ok I wanted to give it a go....just want to recap on a few things.


Are the 8" pots mostly submerged?

Does the B.B just grow in the lava rock...how does it get there? Any additions? Does the plant create it? ?how do the colonies get started

Is it best to have you bucket supply line drain into the lava rock or just on the side of the bucket?

 

[Cyclonite]

So I gather Bio is just DWC with lava rocks and a different maintenance style?

Would that be accurate?

 

[Cranberry]

So I gather Bio is just DWC with lava rocks and a different maintenance style?

Would that be accurate?

Sure, bacteria colonize the lava rocks feeding the roots. Maintenance in the ways of maintaining the colony.

NOTE: To compare biobuckets to ebb-flow is like comparing a hydroponics to soil. Biobuckets style is the future, because it's friendly to nature in many ways.

PEOPLE: you don't need all them snake oils, KEEP IT SIMPLE>>>

BIGTOKE: I can't thank you enough (A+). Its taken a few grows to get my brain dialed in, Thanks to Daltrons journals i am running organics with amazing results.

 

[Rattrap]

3BM, i just used a 32mm or 1 1/4" poly elbow which i cut 1 of the barbed ends off then just glued the cutoff end into the bucket.
cyclonite, my 8" net pots are about 1/2 - 2/3 submerged. The BB's will naturally colinize your lava rocks during the 2 week pre run that bigT recomends. I have my inlet just running into the bucket not into the net pot, its just not necessary.
Once u get it set up u won't regret the biobuckets. they are damn near idot proof.
On a side note, i was able to leave my system for 4 days half way thru flowering with no problems at all. not many hydro systems u can do that with!

 

[3BM]

Great idea rattrap, nice alternative to the specialized piece. How did you cut the end off? Just a hacksaw?

 

[Rattrap]

Hey 3BM,
Yeah mate just a hacksaw. cleaned up the cut edge a lil with sandpaper then used a hot glue gun to mount into the bucket. Followed the hot glue off with some silicone around the join & bobs your uncle!