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

[OjoRojo420]

Hello,

I have envisioned a system in which a PVC pipe of say 5" or 6" is placed vertically. A hose at the top throws water downwards like an internal waterfall. The PVC pipe is filled with lava rocks of 1/2'. The flow is vigorous so to almost fill the pipe while allowing a waterfall effect. The system looks like a filter but is filled with bacteria under prime conditions. At the bottom of the PVC pipe the water is collected and sent to plants.

This allows to keep a nice strong bacteria colony. In between grows the self contained PVC retains and keeps the bacteria beady at all times.

 

[silentsmoke]

big toke that was amazing. I no longer have any questions about how bio buckets work. its a fantastic idea, and a must read for all interested in the hobby.

 

[Pguard]

What about PH? won't the bacteria die if it drops under 6?

 

[AdmiralRed]

I just wanted to say, I have visited this thread more times than I can count. Thanks for the good read!

 

[KAMy]

im very confused about ph ive read many pages maybe im not finished searching

 

[darippa]

just a couple ?s

just a couple ?s

BigToke,
in the process of designing the cabinet(36"x20"x76"),would it be better to angle the drain pipe towards the center or towards one side of the reservoir to help with aeration and mixture? also, knowing the root ball is going to grow quickly in this system, would you guys recommend using 4-4gal. square buckets or going scrog with 2-5gal. square buckets? any help would be appreciated. thank you.

 

[Allusive]

Great thread Big Toke!! Thank you for all your information. I'm currently setting up my own bio-bucket system and had one question:

My pump has a 3/4" outlet, would it be okay to use a 1-1/2" to 3/4" reducer so I can still use a 1-1/2" supply that branches off to 3/4"?

Do you see any problems with this? I ask because in your thread you say to use the same size as your pump outlet. If I do that though, I have to run 1/2" supply into the buckets, and I'm worried about getting even flow to all the buckets.

 

[rafe]

ph

ph

I have found that in a pinch lemon, lime, or orange juice will drop your ph down if it is too high. My tap water is 7.8 ph!





These have beautiful amber trichomes and looks like they will scare the hell out of some people on Halloween!!!! BOOOOOOO!

 

[kp^]

To BigToke and all else that has contributed, THANK YOU! THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! I'm thankful for all the great info! There is so much on these forums! It took me 3 days, but I read this entire 54 page thread. Thanks all for taking the time to share your knowledge! In sight of this, I've created ~55 page word doc from this thread and other Big Toke threads with his Bio Buckets. There alot of information, and sometimes you just miss things.... PM if ya want it.

So since I discovered the bio buckets, I've completely changed some ways and I'm in full gear mode to start a 16 bucket system the first time around. I'm thinking a 20gallon res so I can get that 1 foot drop, and possible of expanding to 20 buckets. Some other specs of the grow.... 2 1000k lumateks, 8" intake and 6" outtake, but will be inline with a vortex going thru dyi carbon scrubbers.

I'm a soil grower, who's been growing in a C13 type cabs for the past few years. I've always had an interest in hydro, now with Big Toke's tutorial it will soon be a reality!!

When the time comes around to building I'll try and post pics of my setup etc. thanks again!

 

[BigToke]

Thanks kp^ for the props were all just trying to help each other out  I haven’t been around mush lately but it’s good to know this thread is still helping those who care to learn.

 

[slownickel]

GH Mix

GH Mix

Big Toke,

Great posts. I think I have read all of your posts.

What mix or blend of the three GH do you use?

I am building a bio bucket system as we speak!

Thanks a million!

 

[kp^]

Big Toke,

What mix or blend of the three GH do you use?

I am building a bio bucket system as we speak!

Thanks a million!

Hah, me too.. Well not building yet. Pricing things out tho!

To maybe answer your GH question.... I found a post that Big Toke once posted...

Recommended nutrient strength for 12 buckets.
• Week-One ~ (fresh clones) 400 ppm.
• Week-Two ~ 800 ppm.
• Week-Three ~ 1000 ppm.
• Week-Four ~ 1000 ppm……….if there is a week three (small trees) week four (medium trees) anything beyond week four is large trees!!

and

Do you use exactly what the directions say on the GH 3part?......

yes!!

And this might help too..

Veg.
• two to three or four weeks just depends on how large I wish to grow them, I would recommend that if you wish to go three to four weeks make sure that you have a way to keep the humidity under control, it is a lot easier to keep the humidity under control one and two weeks but on average ppm’s are any were between 800 to 1000 I never go over a thousand ppm’s during veg through two weeks of flowering because it seems to me that if you push a plant to it’s max during veg or at the first two weeks of harvest it will starch more so to reduce starching I never go over 1000 ppm’s during this time frame, at the third or forth week of harvest I began to bump it up!!!
Harvest
• I do not like to starve my plants to death at harvest time but as in nature I do reduce certain nutrients for the last two weeks, like nitrogen I totally stop using it during the last two weeks.

List is based on 16 buckets, and a change or two. Maybe I can pass it by anyone to see if I'm thinking about this.

An idea a friend of mine has been pondering about for the supply line. If we take the main supply line and move it a little bit above the bucket height.

Bucket height will depend on how high your plants are above your pump.

For example, the bucket is ~15" tall, and I need to be up about 1 foot. So That's 27", lets round up and go 28". So therefore instead of the supply line on the ground level we are pumping all the water ~28" UP from the pump and then straight down each supply line still ~28" above the floor and then into the buckets.... The supply line is set in an angle much like the drain pipe to push the water into the pipe and into the bucket faster. Less times the water is being pumped up 12, 16, 20 3/4" hoses. So basically is pumping all the water once 3' up better than doing it for each bucket?.... or Do I need to have the supply line bellow a specific height?? This make sense?

My home depot list which is to create a 16 bucket system... This list is only to give you an idea of some of the parts and prices you'll see. Prices vary state to state... etc yadda yadda...yadda.

Home depot list:
3-10' 4" ABS pipe
1-4" ABS T
1-4" ABS elbow
7-10' 1.5" PVC pipe
16-1.5" PVC elbow
16-1.5" to 3/4" PVC T
4-1.5" PVC T
2-4" ABS Caps
5-1.5" end caps
1-Handy pack primer cement
16-3/4" PVC Ball valve
1-32gallon

Total: $235


And Big Toke, nono sir, thank YOU!


kp

 

[Orestes]

Just had a thought, is it neccessary to have seperate buckets for each plant? what about a large 30some or 50 gallon rubbermaid, with a screen 5 inchess off the bottom across the thing, 4 inches of lavarock piled on top of that and maybe four or six airstones in the bottom chamber? But wait there's more, a waterfall reservoir circulating the mess quite efficiently via holes on the res running to two diagonal holes on either side arranged diagonally flowing through the tub to opposite diagonal holes leading to opposite diagonal holes and two more pumps-- creating a spiral flow in the tub and pushing the water back up through the waterfall res. A float switch for the two input pumps would be essential, particularly if any of the pumps failed and there was an imbalance. Output would just be on all the time.

This is intended for four cheap pumps, wally world style. Res could sit beneath or above, four pumps are so nicely balanced.

This really opens it up to SOG growing... maybe using simple dividers for the lavarock level or just planting a micro-field. And I like the idea of keeping it more free range...

feasib;e?

 

[kp^]

Hello and thanks all for the info in this thread! This BIO idea, and thread as been an INSPIRATION! I’m at the point where I have read the entire thread a few times, searched and researched ideas/questions.. I have drawings in photoshop detailing the design and flow of the grow, what things look like, how it’s positioned, and whatnot. I have price lists, and quotes from hydro stores. I’m READY to do this! I just need to finalize a few things, and ask few questions for clarification. So without further ado, here I go….

Details of grow:
16 buckets in a 10’ X 7’ X 7’ “sealed” room with two 1000w air-cooled hoods.

1. Can you tell me more about these Oasis Cubes?? Pics of the packaging of the Oasis Cubes that you use? Online retailer that's suggested? Are Oasis Cubes the black foam style sheets that are "open-celled" that sell in sheets of 50 for less than ~8 bucks? Google found this for me: http://www.gchydro.com/detail.asp?product_id=XOASIS. None of my local hydro stores have these, so I may have to find a deal online…
   
2. What size of pump do I need? My research says a MAG24 will do the job. I think even with my design changes it will be enough to handle the needs. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
   
3. Can someone explain, or push me in the right direction about float valves.. I'm not 100% sure how I will be getting water into my space yet as its in the garage, and the only plumping that I can find is for the water heater. ideas?

Big Toke, or anyone else, Can you fill in the blanks below? I’ve gathered this info throughout the Bio Buckets 101 thread, and thought it would help others by giving a baseline. I do realize there are formulas for this stuff...

Bucket to Reservoir Size:
Pump MUST be no farther away that 5ft from first bucket.
•3 bucket = 3 gallon reservoir, 1ft drop, 140,GPH pump.
•6 buckets = 4.5-gallons reservoir, 1ft drop, 258GPH pump @ 8.5times per/hr
•8 buckets = 6-gallon reservoir, 1ft drop, xxGPH pump @
•9 buckets = 7.5gallon reservoir, 1ft drop, 500GPH pump @ 10times per/hr
•12 bucket = 9 gallons reservoir, 1ft drop, xxGPH pump @
•16 buckets = 12-gallon reservoir, 1ft drop, xxGPH pump @
•32 buckets = 24gallon reservoir, 1ft drop, 2416GPH pump @ 15times per/hr

Thanks again Big Toke, and the others that have contributed and shared your knowledge with us!

 

[jackhammer]

I have studied this system for almost a year now and I truly feel that Bio is the way to go. I wanted my system to be idiot proof as this is my first grow. The one issue that I sought to over come was the drainage system. My gut tells me that anything less than a 2" drain might clog and potentially cause a flood. my system is designed so that there is no way it will clog.

After a year of planning and set up I finally have my first signs of budding. I'm 11 days into flower and I have to tell ya...You pros out there might remember the first sign of buds that you got from your first grow, but this has to be the best moment for a new grower. To see your girls start to give you the reward that you have worked so hard to achieve. I feel like a father giving his daughter away at a wedding...lol and I feel like a first time father again.
I’m sure harvest will be just as awesome but my first hairs….F’n AWESOME and other than some nute burn the system works as good as it looks. I’ll use Co2 next time that’s the only trick I don’t have in my bag at this time.

 

[jackhammer]

Simpleton...... The BioTub needs to be done justice be someone. There have been prototype's but no standardized and proven setup.

Obviously, it's all just a matter of medium and oxygen content, but with a somewhat unspoken emphasis on water temps.

In my opinion, a chiller makes almost any hydro system kick ass.

Buckets are primarily just nice because they support big, low maintenance trees. The bio part exists in every hydroponic system, but balance it is a challenge.

It's also why you should stick to the original General Hydroponics or other simple chemical nutrient solutions.

Without an ability to really measure beneficial bacteria the bio approach is a bit of a guessing game, especially in such a short term ecosystem.

As it stands most hydroponics growers, even the pros, could learn a lot about bacteria cycles and ecosystems going on in their grows. A well run aquarium is actually a great starting place to get the best grip on bio-filtering in general.

There are many ways to engineer a bio-filter. The bucket method isn't quite perfect and self containment would be ideal, especially for the majority of growers which could get by with 1-4 tubs. Huge grows might enjoy the modularity of mass produced bucket systems, but for many it's a system prone to overflows and root rot.

There should be a better self contained bio system for the modest grower.

I wish we'd get more input from people ACTUALLY running these things, especially on the bio factor of things. Experiments with growing medium size and type and oxygen content with monitored water temps would BE A START.

A major advantage would be not needing the waterfall such as a common recirculating system which doesn't need so much ground clearance. If we knew more about dissolved oxygen level, flow rate and temps in these system it would help a lot.

It seems most people chose the simpler self container DWC Bubbler system. A rubbermaid with an air stone.

Nimby had bioTubs running back in the day same as a DWC but with more water movement and higher oxygen levels. I forget the type of pump he used, but it sucked in oxygen as it pumped, certainly some aquarium style pump.

I think this system merged with a recirculated DWC design and more dissolved oxygen would prove to be easier to setup, cheaper and far less prone to leakage. The root clog/overflow problem is serious.

An ideal system would provide a level of water such as SWC in case of pump failure, but not have a simple overflow drain which can clog easily. SWC In general means more oxygen which is most cases is more limiting than massive amounts of water.

Eventually it leads you to aeroponics which is truly the best since it uses much less water and nutrients, but of course, far less practical to setup and rely on.

Here of course you have the great problem of working in beneficial bacteria, but THAT SHOULD be all fixable if you designed a better external bio filter. However, there will always be a trade off from the lack of perfect medium such as soil provides for every type of beneficial bacteria and fungus.

Biobuckets are a decent solution, but I argue that you could add the oxygen in a better way and be more self contained. This would lower the height profile and the overflow problem. Dual overflow drains might prove to be useful for some growers who will inevitably have root clog problems.

It's odd that the biobucket have a problem with organic nutrients. To me, this suggestion their a major piece of the puzzle missing of creating a cheap and reliable ecosystem for your plants.

Who could argue with Jesus lol


Please correct me if I'm wrong but I truly believe the Aquaculture is the way to go. Aquarium bio technology is a start. A living system is what makes bio buckets work so well. The water fall is a system that puts oxygen in the water. If you don’t have the room that’s where air stones come in.
Drainage is huge. If your system is too small it will clog. Here's what I built. There is no way this pig will clog

 

[jackhammer]

hey BT can you e-mail me? I'd like to run a few thoughts through your drug hazed head if you don't mind lol

 

[raygun]

BigToke,
in the process of designing the cabinet(36"x20"x76"),would it be better to angle the drain pipe towards the center or towards one side of the reservoir to help with aeration and mixture? also, knowing the root ball is going to grow quickly in this system, would you guys recommend using 4-4gal. square buckets or going scrog with 2-5gal. square buckets? any help would be appreciated. thank you.

Darippa check out my signature Bio-Buckets thread. Using aprox the same area as you I was able to make it happen and it was very successful.
I know this is a little late but hope it helps eihter way.










Safe Growing
~raygun~

 

[BigToke]

Hi everyone, I’d like to wish my Bio-Hydro Growing bud’s a Marry Christmas; And to ALL of my good friends at IC.

 

[SwampSavant]

I love your system. I think it may be one of the best indoor systems that I have seen. I have studied it for some time now and I think I have come up with some small but significant improvements. If your are interested I can send you some of the new ideas I have for this system. If your not interested in them could you at least give your opinion of the direction that I'm heading?