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

BigToke

Bio-Bucket Specialist *********
Veteran
I have given your request a great deal of thought and in all honesty I’m not trying to be unresponsive to your request by taking my time to answer, I personally have issues about dropping my drawers and showing you every thing I got without even getting to know you first, dame that’s a bitch!! Most people wish I was one of those guys that they could slap on the back and I would swell up with pride and some dame BIG EGO, fact is I feel a close personal tie with the Bio-Buckets, I have taking the principles of the Bio-Buckets and redesigned them for the medium to large scale size growers and since folks like for me to be the teacher and this board is my class room, so you’ll just have to forgive me when I say that I think students learn better when there’s a close bond between professor & students, so I hope that you’ll understand me when I say that I’m just not into this gothic thing, coming here and being very methodical about your questions kind of spooks me out, I’m more of the kind of fellow that is: Hi how are you? I am ?????? get the point?

Hay you, ya you, Ron Gotti I have noticed that you have only posted three times here at IC and they all have been right here, well now; if you haven’t noticed there are several other folks around here who drops in from time to time, some just to say Hello!! Some to just learn new skills to add to there own, and some just to say hello to me so that I don’t get board and fall asleep lol, but whatever the cause may be there are folks who drop in. So what I would like for you to do for all of us here at IC is to get yourself on over there to the {Introduce Yourself Forum} and tell us a little bet about yourself, like for instance: what led you to IC to begin with, and how long you been smoking, are you a med user? Or just some one who loves to grow his own. Are you a member of any other mj internet growing site? And if so are you using the same call name? and if you find that all this sharing about yourself is to frustrating to do, then maybe you should consider not growing hydroponics because that requires a little more thinking on the growers part.

Listen dude it’s like this with me, you just simply cant show up here and expect for me to make up diagrams and layouts of everything that you need to do, for that matter no one else can ether, (if I were to start doing that I would be drawing up Blue Prints for ever grower on the internet) not without being a contributing part of this community and a supporting member of the owners and operators of this site, (after all they been very kind to let me post my shit here) and the {Breeders} and may I say you could search the world over and not find a better group of hared working, high quality group of Breeders, I must say if it were not for there dedication folks like us would have a hard way to go and as for my Bio-Bucket System, it would be as a hydro ship dead in the water if it were not for these top notch genetic breeders, so my hats off to ya fellows you all are doing a fine job!! Shit I’m just going to come right out and say it, coming here and interacting with the good folks here at IC is some of the best therapeutic things that I’ve done since the beginning of growing years. So I wont to set the record start to every one, from were ever you come from if you wish that I play an active roll in the development of your system/grow, you must be an active and supporting member of this sit, this is not IC’s rules!!! They are simply BigTokes Rules, I truly desire to bring to this community a since of togetherness and I must set an example for those who would follow. So if you find or anyone else finds that this is not for you then let me say that that is what the “How-To Thread” is for, any one can come here from any were and look over what I have put down it’s free and it’s there for every one to look at and see, but if your soul desire is to have someone to coach you through it, well you know?

Now lets talk about this yield issue thing for a little bet. I remember a time when I was just like you, I wanted to grow trees and get that huge yield of 1lb but before I stepped out and began to do any thing I decided to do a good search for the big time growers and see what they were doing and I learned a lot!!! Let’s see if I can break it down for ya, it’s like this for me anyways; time equals money in hydro, it’s not like soil so you wont to make sure that you spend your time well and that truly is the bottom line, there’s always that stopping point that ever grower must deiced that this is enough. Let me put it to ya this way; there’s a certain Plato that most Big Time Growers reach that they realize that if they go beyond this point that they stand to Loss and not Gain. Look at it this way, you may not get that 1lb per plaint but the time that you’ll save in starting up a new crop will pay for it’s self, whether or not that you chose to comply, I hope that I have said something to help you in your journey.

Listen bro it’s obvious to me that your no newbie or at least that’s the way it seems to me and that you’ve done some kind of indoor growing before, I mine really what newbie already has five 1000w bulbs and buckets and is welling to spend more to get what he wants and if you really are a newbie and have never grown before well your sure putting off the vibes like this ant your first rodeo if you know what I mine. Hell there’s no shame in wonting to make a little on the side for growing your stuff, or at least there’s not with me anyway, the way I figure it is I put my hard earned money into building the Bio-System and so on each grow I wont to make a little back off of it, way else would I have 36 Bio-Buckets?

Ps……I really wish that you didn’t have to be the recipient of this kind of response from me, but if your man enough to move up I’m man enough to help you get the job done.
 
G

Guest

Big Toke, you got a major point across with style and and grace, and there is not one thing in what you said that rubs me the wrong way....don't want to go OT on your thread, just let you know I'm standing with ya :wink:
 

sunnyside

Plant Manager
Veteran
BigToke said:
this is not IC’s rules!!! They are simply BigTokes Rules,

shit...I better sit up straight... no slouchin or BT will slap me with his ruler!! lol

xxbluevelvetxx said:
Big Toke, you got a major point across with style and and grace
agreed
 

BigToke

Bio-Bucket Specialist *********
Veteran
Blue, Sunny – Thanks for understanding, it’s not my intention to upset the balance of karma on my thread but some times things have to be said in order to bring things back into prospective and if that mines swelling a few people up well it just cant be helped.
 

Ron Gotti

New member
Hey fella, thanx for the reply. Bt you needn't apologize for anything you said, you where merely stating how you felt for which i respect your position. While it is true that I've only posted three times, I have been reading and lurking on here and also at OG, hc, cw, ukcultivator among other sites, for about six months now. The truth is I have not grown before, all of the knowledge that i have obtained is through reading not trial and error, i like to be able to give myself the best shot at succeeding in anything i try to do, especially if it takes some sort of initial investment on my part. That is why i try to soak up as much information about the subject before i ask any questions of others because i believe it is just lazy not to read first and ask questions later. The reason for all of my interest in this subject is because I love smoking the finest weed their is and to make a long story short, in my area top notch trees is to damn expensive, so i figured why not smoke for free and make some dough on the side while i'm at it. I have been smoking for about 10 years now, and i smoke at least a blunt or two a day. I do work a full time job and i am a member of other forums though i seldom post unless needed. The reason for this, especially on this site is that i more enjoy reading other's experiences and learning from them, considering i don't have any experience in this field as of yet. Hopefully if you decide to help me get things up and running i will have some nice things to post about. Again, i understand your point, and no disrespect, the reason i don't post is i have nothing to post, i plan on getting everything ready to go here shortly and then i 'm sure you will see me more often with many questions that i can't find the answer to on my own. I appreciate all you have done for me and the many other's on this board with this step by step tutorial already, it is just that i wanted some ideas more personalized for me and since you are the one who wrote it, who better to ask? I know this is not posted in the area that you directed me to, but since i had to reply, i figured let's kill two birds with one stone, you know what i'm saying? Now the ball is back in your court, if you would like to help me out fella, i would be greatly indebted to you, if you think i need to be more social in the community and i haven't reached that stage yet to your likeing, so be it. Your decision won't be questioned, if you have icq or any im holla at me in a pm if you like and we can talk real time and get to know each other, i hate going back and forth in posts sometimes, anyway, thanx again, holla back, peace.
 

BigToke

Bio-Bucket Specialist *********
Veteran
After much deliberation over your request I except and agree, well said Ron Gotti, I was hoping you would be adult enough to understand my position and to see things from my angel, I look forward to expanding aware friendship and successfully achieving your goals, normally I’m not a hard nosed guy (ok maybe I am just a little bit) but I find that it is an effective way of driving off youngsters and adolescent thinking people, for that purpose and that purpose only I come across on the internet that way to detour those type of folks, I mine let’s face it, I’ve met a lot of adolescent thinking stoners in my time and usually they wind up getting there asses busted, (that’s not always the case of course.) but it’s not my intention to help someone build a grad A kick ass growing machine just to find out that they can’t keep there mouth shout about there grow op, because this is a pretty impressive operating hydro machine.

I like your response Ron it says to me you’ve got style and are mature enough to read between the lines and I like that, so I except your request (application excepted!!) I think that I understand the essence of what your trying to do with your grow and that’s cool with me. I find that my biggest problem with trying to setup other growers who has done a few indoor grows before is that they want listen to what I’m saying!! I mine really, if they were not willing to do what I was telling them to do to begin with then way even bother, you know what I mine? But I don’t think this is the case with you, being a new grower and all you should make the transition quit easily.

As I said, willing to help in anyway I can to see that your fist grow of the year is as good as your last, so as in all educational journeys you know who winds up doing most of the work (that’s right, the student,) so here’s what I need you to do:
  1. I need you to start your own grow/thread right here in the “indoor hydroponics forum” you can call it any thing you like just as long as it has “Bio-Buckets” in it, that way folks know what to expect before they click.
  2. I need a photo of the grow/room area that we will be working with, the exact demotions of that room and in the middle of the room take a photo of every thing that you have to start with, you know what I saying? Lights, fans, buckets, net-pots, hoses, pip’s, meters and any other grow material that you might have, you tell me what you’ve got and I’ll make a list from that and if you don’t have a camera then get one!! Because your going to need it any ways, it will make a tutorial 100% more effective and besides that once you start seeing those huge Bio-Buds you’ll be proud of them and want to take lots of pic’s.
  3. I need to know if you still have plan on growing trees (not recommended for overall yield throughout the year) but if that is your desire we can make it happen. I guess what it all boils down to is “Bud’s Gained vs Time Lost” like I said with me there is this plateau that one reaches in growing that you have to ask yourself “is the bud I’m going to gain going to be worth the time lost” I’ll let you decide that.

There are a few things that I feel like that all growers need to do before setting up a grow op, and that is:
  • Make sure that no one know's about what you are doing and were it is at and that it is completely out of sight!!
  • If you are married make sure that your wife agrees 100 % before spending any money!!
  • Make sure that you have thought out how your going to handle the smell and buy the proper equipment to do so!!
BigToke Says: you can spend all the money you want to on security and all that stuff but the best security that any one could have is the fact that way would any one suspect you!! If you give folks a reason to be suspicious of you they well!! Don’t have anything around your home or anything about you that would cause people to think you are doing what you are doing got my drift? I find that being anonymous is like a warm blanket on a cold night, it will bring you lot’s of comfort. I will do all that I can to support you in this endeavor of yours, but at the same time I want you to be a smart and intelligent grower and not get your ass busted, I would not feel happy about that and neither would you!!
 
R

rule35sub1

Hey BT.
The feed line into the bucket appears as though it goes in and points towards the bottom, is there a hose attached to it or does it just flow from the L joint?
 

BigToke

Bio-Bucket Specialist *********
Veteran
How’s it going rule, and the answer to your question is: No, there is no line attached to the L joint, it just goes through the bucket and points downward.
 

Ron Gotti

New member
Hey bt, thanx for accepting me in to the bio bucket weed college, i'm honored. Seriously though, i appreciate you taking the time out of your schedule to tutor and mentor me in this grow and i am looking forward to making you proud you did. Anyway here goes: I decided not to start a grow thread just yet as i want to give you all the info and get everything together first. The room is a standard 2 car garage 21' by 24' with a height of 9'4". I originally had planned on growing trees because of the low plant numbers but upon doing some research it seems in florida it really doesn't matter since the the penalty is the same for 20grams to 25lbs/2000plants. So it is really up to you how many plants i grow. This is going to be a cash crop so whatever you think will maximize my yearly yield whether it be more plants, shorter veg and more crops per year, or trees with more yield but less crops it is up to you. You were correct in saying that i will follow your directions, i am starting with a clean slate which means there are no bad habits for me/you to break, so just say and i will do, you are the one with the experience. As for what i have, at the moment i have nothing. I was waiting for a reply from you and now that i have got it, let's move ahead shall we. My local hydro store has maryland hydro lights and ballasts in stock ready to go, the maximum light i can use at this location off the bat i would say would be around 5k to 6k worth of wattage on the lights, since you seem to want to do higher plant #'s to max out the area, make up a configuration whether it is 5 1k lights or some 6oo's or whatever you choose and i will pick them up this week. As for the buckets let me know how many i need and i will pick them up also. The ac is ducted directly into the garage with all of the vents in the house closed so the unit is basically just cooling the garage, there is no ventilation as of yet, but just let me know where and when and it will be done. Pretty much just make a list( something like this:20 5 gal buckets, 1/2"pvc pipe, 1/2 grommets, etcccc...) of anything and everything i need to get started and i will pick it up this week. Now for genetics, since i am having a very hard time aquiring any clones in my area, and to my knowledge ******** is not delivering and bc bud depot only delivers in canada it looks like i will be growing from seed and making clones. If anybody knows anywhere that will deliver quality clones here in the us or even cuts for that matter, drop me a line it would be greatly appreciated not to mention be a lifesaver and a timesaver. The seeds i have selected are spice brothers Green Giant x Ak-47 Feminized, Green Giant x AK-47 /Sour D Feminized, Green Giant x Green Giant/Matanuska Thunderfuck Feminized, i have heard good things about these strains and the sts method, but as you know i have no experience so if their are other strains that you think give a better yield and quality in this type of grow please let me know. Heaven's stairway says they can have the seeds to me in a week so let me know and if these are okay i will have them germinating as soon as possible while i'm putting together the system. For the first grow they will be vegged and flowered in the same room but i plan on taking clones and prevegging the next crop in a spare bedroom to cut down on time and squeeze some extra crops out of the system. Again thanx for the help fella, As soon as you post the supplies needed list and configuration options i will get everything and begin setup, this is when i will start a bio bucket thread from start to finish for all to see, let's make this one to remember, you know what i'm saying? I await your reply, peace.
 
R

rule35sub1

Hey BT.

I have one last question for now. I take it that you do not use a skimmer, if you do, i missed it. Do you and if so, do i need one?
 

BigToke

Bio-Bucket Specialist *********
Veteran
rule – you can ask as many Q’s as you want to my friend………I have simply redesigned the Bio-System to were it is not needed and have proven that with an accrual DO-Meter……..later on in this I have decided to take on a new project, I’m going to design a down sized version of my Bio-Buckets to maybe like a four bucket system, it will be most efficient and will fit most anywhere. Thanks for dropping in, come by any time.

Ron Gotti – I hate coming off like a jack ass here, but your not listing to what I’m telling you………and it appears to me like we are going around in circles!! It would seem to me like that your after one thing and that is a list!! If it’s a list of every thing that you will need, I have already provided that right here in this “How-To” thread just back-up and go over every thing that I laid out, every thing is there, but if you want heads on help from BigToke himself you will have to follow every thing that I say to the T…….let me put it to you this way, you are nothing more than my “heads & feet” in this step-by-step tutorial and if you want me to provide you with a customized designed bio-system suited exactly for your needs with a detailed list of every thing that you need, plus diagrams of how they go together you are going to have to do as I say!!

Like I said, it’s not an ego-thing……simply put this is the only way that I can 99% guarantee YOU that it will do what you want, the other 1% is how well you put it together and listen. Listen bro, most folks that I know that decides to build one of these things on there own winds up taking “one step forward & two steps back.” I hope that we are on the same page now, because if I have to write one more negative karma post in my thread that’s it for me.

One of the main resins that I became a member here at IC to began with is that the member/grower here at this site were the most mature folks that I could find, to me this site is about getting down to business and that’s what I like to do, so let’s quite this beating around the bush stuff and get down to it, and if you really do want to make “this one to remember” I suggest you back-up and completely to what I said to do, and if you decide that that’s to much for you to do that’s cool with me I understand, just do like every one else here does, for example rule: ask your questions and I will answer. No one else HERE has ever ask me to do what you have, and if they were to it would be the same for them, (active members exempted from this) I am not asking you to do nothing more than what I would anyone else. It appears to me like once you’ve built your “cash-crop-system” that well be the end that we see of you. To me one of the biggest thrills of growing (besides the buds) is the learning experience, figuratively specking; I like to look over into bucket and see what makes it tick? You know what I mean.

Listen dude, we have done nothing but play (ring-around-the-roses) since we’ve began and if your serious about this then let’s get down to it and quite this dancing-in-circles stuff.

I have another option for ya, if you find that my stiff-nosed-attitude is not to your liking and is to distasteful for ya. Start your own thread and began your construction the way you want to off of what you already understand and ask your questions I am sure that every one will be more than willing to help you out including me.

Ps……..if all you have is an empty room and nothing else, then take a picture of the empty grow/room that you plan on using, and let this party began!!

Btw what is this ICQ business anyway I don’t think I know how to operate that, but it sound fun!! Is it safe to communicate that way without getting spoofed? I’ll have to check it to that.
 

Sleepy

Active member
Veteran
AMEN!

AMEN!

BigToke said:
There are a few things that I feel like that all growers need to do before setting up a grow op, and that is:
  • Make sure that no one no’s about what you are doing and were it is at and that it is completely out of sight!!
  • If you are married make sure that your wife agrees 100 % before spending any money!!
  • Make sure that you have thought out how your going to handle the smell and buy the proper equipment to do so!!
BigToke Says: you can spend all the money you want to on security and all that stuff but the best security that any one could have is the fact that way would any one suspect you!! If you give folks a reason to be suspicious of you they well!! Don’t have anything around your home or anything about you that would cause people to think you are doing what you are doing got my drift? I find that being anonymous is like a warm blanket on a cold night, it will bring you lot’s of comfort. I will do all that I can to support you in this endeavor of yours, but at the same time I want you to be a smart and intelligent grower and not get your ass busted, I would not feel happy about that and neither would you!!
Professor, i just read the whole thing AGAIN...lots of great info in there. thanks!
too many people do not think these 3 easy things out until its TOO LATE!!
 

Ron Gotti

New member
Hey bt, no offense taken. Your attitude doesn't bother me one bit fella, I'm from NJ originally, everybody has an attitude there, especially all of us italians. Anyway look, I apologize for trying your patience and i understand that i may be asking more of you than anybody ever has here and if this is a problem, please just let me know. Like i said before the only reason i'm asking you like this is because i would like to give myself the best possible chance to succeed in this endeavor and i think with your tutelage that is what will happen. I am not trying to beat around the bush, all I want to know is: How many buckets do you think i should run to maximize my yield in my space? How many lights should i have, what wattage, and configuration and placement of the lights to the buckets.( i imagine they would be hung vertically with no shades)? What size res, and how to hook up a passive res, what size pump, what size drain, so on and so forth. Then I will pick up those things and put them together per your instructions in the thread earlier or if you decide to give me new ones, simple. The other question i had was about the genetics i considered and if you had any input about that situation, also if there is anybody else out there who has any input on this please post or let me know, it would be greatly appreciated. I am not at the spot right now so i cannot post a pic but I don't see why a pic would matter, I gave you the dimensions on the last page, and it is an empty 2 car garage with ac directly ducted in to the room, no more no less. I understand that I am not a longstanding member here nor am i on any of the other forums, i'm simply someone trying to learn from the best at this method and have some fun along the way. I will not disappear, once i have everything going there will be a thread with detailed day by day posts, no bullshit. Don't forget, this is an internet fake reality world we are in, I understand that there is no way for you to believe me or see if i am sincere about this, you can only trust your instinct and give trust initially and see how it goes, it is a process, same for everyone else. I do hope you consider what i have said and continue to move on, but if not, no hard feelings i will just have to do it myself, but like a wise man once said," Some men learn from there mistakes, and other men learn from other's mistakes" Only people with experience can teach from their mistakes.

Ps. Icq is a instant messenger program that can be used in conjunction with trillian to form an encrypted pipeline between both users so no traffic can be exposed anywhere along the way. I have been doing alot of things on the computer business wise that require a certain level of privacy when talking real time and my partners and I have found nothing better for security. Thanx again, holla back.
 

Ron Gotti

New member
Hey bt, I started the thread like you asked fella, sorry for all the bullshit, but i figured i might as well just follow directions and shut the hell up, thanx.
 

Roaddog

Member
Hey Big Toke!
Top of the mornin to ya.

Could you give us your opinion on enviornmental controls
in a/your grow space?
Would co2 be helpful in your system, as it seems to be in others?
Also, with a 90-110 flowering sativa, would your method of managing nutrients change?

Here's the concept I'm considering.
I'm thinking about growing 3 strains.

1 for commercial purposes
1 for a underground medical community (gratis)
1 for a pet project

I suppose I would try to find a happy medium on temp. humidity.,co2?
I might want to keep the sativas in soil, just to keep the murphy's law factor down.

Anyway, I am learning so much here at IC University!
My first hydro grow should kick off in about a week.
The babys, from seed are now about 3" tall.

Thanks,

RD
 

BigToke

Bio-Bucket Specialist *********
Veteran
Sleepy, – That’s a hole lot of reading!! Glad you liked it, and btw you are so right about what you said.

Roaddog, – Shank of the evening to you, the environmental condition of my grow/room?
  • Temp’s in grow/room are between 75F to 85F, depending on what season of the year that my grow is done?
  • I have a intake of fresh air on one side of the grow/room, and an exhaust on the other side of the grow/room, plus two extra fans blowing in the grow/room.
  • I have one dehumidifier in the grow/room that I use only the last two week of flowering.
I use nothing else in or on my grow/room as far as CO2 and Foliar Sprays.
Thanks for dropping by Dog, any thing I can do to help just let me know.
 
R

rule35sub1

Hey BT.

Since the buckets are considered mini resevoirs and you also have the central res, do you mix your nutes for the total amount of all resevoirs or just the main one?
 

BigToke

Bio-Bucket Specialist *********
Veteran
You are right. Each Bio-Bucket is it’s own mini reservoir, and the mane big central reservoir is were that you mix your solution.

Here’s how I do it in my system, I take a water hose and fill the central reservoir up and then I turn on the pump and it sucks it down…….I do that about five times and I’m done, now after that I have filled up the system with plain tap-water and the system is running full blast!!! Then I adjust my PPM’s……unless your PH is above 7.4 there is no need to bother with it.
 
R

rule35sub1

So if I have ten 5 gallon buckets and a 35 gallon res, I mix my nutes to a strength for 35 gallons or 85 gallons or do you only go by your ppm's?
 
G

Guest

Forgive me for butting in, but I believe you should mix your nutes for 85 gallons. Your nutrients will be circulating through the entire system not just the solution that is in your buckets. Total volume equals bucket volume plus resevoir volume. But I would recommend being safe and estimating nutrient requirements slightly below your 85 gallon figure and then gradually working your way up to the correct ppm. It is far easier to add nutrients then it is to take away. Good luck.
 

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