Blazeoneup's Recirculating Dwc Construction Tutorial!

[alflud]

There is no flood and drain in this system. The pump pumps nutrients from the controller through the feedtubes in to the buckets. The buckets all remain at the same level if you have a level floor,, the nutrients return back to the controller from the bottom of the bucket through the return line. This allows the water to be recirculated not flood and drain, the purpose of rerculating effciently is so you can add in a chiller after the water pump to maintain water temps, and also to maintain stable nutrient solution throughout the entire system.

Doh! I see now. Thanks man - that really has cleared everything up for me Haha! The thread title and the air diffusers should've clued me in but hell, I dunno, I just didn't get it. *slaps forehead*

*edit* There's anther thing bugging me now - how do you keep the water level at the same height? I'm not too clear on that - my brain is failing me

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

Doh! I see now. Thanks man - that really has cleared everything up for me Haha! The thread title and the air diffusers should've clued me in but hell, I dunno, I just didn't get it. *slaps forehead*

*edit* There's anther thing bugging me now - how do you keep the water level at the same height? I'm not too clear on that - my brain is failing me

If the floor is level gravity will keep all the buckets at the same level. You should install a reservoir that is attached to your controller with a float valve in the controller set at the desired level. Also you could skip a reservoir and tie you RO system right into the float valve. Set your float valve and you have chosen your desired level.

I have built this system twice, and only suggestion i would make to do things differently is to use 1/2" feedlines all the way to the bucket, rather then installing a 1/4" straight barb and 1/4" feedline. Also if you do that you need to install a 1/2" shutoff valve on each feedline so you can disperse the water pump pressure evenly. I call tuning the feedlines "putting it on the dyno" lol

 

[alflud]

Pureknowledge - thanks a lot for helping me out here. I really appreciate it. I'm probably driving you crazy now but I'm still at a bit of a loss understanding this system. The on/off of the pump is controlled by the float valve which is set to whatever height you want the system to fill to .... I get that. Are there two pumps at work here? One to fill the control bucket and one to recirculate the nutes? And if so, I'd assume that the one filling the control bucket (situated in the rez) is the one being controlled by the float switch? and the recirculating pump - is that connected directly to the feed line and on 24hrs? I think that's it, yeah? Tell me I've got it this time lol

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

There is only one water pump, its only job is to send the nutrient solution through the chiller and then on to the buckets feedline and into the buckets. The float valve should simply be set up to a fresh water (RO) reservoir or the RO system itself, the float valve controls the water height. When the plants drink water, the height lowers, the float valve lowers and lets in RO water. (auto-top off) The water pump stays on 24/7

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

For veg you guys could buy bucket lids instead of netpots. Cut holes for 5.5" netpots in the lids. Veg on a table with 5.5" netpots, waaala

 

[alflud]

Thanks Pureknowledge - your comments are much appreciated man but I'm lost altogether. Any chance someone might draw up a diagram? I can get my head around every other system bar this one. I just can't figure it out guys and this is by far my favorite setup.

 

[green_thumb...]

Well thank you blaze for takin the time to show us this wondiferus tutorial iv read a lot of this thread and am mind set on running this style dwc,but a lil more intricate here's a pic of a quick 6th grade level sketch of my plan so far

I have 2 4x4 tents I'll have 4 buckets in each tent under 1k,there will be 2 rezes/controllers,2 buckets in each tent will share the same rez/controller,I plan to gro trees in one tent and scrog in the other runnin 2 diff strains in each tent hense the 2 seperate rezes/controllers.


So my questions are what size rezes and controller will be sifficiant for 4 buckets also what size pump?? Should I go with what's listed in the parts list?

Also thanks for the lil tips and trix pureknowledge I'll def be usint 1/2 feed lines all the way with tuning shutoff valves too, lol ever see a car smok em on a dyno?

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

Go back to the begining and reread the tutorial.

A controller houses a water pump, the water pump pumps nutrient solution through a chiller, the solution goes form the chiller to the 1/2" feedline, the 1/2" feedline goes to the 1/4" fedline for individual buckets. The solution is fed through the feedline into the top of the buckets, on the bottom of the bucket is a 3/4" return line. Gravity causes this return line to work, thus returning the nutrient solution to the controller. Thats the path of the water.

 

[blazeoneup]

Well thank you blaze for takin the time to show us this wondiferus tutorial iv read a lot of this thread and am mind set on running this style dwc,but a lil more intricate here's a pic of a quick 6th grade level sketch of my plan so far

I have 2 4x4 tents I'll have 4 buckets in each tent under 1k,there will be 2 rezes/controllers,2 buckets in each tent will share the same rez/controller,I plan to gro trees in one tent and scrog in the other runnin 2 diff strains in each tent hense the 2 seperate rezes/controllers.


So my questions are what size rezes and controller will be sifficiant for 4 buckets also what size pump?? Should I go with what's listed in the parts list?

Also thanks for the lil tips and trix pureknowledge I'll def be usint 1/2 feed lines all the way with tuning shutoff valves too, lol ever see a car smok em on a dyno?

In your diagram rez 1&2 are your controller buckets, You will be fine going with 20 gal rubbermaids for the controller buckets, You should also invest into one or 2 rez, Each system needs a rez for auto refilling. Or you can just top it off manually, I prefer auto top off with ro water. If you choose to auto top off with plain water you can use one single 40-50 gal rez for both systems. Just link the 40-5 gal rez to each controller through a float valve. If you plan to auto top off with nutrient solution you will need a seperate rez for both systems. The main rez should hold enough water to refill the complete system.

 

[green_thumb...]

Thanks blaze,so what should I go with as far as pumps? If I go 1/2" lines all the way to each tub should I go with something more powerful like 300-400 gpm?

 

[blazeoneup]

Thanks blaze,so what should I go with as far as pumps? If I go 1/2" lines all the way to each tub should I go with something more powerful like 300-400 gpm?

Yes, You will probly need something a little more powerful, If you run 1/2" feed lines I'd increase the return lines to 1". You can probly get by with a 200gph pump 300 woudnt hurt (For each controller) its ony 4 buckets per controller so not like its gonna need anything to powerful.

If you want higher flow, I'd reccomend 3/8" tubing for the feed lines instead of 1/2".

 

[blazeoneup]

If the floor is level gravity will keep all the buckets at the same level. You should install a reservoir that is attached to your controller with a float valve in the controller set at the desired level. Also you could skip a reservoir and tie you RO system right into the float valve. Set your float valve and you have chosen your desired level.

I have built this system twice, and only suggestion i would make to do things differently is to use 1/2" feedlines all the way to the bucket, rather then installing a 1/4" straight barb and 1/4" feedline. Also if you do that you need to install a 1/2" shutoff valve on each feedline so you can disperse the water pump pressure evenly. I call tuning the feedlines "putting it on the dyno" lol

I just read that, Sounds like a good way to make it fully tweakable. 1/2 lines sounds big but tweaked with shut off valves to control the output makes it do-able! Also this would eliminate the problem some have with leaks at the barb to hose connections, Though from personal experience as long as you make the insert proper and get the barb in correctly, and dont have a pump so powerful it forces leaks it will remain leak tight.

However that being said, Like the idea....

 

[moses224]

I've been doing exactly this! The RR plugs to do bettter than the rockwool plugs, but still having issues vegging!!!! HELP, here is my thread on this!!!!

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=152991

Exactly RW or RR to perlit or Hydroton any media roots can easily be removed,,,,,Blaze shit looks great bro

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

Right on blaze, yea even with experience man the 1/4 barbs still kick my ass! LOL In have tryed so many ways! I think the next system I build will go back to 1/4" feedlines using that handy little piece someone posted earlier.

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=31812&catid=454&clickid=searchresults

Hope you don't mind me helping out Keep em lit bro!

 

[blazeoneup]

Nice link pure, I'd much rather use the barbed fitting then the inserted barbs, 100% better.

EDIT why would I mind you keeping it moving when Im slacking?

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

yea geez blaze pick it up man lol....lol.... been over to my thread and seen the bushes latley?

 

[alflud]

Go back to the begining and reread the tutorial.

A controller houses a water pump, the water pump pumps nutrient solution through a chiller, the solution goes form the chiller to the 1/2" feedline, the 1/2" feedline goes to the 1/4" fedline for individual buckets. The solution is fed through the feedline into the top of the buckets, on the bottom of the bucket is a 3/4" return line. Gravity causes this return line to work, thus returning the nutrient solution to the controller. Thats the path of the water.

Thanks man - I got it now. Feed from rez to controller (fill level of entire system) controlled by float valve. Recirculating pump in controller connected directly to feed line -> chiller -> plant buckets -> back to controller. Thanks a lot for your help.

Alf.

 

[maxibiogreen]

Just perfect Blazeoneup.
Really good and helpful thread.

I m myself running a simple unit DWC and i m just going to build a recirculating DWC with 6 units (a little smaller than yours)

I had to say thanks for the time spent on the thread to help others.And to help me out with the construction of this very efficient system

 

[green_thumb...]

Yes, You will probly need something a little more powerful, If you run 1/2" feed lines I'd increase the return lines to 1". You can probly get by with a 200gph pump 300 woudnt hurt (For each controller) its ony 4 buckets per controller so not like its gonna need anything to powerful.

If you want higher flow, I'd reccomend 3/8" tubing for the feed lines instead of 1/2".

Thanks blaze,I'm drawin up ideas think I will go with 3/8" and a 300gph pump per controller awsell. I'm really excited just thinkin bout seein it all set up and runnin makin me fatty buds!!! And thanks again for this thread ita awesome and turned bout 4 other cannasiours on to it.

 

[Zer0Ry0k0]

Thank you so much for posting this. Years later and people are still making this.