How many Buckets will Fit

[v00doo3]

Well heres my space



It is 4'8''x2'6''x7. I want to try dwc since i have been reading alot about it and have tried soil a few times with great success. I want to know whats the best system to put in this space. I was thinking 8 buckets but now am thinking that might be a bit much. Also do I need one of those resevore things. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advanced!

Also just fyi here is my other grow area




I plan to ultimatley have this as my veg/clone room and get a perpetual grow going but right now I just want to start with the bigger room and practice with the dwc.

I forgot to add that my light is 400w mh/hps and temps are never a problem since i have quite a big blower for this room.

 

[Haps]

It depends on your veg time, you could do 8 sog, but 6 3 ft or 4 4 ft girls would be my go.
H

 

[TheLaydeKillaz]

Small plants and more of 'em seems the way forward to me. 16 plants into 1m2 is not unreasonable. Use square pots to maximise rootspace. Good luck.

 

[Blunt_69]

im a little bias here, but the magic trays would fit perfectly into this space. My grow space is very similer, i run 6 plants, normally 4-5 feet tall. This is a scrog round so they are only 3-4 tall this go.

 

[v00doo3]

blunt69- how much do you yield with those 6 plants. I like your setup alot, im thinking this might be a fun way to start. Also what size light are you using. Anymore details would be great. (type of box, or more pictures._

 

[frostyy420]

Thats not much light for that size room. A little over 30wpsf. 400w lights dont really penetrate very deep either. I would stick with plants no bigger then 3 1/2 feet. New to hydro so not sure how many buckets you could fit in there.

 

[Blunt_69]

Im running a 1000hps hortilux(so i can get away with bigger plants) Last round was just under a pound of dankness... I have it dialed in this go, so we will see how it performes this round. I know you guys always asking for more pictures... The ones I have are the best i can get...Literally have no room to take a wide angle shot..

Have a look at the diagram.It should give you a good idea on how to build it.If you need more info on the build please post in, the building the magic trays thread, im more then happy to answer any questions.

 

[sweetgreendream]

Voo-

Here's my .02. Follow the KISS principal. I have run plumbed together systems, drip/dwc, etc... and they definatley work but IMHO they tend to have more issues than a simple DWC. I now run single 5g buckets with an airstone in each. I use the giant net pots that replace the lid and sit on the edge of the bucket. Couldnt be easier for me.

As for the # of plants and your plans I suggest you reconsider. It sounds easy to stop and rearrange the space but believe me it is not if you are looking for continuity. Are you going to take clones of the females so you dont need to go from seed next time? Plan for the first 2 grows now and it will pay off in the long run. To do this you ideally need to have a veg, flower and clone space. Veg and clone can share but I find a rubbermade with a CF is perfect for cloning.

hth

 

[v00doo3]

first i appreciate the help so much.

sweetgreendream- Sorry but what is the KISS principle. Do you need a resevor with the 5g buckets? Yes I want to elminate seed but I will be getting a new strand soon since white widow doesnt yield much. Right now I have 8 female widows seeds. I am gonna build the rubbermade with a CF for my clones and have them not in the my second grow area. I want the space just for my veg. What do you think? 3-6 buckets for flower? I also want to get another 400w light and hang them both in my flower room. Is it easy to transplat with hydro, I dont really get it since theres no soil. Thanks!
I forgot to add what setup should I have for the veg. Since your right it might be smart to get it alll setup now instead of down the road.

 

[Blunt_69]

Voodoo, I veg my plants in soil.Soon going to build an ebb/flow table for the younglings. Bascially growing them till they are about 6-10 inches big then i transplant into the magic trays. Seems to work well, about a weeks worth of shock before they start taking off.

 

[TheLaydeKillaz]

KISS principal.... hoho.
You say it sweetgreendream. It'll sound better coming from you.... snigger.

 

[sweetgreendream]

sweetgreendream- Sorry but what is the KISS principle.

KISS = Keep It Simple Stoner (there are other words used for the last S but not my intent). Nimby at overgrow - prob moved over here also - was a big proponent of this technique. The less moving part the less to break.

Do you need a resevor with the 5g buckets?

I do not use any resevoir. Each bucket holds between 3-4 G with the plant in and the giant netpot. I also rarely change the resevoir.

3-6 buckets for flower?

That depends on what your goals are. If this is a personal grow 3-4 buckets run year round is way overkill. If this is commercial I woudl guess the more the merrier (or richer). BTW I am a personal grower and only have 3 buckets in the pic below since these are from seed. The one in the top pic had cahones and got the ace yesterday.

Is it easy to transplat with hydro

Yes if you plan. I use rapid rooters to start them in. They go in in a 4" netpots which fit in to my veg system. I take the 4" netpot and bury it in the giant bucket size net pot. Heres a pic.

 

[v00doo3]

sweetgarden - that looks awesome, pretty much exactly what I want to do. How much do you yield with the 3 5g buckets. What wattage are you running. WHen you water them do you just pick up the net pot and hold it up or what. DO you have airstones on the bottom? thanks man

 

[sweetgreendream]

V00
- yield = no idea since I dont have a scale. I am 100% personal grower so I dont need one other than vanity.

- Wattage- anywhere from 1000 to 1400 W HPS for flower depending on how full the garden is. I run more in the winter to maximize the cool temps.

- Watering -
--------For top offs I either lift and hold the bucket resting on the edge or water right through the hydroton. Lifting is easy and this is how I check PH
--------Full feed or res change -I have a psare bucket and I just lift up the net pot and put it on the empty bucket.

- Airstones - well yes since you must in order for the plant to get 02. Airstones are the most over hyped part of the system since the water can hold far less dissolved oxygent than the smallest pump and airstone can generate. The colder the water the more diss. oxygen it can hold adn that is partly why you need to control res temps. The other purpose of airstones is to keep everything moving. Standing water = trouble.

hth