G
Guest
Welcome! 
For those who aren't familiar with this type of system, 'Freedom Buckets' are a hydro drip/dwc system that has been showing up on IC more and more, and I decided to finally give them a whirl. I think this system was originally brought to IC by goldmember, and later by Bonzo-- who's system I have modeled mine after. I have basically copied Bonzo's plan's by studying his threads and pictures and taking notes with me to the hardware store.
I didn't know I was building this sytem until about 11am this morning, it's passing 3 am now and I have finished testing, and there are no leaks!
On my first test there were a few leaks, but I fixed those up quick. I am a bit nervous, it's been a couple years since I've run a new system, so I was relieved when I turned on the pump it didn't all blow apart or something. Also, this is my first 'totally from scratch' type system too, at least for flowering, I have usually utilized commercial parts (trays, etc) in some way. This time I bought everything at the local hardware store...for the most part.
There are a few slight differences from Bonzo's buckets. The drainage fittings mostly. Instead of using 1" pvc drains, and PVC pipe draining, I am using 1/2" elbows as drains, and using 1/2" black poly to drain back to the res (I took those draining pieces from my multi flow buckets, cheap bastid am I). Bonzo's drains I think are better and more efficient and would reccomend the larger drains to anybody building this system (but after seven trips to the hardware store, I decided to use some parts I had). Also, right when I was about to start building my lift for the buckets (got to keep them above res for gravity drain) I noticed I had a spare futon frame the exact same dimension I needed. It had to be raised another 4", which I did, and it works perfectly. Really lucked out on that one.
Well, enough of my story-- here are some pics.
Started with this stuff
Drilled a bunch of holes for a while
drill and secure (using locking nut) support pieces (added cap pieces to prevent any leaking from those)
Bucket fits nicely, and PLENTY of room for roots in bottom. I placed the drain so it keeps about 1-1.5" of water at the bottom at all times.
Temporary res for testing. Draining tubes (decided to not connect and use individual drain tubes to prevent clogging. redundancy is the theme this round) Futon, extra spacers below that. There's about 10" vertical height to the bottom of the square pot.
This new airmpump (thanks again hilli) is very powerful, and has a 12 outlet adapter. I'm running 2 airstones per bucket, it's really spectacular the amount of air it puts into the buckets. the roots will be SO happy. All you can hear when you plug it in is FIZZZZZZzzz
One noticable part of this sytem is the amount of lines running all over the place. Basically its one tube (1/2") connected to the pump which feeds all the smaller feeding lines (1/4"). I'm running 3 lines per bucket, and I am using stakes to prevent the lines from falling out.
I'm going to cut down the length of that tube so it feeds on top of the bucket. the flow is descent even with my test pump, its only ~150GPH. My new one is pushing 300gph I think?
thats one shiny growroom! lol
I am definitely not done, now that I have it all up and running-- about a dozen different improvements are coming to mind. So this will be a system that is changing, it will take me a while to tweak it to just how I like it.
In the meantime-- I hoped you enjoyed my story, and my new system. I am going to be throwing some clones in them soon. I am going to attach some vertical bars to the futon, because I am running a screen this time. I have several 4" screens, and I am going to cross them to make a 2" netting screen. This will be an interesting... and possible nerve-wrecking thread. Either way, it will be exciting!
For those who aren't familiar with this type of system, 'Freedom Buckets' are a hydro drip/dwc system that has been showing up on IC more and more, and I decided to finally give them a whirl. I think this system was originally brought to IC by goldmember, and later by Bonzo-- who's system I have modeled mine after. I have basically copied Bonzo's plan's by studying his threads and pictures and taking notes with me to the hardware store.
I didn't know I was building this sytem until about 11am this morning, it's passing 3 am now and I have finished testing, and there are no leaks!
On my first test there were a few leaks, but I fixed those up quick. I am a bit nervous, it's been a couple years since I've run a new system, so I was relieved when I turned on the pump it didn't all blow apart or something. Also, this is my first 'totally from scratch' type system too, at least for flowering, I have usually utilized commercial parts (trays, etc) in some way. This time I bought everything at the local hardware store...for the most part.There are a few slight differences from Bonzo's buckets. The drainage fittings mostly. Instead of using 1" pvc drains, and PVC pipe draining, I am using 1/2" elbows as drains, and using 1/2" black poly to drain back to the res (I took those draining pieces from my multi flow buckets, cheap bastid am I). Bonzo's drains I think are better and more efficient and would reccomend the larger drains to anybody building this system (but after seven trips to the hardware store, I decided to use some parts I had). Also, right when I was about to start building my lift for the buckets (got to keep them above res for gravity drain) I noticed I had a spare futon frame the exact same dimension I needed. It had to be raised another 4", which I did, and it works perfectly. Really lucked out on that one.
Well, enough of my story-- here are some pics.
Started with this stuff
Drilled a bunch of holes for a while
drill and secure (using locking nut) support pieces (added cap pieces to prevent any leaking from those)
Bucket fits nicely, and PLENTY of room for roots in bottom. I placed the drain so it keeps about 1-1.5" of water at the bottom at all times.
Temporary res for testing. Draining tubes (decided to not connect and use individual drain tubes to prevent clogging. redundancy is the theme this round) Futon, extra spacers below that. There's about 10" vertical height to the bottom of the square pot.
This new airmpump (thanks again hilli) is very powerful, and has a 12 outlet adapter. I'm running 2 airstones per bucket, it's really spectacular the amount of air it puts into the buckets. the roots will be SO happy. All you can hear when you plug it in is FIZZZZZZzzz
One noticable part of this sytem is the amount of lines running all over the place. Basically its one tube (1/2") connected to the pump which feeds all the smaller feeding lines (1/4"). I'm running 3 lines per bucket, and I am using stakes to prevent the lines from falling out.
I'm going to cut down the length of that tube so it feeds on top of the bucket. the flow is descent even with my test pump, its only ~150GPH. My new one is pushing 300gph I think?
thats one shiny growroom! lol
I am definitely not done, now that I have it all up and running-- about a dozen different improvements are coming to mind. So this will be a system that is changing, it will take me a while to tweak it to just how I like it.
In the meantime-- I hoped you enjoyed my story, and my new system. I am going to be throwing some clones in them soon. I am going to attach some vertical bars to the futon, because I am running a screen this time. I have several 4" screens, and I am going to cross them to make a 2" netting screen. This will be an interesting... and possible nerve-wrecking thread. Either way, it will be exciting!
Thanks for stopping in-- stick around 
