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Pipedream"s 150w Tiny Bubbler System

kydenj29

Member
nice so how does the 6 plants in that small space workout? I have a similar size box w/ hydro in there and veged for 1 1/2 month. 2 plants just to much. how long did you veg for? great setup
:smokeit:
 

Pipedream

Proudly Growing My Own Since 1969
Veteran
Veg time varies depending on seed or clone and outside ambient temps. Generally it runs between 20 days to 33. I never really keep track of the time as all I really care about is the maturity of the plant. As an inticator of when they are ready to go 12/12, I watch for the second set of alternating nodes.
 

kydenj29

Member
Veg time varies depending on seed or clone and outside ambient temps. Generally it runs between 20 days to 33. I never really keep track of the time as all I really care about is the maturity of the plant. As an inticator of when they are ready to go 12/12, I watch for the second set of alternating nodes.

thanks man. Ill keep that in mind. The next go round im going to try 12 and 12 from seed. Seeing as i can only aquire mexican seeds. I heard that sativas are great for 12 and 12 because they are tropical. this is my first grow right now. prob goning to get over a qpert. I just wanna save money and smoke good.
 
B

Bottled Cat

Hey Pipedream, your cab inspired me! :dance: I've been looking at this same topic over and over for awhile and finally I gave in with the CFL growing and got myself a 150w HPS for my micro growing.

Quick question though, if you don't mind! Your HPS is stationary, do you do any veg time with the HPS? I was just wondering if this caused some stretching due to the HPS being so high above the plants when they are younger?

I had to re-build a cab and I didn't leave any spots for CFL mounts yet (already laid the mylar down!), so was just wondering the results of an HPS during veg time. Maybe I'll just make a small-er box for a mother plant under some cfls... hmm! Perpetual harvest! :smoker:


Thanks Pipedream :)
 

Pipedream

Proudly Growing My Own Since 1969
Veteran
Having a second smaller box with either a mom or young plants in veg makes some areas of the grow a bit stable and also allows for a much greater production. However, ease of operation is really my main concern and a second chamber and/or a larger harvest would work against that aim for me.

Since I built this system, I have always vegged under my HPS with no real issues. If there are small plants in there I just place another tub or even a 5 gallon buck upside-down below it to raise it up a bit. Although, I must say that since I added the 2 CFL's in the corners my vegged plants are a bit happier.
 

Bitchies

New member
Awesome Post

Awesome Post

Currently Lookin for a nice cabinet like yourself, Lookin to down size currently runnin a 8, 5 gallon bucket DWC with a top feed drip and air stones in each bucket. Only problem im havin is findin those buckets u got, found similar but dont like the lids they come with :-(

Ill post pic when im all built up.
 

Pipedream

Proudly Growing My Own Since 1969
Veteran
Correct, No CO2 was used when this was done.

However, I've since added a very small fermenter-type generator to the system. When I remember to keep it charged up, it runs 24x7. I'm not really sure that its having much of a positive effect, but I figure it can't hurt.

If interested, Google "Nutrafin CO2 System". You can usually find them on sale for about 20 bucks complete or you can build you own for about $5.
 
Pipedream you are a genius Bro....I just came across your thread and when I looked at that system...I thought to myself "This guy super Brilliant" ....WOW!!! It almost looks like you would have to be an electrician to set up something like that...

I am actually wanting to do a small grow with DWC bubbler system. I would like to run two of them under a 150 watt light. I would not even attempt to set up something like you have..I am new to this so I figure its best to keep it simple to start..lol..

I have never grown in DWC...But I am growing small auto flowers and I don't want to use giant 5 gallon buckets for such small plants, lol..

I have a question about starting the seeds in DWC...I was thinking of using rapid rotters or root riot cubes to start the seedlings out...

My question is...how many days does it take before their roots can reach the water in small 1 gallon buckets like the ones you use???
 

Pipedream

Proudly Growing My Own Since 1969
Veteran
:rasta:

Believe me when I say any average DIY-Stoner can throw one of these together. I spent a little extra time making everything look neat, but then I'm a bit anal in that area.

Two bubblers under a 150 is an ideal situation. If you wish, you should be able to go from sprouting right thru harvest with just the single lamp and no supplemental lighting at all. The only problem I've had with Rapid-Rooters, Jiffy Start Pellets, and similar products is that they tend to fall apart after a while and can introduce garbage into your bath and clog things up. That's the main reason I try to stick with Rock-Wool. It's inert and will never dissolve. Also, even for small auto-flowers, I'd suggest buckets at least 2 gallons in size. The larger bath will make things easier for you and more stable for your plants.

As far as "How many days does it take before their roots can reach the water? " goes, the answer is simple....immediately. Seedlings are only placed into the bubblers once their roots are just starting to protrude from their RW cube. At that time, I raise the water level in the bubbler so that the bubbles just tickle the bottom of the cube. This keeps it damp and encourages the roots to grow down into the nutes. The water level slowly drops both from evaporation and plant consumption. As this happens, the plant's roots grow in length to stay in constant contact with the bath. In an ideal situation, a mature plant will have a one-inch airspace between the bottom of the netpot and the top of the nutrient bath.

:rasta:
 
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Terramoto

Member
Man you have an awesome set there, im trying to build one myself but with a drip system since soil takes more area from my closet and i need all the area i need and im currently using only a 125W CFL i know i know its low but thats the only thing i could get, hope to upgrade it as soon as i can. Im gonna be doing a perpetual SoG with 6 clones or wathever i can put inside the closet, lol. The water reservoir is gonna be outside the closet my only doubt is whats the timing for for watering in a drip system with clay as medium.
Now, this might seem a bit offtopic and because i felt i needed to share, any -points or +points if im going the right direction woud be appreciated.
 

Pipedream

Proudly Growing My Own Since 1969
Veteran
If you are dripping and draining back to a comon reservior and recirculating your solution, you can run 24x7. Just make sure its really dripping and not running. Also, if you intend to stick with CFL's for a while, jam as many in ther as you can fit and keep cool.
 

tolker

Member
pipedream,i love your setup i have been watching for a while now. im going to do similar setup but with a areoponics and scrog.how much do u usually get off a 150 watter?U prob all ready answered this and over looked if so im sorry.
 

tolker

Member
nevermind, i went back a scanned thru the thread, and saw that u have answered it several times.lol butt i would love to see the filter u have built for the box to give me some ideals.

thanx,tolker
 

Terramoto

Member
If you are dripping and draining back to a comon reservior and recirculating your solution, you can run 24x7. Just make sure its really dripping and not running. Also, if you intend to stick with CFL's for a while, jam as many in ther as you can fit and keep cool.

I think it is dripping its the same as the "i grow chronic" video with only one reservoir and keep it pumping i was thinking bout doing 15min per hour of watering, my only problem seems to be the nutes since i only can get worm castings, bat guano and liquid seaweed and i've read ppl saying its not the best option to feed the weed with the homemade tea cause of the bacterias. Even with only 125W in the summer my grow heats up to 30-31ºC with 5 PC fans i have to leave the door a bit open so it low down to 25ºC, maybe im doing a bad circulation im using 3 in 2 out but still the heat stacks. Any hints?
 

Glimmbo

Member
I've been staring at this setup for a good few hours now. Beautiful. Clean, simple, effective. Props.

Do you ever get those little pots too packed full of roots? Do you have to trim the roots? Reason is I'm thinking of doing something similar. Single plant, all the way thru in a bubbler but my space will probably be tight (haven't thought it all the way thru, just considering medium techniques). So it might be that I have to prune/train the plant while letting the roots go wild down there...not sure yet. Also, would you recommend using this as a mother sustaining system? Just curious.

Wish you the best of health, and thanks in advance for any tips.
 

Pipedream

Proudly Growing My Own Since 1969
Veteran
Thanks for the kind words.

Yes, the roots do get a bit tight at times, and no, we've never trimmed them. From years of playing around with this method, I've found that the root-mass will continue to develop during the vegatative state for as long you allow the plant to grow in size. Once you swap over to 12/12 or if you trim or "top" the vegatation the root system stops developing. You can see how big the root-mass is in the picture of my wife holding up a plant. However, that's about where they stop. At this point the plant would be placed in flower, or if it isn't bushy enough, I'd start to top some of the branches. In any case a change to 12/12 lighting will halt all root growth.

As far as "moms" go...while I have kept them alive from time-to-time in hydro, I've found that they do much better in soil and are more convienient to maintain. Keeping one in well aerated soil under low-level lighting and feeding her weak nutes I've been able to keep them alive for years as a house plant.
 

Wickedgroer

New member
What about the distance of the 150W hps light from the top of the plant? How far up do you put them during the vegetation stage?
 
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