meduser180056
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Pls I need KFB setup suggestions for 11x11x8 room
- Thread starter meduser180056
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G
Guest
Meduser,
I've never run Krusty style buckets(only multi-flow buckets, simmilar) but I think your on the right track. 5 lights(I would go all 600s) and 4 plants. Also, I'm not so sure 1 fan is going to keep that room cool. I really think you should look into a CO2 setup and AC setup, as both will pay for itself EASILY. If you don't want to go to all the trouble with a KBS system, you should check out a multiflow. For $250 you get a controller and the necessary pumps, then all you need is buckets, fittings and lines. You could put together a 4 bucket multiflow very easily, and still pull in some HUGE yields(using 5gal buckets, not the small buckets available with the multiflow).
Res in the closet sounds like a great idea, and 20 gallon "tuff" garbage can would work perfect for the res. hydroponics.net has the multiflows...
peace,
cg
I've never run Krusty style buckets(only multi-flow buckets, simmilar) but I think your on the right track. 5 lights(I would go all 600s) and 4 plants. Also, I'm not so sure 1 fan is going to keep that room cool. I really think you should look into a CO2 setup and AC setup, as both will pay for itself EASILY. If you don't want to go to all the trouble with a KBS system, you should check out a multiflow. For $250 you get a controller and the necessary pumps, then all you need is buckets, fittings and lines. You could put together a 4 bucket multiflow very easily, and still pull in some HUGE yields(using 5gal buckets, not the small buckets available with the multiflow).
Res in the closet sounds like a great idea, and 20 gallon "tuff" garbage can would work perfect for the res. hydroponics.net has the multiflows...
peace,
cg
G
Guest
Meduser,
I have not done a Kfb but I have spent a lot of time studying up on them and a buddy of mine has done them. One important thing to consider is if you are living in the house the thomas air pump makes a lot of noise. And the noise of the mad bubbles will also be noisey.
If you can't raise the buckets up so they are higher than your rez you will need more than just a return pump to get the water back in the rez. You'll have to set up a 2nd rez at ground level with a float switch inside that will trigger the pump to empty that rez back to the main rez, otherwise you'll get a flood going. It can be done but it's quite a bit of plannin and building.
With 2 feed lines per buk you will have to pay close attention to get equal water amounts to each one. If you simply throw in a main 1/2 feed line with 1/8 lines off of that you'll likely get uneven water flows as most water will take the path of least resistace (the closest buk to the pump or lowest feed line). Guys have been setting up a complete loop from the pump and back then tapping off the loop to get a more even water flow. Also important is the height of each 1/8 feed line as just a slightly lower feed line will flow more water than the others.
I've read a couple of threads on og by no-one and lots of others but he seems to have that style down very well and he's got some instructional threads on them as well....that is if you haven't already read those. Again, I have not had a kfb myself so these are just some ideas and things to ponder.
Good luck bro
I have not done a Kfb but I have spent a lot of time studying up on them and a buddy of mine has done them. One important thing to consider is if you are living in the house the thomas air pump makes a lot of noise. And the noise of the mad bubbles will also be noisey.
If you can't raise the buckets up so they are higher than your rez you will need more than just a return pump to get the water back in the rez. You'll have to set up a 2nd rez at ground level with a float switch inside that will trigger the pump to empty that rez back to the main rez, otherwise you'll get a flood going. It can be done but it's quite a bit of plannin and building.
With 2 feed lines per buk you will have to pay close attention to get equal water amounts to each one. If you simply throw in a main 1/2 feed line with 1/8 lines off of that you'll likely get uneven water flows as most water will take the path of least resistace (the closest buk to the pump or lowest feed line). Guys have been setting up a complete loop from the pump and back then tapping off the loop to get a more even water flow. Also important is the height of each 1/8 feed line as just a slightly lower feed line will flow more water than the others.
I've read a couple of threads on og by no-one and lots of others but he seems to have that style down very well and he's got some instructional threads on them as well....that is if you haven't already read those. Again, I have not had a kfb myself so these are just some ideas and things to ponder.
Good luck bro
G
Guest
meduser180056 said:Gronut this is where you lost me. So your saying if I'm not able to get the active res below the buckets then I will need another res? I thought a pump would be all I would need in order to pump the drainage back in.
I'm confused
What do you mean by ground level?
I was planning on two pumps. One to feed and one to return. If I have something wrong here set me str8 pls.
Sorry for sounding confusing... Where you may incounter a prob is with the pump you are planning to use for the water return. If it pumps just slightly slower than the feed pump it will back up the system. If you use one that pumps faster than the feed pump it will be running dry. So my point is it would be very difficult to make the flow of both pumps exactly the same even if you use identical pumps as one may have a heavier load than the other. A small collection rez for the drainage water that is under the water level of the buckets with a float valve set up to kick the return pump on when it fills to just below the water level in the bucket would solve that and keep the buckets and drain lines from flooding. In this case the return pump would have to be a bigger pump and flow more than the feed pump.
I've seen a thread on OG where a guy set this type thing up so If OG is up today I'll try and find it for you.
A multi flow wouldn't be a bad choice if you dont go for the freedom as Cascading Green suggested.
LAter,
GN
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guest3854
Raise yer buckets so they can gravity drain .
If yer new to growing , especially to hydro , i don't think kbs is fer you . It can be done , however , it takes money and skill .
If yer new to growing , especially to hydro , i don't think kbs is fer you . It can be done , however , it takes money and skill .
hey meduser: steel's got you on point there as far as the return goes on the kfbs. u would just have to put each bucket up on a stool, cinder block etc.... but all the same height.
anyway i would personally recommend that before you get into the kb you should try and do a run or two using a recirc DWC. check out Blazeoneup's complete tute on overgrow. i have the link but the site's down right now. if ya can't find let me know.
anyways the setup and maintenance for a novice hydro user is really quite simple and user friendly, and you can get pound plants pretty easily vs having to be very technical with the kfbs and if your not on point ruinin ur run. also since dwc is in a sense one of the stepping stones for kfbs it only makes sense to run with this kind of system first.
just me 2 cents from workin with these 2 systems. let us know what do so we can help. good luck.
somoz
anyway i would personally recommend that before you get into the kb you should try and do a run or two using a recirc DWC. check out Blazeoneup's complete tute on overgrow. i have the link but the site's down right now. if ya can't find let me know.
anyways the setup and maintenance for a novice hydro user is really quite simple and user friendly, and you can get pound plants pretty easily vs having to be very technical with the kfbs and if your not on point ruinin ur run. also since dwc is in a sense one of the stepping stones for kfbs it only makes sense to run with this kind of system first.
just me 2 cents from workin with these 2 systems. let us know what do so we can help. good luck.
somoz
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pikes peak 69
Active member
In my KBS setup, I raise the buckets about 10 inches. That allows for a good flow to the active res. The active res. is a shallow rubbermaid, but long and wide. Active holds about 20 gals. and pas about 50 gals. Trees when big will use about 3-4 gals each, each day. For bottom bucket use rubbermaid 18 gals or so. More room for roots. For air pump, maybe mount in rubber or suspend with bungies. Consider using cooltubes to allow lights closer to plants without burning. Also adjustable height wise also for lights would be good. If you don't do co2, then exchange room air about every 5 mins. Would need at least to 6" fans at about 400cfm each to do this. If you undersize the fans, they will run continously and never cool room down.
Just a few ideas.
pp69
Just a few ideas.
pp69
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Guest
meduser180056 said:
Exactly!! I think raising the buckets up 8" or so is more like it. Just like you said I think you are gonna have to dive in and expect to spend some time just working out bugs and stuff before you put plants in there. It's all part of the fun if you ask me!
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Guest
Edit my last post..
Edit my last post..
I want to edit my last post there but my acct. is acting funny... can't edit..
I wanted to take out the part about raising the buckets 8" cuz I have not done kbs and these dudes have. I guess you can approach it different ways but it will still be some trial and error.
Let us know how it goes Med...
Edit my last post..
I want to edit my last post there but my acct. is acting funny... can't edit..
I wanted to take out the part about raising the buckets 8" cuz I have not done kbs and these dudes have. I guess you can approach it different ways but it will still be some trial and error.
Let us know how it goes Med...
G
guest3854
3/4 " drains will clog fer sure , use at least 1"
pikes peak 69
Active member
I use 1 1/2' DRAINS WITH NO PROBLEMS. aLSO FEED LINES ARE 1" FROM PUMP TO BUCKETS, THEN 2 1/4" lines to feed plants.
Sorry about Caps.
Water pump size, I use a 950 gph. It's easier to restrict flow if you have to much, but you can't increase it if you don't have enough.
Res. water temp. try to keep 66-72 F at the most. Use frozen cola bottles if you don't have a chiller.
Need about 60-70% humidty during veg. and drop to 40-50% during flower. If you have enough hum. in room plantswill use less nutes as they will being taking in some water thru leaves. Good gauge for this is, when water is used from res. if pp,'s stay about the same then you have enough hum.. If the ppm's rise as water in res goes down, that indictes that the plant is useing more water than ferts and you should raise hum.
Hope that made sense.
Just a few ideas.
pp69
Sorry about Caps.
Water pump size, I use a 950 gph. It's easier to restrict flow if you have to much, but you can't increase it if you don't have enough.
Res. water temp. try to keep 66-72 F at the most. Use frozen cola bottles if you don't have a chiller.
Need about 60-70% humidty during veg. and drop to 40-50% during flower. If you have enough hum. in room plantswill use less nutes as they will being taking in some water thru leaves. Good gauge for this is, when water is used from res. if pp,'s stay about the same then you have enough hum.. If the ppm's rise as water in res goes down, that indictes that the plant is useing more water than ferts and you should raise hum.
Hope that made sense.
Just a few ideas.
pp69
meduser180056
Active member
1. Drains need to be more like 1.5 minimum.
2. 1 inch feed line from pump to buckets
2 1/4 inch lines to plants.
3. 950 gph pump
2. 1 inch feed line from pump to buckets
2 1/4 inch lines to plants.
3. 950 gph pump
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meduser180056
Active member
Question for you guys that run this system or have before. About how high up from the bottom of the bucket should I drill the drainage hole?
I'm assuming 1.5 inches from the bottom.
I'm assuming 1.5 inches from the bottom.
hey meduser: with 4kw and 6 plants you can get 6+ pounds off a dwc system. with that kinda light and the right genetics you should definetly get a pound a plant: however if ya go kfb and ya get it dialed in ya could do 4-5 plants and get around 10lbs if ya get it dialed...that's is a big if considering its ur first hydro experiment but if ya feel motivated then get in there and rig it up!! there's enough peeps around here to lend a hand.
hanging the pump by a bunjy cord and putting a little sound proffing material on the door and walls by the hallway really bring down the db's. this is what peeps around here do when they need to keep it down. also buying that 1inch thick foam from the HD and puttin down on the floor really helps noise as well.
so if ya feel motivated do the kfbs especially if ya can help out ur mates but at the same time i think u'd be pretty impressed with dwc.[i'd post some pics to illustrate my point but not allowed ] see what others say and let us know. good luck
somoz
hanging the pump by a bunjy cord and putting a little sound proffing material on the door and walls by the hallway really bring down the db's. this is what peeps around here do when they need to keep it down. also buying that 1inch thick foam from the HD and puttin down on the floor really helps noise as well.
so if ya feel motivated do the kfbs especially if ya can help out ur mates but at the same time i think u'd be pretty impressed with dwc.[i'd post some pics to illustrate my point but not allowed
] see what others say and let us know. good lucksomoz
pikes peak 69
Active member
In kfb, you want about 2" of water in bottom bucket. So bottom of your drain hole about 2" up from bottom of bucket.
meduser180056
Active member
thx pikes.
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Guest
Meduser.......with the kbs thingy,its not about the depth of the nutrient solution in the bottom bucket,but yet the flow for the nft part of it.Krusty said as long as the depth covered the soakerhose to where the air bubbles and froth were doin their job filmin the roots,thats all that matters.This is not an easy system; takes tons of attention........BUT.......if you take the time youll be rewarded with mucho massive colas if you pick the right strain............Many factors to consider but well worth the investment....just dont go into it half-cocked cuz theres way more failures usin this system than successes............... high rez temps ,blocked drainholes,howta loop the field(feedlines) so every bucket flows at the same level,just to name a few..........I`ll never grow any other way as long as I grow ........but not too many folks are as anal retentive and obssessive compulsive as I am.........Anyways,there`s lotta folks out here that can and will help,just ask away............have a great day and PEACE............DEDHEDFRED......................
pikes peak 69
Active member
As far as lava rock. I get mine at wally world. Just landscape stuff. Wash it good with a rinse get the dust off. @.00 a bag does a 5 gal bucket. I have had problems with ph fluctuation that I think is from the rock. You can use ceramic rock for BBQ grills, but that can be pricey.
meduser180056
Active member
Thanks again Pikes.
real simple solutions to the clogs med. first use at least 1" return lines but i would go 1 1/2 or 2" personally. and then another trick is you put a t on ur bucket so you have ur main drain line attached to that and then another line attached up on top of the bucket in case ur line clogs. this way it just spills right back into the drain line!
i think blaze does this on his dwc setups but i can't remember but take a look at his thread and you see what i'm talkin about.
anyway that should do the trick and then lava rock i just get from the HD and its the big ass 2-4inch kind. i rinse real well and then let sit in ph balanced water for 24hrs. usually works. HD, menards, or any garden store really. keep em coming med. a lzy friday around these parts. just shmokin and surfin.
somoz
some sick root shots from my guy chato. dwc style so just imagine what ya can do with kfbs
a room shot
i think blaze does this on his dwc setups but i can't remember but take a look at his thread and you see what i'm talkin about.
anyway that should do the trick and then lava rock i just get from the HD and its the big ass 2-4inch kind. i rinse real well and then let sit in ph balanced water for 24hrs. usually works. HD, menards, or any garden store really. keep em coming med. a lzy friday around these parts. just shmokin and surfin.
somozsome sick root shots from my guy chato. dwc style so just imagine what ya can do with kfbs
a room shot
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