Two bucket extendible DWC with control bucket

Toleman

Toleman

I have seen a similar system for sale but its more expensive. I can build this for £32 and its easily extendible. It could also be used as a drip system by using flexi pipe or angle fittings and raising the buckets with plants in. The 2 reasons for the control are as extra capacity and easy access for emptying and testing ect.

Might make one next year and stick a couple of toms in it. Im also planning on getting a bigger nft.

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Parts:

3 Buckets
1m of 13mm pipe (1/2")
4 Top hat grommets - 13mm (1/2")
1 Air pump
1m of air line
1 Air line 'T'
2 Air Stones
Expanded clay
2 Mesh pots.

What do you think? Possible flaws?

My only concerns are how well the buckets will mix and how secure the grommets will be. The grommets can have aquarium silicone to help keep them water tight. If mixing is a problem it may be better suited as a drip system. After finishing the diagram I thought another air stone in the control would also help.

Chris
 
where are the pipes that connect to the control bucket? at the top or the bottom? and how will you get the nutes to flow between the buckets are the air pump will only provide bubbles, as it is i can,t see the nutes moving between the buckets that much without a pump to do this therefore if you do a test from the control bucket you'll prob just be testing what you put in there to start with and i'm sure the results would read different from the 2 buckets with the plants in, or this could be all crap and irrelevent!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Chris,

I'm more into DWC - it seems simpler and effective, though I won't suggest better! I know last year thanks to a strange storm (Ohio was hit by hurricane force winds for three hours) I was without electricity for several days. The DWC system's plants didn't suffer at all, though I was able to run a pump off a generator for a few minutes a day after three days.

Mike
 
The connection pipes are at the bottom so all buckets stay equalised.

where the idea came from
http://www.greensea-hydroponics.co.uk/shop/Online_Shop_GS_Deep_Water_Culture_4_Pot_23.html

Im currently toying with ideas for systems as I am having great success with my nft. Anything with pipes, water, pumps and electricity intrests me and gets my tech mind going. In a way the nft is able to do the same wordwiz as the capillary matting on the slope can be dangled into the tank bellow drawing moisture up. Also the fact I have masses of roots that have grown in there now so they can constantly feed and drink.

I now need to master smaller plants with more pods. Currently using GH flora series but im going to give flora mato and micro combo a go next year.

Problem is lack of greenhouse space and crap uk summers. Although a trinidad scorpion and safi plant where dumped outside a month ago are producing pretty well. Not the best looking plants though!

Chris
 
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