Heisenbubbles Do it yourself RDWC build

[spyralout]

Yes I've done that. I like Teflon tape it's so useful, like how duct tape can be used for so many different things. My main concern is the bulkhead to bucket connection since those are more rigid and set so to speak.

 

[SoLowDoughLow]

Yes I've done that. I like Teflon tape it's so useful, like how duct tape can be used for so many different things. My main concern is the bulkhead to bucket connection since those are more rigid and set so to speak.

You should be fine as long as the hole isn't way too big. I tightened my bulkheads by hand and haven't had a leak yet, and they fit snugly in the hole. It just barely hits the threads in the side of the hole when I put them in.

 

[spyralout]

The holes in mine are pretty tight hoping the slight bow in one of them won't be an issue

 

[Streetpro09]

Has anyone tried to use bulkheads in round buckets? Or grommets?

 

[Crash32097]

Gromments for me on 5gal home Depot buckets, but I'm in dirt at the moment.

 

[Streetpro09]

Gromments for me on 5gal home Depot buckets, but I'm in dirt at the moment.

Shit man! You had me excited for a sec. Lol

 

[Crash32097]

I always used like a 3/4" i.d. bulkhead grommet with a 3/4" o.d. barbed fitting, just ran regular DWC, the fittings were for my sight glass so I knew how much water was in my buckets. Only thing I didn't like about the buckets was that after 3-4 uses they would begin to crack but no leaks from the grommet. I should have bought better buckets but they were cheap and home Depot and Lowes is only 5-6 miles from the house.

 

[spyralout]

Entire system is up and running, including RO water receptacle and top off reservoir. Some slight leaks at first but they all got taken care of with some bulkhead nut tightening and a little silicone on one of the joints. Appreciate everyone's comments and help! Hope to update the spreadsheet I made at the beginning of the thread sometime in the future, but for now excited to pop some beans and run.

 

[Greenthumbskunk]

Has anyone tried to use bulkheads in round buckets? Or grommets?

Ive tried bulkheads and that was a big no go. I've used uniseals many times. You have to get the hole just right or it will leak profusely. In other words so tight that when you trying to push the pipe through the plastic can crack on ya.

If you do have a seap of water, drain system, dry it, sandpaper around the bucket and put some silicone around the seal and make sure it's a good seal of silicon around it.

Should hold fine after that.

 

[Greenthumbskunk]

I always used like a 3/4" i.d. bulkhead grommet with a 3/4" o.d. barbed fitting, just ran regular DWC, the fittings were for my sight glass so I knew how much water was in my buckets. Only thing I didn't like about the buckets was that after 3-4 uses they would begin to crack but no leaks from the grommet. I should have bought better buckets but they were cheap and home Depot and Lowes is only 5-6 miles from the house.

Probably the light is making the buckets brittle.

 

[Streetpro09]

Ive tried bulkheads and that was a big no go. I've used uniseals many times. You have to get the hole just right or it will leak profusely. In other words so tight that when you trying to push the pipe through the plastic can crack on ya.

If you do have a seap of water, drain system, dry it, sandpaper around the bucket and put some silicone around the seal and make sure it's a good seal of silicon around it.

Should hold fine after that.

Thanks for saying something. I may give it a go. I do like the idea of square buckets with bulkheads and flexible hose connecting everything. I tend to move buckets around when the plants aren't filling in right. Checking individual buckets is getting old.

 

[spyralout]

Recipe for eliminating pthogens.

5 gallon bucket
2 air stones
4 gallons of ro water
Good air pump.

Mix 30 ml of hydroguard
1 scoop of great white benneficial bacteria
25 ml of high brix molasses

Put air stones in there and turn on and run for 36 hrs. Should be no molasses smell before you put in your res. Will smell real earthy and be the color of tea.

Add 3 cups per gallon on a new res and 1 cup per gallon every 3 days
Add the same to top off res.
Top feed new plants once every week till things get going.

This has been the only thing that has kept my plant roots healthy and no issues.

How long does the tea last? Will it smell different when it goes bad?

 

[Dubblup_CEO]

@Heisenbeans first let me thank you for your post brother, love the craftsmanship and straight talk!

Quick question: what is your yield from the 12 pot system?

 

[Waxman420]

Are 4g square buckets really that much better than 5g round buckets ? Reason I already have 4 black 5g buckets and 3 net pot lids . Was thinking i would use uniseals.

But in same breath seems foolish to do something twice if there are good reasons to go with the square buckets.

 

[SoLowDoughLow]

Are 4g square buckets really that much better than 5g round buckets ? Reason I already have 4 black 5g buckets and 3 net pot lids . Was thinking i would use uniseals.

But in same breath seems foolish to do something twice if there are good reasons to go with the square buckets.

I've heard a lot of people say uniseals always end up leaking. But I've never used them personally. But I can say that my bulkheads have never leaked.

 

[spyralout]

So far my square buckets with bulkheads haven't leaked. I used a mini RO bulkhead with o-ring in my tote res and it hasn't leaked either. I think the flat surface helps with keeping it sealed.

 

[Waxman420]

Makes sense , i am in a 2nd floor rental so whatever i do it has to fit in a 4x4 open top reservoir like this
I cant have 25g of water ending up downstairs. Im sure it should hold 4 buckets and 20/25 G soup

 

[Waxman420]

I too am curious what heisen gets from 12 buckets ??? experienced grower , custom lighting

Start the car , start the car type of yeilds

 

[spyralout]

I made a trough out of 2x8 boards and pond liner. Enough to contain a 4 bucket 5x5 tent with res and RO can outside of the tent.
For the next build or run I'm thinking of putting the epi bucket outside. I can fit two more buckets nicely in there. Just wondering, if the pipe run to the epi bucket outside needed to be longer for some reason, if it would affect the flow.

 

[Armdog]

Love this tutorial, built smaller version 4 site,works awesome. Thanks again heisenbean.