This is mainly for newcomers to Hydro.

I often see DWC (Deep Water Culture,Bio Buckets, Bubble Buckets..etc.) recommended as one of the easier methods to get started in Hydro. In all honesty, I feel it isn't. Let me explain...

The most common problems I see surrounding DWC are temp issues. Staving off root rot with a warm reservoir is a futile effort. In some cases it requires adding "beneficial bacteria", reservoir chillers, frequent reservoir changes, and possibly all kinds of other gadgets.

You also have...pH fluctuations, drifting ppm, all kinds of other things. To those who have been in hydro for a while, these are easily remedied...but to newcomers, it can be a bit overwhelming...especially combined with the panic that their plant is dieing..leaves curling..etc. (At least it was for me...I am big enough to admit that)

Suddenly the DWC doesn't sound as easy. Why is this method recommended initially? I have no idea. But the easiest method I have seen to date is the "Hempy" Bucket. You get great yields...the transition from soil to hydro is more intuitive. You gradually learn about adjusting pH and PPM. Because you prepare your nutrient solution in batches, you eliminate a lot of issues that plague new hydroponic enthusiasts.

No recirculating nutrients means no pH or PPM drifting. pH is set to slightly more acidic than soil (6.0-6.2) and life is good. You can then spend more time learning about Hydro and less time tending to a sick plant.

The creation of the Hempy Bucket is rather easy. It includes using a bucket no larger than 3 Gallons. A hole roughly the size of 1/2 inch is drilled approx 2 inches up from the bottom. This is a temporary reservoir. That hole prevents you from over watering. You can use several different combinations of inert media ranging from coco coir to straight perlite...and anything in between. (The standard is 2/3 perlite 1/3 vermiculite)

The watering frequency will be determined by the media you select. Using the standard media, you will water once with nutrient solution every 2-3 days. If you notice signs of over watering, then increase the time between waterings.

As you progress, you may want either something a bit more automated but with less hassles of pumps,timers,etc. To this end, I found that the Autopots (The newer MKII valve ones) work very well. You don't have to purchase the entire Autopot setup if you don't want. You can get just the SmartValve. This will work more or less like a Flood/Drain setup.

The same principle applies in that you only measure your nutrients once..and pH once. After you get a feel for your plants...and how they react to your nutrients and ppm, you may want to venture into the more complex methods of Hydro.

Just my 2 cents. I hope this helps any newcomers out there who are a bit confused by Hydro Or struggling with DWC issues...or any old timers who want to go back to a simpler setup.

Good luck and happy growing!!!

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do you have any pics of this setup?? as a newbie I agree the ph fluctuations etc do make it very frustrating, but the rapid growth and easy setup make it very appealing, whats the growth rate compared to soil in this setup???, and can you make it for multiple plants???, alot of us newbies are working from bagseed so we may need to start with 4 to get one female

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Hmm, Yes I have been thinking the same.

And I'm in two minds about it. I had terrible trouble with soil growing, thats why I swtiched to DWC where I have so far had good results (Tuch wood). But I agree there is a lot to it.

I'm really injoying DWC but I can't think of any one that I would recomend it to, it just takes to much attention. I think If you are a commited new grower with lots of free time, then it is a good place to start.

I'm going to try growing some mother plants in Hempy Buckets, they look real easy. and if I get good results I will be reommending it to my friends (Or the one person who knows i'm growing)

I absolutely agree, DWC/aero are NOT for noobs. Aside from the aforementioned foibles, a dead air pump in a DWC can bring it all to tears in just a few hours. A power failure lasting more than 4-6 hours has the same result.

Flood/drain systems with plants in pots of absorbent media are much more noob-proof and have inherent failsafes against equipment failure, including no small apertures to clog with nutrient salts. Floods require no maintenance aside from a biweekly tank dump/clean.

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Get a harvest every 2 weeks - A batch of clones in rockwool - Al B. Gone

This thread has excellent pictures of the setup

The Hempy Collective

The growth rate is similar to most methods of straight Hydro. It is Hydro, just passive hydro.

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I've been very happy with these water farm units....I was a bit worried because I bought them on impulse and then started reading forums on growing after the fact...I haven't read about anyone recommending these units however, I have found them to be stupid proof.....Checking ph is done by simply tilting the blue hose into a container to fill.....Same with total nute change, liquids drain through blue hose....and then refill by pouring nute water over hydroton rocks.....Drip system is running while lights are on and no water when lights are off....Easy as 1-2-3....

Good post tanuvan...I can't argue.

Good point about the E & B Al B...I've been maintaing
mine with little maintanence. It's only flooding twice
a day, and that can be done manually with ease if
the power went out, or a timer/pump broke...Break an
air pump in a DWC and you better have a spare or
live next to the hydro shop.

Hey johnny,i dont understand the use of double buckets in your system,is the bottom bucket just to catch the overflow from the top bucket ?

The reason im asking is im going to be going 100% hempy real soon,plus i can get as many of the double buckets that are in your pics for free so its double good for me.

Any chance you have any pics of the entire hempy system dissasembled or a link to whee i can see it all taken apart.

Panhead, what Johnny has is not a hempy bucket at all. In some ways I wish that he hadn't posted that picture because it can be misleading. That is a recycling waterfarm system made by General Hydroponics that uses air pressure to cycle the nutrients.

It is nothing even close to a Hempy Bucket. A hempy bucket is only 1 bucket...the reservoir is created at the bottom of the bucket by the hole that is drilled 2 inches up from the bottom. There are no pumps in a hempy bucket.

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It does takeconstant attention I have a bubler setup going right now, luckily I am self employed and work out my office at home and the grow is in my closet if I werent here all day to check the ph, and adjust the cfls etc.... there is no way I could do it ......

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