5 Gallon Bubble Bucket d.i.y. guide

Operation 420

Well-Known Member
Hi guys, this is my 5 gallon bubble bucket do it yourself guide. I posted this in my blog too (link in my signature) Hope this helps some people. Enjoy and happy growing :leaf:


This guide is to show how to make a simple 5 gallon bucket deep water culture system. You will need a few things, but overall it is very simple and most items can be bought at local stores.

The items you will need include:

1. 1- 5 gallon bucket - Preferably black to keep light out. If not, it's ok, you can use tape to cover the bucket if it is white or a lighter color.[3-4 dollars]

2. A net/mesh lid - Ask your local hydroponics store if they have a 6" or 10" mesh lid for 5 gallon buckets. [4-5 dollars]

3. Hydroton - You will need no more than a 10 liter bag. (If using the 6" net lid, you will have a lot leftover for other buckets) [Around 10 dollars]

4. An air pump - I suggest a 5-15 gallon pump. Go to your local pet store, or major store that has a pet department. 5-7 dollars

5. Tubing, get the tubing when you get you pump, it is very cheap. [1.50-2.50 dollars]

6. Air Stone - Get one that fits obviously. And one that gives you a lot of bubbles. [1.50-3 dollars]

Now to set it up. It is a very easy process. The below diagram will show you exactly how it works.

After you have it all set up, it is time to add your nutrients. Nutrient strength will vary depending on how old your plant is, so check your nutrient labels, or you can check our nutrient feeding schedule page at www.marijuana-strain-spot.com .

If you have a young plant, you want your water level to be high enough so the bubbles burst on the hydroton. If the hydroton is getting wet, the rockwool will too. Check it to make sure though.

Once your plant is bigger and the roots are longer, you can lower your water level accordingly.

Some of the biggest indoor plants I've seen were grown using a 5 gallon bucket. You will enjoy the benefits of quicker growing plants, while using less nutrients to feed them.

Well, that's it, now you now how to make a 5 gallon bucket dwc system. If this was helpful, subscribe to Strain Spot and check back, because we will be adding more guides in the future. Good luck, and happy growing!
 
if you wanted to scrog, and the plant couldnt come out of the tent because of the screen, how would you go about watering/maintenance ? i want to do a 2 plants scrog (2 different strains so i wanted to feed separately)
 

Operation 420

Well-Known Member
if you wanted to scrog, and the plant couldnt come out of the tent because of the screen, how would you go about watering/maintenance ? i want to do a 2 plants scrog (2 different strains so i wanted to feed separately)
These dwc buckets grow big plants. Not sure you would want to do scrog with these. They have multiple bucket ebb and flow/top drip systems that would be better suited for scrog in my opinion. :weed:
 

DumpsterKeeper

Well-Known Member
if you wanted to scrog, and the plant couldnt come out of the tent because of the screen, how would you go about watering/maintenance ? i want to do a 2 plants scrog (2 different strains so i wanted to feed separately)
You could use those big gatorade coolers they have at football games with the spigot on the bottom. Cut a hole in the top to fill it with new water, then just hook a tube to the spigot to drain it when necessary. Seems like that would work fine.
 

ASM

Member
Hi im new here, first post, bear with me...

This may be a question with an obvious answer that im missing, but how do you get nutes in the water? do you change the water or do you wait till the plant has absorbed it all or...? Again I'm probably missing something embarrasingly obvious here.
 

taipanspunk

Active Member
Hi im new here, first post, bear with me...

This may be a question with an obvious answer that im missing, but how do you get nutes in the water? do you change the water or do you wait till the plant has absorbed it all or...? Again I'm probably missing something embarrasingly obvious here.
you will use the correct mesaurements of nutes (specified according to the brand you get) and mix it with the water... the air bubbles will pop it onto the hydroton and walah! also you need to check your ph and keep it steady if if increase/decrease...
 

DumpsterKeeper

Well-Known Member
Yup. Basically you just add the nutes as instructed by the manufacturer. You can change the water whenever you want, but once a week is usually how people go about it for DWC.
 
Hi im new here, first post, bear with me...

This may be a question with an obvious answer that im missing, but how do you get nutes in the water? do you change the water or do you wait till the plant has absorbed it all or...? Again I'm probably missing something embarrasingly obvious here.
its best to change your res weekly ive heard, roseman has a great guide to dwc, i use it constantly!
https://www.rollitup.org/dwc-bubbleponics/234626-rosemans-diy-bubbleponics-tutorial.html

goodluck friend
 

Operation 420

Well-Known Member
Like Corpse and Dumpster said, weekly is the best. If you're lazy and the conditions are right, you can probably get away with every two weeks, although I don't suggest it. :weed:
 

Corso312

Well-Known Member
Been following a 5 gallon grow in the Michigan section ..name is huel Perkins, believe he said he changes water once during the whole grow.
 

djwimbo

Well-Known Member
These dwc buckets grow big plants. Not sure you would want to do scrog with these. They have multiple bucket ebb and flow/top drip systems that would be better suited for scrog in my opinion. :weed:
If you're going to scrog, usually you would run an undercurrent or recirc system. Once the canopy is in the net, you don't want to remove it. A system with a separate reservoir allows better access.

You can install a valve, like (below) ... just make sure you put your bucket on top of something(cinder blocks). How else are you going to drain down to the bottom of the bucket? Make gravity work for you.

You could use those big gatorade coolers they have at football games with the spigot on the bottom. Cut a hole in the top to fill it with new water, then just hook a tube to the spigot to drain it when necessary. Seems like that would work fine.
I was thinking about using a funnel to get to an access hole in the top of the lid through a scrog net, and have a plug to cover the hole while not in use.

Side note, more than one person has suggested using an actual cooler(with that drain), as it helps maintain water temps in the "good" range.

I always thought about running an external cooler, like a Thermos ... but pumping cold water into the exterior chamber around the nutrient water inside the inner chamber(5gal bucket). But I don't have the space or need for it, so that DIY project gets put back into my head.
 
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