bubbling buckets?

ok so ive come to know this method useing individual buckets for each plant. i planned on useing this method for about ten buckets but then thought about how much of a pain it would be to check each buckets nutes, ph, water levels and not to mention draining and refilling. ive read aposts here and there that mention a reservoir and connected buckets. can anyone point me in the right direction to see this kind of setup and what i would need for it?

some kind of expensive controller. you should get used to the idea of having to do work in your garden no matter the setup. bubblers kick so much ass. Worm's Way - Bucket Lid

obviously it going to take work id rather not do un needed work if i could just make an extra bucket as a controller. i just dont understand how it would mix with the other buckets? maybe a pump of some sort? im really intrested to see how that works.

You can make a controller by using 2 buckets/tubs..one stacked on top of the other w/ the lower bucket containing a float valve that is set at the level you want the water in the sytem to be at. The top tub feeds water to the lower tub via gravity as the float valve senses a drop...

make any sense? see the pic?

Check out hydroponics and ebb and flow up in growfaqs.

thats pretty cool but i can keep the water level up manualy, i was looking more for a way that connected all the buckets and had a main reservoir bucket that i could check ph nutes and such. also if they were connected like this i could flush the whole system at once and the same with refilling. im sorry if i wasnt to clear on it, and thanks for the info.

Well, there's this:

Groteq Pod System: Basement Lighting Hydroponics and Plant Grow Lights


... and then there's this:

Esoteric Hydroponics 24 Pod Detatchable Pod System

I think this is what you're asking about.

looking for the homemade type, sorry forget to add that also. im on somewhat of a budget and a good handyman why pay 400 bucks for something when i can build it for less than half. when i saw it it was just the buckets and they seemed to be connectec with tubes much like the link you sent me minus the shared lower tank. ill try and find some pics of one.

Dude..that is just the reservoir.

you hook that to your bucket system and it keeps ALL of you buckets topped off. You can drain it all and refill it...check the pH or nutes...etc.

If you want a recirculating bucket system...search for "Krusty bucket" and follow the links. I just thought you wanted some thing easy to build and maintain.

Showing ya that for an *idea*..not saying to go buy it. ANY buckets or tups will work...just depends on how many buckets you have and how often you wanna fug with it.

good luck

bt dt

o, im gonna brainstorm on this for a while.

i know away that works. you'll need 9 buckets with lids, whatever size you want (20 litres not bad). couple of metres of 19mm hose and 13mm hose. 18x19mm connectors with seals( this is hard to explain but they must be able to fit through a hole in the bucket seal to the inside and you screw it tight from the outside with a plastic nut. and that leaves a connection for hoses.) a sml pump about 1000l an hour with 19 and 13mm connections. 2 rows of 4 with a main res sat at the end in the middle. drill two holes 50mm apart at the bottom of one bucket this is your res. drill a hole at the bottom of the other 8. one at 6 and one at 12 oclock. fit the connectors to all the holes. cut the 19mm hose to the length required to connect all the buckets. at the opposite end to the res attach about 50mm of 19mm hose to the end buckets put in an elbow. then you get 2 lengths fix a T piece in the middle and join them to the elbows. you shlould now have a sealed circuit with a loose end at the t piece. attach a 50mm piece of 19mm to it. attach your pump and a length of 13mm that will reach your res. drill a hole in the top of your res feed the hose through attach an elbow and another piece of 13mm to stop it falling out. hopefully you should have all the buckets connected and a pump to continually move the water if required. it also helps when emptying just take the hose out the res connect a long piece of hose and pump it down the loo. it works. and its cheap

perfect. thanks toka thats exactly what i was looking for, rep+




where can i find a pump to move the water?

try bareroots website maxijet 1000lph about 40 bucks

also for your airstone try 10mm perforated hose you can make it fit the bottom of your bucket just bend it to size join it with a t piece. totally saturates your roots with fine bubbles. also i wouldn't put the pump on permanently for moving the water just a half hour a day will do. good luck

what should i perforate it with? a pin? or can i buy it pre poked? and where?

you can buy it like that not sure where to get probably hydro shop

i was planing on useing a few airstones per bucket and a large volume air pump. but with that hose it would be cheaper and i could coil it up at the bottom to get better coverage because the more o2 the better..wait can i have to much air in the water??

the more air the better. and use a couple of stainless nuts around the hose to weigh it down