Custom recirculating systems . . .

HydroDawg421

Well-Known Member
I'm looking for some ideas for a custom RDWC system similar to the Under Current that can be purchased at your local grow shop.

I'm interested in custom systems that some of the DIY'ers have assembled. I would like to manufacture my own using 30+ gallon pots.

The main reason I want a bigger pot isn't necessarily for a longer veg or to try and grow a HUGE tree but I have noticed in the past my roots pretty much fill up a 5-gallon bucket. Besides . . . I have a "go big or go home" mentality so why not give it a try and see what the results are?!?

Care to share some pictures and details of your systems? Any lessons that you have learned the hard way would be appreciated!

I'll attach a photo I grabbed off the 'net as an example . . .


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THANKS!
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
This is why I use. I've gone back to just 6 sites again though. but a submersible sits in the res and pumps up and out higher than the water level Inside the buckets through 1/2" lines and then the bottoms have 1" connections for gravity to pull the waterfallen water back to the res. Works great.20160526_105535.jpg
 

FennarioMike

Well-Known Member
I made a DIY Under Current based on their flow rates and pipe sizes. The UC has 2" pipes feeding at the base of each module. For my DIY, I used 2 - 1" tubing between each. The return on both systems is 3/4" - that way you'll never be pulling more than each module can supply - conversely, you'll never be filling your control module faster than it can drain.

That's one of the biggest issues people have with DIY RDWC - modules overfilling - especially if roots clog the lines. I used 1" ebb and flow fittings as bulkheads and you can get plastic filters that fit in them. Works perfect. Having 2 connections per module also gives it less chance of roots clogging both.

The thing to keep in mind with RDWC... It's almost inevitable that it will leak at some point - just be sure it's located somewhere that could endure a full system flood. It happens - it's happened to me with disastrous consequences. Just last week my float valve stuck open and 50 gallons of top off rez overflowed my UC system.

IMG_1143.jpg IMG_1305.jpg
 

Frostythesnowman88

Active Member
20170730_174210.jpghard to see it all. But I run 2 sites with 1/2" waterfall lines to 1 1/2" pvc return. Large airstone in each site and 3 stones in the res. Fitted the res with a ball valve with a line going outside for easy weekly res changes. Marine epoxy has been a life saver when setting this up!
 

Billy Liar

Well-Known Member
Hey all,

Here's a quick glimpse of my homemade simple recirculating system, the water level is set to the bottom of the net pots. The holes in this image were for 50mm net pots, but has since been upgraded to accept 75mm-ish pots.

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And here's an AK47 bud I grew in the system.

A9VaQdg.jpg
I have very small hands btw... :P

Peace
BL
 

Billy Liar

Well-Known Member
I have 3 - 8 site UC DIY clone system with 3in pvc and uniseals.
Hey nice neat room.. Thanks for showing it.

I take it your'e temp control for the nutrient solution is done by drop in coils fed from a flow and return circuit? Do you have individual control over each system, or does they all seem to balance out?

Peace
BL
 

Twerkle

Well-Known Member
Hey nice neat room.. Thanks for showing it.

I take it your'e temp control for the nutrient solution is done by drop in coils fed from a flow and return circuit? Do you have individual control over each system, or does they all seem to balance out?

Peace
BL
Yea exactly. got a penguin 1/2 hp chiller and it keeps 100gal cool with the method. no flow control, all the systems seem to be within a degree or two of each other. between 64 and 66 if i keep the chiller at 66.

i got a pvc tee in the return to add a temp probe at some point then i might consider flow control if i notice something obvi. any questions feel free to ask
 

N.R.G.

Well-Known Member
Hey all,

Here's a quick glimpse of my homemade simple recirculating system, the water level is set to the bottom of the net pots. The holes in this image were for 50mm net pots, but has since been upgraded to accept 75mm-ish pots.

View attachment 3997216

And here's an AK47 bud I grew in the system.

View attachment 3997217
I have very small hands btw... :P

Peace
BL
That's a beautiful sight right there. Nothing compares to RDWC buds.
 

Heisengrow

Well-Known Member
I built mine from scratch using 1 1/2 in PVC.I never get clogged roots.I really dont see why anyone would need 30 gallon totes to grow average size plants.Thats to much wasted nutrients.Rapid Start and other root accelerates are expensive.Its unnecessary.A nice 8 gallon root mass can feed a very large plant with no problems.Its not soil so the roots are constantly being supplied.The key to not having root clogs is to prune your roots back after 3 weeks or so.There will always be longer roots on the mass.There will be 1 or 2 maybe 3 that just get super long.You pinch them off and thats it.No more problem.
The bucket designs with the adapter that comes off the side is nut a true pass thru and is hardly effective at recirculating unless you dump into each bucket.with 1 1/2 PVC i never have any problem whatsoever with any buckets over filling.I do not like the way UC runs the pipe out of there control bucket.I have double pass throughs on mine that go down each side.Works flawless and i built my system for less than 200 dollars.You dont need expensive bulkheads or uniseals.I use a gate cuppling its 1.50 at lowes and use the 1 1/2 inch plastic sink nuts to screw them on.I use 5200 marine caulk and seal the outside of the fitting and let it all dry a day than cut my PVC to fit and glue the shit all together on 21 inch centers.The buckets were the most expensive part of my builds.I ran all my return lines under the floor and insulated it and my pump is easily accesible.It has to be in case you get a rock in there.I have a shut off valve and also have a drain plumbed into the system.Everything is looped into a 1/4 HP chiller and im running 47 gallons on 6 buckets setups in 5x6 scroggs.All the buckets are insulated with R19 insulation and wrapped over that with bubble foil wrap and taped up.My chiller barely runs compared to before i insulated.

here is the fitting i use.Igts cheap as hell and you just caulk it with marine eurathene 5200 on the outside of the bucket.Put these in first and than caulk them up.let it dry caulk it again and thats it.You just cut your PVC pipe and glue the buckets together.
0b25f7a7-927e-4bb1-9dbb-cf90c6f9345d_1000.jpg 6 bucket setup using EZ store buckets.they come in 8 gallon and 13 gallon.The 13 is just taller.I never gad a need for bigger buckets with a 5 week veg.If i was growing 8 foot plants under gravitas i would have 17 gallon totes.you can see i have a pump at the end that pulls water from the center pipes and pumps it back to the control bucket.This shit works flawless.


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6 plants and 47 gallons total.Less cost on wasted nutes and gets the job done.Never have any issues whatsoever with spotted leaves or weird shit
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a simple 2 bucket system i made
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straight up killed it under 600W HPS and 14 gallons total with a top off res.
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Sinceive moved to a 3 bucket in there and redisgned the system giving me a faster veg time now.
Scotts OG clones running as we speak on the 7th day of flower.3 week veg
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firsttimeARE

Well-Known Member
27gal totes
1" return
Top feed
1/3HP chiller capable of 275gal
75 gal total between 4 plants
Plant makes a full pH swing weekly(5.5 to 6.1) which is one of the advantages of having lots of water per plant. 5gal buckets that hold 3 gal swing that daily.

Nutes I use are dirt cheap 25lb bag capable of 3,800 gal. Enough for 50 res changes. 3 years worth in that system running 24/7 for the cost of a liter bottle of pk boost.


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