Hydro: Best way to change water?

Growing with DWC buckets.
What is the best way to siphon old water out to change water? I can't lift the plant because it is in a SCROG setup.

Like to know your thoughts. Thx!

Surely you can lift the bucket lids far enough to drop a submersible pump with a hose on it. If it's tight get a really small pump , drop the pump in put the hose where it dumps into an empty bucket and repeat for as many buckets as you have.

At the initial planning stage most dwc pilots do realize that at some stage much water will be flowing in or out, and add a drain away in a drain in the center of the room, which they continually trip over ...lol
If nothing else look to a garden hose and a drill pump attached to your workshop drill

get a small water pump, you can buy them for like £10, put it in the bottom of the dwc bucket and pump it all out

dbkick said:

Surely you can lift the bucket lids far enough to drop a submersible pump with a hose on it. If it's tight get a really small pump , drop the pump in put the hose where it dumps into an empty bucket and repeat for as many buckets as you have.

Click to expand...

What kind of pump would you suggest?
Would something like this pump the water out?

randybishop said:

What kind of pump would you suggest?
Would something like this pump the water out?

Click to expand...

Yes

I'm cautious about these semi sub pumps, as they may well be a source of future contamination, hence the easier solution of using the drill pump

is ideal, easier to clean ...or even replace?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Flotec-Drill-225-gal-Per-Hour-Pump-FPDMP21SA/100145129

While a drill pump is simpler, I've been using submersible pumps to pump water out of DWC, and in my Ebb n Flow tables for years now without problems. Some pumps don't last forever, but they're not really that expensive. .And I've had a couple pumps running for years with no problems.

Empty your water anyway you can, then istall a bulkhead fitting with hose connected to an external res. You can then run a circulating pump from the res pumping back over your plant.


Now u just srain from the open bucket without disturbing your plant.


Its not a huge deal shuffeling a plant around to change water, but any stress has an affect on overall quality

Ps. What contaminates would u be afraid of with a an electric motor?

Thanks for all the good suggestions!
One more question, would a pump like this work outside the bucket to siphon the water out?
>>product link<<

hydroMD said:

Ps. What contaminates would u be afraid of with a an electric motor?

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Especially an electric motor that you can drop in a bucket of straight 35 percent h2o2 and pump away if you feel it's needed. nothing lives.
Afterthought , if you do this remember 35 percent h2o2 will pretty much take your skin off. Wear proper safety gear OR dilute down to a realistic concentration of h2o2.

vostok said:

I'm cautious about these semi sub pumps, as they may well be a source of future contamination, hence the easier solution of using the drill pump

is ideal, easier to clean ...or even replace?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Flotec-Drill-225-gal-Per-Hour-Pump-FPDMP21SA/100145129

Click to expand...

Aero guys use sub pumps all the time. If you are worried about it, stick it in the tub and flush with some bleach or clearex (or the like), then flush with water.

I have used the siphon things that you siphon kerosene out of the can in to the heater with. It's a pain in the ass but works well. I used to do 6 5 gallon buckets using one of these to fill and drain

shop vac....

The pump you asked about would work if you filled the intake with water, they need to be primed. Get a small one and just lift corner as suggested. Also forget the siphon thing unless your pails are raised off floor as your hose output has to be lower than intake. Next run, move pails off floor a bit and add fittings. I have a barbed fitting at bottom of res's with a hose attached that I keep up-rite until drain time.

dbkick said:

Surely you can lift the bucket lids far enough to drop a submersible pump with a hose on it. If it's tight get a really small pump , drop the pump in put the hose where it dumps into an empty bucket and repeat for as many buckets as you have.

Click to expand...

Works like a charm. I drain my big reses same way. I just switch output on pump to a garden hose and water the bushes out fro t with it. Lol

randybishop said:

Thanks for all the good suggestions!
One more question, would a pump like this work outside the bucket to siphon the water out?
>>product link<<

Click to expand...

Be aware a submersible pump has to be IN the water to work. They need water in the pump cavity to work. A wet/dry vac will pull the water out from the top. Will suck up your roots too if you're not careful.

Bro, save yourself the headache and attach an external reservoir, attach all your buckets, and run a small pump to recirculate. U can pop lids off and drop pumps into buckets every weeks, but your disturbing your plants when you do it, even if its miniscule.





pump runs water to the back two buckets and flows back through to the res.

Once things are in full gear ill add ine more pump to recirculate the water in the res... when I change water i just attach a hose to it and drain the water. One pump to turn on, ten minutes later unhook your hose and refill.

Trust me, its the way to go.

I also add a fresh water top off with a float valve to keep things comoletely steady

Use L fitting to keep hose from kinking.



These are the bulkhead fittings i ordered.

1-1/4" spade bit is the perfect size for drilling your buckets.

DONT GET SMALLER THAN 1"!!!

drains too slow and can cause uneven bucket levels (makes a water top off unviable)