Need help setting up 5x5 tent for SOG and RDWC.

All,

I am currently running a 6 bucket DWC system in my 5x5 grow space and nutrient changes are driving me mad. Also since I am currently running a compact strain that isn't utilizing the grow space fast enough. This was my proof of concept run and I would like add sites for the next grow which is not realistic with my regular DWC.

I want to try and cram an RDWC into my 5x5 with additional sites resembling the closest thing to a SOG grow. I want to stay with 5 gallon buckets in the event I decide later to just add lids to some of the pots depending on strain

I would like my reservoir to be placed outside of the tent taking advantage of my cold basement temperatures and not waste space.

What would be the best options of accomplishing what I am looking to do? I was planning on using 16 5 gallon buckets.

Pump size?
Plumbing Sizes?
Best way to make connections?

If you think RDWC is not the way to go and something else would work better for what I am trying to achieve I am open to suggestions. The thing I am set on is I want high yields and fast turn around.

I have been reading all day and decided on 9 sites. I will just start using clones to save a few weeks.. As great as SOG sounds that would be better suited for an actual grow room using a flood table and not a 5x5 tent.

iruleyou1 said:

I have been reading all day and decided on 9 sites. I will just start using clones to save a few weeks.. As great as SOG sounds that would be better suited for an actual grow room using a flood table and not a 5x5 tent.

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I think you've come to the right conclusion.

Remeber to count back from when you want to harvest, 3 weeks rooting plus how long you like to veg, so that you can have young plants ready for the new cycle.
We take clones one week before flipping as we run a fast flowering strain. Works nicely with final manipulation of bloom sites. (removing what will be places that shit flowers grow, and leaving good flower sites in optimal places.

ANC said:

removing what will be places that shit flowers grow, and leaving good flower sites in optimal places

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Could you expand on that a little ANC? By optimal do you mean higher up the plant, nearer the light source?

Yes, hidden flower sites below the canopy are a waste of time.

ANC said:

Yes, hidden flower sites below the canopy are a waste of time.

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Thanks dude, I've got some fast flowering killer kush in veg atm and want to clone them to get a bumper harvest. They are done in ~ 8 weeks so I'm thinking to take the cuttings about a week before flip.

Yeah I count back 3 weeks for proper root establishment, +5 weeks for vegging and topping. Our strain takes 52 days under COBs. We take most clones at the first topping, but they get placed out at other grows as it is difficult to deal with that batch without a second on-site flower room.

ANC said:

Yeah I count back 3 weeks for proper root establishment, +5 weeks for vegging and topping

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That sounds good. 8 weeks plus maybe a week extra if needed is a convenient time frame!

You want at least 7 days between the last topping/trimming/super-cropping before flipping.
Once you flip, the plant changes metabolic processes to focus on reproduction (making flowers/seeds), and cares little for repair and vegetative growth.

ANC said:

You want at least 7 days between the last topping/trimming/super-cropping before flipping.

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Thanks, I'll remember that. I guess the plants need a bit of time to get over any stress caused before they get flipped to flower.

Once you flip, they are focused on two things only, eating as much as they can and reproduction.
Learn about vapor pressure deficit (VPD) when you get a chance, it will teach you about the optimum relationship between humidity, temperature, transpiration, leaf cooling, and potential for CO2 uptake.

Buy a cheap hygrometer/thermometer controller. And actively manage your climate.

ANC said:

Learn about vapor pressure deficit (VPD) when you get a chance

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Yeah I've read a bit about that and got the chart, really useful. Is there a simple way to increase humidity?

Increasing temperatures already helps, I saw these bottles with a wick and humidifier cap on youtube a few of these may work.

I wouldn’t call nine plants under a 5x5 a SOG Grow. If you had 20-50 plants in there it would be a true sea of green. I think 8-9 plants vegged for 3-4 weeks after topping 2-3x you could fill that area quite nicely. Fuck buckets. Get a 4x4 tray and fill it with 3 gallon pots of coco mix or rockwool mini cubes. Drain to waste. Nothing worse than passing on pathogens straight to the rhizosphere to contaminate everything. Add a simple top drip ring with multiple feeds a day in peak bloom. Don’t allow for too much run off if any. Just keep the media wet and you won’t have to worry about salts drying and compiling.

Toohighmf said:

I wouldn’t call nine plants under a 5x5 a SOG Grow. .

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I don't think anyone would.
I think he's realised its not a viable option with RDWC

Just trying to help!

coreywebster said:

I don't think anyone would.
I think he's realized its not a viable option with RDWC

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That is correct. The table idea would be good but they don't make 5x5 tables and working around it in a tent I don't think will go too well. My 6 bucket DWC system is doing the job but is way too much work to maintain properly. All of the information about timing clones and vegging plants is good stuff and the way to go now for sure. That is where experience comes into play no question about that. Training plants using any sort of tie down currently sucks since you can't easily open the lids. I already broke a few new growth nodes off and used about every 4 letter word in my vocabulary.

Now I am pricing out RDWC options and reading years and years of posts. What I have learned now is there is no perfect way to do it with 5 gallon round buckets. Uniseals seems to be about the only option if I want to go with 2" PVC lines for the returns and sound like their will be challenges. The next decision I can use help with is the best design for flow. Their seems to be 2 options.

2 water loops with top filling. The water is added back to the top of buckets but people running this design seem to have more problems with uneven buckets. I am also not sure this design works well in a 3x3 setup and would probably work better in 2 rows for balancing issues. Maybe that is why you don't see odd number of rows much. With 3 rows the length of pipes won't be consistent but I am not sure how much that will matter. This system dialed in is probably better since there has to be more surface agitation.

1 water loop which I think is called undercurrent. I can make the center row the the return and the 2 outside rows the filling. Since the pump is on the return I bet I would be less likely to have a flood if a clog took place. This design would seem best for the 3 rows i want. Here is what I think is a good example of the design I may do.

I am probably going to go with option 2 for KISS.

Note: Somebody should start selling 5 or 6 gallon square buckets with net pot lids. These should replace all the round black buckets in grow shops. Better use of space and easier to make GOOD seals. The one thing I would add is we want straight sides.and not tapered to center.

1. Anybody have a better idea instead of 2" unseals? I can always goop them up with aquarium silicone if I have leaks.
2. Anybody have a strong case for doing the top feed vs the easier under current design?

Best bet would be flood and drain with a lid over the top of the table and drill holes for 5" netpots and suspend them on the lip of the holes if you want to sog.

4x4 table can fit 36 sites comfortably.

Do 0 or 1 week veg from clone and then flower.

They make,tents that the sides zip open and as lpng as theres room on the outaide of the tent u can work around, just,not inside the tent

firsttimeARE said:

Best bet would be flood and drain with a lid over the top of the table and drill holes for 5" netpots and suspend them on the lip of the holes if you want to sog.

4x4 table can fit 36 sites comfortably.

Do 0 or 1 week veg from clone and then flower.

They make,tents that the sides zip open and as lpng as theres room on the outaide of the tent u can work around, just,not inside the tent

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I really like the idea of flood and drain and if I do a second 4x4 tent I will go with that most likely. The reason i originally wanted to do a SOG setup was because less time wasted if something goes wrong and greater yields. What I have learned about DWC being my first grow is it is very touchy and you can ruin it overnight.

The sides go down on my 5x5 but they don't make 5x5 flood tables probably for a reason. My tent is in a corner anyway. I decided on a 9 bucket RDWC and ordered the parts.