tote vs bucket?

R

reefcouple

Well-Known Member
Flo Grow said:
My Igloo Marine's are 12gal each.
22L x 14W x 14H (outside inches).
20 x 12 x 12 (inside inches).
All white with some kind of UVA/B blocking shit on the exterior, according to Igloo.

Here's something I've never read or heard discussed about regular 5gal buckets.
Sitting and smoking some of that sweet Jilly, it's really no wonder why folks have probs with them buckets.
They are made from an industrial grade plastic and are to be used for everything except food storage.
They are not approved for food and beverage, like coolers.
Therefore regular 5gal buckets take on a different kind of chemical reaction to our grow nutes and plants.
Coolers, being made to store food and beverage long term, may have little or no chemical reaction.
Therefore they most definitely, to some degree of advantage, provide a more stable environment for Temps and PH.
After all, it's temps and ph that plague DWC growers the most and in that order.
Two things which very much go hand-in-hand and lots of growers fail to realize as well as understand.
I guarantee you, more stable temps (61F - 68F) will get you more stable ph.
The ppm's are up to the plant and what they feel like consuming.
But they can't get what they need without, TEMPS and PH, being stable.
Plus coolers are able to block out our intense lights and their heat effectively and efficiently.
I mean damn, they were made to be put in direct sunlight, which is 10,000 lumens/sq ft on the brightest day !

I apologize for the diatribe ! lol
Click to expand...
Interesting take... I will have to store that tidbit in this burnt out memory of mine... Thanks..

And did you set up a drip system on that cooler as well? If so, mind me asking how?

Thanks
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
Flo Grow said:
My Igloo Marine's are 12gal each.
22L x 14W x 14H (outside inches).
20 x 12 x 12 (inside inches).
All white with some kind of UVA/B blocking shit on the exterior, according to Igloo.

Here's something I've never read or heard discussed about regular 5gal buckets.
Sitting and smoking some of that sweet Jilly, it's really no wonder why folks have probs with them buckets.
They are made from an industrial grade plastic and are to be used for everything except food storage.
They are not approved for food and beverage, like coolers.
Therefore regular 5gal buckets take on a different kind of chemical reaction to our grow nutes and plants.
Coolers, being made to store food and beverage long term, may have little or no chemical reaction.
Therefore they most definitely, to some degree of advantage, provide a more stable environment for Temps and PH.
After all, it's temps and ph that plague DWC growers the most and in that order.
Two things which very much go hand-in-hand and lots of growers fail to realize as well as understand.
I guarantee you, more stable temps (61F - 68F) will get you more stable ph.
The ppm's are up to the plant and what they feel like consuming.
But they can't get what they need without, TEMPS and PH, being stable.
Plus coolers are able to block out our intense lights and their heat effectively and efficiently.
I mean damn, they were made to be put in direct sunlight, which is 10,000 lumens/sq ft on the brightest day !

I apologize for the diatribe ! lol
Click to expand...
Good Point Flo , every time i do a reservoir change I set my PH at 5.8 I have left my reservoirs alone for a full week and before I do a new reservoir change my PH at it's highest has been 6.1-6.2 even after 7 days and even when my plants have drank 3 gallons of water..
 
AbsoluteChron

AbsoluteChron

Member
Flo Grow said:
My Igloo Marine's are 12gal each.
22L x 14W x 14H (outside inches).
20 x 12 x 12 (inside inches).
All white with some kind of UVA/B blocking shit on the exterior, according to Igloo.

Here's something I've never read or heard discussed about regular 5gal buckets.
Sitting and smoking some of that sweet Jilly, it's really no wonder why folks have probs with them buckets.
They are made from an industrial grade plastic and are to be used for everything except food storage.
They are not approved for food and beverage, like coolers.
Therefore regular 5gal buckets take on a different kind of chemical reaction to our grow nutes and plants.
Coolers, being made to store food and beverage long term, may have little or no chemical reaction.
Therefore they most definitely, to some degree of advantage, provide a more stable environment for Temps and PH.
After all, it's temps and ph that plague DWC growers the most and in that order.
Two things which very much go hand-in-hand and lots of growers fail to realize as well as understand.
I guarantee you, more stable temps (61F - 68F) will get you more stable ph.
The ppm's are up to the plant and what they feel like consuming.
But they can't get what they need without, TEMPS and PH, being stable.
Plus coolers are able to block out our intense lights and their heat effectively and efficiently.
I mean damn, they were made to be put in direct sunlight, which is 10,000 lumens/sq ft on the brightest day !

I apologize for the diatribe ! lol
Click to expand...
Those Lowe's and Home Depot five gallon buckets ARE food grade first of all. Food grade doesn't really apply to what you are saying about leaching chemicals though, what you are looking for is a completely inert material. Maybe you could grow in pyrex glass to actually satisfy that, but to say that a cooler is any different when it is a similar plastic plus whatever they insulate it with inside. If the only difference is just that air gap as insulation then you could easily solve that by using two buckets. Buckets are also dirt cheap so my vote goes there.
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
AbsoluteChron said:
Those Lowe's and Home Depot five gallon buckets ARE food grade first of all. Food grade doesn't really apply to what you are saying about leaching chemicals though, what you are looking for is a completely inert material. Maybe you could grow in pyrex glass to actually satisfy that, but to say that a cooler is any different when it is a similar plastic plus whatever they insulate it with inside. If the only difference is just that air gap as insulation then you could easily solve that by using two buckets. Buckets are also dirt cheap so my vote goes there.
Click to expand...

The insulation inside the coolers is made out of polyurethane which can with stand high and low temperatures
 
gumball

gumball

Well-Known Member
But he is right about the coolers standing up to the high intensity lighting better than buckets.
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
AbsoluteChron said:
Those Lowe's and Home Depot five gallon buckets ARE food grade first of all. Food grade doesn't really apply to what you are saying about leaching chemicals though, what you are looking for is a completely inert material. Maybe you could grow in pyrex glass to actually satisfy that, but to say that a cooler is any different when it is a similar plastic plus whatever they insulate it with inside. If the only difference is just that air gap as insulation then you could easily solve that by using two buckets. Buckets are also dirt cheap so my vote goes there.
Click to expand...
All 5gal buckets ARE NOT FDA approved Food Grade buckets UNLESS advertised, which Lowes and Home Depot don't the last time I was in there.
Why would they ? They sell building supplies for construction.
The only diff IS the plactic they are made from.
Lowes/Depot buckets ARE NOT PBA free, which is the requirement for food storage, but instead probably contain Bisphenol-A (the chemical that leeches into liquid and food from plastic and is harmful to humans and the environment).
Food approved buckets can withstand heat up to 190F because they are thicker (70mm), but not Lowes/Depot buckets !
MOST food grade are also white, but now come in various colors except black.
Call around to bakeries or delis, and get them for free or next to nothing.
Also, I highly doubt 2 very thin, non-food grade or food grade buckets can withstand the same heat and light as a cooler that's 1.5 inches thick with thermafoam insulation, even with that non-existant air space between the buckets.

Here's the specs on my Igloo Marine cooler:

Cooler-Marine , 15 1/2"W x 25 1/2"L x 15 1/2"H
Outstanding features include rugged hinges, comfort-grip handles for a secure grip and strong stainless steel latches. Marine features include liners that protect against bacterial odors and stains, ultraviolet inhibitors that guard against sun damage and infrared technology that boosts cooler performance by keeping their surfaces cooler. Hinge/Latch Hardware: Stainless steel hinges and latches.

The only 5gal buckets that will come close are the 5gal sport coolers that BeaverHuntr and Weedler rock !
Cooler vs bucket/tote is no competion for the coolers !
Buckets vs Totes = no difference IMHO = heat and light probs



reefcouple said:
Interesting take... I will have to store that tidbit in this burnt out memory of mine... Thanks..

And did you set up a drip system on that cooler as well? If so, mind me asking how?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Sorry RC, no drip system.
If I knew how to, I'd gladly tell/show you.

gumball said:
But he is right about the coolers standing up to the high intensity lighting better than buckets.
Click to expand...
Thanks Gumball !



If I seem like an advocate for coolers in DWC, then you're right !
I can't see spending good money on genetics and the equipment to grow them, but get cheap with growing mediums and pots, not to mention the rez that houses them in DWC.
Maybe I care more than others, some or most.
 
Weedler

Weedler

Well-Known Member
I'll add to what Flo said. I am rocking two 5GA Sport Water Jug Coolers, and also have two ladies going in a cooler. The cooler is sweet, roots are huge, long.... The difference is I'm growing in 3" net cups instead of 6" so less hydrotron in the 3" for the roots to travel. Here are two shots.

Water Jug:
IMG_3529.JPG IMG_3476.JPG


Cooler:

IMG_3535.JPG IMG_3533.JPG
 
K

kiddfarmer08

Active Member
nobody answered me about how many buckets i could fit in one light( 90w ufo LED) and would it be a bad idea to put to 3" neet pots in a bucket? and use LST on each plant
 
R

reefcouple

Well-Known Member
kiddfarmer08 said:
nobody answered me about how many buckets i could fit in one light( 90w ufo LED) and would it be a bad idea to put to 3" neet pots in a bucket? and use LST on each plant
Click to expand...
I'm not an LED guy, but I know that light is pretty small so I would start with 1..

LST may be an ok idea with using an LED because I dont think you would get much light penetration with that UFO, but maybe someone with LED experience would have better advice..

Did you already by the UFO?
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
kiddfarmer08 said:
nobody answered me about how many buckets i could fit in one light( 90w ufo LED) and would it be a bad idea to put to 3" neet pots in a bucket? and use LST on each plant
Click to expand...
The 90w LED covers 16 sq ft or 4' x 4' area.
So that's 16 buckets, but I'd max it out at 9.
I'd most def LST, SCROG, or some form of training to keep height fairly low.
Max height is 2 feet, but can get within 6 inches and closer.
 
J

jblaze221

Member
right on flo, i love your info man. youve been a great help to a newbie like me. as soon as i switched to coolers every problem i had was solved. cant wait to chop chop.
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
jblaze221 said:
right on flo, i love your info man. youve been a great help to a newbie like me. as soon as i switched to coolers every problem i had was solved. cant wait to chop chop.
Click to expand...
Good lookin out JB !
Glad everything worked out for you !
Be sure to post those chop pics too.
 
sleeperls93

sleeperls93

Active Member
BeaverHuntr said:
Dude you can easily warm your water .. I was in Pet'smart the other day and in the aquarium aisle they sell heater wands that warm up aquarium water for like 30 bucks ..
Click to expand...
You know, a friend of mine lost his entire crop when one of those aquariom heaters blew in his res... mercury spread and killed all his girls, or something inside the heatre..
 
sleeperls93

sleeperls93

Active Member
I decided to check the res temp in my tote, since its been unusually warm and the closet is up to the high 80s... the shit was 79 degrees... its to late to switch to coolers at this point, and the space wouldnt be enough to accommodate my girls... so i decided to freeze 4 water bottles, I'm going to hang it in the corner of the tote and check my temps; it's a little ghetto, but what else can I do? Has anyone else done this?
 
Weedler

Weedler

Well-Known Member
I veg in a closet right now awaiting another tent here in a few weeks... Temps are 86 in the room and in the reservoir they are under 73. I add a 2L frozen bottle to my reservoir because its larger. I am running a cooler in the closet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top