Auto watering system for hempy bucket

Bookush34

Well-Known Member
I am looking to try and set up a Hempy bucket system in my 3x3.
I have only ever grown in soil.

I would like to have a automatic water system set up. Drain To Waste
that way I can mix up a batch of feed and be good for a week

I have questions about sizing equipment for the watering system

4x 3gal buckets with 70/30 Perlite/ vermiculite

If I watered once a day enough to get good run off how large of a tank will I need to last a week?
I am not sure how Perlite/vermiculite hold water (never used it)

I know PH has to be adjusted a lot in Recirculating systems. how stable is it in a storage tank?

What specs would I be looking for on a water pump IE. GPH and PSI......

How much of a air pump and stone would I need to keep the reservoir oxygenated?
should I have a circulation pump too?


Any other Tips or advice much appreciated
 

Bookush34

Well-Known Member
Anyone know how much water is needed to get run off in a 3gal perlite bucket.

Trying to calculate res size.
 

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
completely depends on the plant, how healthy it is, how large....i grow in hempy buckets and even plants that look almost identical above the "ground" can consume drastically different amounts of water.
i use three gallon black trash cans in veg, and ten gallon totes in flower. i use 70% perlite, 30% pro-mix, and water about every three days. in veg, they can drink at least half a gallon, sometimes a little more, over three days. in flower, they can use up to a gallon and a half over three days.
since they'll drain anyway, i'd start with obvious overkill and dial back from there, till you get to the least amount you can use and still make sure the thirsty ones get fed enough.
it'll always be a wasteful method, though.
 
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Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
I am looking to try and set up a Hempy bucket system in my 3x3.
I have only ever grown in soil.

I would like to have a automatic water system set up. Drain To Waste
that way I can mix up a batch of feed and be good for a week

I have questions about sizing equipment for the watering system

4x 3gal buckets with 70/30 Perlite/ vermiculite

If I watered once a day enough to get good run off how large of a tank will I need to last a week?
I am not sure how Perlite/vermiculite hold water (never used it)

I know PH has to be adjusted a lot in Recirculating systems. how stable is it in a storage tank?

What specs would I be looking for on a water pump IE. GPH and PSI......

How much of a air pump and stone would I need to keep the reservoir oxygenated?
should I have a circulation pump too?


Any other Tips or advice much appreciated
perlite holds practically no water at all, vermiculite is the opposite, it holds a large amount. you can actually do away with the vermiculite, but you have to water more often.
you shouldn't have to worry about ph drift too much in a holding tank, it fluctuates in a recirc system because it's constantly being changed by the plants use.
i would recommend using halo's, or making them yourself, one or two single emitters will dig big holes in the perlite where they run.
this pump ought to be plenty for your purposes
https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/95404/GROW-GFOPUMP.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAyszSBRDJARIsAHAqQ4oEKmER4se3-CeGkRwTpK-Ksp2UgfQ1Qyn9wR8qiXrrS79AsszIHZIaAjVeEALw_wcB
i don't think you really need to oxygenate the water in a hempy system, it happens naturally as water flows through the perlite.
if you feel like it would be of benefit, i'd actually get a waterfall filter for a fishtank, and put that on your res, they oxygenate better than an airstone, and will keep any small stuff that drops into your res cleaned up.
 

Bookush34

Well-Known Member
thanks for the reply.
I actually set up a 5gal bucked and mixed up a batch of feed and PHd the water. put in a cheep air stone.

get to see what the solution dose over the next week.
check the temps and PH every so often

IN flower you say 1.5 gal in 3 days.
I think I will calculate for .5gal per plant per day.

4 plants = 2gal a day
so 14gal in a week.

leave some room for evaporation and other variables a 20gal Res should be plenty for a week stint for 4 plants.????


Also should Res containers be "light proof"?

I read that if you use clear drip tube it will grow bacteria?
 

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
leave some room for evaporation and other variables a 20gal Res should be plenty for a week stint for 4 plants.????
i use a 30 gal trashcan. buy bigger than you think and use less water inside of it. better to have too much room than not enough.
Also should Res containers be "light proof"?
always.
I read that if you use clear drip tube it will grow bacteria?
yes, use black tubing whenver possible.

the only tricky part with a hempy is when plants are small and the roots have not grown all the way to the bottom. i prefer to hand water during this time
 

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
its not necessarily bacteria, but they will grow algae for sure. you can order black drip line from amazon pretty cheap. the more light tight you can keep your res, the less chance for anything to grow in it. i run my hempy buckets sterile, i add hydrogen peroxide to my feed, it dissolves dead root tissue, kills any organisms living in the buckets, and oxygenates the roots. i use 29%, only need 3 ml per gallon, if you can only get the 3% stuff from the drug store, it takes about 15 ml per gallon
 

Bookush34

Well-Known Member
i use a 30 gal trashcan. buy bigger than you think and use less water inside of it. better to have too much room than not enough.

always.

yes, use black tubing whenver possible.

the only tricky part with a hempy is when plants are small and the roots have not grown all the way to the bottom. i prefer to hand water during this time
I was thinking of getting a Rubbermaid BRUTE trashcan. seen a few in guys grow pics. seen one in the store and they feel solid.

I read to hand water only in the centre of the plant for the first bit to get the roots into the bottom of the res?
 

Bookush34

Well-Known Member
good choice.

then when you get ready to try dwc, you have a mega dwc that only needs a huge netpot. if you have 12 foot ceilings, you're in business!!
I built a portable greenhouse 8x8 with 11ft high this winter to add to the veggi garden.

grow a monster Sativa in that lol
 

dagwood45431

Well-Known Member
its not necessarily bacteria, but they will grow algae for sure. you can order black drip line from amazon pretty cheap. the more light tight you can keep your res, the less chance for anything to grow in it. i run my hempy buckets sterile, i add hydrogen peroxide to my feed, it dissolves dead root tissue, kills any organisms living in the buckets, and oxygenates the roots. i use 29%, only need 3 ml per gallon, if you can only get the 3% stuff from the drug store, it takes about 15 ml per gallon
Great info (as always)! I've picked up A LOT from you over the past few months. Thanks for sharing!
 

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
i learned a lot from this website, just redistributing the knowledge. and don't take everything i say for gospel, i'm far from a prophet. there are a lot of other people i ask question of when i'm stumped over something, and i still learn new things all the time.
 

dagwood45431

Well-Known Member
i learned a lot from this website, just redistributing the knowledge. and don't take everything i say for gospel, i'm far from a prophet. there are a lot of other people i ask question of when i'm stumped over something, and i still learn new things all the time.
For some reason, you frequently answer questions specific to whatever I'm pondering at the time. Lucky timing for me, but solid info from you. I follow you on the gospel thing. No guarantees assumed!
 
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