5 gallon DWC built in 15 minutes, for less than $15 dollars. W/Pics

Hey all,

I needed to build a quick DWC for a new clone. I built this one is less than 15 minutes and thought I'd post some pics of it. I also have a thread on how I build my DWC systems normally. The cost is less than $20 dollars for my larger DWC reservoirs. That link is Here:

https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/272015-how-build-easy-dwc-reservoir.html#post3398733

This is just an empty 6 gallon bucket I had left over (it held kitty litter). I cut a round hole in the top to hold my mesh basket, ran my tubing to an aquarium air pump for oxygen to the roots, and placed my clone in some hydroton pebbles. That's it. Done. Simple. I can grow this plant to full size in this reservoir no problem.

Time to build: less than 15 minutes
Cost for air pump: $9.99
Cost for mesh basket: $1.95
Cost for hydroton pebbles: $1.00
Cost for tubing: $1.00

Total cost: $13.94

I get about 2 inches of growth per night!!! And that's under a cheesy little 60W full spectrum light form home depot. I think that's pretty impressive. I'll get 3 inches of growth per night once I get it under my HID lights.

Nutes: General Hydroponics, Flora Micro and Flora Bloom using Lucas Formula (half strength until plant is more mature).
Light: 60W full spectrum. running 24 hours..

I'll stick it under my metal halide veg lights after it grows a little more. Plus I need to move one plant in to my flower room before I have room for this under the HID veg lighting.

Take it easy, all. And huge happy harvests to everyone!!!

wow, its been a while since i've seen someone so deserving of rep. thanks bro!!! great post.

i really wish you'd get it under a real grow light though, anything else always makes me uncomfortable even tho you're obviously rockin' it.

Get some duct tape on the top and sides to block out light or, algae be ye fate. I also find the $1 spray paint from wallyworld will do the trick to, but duct tape is manly.

phreakygoat said:

wow, its been a while since i've seen someone so deserving of rep. thanks bro!!! great post.

i really wish you'd get it under a real grow light though, anything else always makes me uncomfortable even tho you're obviously rockin' it.

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hahaha. I hear ya. Like I said in my post, I was waiting for space in the veg room. She's moving in tonight and will be under a metal halide from now on....Well until flower, then HPS.

Thanks for the rep!

captain insaneo said:

Get some duct tape on the top and sides to block out light or, algae be ye fate. I also find the $1 spray paint from wallyworld will do the trick to, but duct tape is manly.

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Damn good point. Didn't think about it, though I certainly know better! The amount of bubble action I have going on in there is insane, but algae could still happen. Duct tape it is! Because as you said, duct tape is MANLY!!! heheh

Cool, it will work all the way too. I made one of those and also I just graduated to net pot lids for four dollars. They fit right on lowes grey buckets for 2 bucks and yu can fill em with media of your choice. I only have a drill and a few crappy bits and cutting that hole was a craptacular job for me! Also I like knowing that the rule of thumb is 1 watt of airpump power per gallon of water. A half watt will do but is not the coolest. They are about 10 bucks for a 4.5 watt or so. Also I have replaced hydroton with recycled tire media mulch. Works the same so far for dwc and I have to flood more in ebb than hydroton. Once and hour. But growth is stylin.

i had algae grow on my air stone. bubbles be damned algae is a damn persistent plant!

captain insaneo said:

i had algae grow on my air stone. bubbles be damned algae is a damn persistent plant!

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That happens when light gets through to the roots, from what I've read. I had to wrap the container you see in my pics in reflective tape to prevent just that from happening. Sorry to hear that you had that problem. I hope you were able to get it fixed!!!

yeah I cleaned out the res and bought a new air stone. shit they are like $2 at walmart.

captain insaneo said:

yeah I cleaned out the res and bought a new air stone. shit they are like $2 at walmart.

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Yep totally cheap. But that's why i use tubing...no clogs and no replacements.. Not that it's hard to change the stones out. I'm just lazy I guess, lol!! Just glad to hear that you got all your issues worked out!!

Hello all,

Tonight I needed to transplant a clone. I couldn't put it in a big reservoir yet, so I had to build another 5 gallon res for it. I decided to take pics of the process and post here as sort of an update. I did this one in about 10 minutes. The whole process from building to having the clone under lights was about 30 minutes. I wanted to point out one picture. I think it's number 6. Check out the bubble action going on in the nutrient solution. Bad ass!! that should quiet any doubters a bit. Also, all you can see for a light in the last picture is my 60W full spectrum light, but there is also a 400W metal halide higher up that you can't see in the pictures.

basically I took a 6 gallon kitty litter bucket, washed it out, drilled a hole in it, and then ran tubing inside (it's clear tubing and hard to see). I then connected a T to the end of that and made my usual circle (the black tubing). I drilled my usual 3 small holes in to it and secured it to the bottom of my reservoir using air line holders (seen in my first picture). The air pump I use is a 20 gallon aquarium pump I bought at petco for $9.99. Like I said before, it costs less than $15 to make a reservoir like this.

Hope you dig it.

-S

keep the foil removed hotspots with burn your plant

Thestinker said:

keep the foil removed hotspots with burn your plant

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It's not foil. I don't use the stuff. It's mylar based tape.

man I just built a 86 site cloner using your info.. man o man.. lots of bubbles and babys look happy. I am in the process of putting together my next grow, I am gong to use your method in one of my rooms, Im going to run 400's above and vertical in air cooled tubes, thanks again for all your help bro..

snutter your my kind of thinker.. simple.. affordable.. and GREEN

razoredge said:

man I just built a 86 site cloner using your info.. man o man.. lots of bubbles and babys look happy. I am in the process of putting together my next grow, I am gong to use your method in one of my rooms, Im going to run 400's above and vertical in air cooled tubes, thanks again for all your help bro..

snutter your my kind of thinker.. simple.. affordable.. and GREEN

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Thanks razoredge. Glad you dig it. I do love simple.

I'd love to see pics of your room once you've finished setting it up. Let me know if you take any, please. Thanks.

-S

for sure man.. As soon as this round is over hopefully feb 21st ish I will be starting my new set up..

Simply awesome. Love this thread, only wish I had found it a week ago. I am going to try your setup very soon. Thanks for posting this brother!

Quick question: How big a plant can one 5 gallon bucket support before you'd have to move it to a bigger reservoir. I am working with about 4 ft. height and that's including hanging the light down. Would 5 gallon reservoirs be big enough for my application? I also have about 40" of width and 20" of depth. You and this method probably just saved me a couple hundred bucks easy. Much appreciation.

TheGreenThumbNewb said:

Quick question: How big a plant can one 5 gallon bucket support before you'd have to move it to a bigger reservoir. I am working with about 4 ft. height and that's including hanging the light down. Would 5 gallon reservoirs be big enough for my application? I also have about 40" of width and 20" of depth. You and this method probably just saved me a couple hundred bucks easy. Much appreciation.

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My guess would be that you could grow it to about 2 and half to 3 feet and start flowering. I have one it one of these that's almost three feet tall. The root ball is already massive, but my guess is that I could easily finish it in the 5 gallon res. But, I like to work with my 12 gallon reservoirs (well 18 gallon totes, with 12 gallons of nutrient solution). This is because I have to add water less often. With 5 gallons, once the plant gets mature you're adding water everyday.....Not that that is a real big deal. Hell I love spending time in my garden, so it's just another excuse to go on in... heheh.

I'm very glad to hear that this post helped you out!! that's awesome..

-S

PS
My 18 gallon totes are built basically the exact same way. Just bigger... They work great. here's a pic of one of the flowers from my current grow. I just love this picture.