DIY HYDRO.DWC= Build ur own.Easiest method of HYDRO simple,inexpensive and easy.

onthedl0008

Well-Known Member
Alright. Just got done building another DWC (Deep Water Culture)tub for my upcoming SOG project and thought I should share this information here.
In DWC ur plants roots are already submerged in water so there is no need for any type of drip, areo or other types of extra gadgets to add.

Consists of:
1 -18 gallon sterlite tub with lid @ walmart for $8.50
6 -5 inch net pots from the dro store $5.95
1- Ecoplus dual output Airpump $12.95
2- 8 inch air stones $4.00
10 lb bag of hydroton on sale for $7.99
Total $39.39

Other neccesary tools involved the following:Ill get into why later
3 pieces of left over pizza(black olives,groung beef and green peppers)and a BUD select or 12
New house shoes and a couple grow magazines I picked up at the dro store(free)cuz i dont really want to feel like im @ work.

Alright first you get the lid and flip it over. Place the net pots on the top evenly distributing the area of the net pots over the lid.Trace them out with a marker. Then a trick I learned is after you trace the pots take the marker and run it on the inside of ur trace line and use this as ur cut line. Reason being U dont want ur pots to fall in when ur done cutting.
Cutting the reason for the beer and pizza. My roto zip broke and I had to use a kitchen knife. Pain in the ace. I ate pizza and drank beer and looked at the pics in the mags between holes cuz im lazy and didnt want to feel like I was @ work.

Once ur done cutting ur lid ur ready to place the air stones in the tub and begin filling it up. Leave a net pot in it so U know when u have achieved the proper water level.
For seedling and clones I leave my water level about a half inch to directly below the bottom of the pot.This will force ur plants to work on root structure and get the roots in the water so U can begin feeding them NUTS.
After the roots hit the water I back mine off and try to stay consistently 1-2 below the bottom of the pots.

I use peat plugs for seedlings and leave them flush with the tops of the hydroton(cover the pots).I use these plugs because the come already pre PH'd And they are spongue like so they dont hold water much.

Rockwool does not work very well in dwc.Unless U keep the wool only moist(about 1-2 tablespoons of water directly on the wool/day). U must pre ph and soak wool for 24 hours if ur going to use wool.

I do try to force or manipulate root growth on my clones and seedlings by watering the rock around the medium with a 1/2 cup of water twice a day until the roots hit the water.
Roots hit the water within 1-3 days tops.
The benefit of growing hydro is it speeds up the plant growth rather fast.Although I have seen some sick coco grows in soil on this site.
The best part of these tubs is they are only 1.5 X 2 making the total sq.ft. 3 so they tuck away nice.U can veg 6 plants 10 inches from seed in the 1 tub.
I did not actually fill the tub I just made.But ive included pix of a tub i made recently.My #1 sog tub i guess.Im working on 2 more.

Hope this helps. I actually learned all this here. DO not make things harder than they should be. Follow these simple tried rules and U shall will be growing insane jungles of mj soon.The hardest rule i learned was just to listen to the pros here and beat these simple rules into my head past down from many growers. Simple 123 instructions and dont sway. THANKS RIU:hump:
 

Attachments

onthedl0008

Well-Known Member
good read when i get the room i will def build this +rep
Thanks man just trying to give back a lil. This style of hydro growing is so simple.If i can do it any new grower can do it. Be carefull tho.Dont become to obsessed cuz it seems to be very catchy around here.
 

leggoeggo

Well-Known Member
+rep

he's speaking the gospel when it comes to rockwool... I had the hardest time getting my seedlings to root in my DWC, using peat plugs next time for sure

Oh DL, here's a trick I learned for cutting the holes in the lid... lay you tub lid out, and place your 4 (or 6) next pots upside down, and trace (for bigger circles), then flip right side up and trace (for smaller circles) in the same spots... this will give you circles within circles. Now, cut out the small circles, and cut little tabs out to the big circles, and bend down... it gives a nice snug fit for your pots, and no worries for slipping

If I was hard to understand, I learned it from here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VhK6r0XAGE
 

onthedl0008

Well-Known Member
Thanks leggo bro.Just didnt want everyone to see all my trace marks bro. Like my last one LMAO. Looks like a complete newb did it. Haha Nice link!+ reps to U bro.Mareds right i wounder how the haters feel now. Imagine if U would have tossed them a few weeks ago.U will be ready to harvest in prolly 6-7 weeks bro good job.
 

onthedl0008

Well-Known Member
Next up....Diy bubble cloner!
I pulled up my seat
This ones simple bro. Once u build ur tub U can transplant directly into this sytem.Just follow the simple rules of putting at least an inch or 2 of hydroton in the bottom of the pot.Place ur clones in the pot and fill the rest of the way.U can do this easily with clones in a cup of water without a cloning medium(plug or wool).
Place ur water @ the bottom of the pot-1/2 inch above the bottom of pot.The trick is to let the bubbles keep ur rock a lil moist but not over wet. U will see they are moist and this should be sufficient.
In 2 or 3 days the roots will find the water. Mine are already in the water just transplanted 2 days ago. Then u begin feeding.1-2 weeks after that put in flower or veg however long u want.
Heres a pic of my current clones in the tub. I will try to get a pic of the roots but dont really want to disturb them.
 

Attachments

onthedl0008

Well-Known Member
Yes The tub shown has 3 clones per 5 inch pot.heres some other ideas of some other cloners i built. Actually my 2 moms are living in the original tub they were cloned in right now. The point is U can manipulate ur water levels to do whatever u need in these systems.Once u get roots in the water back it off to about an inch below and let ur rock dry.
 

Attachments

onthedl0008

Well-Known Member
Yes bro. That would be awesome if u joined our club lmao! But yea it just seems the most practical.As fast as plants grow in hydro and the amount of space u use with one of these tubs just seems to make the most sense to me i guess.Plus im lazy and once u set up dwc all u really have to do is watch ur nuts and do water changes every 2 weeks.
The grow food will run U about another 18 bux for grow and 18 bux for flower. A bottle of grow nuts last me about 2 months. Flower will last about a month and a half.
 

leggoeggo

Well-Known Member
Damn bro, about $40 to make your own DWC? think i might have to give it a shot lol
for sure do, this is my first grow, so I dont have a frame of reference... but I had trouble watering rock wool, I'd hate to have to manualy water the entire life... DWC is so worry free, and cheap-o
 

Stonedz

Well-Known Member
Sweet lol, i'll give it a shot on my next grow definitely, It's a lot cheaper than i thought it was.
 

magikal chronik

Well-Known Member
deff a good thread bro. thanks a lot. I have a grow right now my first grow using an Aero Garden. I'm gonna end up finishing this grow up selling my AG, building a couple of these bitches. Invest in an Hps/Mh for lighting. lol sit back and wait. I like this way better. Nice big res. and everything. :blsmoke:

+1 repp
 

onthedl0008

Well-Known Member
deff a good thread bro. thanks a lot. I have a grow right now my first grow using an Aero Garden. I'm gonna end up finishing this grow up selling my AG, building a couple of these bitches. Invest in an Hps/Mh for lighting. lol sit back and wait. I like this way better. Nice big res. and everything. :blsmoke:
Bro ive seen some nice a/g grows here. I shared this cuz it was the easiest for me to master.Yes very simple and the least amount of variables to worry about. All i do is sit back and wait now.
If u go with the bigger res be sure to spend the extra 7-10 bux on a small submersible pump inside the res to keep the water moving over the roots.Change ur water twice a week and its smooth sailing from there.
Placement of the pump also makes easy res changes. Get enouhg hose to reach ur nearest faucet and its kinda like watching the grow on tv.

U will get bored. kinda llike having a remote for the tv. Then u will end up looking for new projects, Then u will end up being obsessed with growing.
 

magikal chronik

Well-Known Member
Bro ive seen some nice a/g grows here. I shared this cuz it was the easiest for me to master.Yes very simple and the least amount of variables to worry about. All i do is sit back and wait now.
If u go with the bigger res be sure to spend the extra 7-10 bux on a small submersible pump inside the res to keep the water moving over the roots.Change ur water twice a week and its smooth sailing from there.
Placement of the pump also makes easy res changes. Get enouhg hose to reach ur nearest faucet and its kinda like watching the grow on tv.

U will get bored. kinda llike having a remote for the tv. Then u will end up looking for new projects, Then u will end up being obsessed with growing.
Thanks a lot cuz. Helped me a lot. I like the Ag and all.Yes, people have done miracles with them. I just think this is a better way for me also.Good lookout on the pump ill deff get that. You got me a little too excited my plants in the AG are only two weeks. I got some time to wait on. I almost regret getting the Aero Garden :cry:

Any who: Heres my little babies. First Grow.:blsmoke:
No crazy strain. just bagseedd. It's my first grow, I'm just tryin diff. stuff out.
 

onthedl0008

Well-Known Member
Bro thanks man. Respects. Just ride this one out and learn from it. Alot of things can be learned from A/G and Applied to DWC. The second step in cloning actually.
Once ur clones start popping out of the pots..... Back ur water off. I sometimes do this daily.
The bubbles created in dwc kinda create there own misting over the roots and help them grow into the res of water.
Bro, ur going to be a dwc master im sure
 
Top