Diy rdwc. Is the depth of the tote/bucket important?

neckpod

neckpod

Well-Known Member
Hi all been a while, I'm just in the process of designing a new rdwc System and wanted to know what people on here use for totes/buckets.. I understand i need enough room for the net pot but after that what is the optimum space required bellow this and does the shape of the space matter at all?

I currently run rdwc but this is bought system and has some serious flaws which im designing out of my next system, size of container is one of them.. is 45ltr overkill.

couple of links to 2 different sizes i'm thinking of using.

option 1?
https://www.plasticboxshop.co.uk/boxes-for-industry-c5/heavy-duty-containers-c23/24-litre-wham-bam-heavy-duty-recycled-box-with-black-lid-p4076

option 2?
https://www.plasticboxshop.co.uk/boxes-for-industry-c5/heavy-duty-containers-c23/45-litre-wham-bam-heavy-duty-recycled-box-with-lid-p4103

I'm gonna be using option 2 for the brain or control unit for keeping the nutrients level and wifi timers.

Any input would be most appreciated as want this to be as prefect as possible this time, Not having any air pumps just water falling the chillers return to each tote/bucket.
 
Keesje

Keesje

Well-Known Member
Size can depend on many things.
You state for example 45 liters.
Do you use 45 liters for 1 plant on a space by 40 x 40 cm.
Then yes, large enough.
If it is for 100 plants on 4 m2
Then no, way too small.
Also it will also depend on how long do you want to grow.
Roots will get bigger and bigger.

So as long as you don't give the circumstances and wishes, I doubt that anyone can tell you the right size.
 
neckpod

neckpod

Well-Known Member
Keesje said:
Size can depend on many things.
You state for example 45 liters.
Do you use 45 liters for 1 plant on a space by 40 x 40 cm.
Then yes, large enough.
If it is for 100 plants on 4 m2
Then no, way too small.
Also it will also depend on how long do you want to grow.
Roots will get bigger and bigger.

So as long as you don't give the circumstances and wishes, I doubt that anyone can tell you the right size.
Click to expand...
I get all you variables the system will be modular so to start with 4 x totes/containers 45ltr on plant in each.. These will not be full so probably more like 30ltr by volume of nutrients under the net pot or do you think the 24ltr pots would be good enough? im not sure and am looking more towards the bigger 45ltr container.

Just wanted to know what people use for this size wise.. dimensions and volume used?
I don't want to over do it but i would rather that than under size it if you get me? The iws bubble buckets im on now ain't big enough by a long way.. what do you use then
 
firsttimeARE

firsttimeARE

Well-Known Member
I use 100liter totes so no I don't think 45liter is overkill.

This is one tote per plant. I typically grow them 2-3ft. And fill a 2x2 scrog quite easily with 5 week veg from clone.
 
neckpod

neckpod

Well-Known Member
firsttimeARE said:
I use 100liter totes so no I don't think 45liter is overkill.

This is one tote per plant. I typically grow them 2-3ft. And fill a 2x2 scrog quite easily with 5 week veg from clone.
Click to expand...
Hey pal how do..

Yeah only 1 plant per tote, I currently use bubble buckets all the way through rdwc but as you are probably aware these are only prob 20ltrs and totally inadequate for growing anything of a decent size.. I max of my root space Every time which leads me to thinking I could be doing better. 100 ltrs is a lot per tote how do you go on with that? Is that recirculating?

I grow in a tent so have to be carefull with vertical space and was hoping maybe I could go out side ways rather than up to increase root space..

Only want to build it once if you get me.

Booom
 
neckpod

neckpod

Well-Known Member
firsttimeARE said:
Yes it is recirculating.

I enjoy it. Allows for longer time between top offs and pHinh
Click to expand...
I'll go with the bigger tote then had basically given up on the smaller one.

What you using for recirculating or pumping though a chiller? How many ltr/h

Cheers bud
 
firsttimeARE

firsttimeARE

Well-Known Member
neckpod said:
I'll go with the bigger tote then had basically given up on the smaller one.

What you using for recirculating or pumping though a chiller? How many ltr/h

Cheers bud
Click to expand...
Using a 3800LPH pump through a chiller rated for 1520L reservoir.

My system volume is 425L. The totes are 100L but only fit about 60L
IMG_20181115_223621.jpg

This is the system
 
neckpod

neckpod

Well-Known Member
firsttimeARE said:
Using a 3800LPH pump through a chiller rated for 1520L reservoir.

My system volume is 425L. The totes are 100L but only fit about 60L
View attachment 4236367

This is the system
Click to expand...
Love it how full do you get regarding roots and what size or how long do you veg for?

Again I just want the right size first time.

They do bigger totes upto 160ltr but that taking the @#$@ a bit if you ask me.

Was thinking 5000ltr/h pump myself but maybe that too strong?

Booom
 
firsttimeARE

firsttimeARE

Well-Known Member
neckpod said:
Love it how full do you get regarding roots and what size or how long do you veg for?

Again I just want the right size first time.

They do bigger totes upto 160ltr but that taking the @#$@ a bit if you ask me.

Was thinking 5000ltr/h pump myself but maybe that too strong?

Booom
Click to expand...
Mine circulates about once every 7 minutes on paper. So I'd say probably once every 10 minutes in the real world so figure out how much water your system will hold and use that as a guide.

Not saying my system is perfect, but it's worked for over 6 grows.

Roots take up about a quarter to a half of the tote. I'm currently around 8 weeks from seed, but they could have been flipped a couple weeks ago. I'd say 5 weeks from clone is a good flipping point for me
 
fragileassassin

fragileassassin

Well-Known Member
Here's how mine is set up.
I have 2 sets of 6 17 gallon totes. They are connected end to end with 1.5" pipe and all flow out to 2" pipe on the ends to an outside control res.
I used 1" pvc run down the side that feeds 1/2" sprayers in each box. Each set of 6 totes is fed by an 800gph pump. So ~1600gph of circulation for ~95 gallons of total system volume. I have a 1/4 hp chiller that circulates my outside res with a 450gph pump.
The pumps are actually 1200gph but adjustable and I turned them down until the chiller could keep up without running a lot. The high rate of circulation seems to be stopping the nutrients from settling at all, I havent changed my water in at least 10 weeks and I have no deposits.
Since the netpots I use are so deep and I keep my water level about 1" below them so each tote is less than half full.
Im currently 4 weeks through flower, the root pic I just took of one of the smallest plants in my tent right now, roots are healthy just stained from the high concentration of my nutrients.

Sorry for the massive pictures.



 
neckpod

neckpod

Well-Known Member
fragileassassin said:
Here's how mine is set up.
I have 2 sets of 6 17 gallon totes. They are connected end to end with 1.5" pipe and all flow out to 2" pipe on the ends to an outside control res.
I used 1" pvc run down the side that feeds 1/2" sprayers in each box. Each set of 6 totes is fed by an 800gph pump. So ~1600gph of circulation for ~95 gallons of total system volume. I have a 1/4 hp chiller that circulates my outside res with a 450gph pump.
The pumps are actually 1200gph but adjustable and I turned them down until the chiller could keep up without running a lot. The high rate of circulation seems to be stopping the nutrients from settling at all, I havent changed my water in at least 10 weeks and I have no deposits.
Since the netpots I use are so deep and I keep my water level about 1" below them so each tote is less than half full.
Im currently 4 weeks through flower, the root pic I just took of one of the smallest plants in my tent right now, roots are healthy just stained from the high concentration of my nutrients.

Sorry for the massive pictures.



Click to expand...
Some lovely roots there mate.... that is one of my current issues roots.. they grow so fast and fill my buckets even growing down the pipes and blocking them... poor design if you ask me.

This is what I'm going down the dig route as an engineer and cad designer I feel I can do so much better.

Thinking of using 2 to 3 inch pvc pipe for all fitting between totes and and external pump.. what kind of pump are you using?

Have you use push fit connections or chemical weld?

Looking at what everyone is using I'm thinking maybe 45ltr totes may still me too small..

Thanks for all you advice.. booom
 
neckpod

neckpod

Well-Known Member
firsttimeARE said:
Mine circulates about once every 7 minutes on paper. So I'd say probably once every 10 minutes in the real world so figure out how much water your system will hold and use that as a guide.

Not saying my system is perfect, but it's worked for over 6 grows.

Roots take up about a quarter to a half of the tote. I'm currently around 8 weeks from seed, but they could have been flipped a couple weeks ago. I'd say 5 weeks from clone is a good flipping point for me
Click to expand...
I think my chiller is rated at 2500ltr per hour so i will probably buy one that's about 5000ltr an hour and adjust it down from their.

Thanks for the info much appreciated.
 
neckpod

neckpod

Well-Known Member
fragileassassin said:
Here's how mine is set up.
I have 2 sets of 6 17 gallon totes. They are connected end to end with 1.5" pipe and all flow out to 2" pipe on the ends to an outside control res.
I used 1" pvc run down the side that feeds 1/2" sprayers in each box. Each set of 6 totes is fed by an 800gph pump. So ~1600gph of circulation for ~95 gallons of total system volume. I have a 1/4 hp chiller that circulates my outside res with a 450gph pump.
The pumps are actually 1200gph but adjustable and I turned them down until the chiller could keep up without running a lot. The high rate of circulation seems to be stopping the nutrients from settling at all, I havent changed my water in at least 10 weeks and I have no deposits.
Since the netpots I use are so deep and I keep my water level about 1" below them so each tote is less than half full.
Im currently 4 weeks through flower, the root pic I just took of one of the smallest plants in my tent right now, roots are healthy just stained from the high concentration of my nutrients.

Sorry for the massive pictures.



Click to expand...
Sorry can I just ask are you using air stones as well as waterfalling with jets? I'm thinking the bubbles are not needed.

This is coming from years of fish keeping and understanding what oxygenated the water best and I don't think bubble are effective enough?
 
Last edited:
fragileassassin

fragileassassin

Well-Known Member
neckpod said:
Sorry can I just ask are yo7 using air stones as well as waterfalling with jets? I'm thinking the bubble are not needed.

This is coming from years of fish keeping and understanding what oxygenated the water best and I don't think bubble are effective enough?
Click to expand...
Im not an engineer, but a lot of my life ive been told I should have been one. I LOVED the diy aspect of setting this up and even built my own led lights. I had a fairly strict budget as big as it was so not everything I did was what I felt would have been best and had to do best for the cost in some places. Despite that, I feel I have it dialed in nicely and I don't think I will be making anymore changes from here.

I started with airstones and left them in there turned off when I put the waterfalls in was only pic i could find at the time. I ended up turning the air pumps back on too as they keep temps up inside the tent at night when it started getting cold. They're 2 large pumps and get quite warm. When the plants were smaller, they didnt hold enough heat in the tent for my liking. Figured it wouldnt hurt either way.

There's enough room in these 17g totes for about as much as I can imagine most indoor growers needing. I let mine veg entirely too long and now I cant really walk into my tent anymore but the roots still have plenty of room. It you do want to grow some really massive plants indoors though, the 27g versions should more more than enough lol!
I have 1.5" piping between the totes and 2" run down the ends out to the control res. So each res has 2 1.5" drains. The way I set my system up, it drained fast enough to run 2 1200gph pumps full blast and still stayed level. I did have some minor traveling roots so far, but I just check on them every couple weeks and pull any adventuring ones back and wrap them around the other side of the root mass. For the most part the roots seemed to stay where the jets hit the water. With the size of the totes, i havent had a difficult time keeping up with the ones that do travel even with only 1.5" "bulkheads"

For my control res, I have 1.5" tubing that runs into the tent, each tube hits a T and the back of 2 of my rows and that feeds the 1" PVC lines that are down the side in my pics I posted earlier. I was going to run pvc from the outside res but it was easier and cheaper to just buy a 50" roll of 1.5" tubing with how i needed to run it. The float valve is fed by a 55 gallon barrel. I pre-mix enough mecacrop solution to keep the system topped off for about a week I keep this agitated with a pump on a timer to not heat it up too much. Last fill was 35 gallons on friday night and it was nearly empty tonight so I put 45 in it. Only thing I put directly in the res is hydroguard. I just pump solution from my outside res thru my chiller at 66F and waterfall it back into the res.

Here is a little more info on my setup and what I did for my bulkheads on page 3. Ive made some changes since the last major update in the post but itll give you more of an idea. Airwalkers setups had a lot of influence on mine. I am now using versions of the same pump that Airwalker linked me on page 2.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/how-would-you-set-this-kinda-rdwc-up.972189/

These kinda show the setup a bit better as some of my pics there are broken.

 
neckpod

neckpod

Well-Known Member
fragileassassin said:
Im not an engineer, but a lot of my life ive been told I should have been one. I LOVED the diy aspect of setting this up and even built my own led lights. I had a fairly strict budget as big as it was so not everything I did was what I felt would have been best and had to do best for the cost in some places. Despite that, I feel I have it dialed in nicely and I don't think I will be making anymore changes from here.

I started with airstones and left them in there turned off when I put the waterfalls in was only pic i could find at the time. I ended up turning the air pumps back on too as they keep temps up inside the tent at night when it started getting cold. They're 2 large pumps and get quite warm. When the plants were smaller, they didnt hold enough heat in the tent for my liking. Figured it wouldnt hurt either way.

There's enough room in these 17g totes for about as much as I can imagine most indoor growers needing. I let mine veg entirely too long and now I cant really walk into my tent anymore but the roots still have plenty of room. It you do want to grow some really massive plants indoors though, the 27g versions should more more than enough lol!
I have 1.5" piping between the totes and 2" run down the ends out to the control res. So each res has 2 1.5" drains. The way I set my system up, it drained fast enough to run 2 1200gph pumps full blast and still stayed level. I did have some minor traveling roots so far, but I just check on them every couple weeks and pull any adventuring ones back and wrap them around the other side of the root mass. For the most part the roots seemed to stay where the jets hit the water. With the size of the totes, i havent had a difficult time keeping up with the ones that do travel even with only 1.5" "bulkheads"

For my control res, I have 1.5" tubing that runs into the tent, each tube hits a T and the back of 2 of my rows and that feeds the 1" PVC lines that are down the side in my pics I posted earlier. I was going to run pvc from the outside res but it was easier and cheaper to just buy a 50" roll of 1.5" tubing with how i needed to run it. The float valve is fed by a 55 gallon barrel. I pre-mix enough mecacrop solution to keep the system topped off for about a week I keep this agitated with a pump on a timer to not heat it up too much. Last fill was 35 gallons on friday night and it was nearly empty tonight so I put 45 in it. Only thing I put directly in the res is hydroguard. I just pump solution from my outside res thru my chiller at 66F and waterfall it back into the res.

Here is a little more info on my setup and what I did for my bulkheads on page 3. Ive made some changes since the last major update in the post but itll give you more of an idea. Airwalkers setups had a lot of influence on mine. I am now using versions of the same pump that Airwalker linked me on page 2.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/how-would-you-set-this-kinda-rdwc-up.972189/

These kinda show the setup a bit better as some of my pics there are broken.

Click to expand...
Nice really like the setup pal!
I will never buy another pre made system again, But tbh the bought system has taught me an awful lot about rdwc so i won't put it down too much.

I would like to use 2" pipe between all totes if possible so not to see a water level drop with the recirculating pump and to reduce the chances of blockages.

So you only use 1.5" pipe between locations with no noticeable drop in level?

I will have a read of that post after as thanks for that all info highly appreciated.

Week 8 of flower currently (bubblegummer) in my over crowded tent will try and stick some pics up later. think its only 20mm pipes between pots which is far to small and i have to really keep an eye out for blockages.
 
fragileassassin

fragileassassin

Well-Known Member
Yeah even on the outside where it flows into the 2" pipe is a 1.5" this was more a cost issue at the time, doing everything in 2" was nearly twice the cost.
And yes it stays level even with 2400gph (over 9000 liter per hour) pumping out of my control res.
 
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