DTW Question

Tigerpaws

Tigerpaws

Well-Known Member
I'm trying to get my duration set correctly on my timer and over the course of a 24 hour period (3 feedings) I have 5 gallons of waste. I lowered the minuites on the timer but can i dump this 5 gallons back in my rez and not waste it? The ppms are 200 higher than my rez. If so should i add some plain water to dilute it?
 
No I'm saying I wasted too much over 3 feedings of 5 plants. I had 5 gallons of waste and I want to know if its OK to dump it back in my rez and not waste it.
 
No idea tbh. But people that use RO systems waste shit tons of water without batting an eye so who cares...

Personally I think DTW is just wasteful.
 
It's not the water that I'm care about wasting, its the nutrients. Also can someone tell me how much I should expect to waste? I know I'm supposed to water to runoff so I'm thing maybe like 2 cups of runoff per 3 gal pot every water? So for 5 plants for 3 waterings like 2 gallons of waste?
 
Never done drain to waste but thinking of switching and yes I would say you need to slow it down a bit. I'm really hoping a DTW guy shows up :). I would also think you may be able to drop the feed EC a bit ..... again I am really interested how it all works out for you :).
 
Get your timers dialed in and just don't waste so much next time. I never add my water back in mostly for fear of getting crap in my res that could interfere with the pump. Unless you're getting robbed by a nutrient company you shouldn't be too concerned about 5 gallons.

Edit: you could always keep that runoff separate in a bucket and hand water it in another day to avoid having to add it back in
 
Last edited:
Budley Doright said:
Never done drain to waste but thinking of switching and yes I would say you need to slow it down a bit. I'm really hoping a DTW guy shows up :). I would also think you may be able to drop the feed EC a bit ..... again I am really interested how it all works out for you :).
Click to expand...
This is what I have been following. Hope it helps!
 

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Did you test your delivery system for flow rate before plants went in?

I run drip dtw and my timers are designed around a given flow rate: how much a dripper halo will deliver in 1 min, and since I am roughly aiming to start off at 1gal per day per plant in flower, I can do this over 4 feeds totaling 8 mins, then ramp up from there depending on consumption.

I have 5.5ft tall water hog OG's that are on a total of 12 minutes in week 6, with approx a 1/2 gallon runoff each per day (upwards of 30%).

In coco this allows me to keep FEED EC low (less nutes) and zero flushing. Plants get exactly what I give them every watering.

I would never recirc the waste, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if I did here and there.

The waste goes on my outdoor garden, so it's efficient too.
 
I'm not convinced DTW is a waste compared to other systems that recirculate as that constitutes a large amount of water being tossed in some systems on a regular basis. In the throws of flower and stretch I'm dumping and refilling 130 litres a week for 6 plants. Really at the end of the day indoor growing is a high energy user in all aspects IMO.
 
I typically try to shoot for about 15% - 20% runoff in coco. Running dyna gro so cost is down. I am throwing pennies away with each gallon (if that)

Personally, I wouldn't recycle drain water into you reservoir. My (unproven) theory is that the plant will take what it needs from the nutrient mix and what gets flushed could be deficient in those elements. Dumping drain water back into the reservoir will continue to amplify those deficiencies.
 
FWIW, I have flood & drain in veg to service random numbers of plants (i.e. drip would not be practical), and for sure this is more wasteful as I change out the 40-45 gallon reservoir every week without fail.

In this recirc both the EC and pH can fluctuate depending on what returns from the coco pots. Top offs keep this in check mostly, and A weekly change ensures everything is reset and also res stays clean/pathogen free.

Water volume per plant size in this system is definitely more wasteful, but again it services landscape plants outdoors so not really wasted at all.

My RO waste line tops off the pool too.
 
DTW is the MOST WATER EFFICIENT way to water your plants.

More efficient than DWC or aeroponics...

Your not supposed to flood the place though, just a small amount of runoff.

Running the water back into the reservoir will make it a RDWC system then....just keep the water constantly aerated and you will need to dump your res once per week.

I have 7ft trees growing in a DTW system, I get no waste, as my system is dialled in perfectly (the plants drink everything they get). And my nutes are dialled in perfectly too (they eat everything I give them). No salt buildup in the media.
 
Some of the biggest yields come from drip to waste. There is so many conflicting stories about whats best to do while growing in coco. Recently I started a new venture. I converted a old ebb and flow table into a drain to waste rig. I have 6 sites potted with a 60/40 coco perlite mix. 600w mh/hps in a 5x5 tent. Im only hand watering right now. But its all set up. They make a product by NPK industries in the raw line called Yucca. Its soluble. What about that if your running off because of salts
 
Im trying to get my timer dialed in and I cant figure out what's going on. I had it set for 15 minutes, 3 times a day and I got 5 gallons of waste. So I set the timer for 5 minutes 3 times a day and I still got 5 gallons of waste. So I took the drippers out of one plant and put them in a bucket and turned on the pump for 5 minutes and I only got 1 1/3 cups. This doesn't make any sense!
 
Hmmm... is your res higher than the tables, ie. pumping down? You could have a siphon going on...
 
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