Help me plan my setup

newguy123

Well-Known Member
So I'm thinking about doing a DWC grow in a 2x4x5 how tent. I would be using COB LED for the light and will be doing a scrog.

How many buckets would be optimal for my tent? Maybe 2 buckets I was thinking. Also should I go for 3.5 or 5 gallon?
 

Enigma

Well-Known Member
Two five gallon buckets for flowering and one five gallon for a reservoir, at least.

:leaf:
 

FennarioMike

Well-Known Member
Two five gallon buckets for flowering and one five gallon for a reservoir, at least.

:leaf:
I concur. 2 5 gallon buckets. You need to leave some room in the tent to be able to get at all of the plants as well as lights, ventilation fans & stuff.
 

Enigma

Well-Known Member
Five gallon bucket are usually fifteen inches tall and twelve inches in diameter, one for each flowering plant and possibly one outside of the environment, it can be inside but a chiller would be recommended to maintain nutrient solution temperature.
 

Vumar

Well-Known Member
Five gallon bucket are usually fifteen inches tall and twelve inches in diameter, one for each flowering plant and possibly one outside of the environment, it can be inside but a chiller would be recommended to maintain nutrient solution temperature.
He is running COB LEDs which won't generate as much heat on the buckets/rdwc as say 600+ watts of HID. He'll be able to counter high temps simply with good air flow and a weekly reservoir change. I don't see going scrog as a good idea for your first couple of runs if you are a "newguy123".
 

Enigma

Well-Known Member
Ya know, I didn't know about reservoir temps when I started DWC. I lost six plants all that long ago.

Live, learn, grow.

:leaf:
 

FennarioMike

Well-Known Member
Hydroguard = no need to worry about rez temps whatsoever. I just got done vegging 4, 5 gal buckets with Hydroguard, and another 4 maintaining a sterile rez with UC Roots. The rez temps stayed in the mid/hi 70's and even went into the 80's. I also didn't change the rez a single time for the whole veg cycle - I just topped off with fresh nutes/RO as needed and re-added UC Roots every 2 days. Hydroguard doesn't need to be re-added. All 8 grew great - zero root issues and zero nute issues. I'll always use Hydroguard from now on!

6 of the 8 were moved down to my flower room which is an Under Current 6 plant RDWC. That system, for now, I still run sterile with a chiller.
 

FennarioMike

Well-Known Member
I'll run a chiller before I add chemicals.

:leaf:
Hydroguard is bacteria - no chemicals. Chilling alone won't prevent root rot. It needs to be combined with either beneficial bacteria, or a sterile rez approach using a disinfectant like UC Roots.

Through comparison and experimentation I'm sold on beneficial bacteria for 5 gallon bucket DWC and it's ability to remove the need to chill. I'll always do it this way now. I still run sterile rez in my bigger RDWC system for flowering - but I may switch to Hydroguard for that too on my next run. I need to do more research.
 

Enigma

Well-Known Member
You should google before you post.... bongsmilie :P
My mistake, I'll amend my statement:

I'll run a chiller before I use additives.

I've never had the need for Hydroguard and since it is a Botanicare product I'll never purchase it in the future.

:leaf:
 
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