Kant
Well-Known Member
I know your first thoughts were "spider dwc?....wtf?". I don't take credit for it's original design because i'm sure someone else out there has already designed something similar or is even selling something similar.
let me preface this with problems with dwc that i'm trying to overcome (this is not dwc bashing nor will it become a thread to bash any hydro system). When I say dwc i'm talking about the standard design. 1 tub(res) with a lid that holds the plants so the roots dangle in the water(along with all the accessories like air stones and what not). I've done this design(sort of) so these are problems i found first hand:
The best way to describe it would be a system of pots. In the reservoir there will be air stones(connected to an air pump and a water pump. water will be pumped up a main tube that will splinter off and feed each of the individual "pods".
Each pod will be hold about 3/4 gal of water. the intake will be about half way up on side wall of the pod. There will be a second tube that is near the top of the opposite wall that act as an overflow drainage. This drain tube will then connect to a main drain tube that will go directly back into the reservoir(which will be under the table that the pods are sitting on). All the pods will be detachable. There will be valves on the intake to stop water flowing through that tube and so water doesn't flow out of the pod through that hole. I don't have valves on the drainage because they were expensive but since they'll be right at the water line, tipping it so it drains in to the main line before disconnecting it will ensure it doesn't spill. The tube that connects to the main water line will be plugged up with an improvised plug.
What problems do the pods solve?
btw this was my 420 post W00T!
let me preface this with problems with dwc that i'm trying to overcome (this is not dwc bashing nor will it become a thread to bash any hydro system). When I say dwc i'm talking about the standard design. 1 tub(res) with a lid that holds the plants so the roots dangle in the water(along with all the accessories like air stones and what not). I've done this design(sort of) so these are problems i found first hand:
1. tangled roots - when ever males pop up, it's impossible to seperate it's roots from everyone else's roots with out damaging them.
2. water changes - this really becomes annoying and painful when the plants get big.
3. light efficancy - I'm not sure if this applies to other hydro setups but in the standard dwc if one of the pants, taking up a prime spot under the light, turns out being male and plants on the boarders are females you can't really move them to get better lighting. So that prime real estate is wasted.
4. upgrade - If you ever decide to upgrade the amount of plants your system handles. you essentially have to buy/build a whole new system. even if it's just a system for a couple extra plants.
*5. SOG - It's really hard to do SOG with the standard dwc. when every you move plants from veg to flower you'd have to move the entire res which would be a pain in the ass.
*i've never done a SOG, so this is just a possible/likely problem.
These are simply the problems that my design tries to overcome. Alright now for an explanation of my design.2. water changes - this really becomes annoying and painful when the plants get big.
3. light efficancy - I'm not sure if this applies to other hydro setups but in the standard dwc if one of the pants, taking up a prime spot under the light, turns out being male and plants on the boarders are females you can't really move them to get better lighting. So that prime real estate is wasted.
4. upgrade - If you ever decide to upgrade the amount of plants your system handles. you essentially have to buy/build a whole new system. even if it's just a system for a couple extra plants.
*5. SOG - It's really hard to do SOG with the standard dwc. when every you move plants from veg to flower you'd have to move the entire res which would be a pain in the ass.
*i've never done a SOG, so this is just a possible/likely problem.
The best way to describe it would be a system of pots. In the reservoir there will be air stones(connected to an air pump and a water pump. water will be pumped up a main tube that will splinter off and feed each of the individual "pods".
Each pod will be hold about 3/4 gal of water. the intake will be about half way up on side wall of the pod. There will be a second tube that is near the top of the opposite wall that act as an overflow drainage. This drain tube will then connect to a main drain tube that will go directly back into the reservoir(which will be under the table that the pods are sitting on). All the pods will be detachable. There will be valves on the intake to stop water flowing through that tube and so water doesn't flow out of the pod through that hole. I don't have valves on the drainage because they were expensive but since they'll be right at the water line, tipping it so it drains in to the main line before disconnecting it will ensure it doesn't spill. The tube that connects to the main water line will be plugged up with an improvised plug.
What problems do the pods solve?
problem #1 - the plants will have their own pod, so their roots will never tangle(or tango) with other plants' roots.
problem #2 - The res is completely independant so that's no longer a problem. But also becuase it's independant, i could use a smaller res when the plants are still sapplings, there by saving water and nutrient solution. Then change to a larger res when the plants get bigger. In other words better/easer customization.
problem #3 - The pods are only attached to tubes so they can be moved around and much as i want.
problem #4 - Everything is designed to be interchangable. If I want a bigger res, I can change it. If I want more plants I can add more pods. If I want less plants I can take a way pods. In fact I could do all these things in the middle of a grow with out missing a beat.
problem # 5 - I'm sure people who have done SOG, do something similar(which is why i don't take credit for the design). But if I were to make two of these systems, 1 for vegging and the other for flowering, when one plant is done vegging I could easily just detatch that pod and plug it into the system in the flower room.
I'm sorry for not having pictures. I'm waiting on some key components. If you like this design, feel free to use it. There i'm done. Remember this is NOT a bashing thread. The only system you are allowed to bash is my design. let the critisism beginproblem #2 - The res is completely independant so that's no longer a problem. But also becuase it's independant, i could use a smaller res when the plants are still sapplings, there by saving water and nutrient solution. Then change to a larger res when the plants get bigger. In other words better/easer customization.
problem #3 - The pods are only attached to tubes so they can be moved around and much as i want.
problem #4 - Everything is designed to be interchangable. If I want a bigger res, I can change it. If I want more plants I can add more pods. If I want less plants I can take a way pods. In fact I could do all these things in the middle of a grow with out missing a beat.
problem # 5 - I'm sure people who have done SOG, do something similar(which is why i don't take credit for the design). But if I were to make two of these systems, 1 for vegging and the other for flowering, when one plant is done vegging I could easily just detatch that pod and plug it into the system in the flower room.
btw this was my 420 post W00T!