Building a Multi-Bucket Waterfarm system

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****PLEASE DO NOT POST IN THIS INFORMATIONAL TUTORIAL****

Building a Multi-Bucket "Waterfarm System from single units.


If you have a single Waterfam bucket and want to expand to a Multi-bucket system, you can do so fairly easily.

First pic shows the finished bucket/unit you will modify.

Second pic is the sight tube on the Waterfarm bucket. This has been swung to the horizontal and will NOW be a fill tube that is hooked to the other buckets in the sytem rather than a sight tube.

To this elbow is connected a length of 1/2 vinyl tubing..preferrably black to retard algae growth. The length of this tube determines the distance between the individual buckets in the system. Most systems will space plants 2-5 ft depending on lighting/number of lights in the room.

Third pic is a number of buckets hooked together via 1/2 elbows and the desired length of black tubing required to space the buckets correctly.

**NOTE:** The system pictured will be a VEG only system. Buckets will be moved at onset of 12/12 to bloom room and refilled w/ new clones. YOUR system may need to have larger spacing between the buckets if you are going to both veg and bloom it in.

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Now we see a top view of the system (w/o mesh pots in place).

After all buckets are spaced and hooked together, you can choose to "close" the system/hook the last 2 buckets together.

In other words, you still are using the buckets themselves as the "reservoir" AND to FILL the buckets/top off the buckets you will simply pour new pH'd nute water into ANY bucket and fill the system to the fill line.

Now hook up ALL 1/4" tubing to a good airpump..preferrably a GH Dual-diaphragm pump with 4 gang valves. split to cover 6 buckets (or more if desired!)

STOP THE TUTORIAL HERE IF YOU DO NOT WANT AN EXTERNAL RESERVOIR.

To ADD A RESERVOIR, CONTINUE on:

Attached Images

WF21.jpg (57.0 KB, 90 views)

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For a RESERVOIR SYSTEM WITH FLOAT VALVE...do this:

Extend both sides of the tubing to an additional 5 gallon bucket that has either one grommet in place with a "t" to seperate both sides or dual grommets (as seen in this picture) that will feed the system with fresh nutrient water.

Buy a float valve w/ a 1/2" barbed inlet fitting. Install this float valve appox 8" above the bottom of the bucket. The float itself is on a copper type wire that can be adjusted to the desired water level height by bending the "arm" up or down to that level.

Above this bucket I have installed another bucket w/ a grommet and an elbow that was also a "sight tube" apparatus on a previous bucket.

To this elbow is hooked a piece of 1/2" tubing that is then hooked into the 1/2" barbed inlet fitting on the float valve.

The upper bucket is then filled with the nute/fresh water and FILLS THE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY to the proper level to keep the drip rings operating correctly as the plants use the water and evaporation occurs within the sytem itself.

This valve works like yer toilet does. As the water in the lower bucket is used in the system, the float valve senses the drop and water is then intro'd to the lower bucket until the proper level is again reached.
(NOTE: do not crap or pee in yer bucket...EVER! It LOOKS like a toilet..but it ain't!!!)

Attached Images

	WF15.jpg (54.1 KB, 47 views)
	WF16.jpg (43.5 KB, 50 views)
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	WF20.jpg (60.1 KB, 61 views)

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The only additional step I would take that is NOT illustrated here is to add a DRAIN in the bottom bucket to facilitate an easy change of the nute water in the res.
(NOTE: If you put the system on blocks or something to raise it up a bit...including the reservoir...you can then drop ONLY the reservoir and the system will drain much faster/easier.

Or...you can add a small submersible pump and pump the system out that way into another bucket.

And again...if you add airstones and get the water in the bottom of each bucket bubbling wildly you are effectively creating a DWC/drip combo unit.

To make this system DWC only....NIXX THE WATERFARM DRIP COLUMNS and ADD A BUNCHA AIRSTONES...2 OR MORE PER BUCKET.

Grow BIG. Rock on...