Grow Mediums Buckets or box?

[Surfer Joe]

I want to grow a couple of plants in 10L buckets with 6-inch mesh buckets inside using clay balls with an air pump aerating the water.

Would it be better for the plant's growth to put both mesh buckets in a single larger reservoir sharing the aerated water?
I have a pretty large heavy plastic box with lid that is about 40 L and a bit taller than the buckets I can use.

Would the larger reservoir space and depth help the plants grow bigger?
Would feeding them be easier?
I sometimes need to be away for a few days and was hoping that a larger reservoir would help keep nutrients more stable than smaller buckets.

Can anyone please advise on the benefits or drawbacks of buckets versus a larger reservoir for my type of grow?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[DWCocha]

:smokebuds:1 40L tub would be better than 2x 10L buckets in your situation dude :High 5: Just make it 1000%light tight

 

[Surfer Joe]

Thanks, but why does it matter that it's light-tight around the roots? I thought that in aeroponics roots can grow in the light.

 

[Surfer Joe]

I've seen several containers in the 40 to 50 L size, but they vary a lot in dimensions.
Would a taller container be better for root growth than a shallower one, or is it better to have a bigger, shallower shape?
I don't want the roots to get stunted by too shallow a space or get tangled up together if the container is too small in length/width.
The buckets I have are about 30cm tall and the mesh pots going in them are about 6 inches wide and 6 inches tall.

 

[DWCocha]

Thanks, but why does it matter that it's light-tight around the roots? I thought that in aeroponics roots can grow in the light.

ANY light in a DWC system will cause all sorts of problems ...rot , nutes go cloudy & bitty ect ..

I've seen several containers in the 40 to 50 L size, but they vary a lot in dimensions.
Would a taller container be better for root growth than a shallower one, or is it better to have a bigger, shallower shape?
I don't want the roots to get stunted by too shallow a space or get tangled up together if the container is too small in length/width.
The buckets I have are about 30cm tall and the mesh pots going in them are about 6 inches wide and 6 inches tall.

either is fine mate ...i surgested the 40L as you said you may need to go away for a day or two ?...in full bloom a plant will empty 10L in a couple days ! ... a 40l res will also have a more stable PH/EC as the plant will take longer to effect the nute amounts/ratios just cos theres more of it ,so a bigger res needs less attention :smokebuds:

 

[Surfer Joe]

That's an amazing amount of liquid! Do they actually use it or does it just evaporate from the bucket?
Why doesn't a soil plant need so much water? I can't even put that much water in my soil pots because it would just drain out the bottom.

 

[trees4meandu]

That's an amazing amount of liquid! Do they actually use it or does it just evaporate from the bucket?
Why doesn't a soil plant need so much water? I can't even put that much water in my soil pots because it would just drain out the bottom.

When the roots finally "hit the water" as we say they will drink a ton of water and nutrients! You have to remember that there is no medium to absorb the water, where with soil, peat moss, and the pre-maid soiless mixes hold the water and slowly release it to the roots. It's kind of like a free for all drink session for the plants, and then if your room temp is a little high or the lights are a little close they will drink even faster. This is where only experience will come in handy. Keep a watchful eye on all of the variables (temp, humidity, light height, ph, ppm, etc.) and soon you will find a happy medium!!! My thread (my families first dwc) I explained how we had to get rid of the dwc and switch to recirculating drip system. DWCocha is absolutely right, because of light(well that's the main reason) I had algae that no matter how hard we tried, we could not get rid of it. It would come back in a matter of two days after a complete disassemble and bleaching. Be vigilant and it will turn out great. Good luck, much Karma, and Happy Growing to All!!!!

 

[Roark]

DWcocha and trees4meadnu nailed it, for sure. Very sound/practical advice. Good luck joe!

 

[Surfer Joe]

Thanks. I looked at your thread and noticed in your first post that the totes had a white top cover. Wouldn't this promote the algae as they are translucent rather than fully opaque?
I was told to make sure that the buckets or totes were totally light tight and kept cool to avoid the growth of algae.
I haven't gone through your entire thread so I don't know if my question is irrelevant and your totes are indeed light tight or if you changed them to something full opaque. before abandoning the dwc approach.
I will read further since I love to read grow journals.

Your post gave me an idea about what to do if I have to leave for 2 or 3 days.
If I raised the lights a bit when I was leaving, that might slow down the water uptake a bit and give the plants a little more time.
I have decided to go with buckets for my first hydro grow but I switched the 10L buckets for 22L buckets so that there is a bit more of a reservoir for the plants if I have to be away.
I plan to start the hydro grow in the next month after I harvest my current soil pots which are almost done.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[trees4meandu]

Thanks. I looked at your thread and noticed in your first post that the totes had a white top cover. Wouldn't this promote the algae as they are translucent rather than fully opaque?
I was told to make sure that the buckets or totes were totally light tight and kept cool to avoid the growth of algae.
I haven't gone through your entire thread so I don't know if my question is irrelevant and your totes are indeed light tight or if you changed them to something full opaque. before abandoning the dwc approach.
I will read further since I love to read grow journals.

Your post gave me an idea about what to do if I have to leave for 2 or 3 days.
If I raised the lights a bit when I was leaving, that might slow down the water uptake a bit and give the plants a little more time.
I have decided to go with buckets for my first hydro grow but I switched the 10L buckets for 22L buckets so that there is a bit more of a reservoir for the plants if I have to be away.
I plan to start the hydro grow in the next month after I harvest my current soil pots which are almost done.
Thanks for the advice.

We taped, spray painted, caulked, etc. and it didn't matter. Once the algae got there it was game over. Great Idea about the bigger buckets! Can't wait to see your grow, good luck and as always Happy Growing to All