Grow Mediums DWC pump bringing nutrients up to the top? What is that called?

[DWCocha]

Could it be a freedom bucket ??.View attachment 158056

 

[dman78]

Hi guys I'm kinda stumped here,I've read a lot of info on DWC and watched SB grow some amazing plants aswell,so I've got a couple of questions for you,isn't your nutrient continuosly mixed with the aid of the air being pumped into your res? If you drip feed wouldn't that stunt root growth as they won't go searching downwards for the food as they are getting it from above? I can't remember where I read it but I recall it being said you want the rockwool to dry out to force the taproot to head south for the food and when it finds the food it sends the signal to the rest to come and get it,so my last question is,why would you need to drip feed?

Please do not take these questions/comments the wrong way,I'm here to learn also.

 

[DWCocha]

Hey dman...your dead right ,in DWC you want the roots to search down & keep the rockwool cube only moist ect but that is for an oxypot DWC system...this doesn't use a drip supply but some others do ...like the freedom bucket above, & im guessing here but id say they probably use a much larger net pot & much more hydrotron & not a big res ect ...so some of the root system will always be in the larger net pot it needs a drip feed to keep these fed,while only the lower roots feed from the res ??.& it all kinda recirculates ??..

 

[dman78]

Hey dman...your dead right ,in DWC you want the roots to search down & keep the rockwool cube only moist ect but that is for an oxypot DWC system...this doesn't use a drip supply but some others do ...like the freedom bucket above, & im guessing here but id say they probably use a much larger net pot & much more hydrotron & not a big res ect ...so some of the root system will always be in the larger net pot it needs a drip feed to keep these fed,while only the lower roots feed from the res ??.& it all kinda recirculates ??..

Cheers mate more knowledge for my brain

 

[PhilGarcia]

Thanks to everyone for their input on this! I have decided to steer away from any kind of drip unit and stick to a basic DIY DWC 5-gallon bucket. Again, I appreciate your help!

 

[Tavosvo]

If you happen to have a dual or multiple outlet air pump, you can make a drip feed that will blow away a water pump. Run an air hose with a T-connector to the bottom of your res. one branch is for the air in, one branch you leave open, and the last branch of the T gets a hose going up to the net pot. It makes a perfect sputter of air/water, highly oxygenated because of high air to water ratio bubbling into your rockwool. Make sure the t joint in deep enough in the res, I believe the pumping action comes from the pressure of the water; ie the deeper you go the more water vs air. Ill try post a pic tomorrow if my explanation isn't easy to visualize.

 

[Tavosvo]

Just read your last post, the drip feed is excellent until the roots hit water. I feel like it accelerated my first few weeks of growth noticeably. After my roots hit I took drip tube out from the netpot/rockwool cube and changed it into an additional air stone feed.