Interested in a hydro grow

[Homemadegravity]

I'm very interested in trying a dwc system, well kind of. I was wondering if there is such a thing as swc(shallow water culture)? I will be making my own dwc system, but i found these containers in my house that werent being used and i thought hell maybe i can make some use out of these. So i'd like to try to make a bubble system out of them. But these containers are an odd shape more wide then deep they are 16in long, 9in deep and 10.5in wide and its 5 gallons. I was planning on using a dual air pump hooked up to 2 12in airstones in each container, with 3in net pots with clay pellets.
So what do you guys think? Am I just askin for problems? Will it just be more problems then its worth? Or ya'll think it mite be worth a shot?

[HGB]

should work just fine.... shape wont matter in DWC

peace

[Homemadegravity]

I was reading another thread im not sure it was on here or not but the person said a min. of 12in deep. I dont know the reason behind 12in is but i dont know why shorter wouldnt work either. So do you guys think that this container would work for the whole grow? Supporting 2 plants in each container? Or would the roots get to tangled on the bottom?
Also I know its probably been talked about alot on here but here goes anyway just so im clear on it. I know when roots arent showing out of the bottom the nute/water mix should be 1/2in above the bottom, right?
When they do start to work their way down the nute/water mix should be 1/2in below the net pot,right?
Does the nute/water mix stay at that level(1/2in below) for the remainder of the grow then? Even when the roots start to gather on the bottom of the bucket should they be fully submerged?

[caribbean_smoker_20]

I could only give you input on the water level situation:
I was told that your water/nute should NEVER touch the medium and net pot...but after trying hydro and realising that my airstones etc just were't producing enough mist above the water level to keep the medium moist, was the point at which I got stumped...I suggest watering them manually (just like you would a plant in soil, but don't submerge them) until your roots reach the water...at that point the roots can now get air and water from the bucket..When the roots gather in the water/bucket itself it won't be necessary to have your net pots submerged

[HGB]

I start at 1/2 inch below net pot untill the roots hit the water then adust it 1 inch below the rest of the grow :)

pretty sure depth of container doesn't matter as roots will grow where ever they can be it up down left or right...

peace

[hazewarrior]

OK, I dug into my files for these pics.

I did a NFT/DWC Hybrid system that was only 4 inches deep and had great results. The only problem is you cant go too big because they will clog the channels.

These DWC buckets are 5 gallon but I've had the same results with a 2.5 gal bucket. The less water with DWC, the harder it is to maintain your water level, nutes. and PH. I do the same HGB at first and you can actually clone in a DWC system. I've done it many times, just took a cutting and dropped it into the grow balls. Within a week and a half I had root. ;)

[Homemadegravity]

Thanx for the pictures and the words of wisdom. So I have another question. What about the temperture of the nute/water, is room temp ok or do i have to cool or heat it?

[HGB]

you can actually clone in a DWC system.

yep it's just a ghetto airoponic system when you clone in them :hubba:

[Homemadegravity]

For all you hydro heads out there can i see some homemade dwc sytems. Love checking out peoples different ideas. So please please post sum pics.

[HGB]

For all you hydro heads out there can i see some homemade dwc sytems. Love checking out peoples different ideas. So please please post sum pics.

mine look the same as hazewarrior's :)