Reddit reviews 6 in. Wide Lip Bucket Basket - Round Plant Container with Mesh Bottom - Hydrofarm HG6RDBK

First grow.

This took 2-3 months. Seems like I ran into a number of first-timer pitfalls along the way. Good learning experience though.

Can't wait. So god damn tired of shady, undependable hook ups.


Edit 2:

Photos of my setup.

• http://i.imgur.com/fc8wn1B.jpg
  
• http://i.imgur.com/HmUWGgR.jpg
  
• http://i.imgur.com/nOcwlPm.png
  
  
  
  Edit 1:
  
  Some have asked about my setup. This is about everything. This is my first grow so take my suggestions with a cup of salt but this stuff has worked well for me.
  
  Tent:
  
  Zero complains. Very happy with this. It just fits perfectly into a closet (had to remove the hanger bar though).
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004U6WCMY
  
  
  Air
  
  
  
  Carbon filter:
  
  The inside of my tent stinks. I smell absolutely nothing outside. Don't get caught. Get a good carbon filter. Maybe not this one, but something.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FVJK60
  
  
  Inline fan:
  
  I hand this outside the tent. No need to take up any space or add any heat inside the tent.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JQ14F8
  
  
  Variable xformer for fan control:
  
  This allows me to control the noise and airflow. Every other fan controller made the fan buzz. This thing is quality built. I keep it around 50v.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NGI8VS
  
  
  Circulation fans:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RTMD8C
  
  
  DWC
  
  
  
  
  Bucket top net pots:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049XIIGC
  
  
  Air pump:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JPEVMC
  
  
  Airline:
  
  The black just prevents light from getting into my res.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001D4XTUU
  
  
  Air stones:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050HJ7Q6
  
  
  Check valves:
  
  You NEED these. Many airlines are thin enough that if the power goes out or a hose becomes disconnected, capillary action might permit water to back-flow into your electrical air pump and/or just flood your room. Don't take chances when a .50 cent valve will protect you. There are some horror stories in the aquarium hobby about this. Note, even if the air pump is higher than your res, capillary action can pull the water up through the air hose. This is the same principle that allows 100ft trees carry water from the roots to the canopy.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00977J508
  
  
  Lighting
  
  
  
  Lights:
  
  Word of warning. Start off a good distance between the lights and your canopy. These product more light than you think and I have burned and cooked plants from keeping these too close. They don't product a ton of heat or anything. I think it's just too much light if they aren't a good foot or so away from the canopy. I assumed I could practically lay LEDs on top of my canopy. Not so.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FGFLCXS
  
  
  Adjustable ropes for lights:
  
  Chains work, these are just faster/easier to adjust.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0098R0600
  
  
  Tools
  
  
  
  Temp/humidity sensors:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013BKDO8
  
  
  pH pen:
  
  I used to do chemical reagent tests (I have tons of aquariums so I had it laying around). Never again. A pen is fucking awesome for dialing in pH every morning. Get one!
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EQISYQO
  
  
  Pruning snips:
  
  These are great. Sharp as fuck and solid.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004SD76
  
  
  Training wire:
  
  What I use for my scrog screen and early training before the screen goes in. Also good for random shit that's temporary enough I don't want to waste a zip tie.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EXJ652
  
  
  Nutes/Water changes
  
  
  
  
  Pond pump:
  
  This is another must have! I've been using these for a while now to handle water changes in my aquariums. It's also awesome for mixing nutes before they go into your DWC. I drop one in a bucket without a hose attached and then just dump all my nutes and such in. The pump does all the mixing. Then I adjust the pH a little. Give the pump about 10-20 seconds to mix my pH up or down in and test again. I don't have to worry my pH adjustment isn't probably mixed yet. I makes the mixing process so easy and fast. I also use these to pump out my res once the scrog screen is in place.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006M6MSL0
  
  
  Root protectant:
  
  One of my early problems was with brown algae. This cleared it right up after a week.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IGFH3FG
  
  
  Syringes:
  
  No guess work. I know exactly how many ml I'm adding.
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RB3CV6
  
  
  Cal-mag:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J2CUPW
  
  pH control:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BNKWZY
  
  
  Nutes:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000COBT54
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CO7U02
  
  
  
  
  

• A bucket
  
• A lid
  
• Clay pebbles
  
• Air pump
  
• Rockwool cubes
  
• Nutrients
  
• Ph control kit

Proper trimming and branch management...grow it upwards not outwards

Look into a DWC bucket system, they make 5 gal bucket lids that are hydroponic planters...Found on Amazon. Some even have a built in tomato / pepper cage that's about 3 ft tall.


Just need a power source for an aquarium air/bubble pump and some sun or T5 lamps. Even an Apt balcony works

As far as lights go, I have seen amazing results with these while growing coral (Aquarium). For 130 bucks an 8 lamp t5 High Output fixture that has a broad color range is a steal


here's a link to the overall DWC system (Deep Water Culture)

LINK

Ive had my roots out of the water for 2-3 hrs during a few rez changes due to upgrades w/o issues, aslong as the roots werent crunchy dry, they should bounce back, but it may stunt them a bit.

The net pots I use clip onto the bucket much like the lid does, and they are a ton more sturdier than having to cut out a standard lid to fit an insert. I was able to pick mine up at my local gardening store in the hydroponics section or amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Wide-Lip-Bucket-Basket-Container/dp/B0049XIIGC

Hope you make it to harvest duder, good luck out there.

Might as well get these net pots that you can just place on top of your bucket so you dont have to worry about making one and risking light leaks.

Might need tubing for the air pump, not sure if it comes with the pump or you didn't include it in the post, but I'd go with black instead of clear.

Also, get yourself some cal-mag with those nutrients. I just started my first DWC grow too but I also bought Canna Rhizotonic and liquid silicon to go with the nutrients at the suggestion of a few on this sub.

If you want to get reallllllly in depth on full spectrum LED's, this site has a lot of information on it and their list of best panels to go with, even though I didn't go with any of them and just got the Mars 300 anyway.
And don't forget your trichome scope!

Here is some info on my grows/setups to help you figure it out.

• I grew in a 5x5 tent and three autos filled that thing up as seen here: http://imgur.com/3VASBvL
  
  
• I used a 600w HPS light and it certainly did the trick. I think it would have been fine with 4 had there been enough room.
  
  
• You can buy 5 gallon lids with net pots built into them: https://www.amazon.com/Wide-Lip-Bucket-Basket-Container/dp/B0049XIIGC
  
  
• Here is a bucket I made: http://imgur.com/6IzCwdr - 1 5 gallon Bucket with a small hole near the top to run an air tube and connect to an airstone. I also drilled a hole into the bottom the bucket and installed a [rubber grommet] (http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/images/grommets/large_grommets.jpg) and [90 degree elbow] (http://www.idealvac.com/files/images/Elbow_90_1-1-2inch_1.jpg) to attach that sight tube. Then I covered it in Gorllia Tape to help prevent algae growth.

Here's what I have so far and my quick write up.

My dad started the tomato plant that I am using in soil. He had too many for his garden, so I used that instead of starting one from seed in rockwool. My next plant will be started from seed.

I picked up a 5 gal bucket and Lid from Home Depot. <$5.

I cut a hole in the Lid to fit the 3" Net Cups. I put one right in the center. I quickly found out the cup it too small to support the plant so I had to use a support stick. I just bought this 6" net cup bucket lid.

The plant is supported in Expanded Clay balls. I chose this material as apposed to 'Hydroton, Coco coir, Viagrow stones, pearlite...' because from my very little research I found the clay to be the most environmentally friendly and easiest to use, disclaimer: I could be very wrong here.

The nutrient solution used General Hydroponics Maxi Grow. Simple to use, add X scoops per X gal of water. I am about to switch to Maxi Bloom. She is flowering and starting to produce fruit. I do now know when the best time to switch solutions. I am learning by experiment here.

To keep the nutrient solution oxygenated, I used this Air pump,two of of these air stones, and tubing. Any items will do, I used this products because I know an employee of Penn Plax and got them for cost $. Any pump will work, I got a two outlet pump for future expansion.

You should also be sure to have the correct pH for your particular plant. Here is a chart and a great site. I used this pH Test Kit and pH adjust.

It's that simple. Right now the plant is outside and gets about 8 hours of sun. I plan on keeping it outside as long as possible, then will bring it in and have to choose a light source for it.


tl;dr What I used for my first DWC tomato plant experiment. Step 1: Click all links above. Step2: Buy. Step 3: Tomatoes

Edit: Also, Watch this video

Here's the basic parts list to build a bucket like this:

• 2x 5 Gal buckets with lids (one for res, one for light top.) More buckets for spacers. (check your home improvement store of choice.)
  
• A big roll of black duct tape. This
  
• A roll of FlexFix tape. This
  
• A couple of space blankets. This
  
• A can of 3M spray adhesive. This is the good stuff
  
• 5x light sockets with plug ends. These
  
• 5x Philips SlimStyle LED "75w" 2700k. These
  
• Some heatshrink tubing. Looks good
  
• Some lamp cord and hookup wire. This, And This
  
• A roll of flux/rosin core solder. Your Choice, this looks okay
  
• An airpump. This one is awesome, This will do
  
• Some airstones. [This] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JLA83C/)
  
• A distribution manifold. At least a 3 way
  
• Some air lines. This, Or This
  
• A length of 3/4" pvc pipe and a plug (check your home improvement store of choice).
  
• A water dripper system. [This] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002JAY6E/)
  
• Either a netpot and a bucket lid with a hole cut in it OR a premade netpot/bucket lid. This if you want to save some work
  
• Some PC fans. [These are nice and cheap] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NTUJZ36/)
  
• A PSU to run the fans and LED strip side lights you might add on spacers. This. It's 80+ at least. I had a few extra PSUs around. I wouldn't use one that isn't at least 80+ since it will be running 24/7.
  
  Lots of this stuff can be had cheaper at a home improvement or pet store. Check around. You'll need a soldering iron (I like my adjustable 40w), a drill and drill bits up to 3/4" (I like step bits for work on plastic), a heatgun or lighter to shrink that heatshrink tubing. An infrared thermometer is nice to have and can tell you the temp of your nutrients, the plant itself, your lights, etc...Just make sure to calibrate it first, all the cheap ones are inaccurate by at least a few degrees.
  

Save yourself some money....
http://www.amazon.com/Wide-Lip-Bucket-Basket-Container/dp/B0049XIIGC/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1412521544&sr=1-1&keywords=net+pot+bucket+lid

Bubbleponics is essentially Deep Water Culture. The more air the more effective and fast growth you will see.

I dont recconend hydro if you suck at keeping plants alive dude. Buy any 5 gallon bucket plus the following...

Net Pot:

https://www.amazon.com/Wide-Lip-Bucket-Basket-Container/dp/B0049XIIGC/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1543448234&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=5+gallon+bucket+net+pot&dpPl=1&dpID=41OyuQEug2L&ref=plSrch

Air Pump

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004PB8SRM/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1543448287&sr=8-6&keywords=air+pump+aquarium&dpPl=1&dpID=51GDMPD2gDL&ref=plSrch

Air stones


https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Stone-Cylinder-Aquarium-Hydroponics/dp/B01MV5C1I4/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1543448415&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=air+stones&dpPl=1&dpID=61kdxK4TwKL&ref=plSrch

Air hose

https://www.amazon.com/Flexible-Airline-Aquariums-Terrariums-Hydroponics/dp/B079DFWLX4/ref=pd_aw_fbt_86_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01HBSU9EA&pd_rd_r=1ef20a78-f367-11e8-b5ba-5dfed4e35b83&pd_rd_w=ry8W3&pd_rd_wg=odzaM&pf_rd_i=mobile-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=b98fa1a4-6e6e-4981-835c-7fb29e0f4dd2&pf_rd_r=XE7EVET4QSQ7P0K5GKH5&pf_rd_s=mobile-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=XE7EVET4QSQ7P0K5GKH5&th=1

And then buy some hydroton or some other medium, maybe rapid rooters or some rockwool cubes to sprout in. Set up is very cheap and easy.