Hi


Finally setup my diy rdwc sytem, 2 rows of 4 buckets and one bucket as controller. 13mm feed/19mm return.

Followed Tommy Ketchup guide - http://www.uk420.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=142757

Run it for 3 days no probs and levels all fine, all buckets at same level. Put plants in this morn and just came home to overflow on one side !!!!!

Any ideas peeps, blockage or something, can you get filter ??

Help !!!!

Cheers

Just got in and found one row of four overflowing and just caught it in time, with the controller pump running dry.

Well found a blockage in the return line at the shut off valve, it has some kind of mesh and was full of bits off roots. Just topped up and now have the same problem on the other line, not checked where but presume it will be same place.

Anyone else experienced this ? Only had it running 24hrs !!!

Should i remove them then the blockages would be at pump i presume ????

Not happy..

Depending on the size of the "bits" I would say you could try adding these to the return lines where they meet your buckets

Click to view attachment

If they're just small sedimentary peices that are building up to form a clog then you could possibly use an inline irrigation filter?

http://www.greenshorticulture.co.uk/Irriga...essure-1119.asp

Hope I helped some, back to the

E2A; take a look at hempy bucket designs, see if you can incorperate the mesh at the reservoir drainage into your buckets as a cheaper option.

Cheers Tokey mate, will try them. I am getting small bits of root as they have recently been transplanted. With them i guess it would hopefully 'spread' the build up of matter to each bucket and thus a weekly check on them should suffice.

Will also look into your other idea.

Just find it strange that a lot of p;eople have this design yet this is the only post on the blockage problem ??

Cheers

Hi takeiteasy,
I am running a 4 bucket RDWC system, just put my plants in yesterday (3 weeks old from seed, they have been in a tent under a 125w fluro). I changed the way the system I saw on the net was designed. I have my water going in at the top of the bucket from my main res (enters bucket above water level to stop back syphoning), and my return line to the res is on the side of each bucket about 1/2 to 1" under the bottom of the netpot. This way no roots can clog the return or feed lines and the level will always remain constant as long as the pump stays on. My feed line is a 13mm line with valves on each line to the buckets (to even out the flows to each bucket) and the overflow lines have no valves it them just 19mm pipe back to the res (seald into bucket with a grommet). Dont know if you can mod yours but I think this is the best way to do it. Each bucket and the res has a drain point to facilitate water changes. The res is slightly below the bucket level so gravity lets the water run back and the res cant overflow as the water stops draining at a set level. Anyway enough of the rabbiting.

Best of luck with the grow.

Regards cain1.

Cheers for advice mate so you have not stepped down from 13mm to 4mm feed ?

Mine are also fed at top of bucket with return at bottom (not that the return point matters if anything my thinking is at bottom is better as you are not encountering anything floating which would block flow return).

I like the overflow idea and i could incorporate this no problem by 'daisy chaining' them back to a separate bucket.

Think i will fit filters and overflow.

Cheers

Hi takeiteasy,
No I didnt step down from 13mm to 4mm as I didnt think there was a need as I have flow valves on all the feed lines to the bubblers to conrol the flow anyway. As for floaters your right it could block the return line but there should be nothing to float with a bit of luck. All the buckets checked and only air stones (2 x 6" and 1 round bubbler tubing setup in each buckert along with the netpot). Also the lines are easy to check if choked and easy to clear (I check frequently as they are returning to the res you can see the flow back into the res when I open the lid). The plants seem to be doing fine as their roots are now about an inch out of the bottom of the netpot and growing fast, at least 20-30 roots a plant. Think they benafitted from being left to air prune for a little while prior to putting in bubblers.

Anyway good luck, regards cain1.

Right got a plan i think to solve things.

I will add another shut off valve to each return line just after the buckets but will remove the internal filter, this way the second set of valves can be cleaned if blocked without emptying.

I will also add the filters to each bucket.

Also adding an overflow linking 4 buckets together(x2) going back to a clear tub, this way i can see if i get a blockage as its visual.

Was looking for something to link the buckets instead of expensive tub outlets and its only overflow. Did not fancy just mastic as looks messy. I came across 25mm conduit adapters £1.60 for two.

Cheers Guys.