5 Gallon DWC Tutorial ($20, 4 minutes to build)

If you liked this video, check out part 2 on how to transplant a clone into the system!

How To Build: A basic Deep Water Culture (DWC) Hydroponics system for 1 plant that can be built in roughly 3 minutes, and costs only $20 for all of it's components.

Check out my other videos on my channel to see the second half of this tutorial where I demonstrate how to transplant a basil clone into this 5Gal DWC setup shown in this video.

5 Gallon Bucket (Lowes) = $2.78
Air Stone = $6.00
Net Cup = $3.50
Air Pump = $6.95

Total= $19.23

You can set up 5 of these, with one plant each, for $100 even. Things that grow great in DWC systems are herbs like basil, lettuce, and even Tomatoes.

Throw in a rockwool cube with your favorite seed in it, add some sort of inert medium (Hydroton is preferred), and you are ready to grow your own food.

Other things you might need:

*Hydroton
*Plant Nutrients

[jmack]

This is the simplest version I've seen and it's amazing! Love it! Every other video makes it too complicated for a beginner

[cake]

And here I was goina buy a 80 dollar bucket kit. Wtf. Thanks man. I owe you a big one. Straight to the point

[TwasNeverThus]

So generous of you to take the time to share this information. I am very appreciative!!!

[robharrison]

Man links for supply list would be freaking SWEET

[English_Lessons_Pre-Int_Interm]

Thanks! I even clicked on a couple ads to give you some profit. I like this simple construction (and yes, as one of the commentors below said - putting a pipe in through the lid would make the business even simpler). +1

[kapodawizard]

Ah yes.. growing basil… that is exactly what I do too.

[ajsmith]

I have this exact same setup with a cheap little pump and it works great. I have always grown in soil and want to start doing hyroponic ans this is a great setup

[tinktwiceman]

OutdoorHydro Thanks bro! this is much better than those Rubbermaid DWC bins. The flowers can get more space, instead of being all mushed up in one container. I also wanted to build my own since all the ones sold online come with drainage systems that leak. Thanks! I really appreciate the information and links. 

[Adol]

One thing He forgot is to add a Drain hole/tube at the bottom. Makes it much easier to change out your nutrient solution

[justinmay]

One thing I would like to mention to people is that you always want to keep your pump higher than your buckets. If you have a power outage or your pump gets unpluged water can syphon back into your air pump and ruin it.

[AndyRosebrook]

Great video!  You should definitely keep making more, you're great at it.  

[OutdoorHydro]

It absolutely is, try your local hydro store. They pop up on Amazon from time to time too, like right now there is one that's exactly the same for $10. I can't post links here so the search term is: "Hydrofarm Active Air Air Pump with 1 outlets 3.2 lt per minute". The air pump I am using in the video is $30 but that's because it's a commercial one that can run 6 systems at once which I have for personal use, but it not the kind you need for just one 5 gal bucket. Hope that helps

[rayluka]

They make a net pot with a larger internal diameter. With the extra hydroton it helps support the plant better.

[samizdatpress]

I appreciate the kind words! Yah there are lots of simple tutorials but I am trying to make a full beginners tutorial of how to do it on the cheap. It's a starting off point and can be improved upon for sure, but the scope of the tutorial is just to explain how to get started. Anyone who has a Wal Mart and an internet connection should be able to make this happen fro like $30, not sure why people are having such trouble.

[supercopjason]

how about a parts list on your pump and the stones?

[arthurkuntz]

also a bigger hole for adding water to the bucket as needed instead of lifting the lid all the time to check water level

[jharrell]

no need for a stone you can just melt the tube end that comes from the pump and poke holes in it with a bobby pin and presto change-o you got bubbles... you can even fit it to a crazy straw and poke holes in it if you want a bubble wall... thank you Justin your welcome out door hydro. You can also grow in compost tea you can make your self instead of store bought micro nutrients and chemicals and molasses to feed the microbes and give your harvest a slightly sweeter taste. It does not work with everything but it does with most things. Thank you Justin your welcome out door hydro... I think i just cut the cost of a hydro system down to the cost of a single air pump and the grow budget down to the cost of a bag a fert and molasses... 12 dollars tops for the entire year. good luck and god bless :P

[turanredman]

you don't have to spend a massive amount on a air pump you can pick up one online for less then $10 aqua one is a reliable brand. usually come with a year warranty which is great when it's only a few dollars in the first place. the idea is to plan you're system perfectly before begging it as forward planning saves new growers thousands. I know a lot of people who still regret not planning properly or even shopping around.

[jonbrown]

Have you considered adding a dutch bucket style valve to release the old water?

[joshholt]

Finally somebody who can actually explain this shit, thanks bro