I have been reading so may hydro threads on so many boards for the last couple of weeks that I think I am going to need new glasses… and a new brain! I have decided at least 20 times which system to go with, then I read a new thread and change my mind again 
I have been pleasantly surprised to discover that hydro is a lot easier and less complex than I originally thought. In many ways, I think it will be less work than my soil grow has been, From all the reports, it should for sure give me faster grow times and better yealds.
I think - at least for tonight - that I have a preliminary plan for a DIY system. Im going to do a slightly modified DWC bucket/waterfarm type of thing, but with some changes. Im sure my plan isnt anything new, but I havent seen this exact thing in any of my reading so far. Im incorporating bits and pieces from several setups I have seen that strike me as either a good idea or easier or cheaper for me to do. Budget is a factor, plus I love to DIY stuff.
My plan is to use a 17 gal tote as the rez with two ea 2 gal buckets in the lid for two plants. Im going to use Hydroton for the medium. It will be a top feed/drip system - using the same technique as in the waterfarms - with a gap between the bottom of the pots and the water line.
The only real difference is Im NOT going to use air stones or any electric water pumps anywhere. All water circulation, aeration, and the drip system, will be done via the tubes and air hoses similar to what is used in the waterfarms. I will still be using air to move and aerate the water, but not using stones.
I have hated air stones ever since my aquarium/reef tank days. The small air bubbles dont really do as much for aeration as most people think. On top of that, the stones have a nasty tendency to plug up and or grow bad bacteria. Its the roiling, stirring of the water surface that does most of the aeration - not the little bubbles. I am many years out of date, but just as I was quitting reef tanks, the general opinion among the ‘experts’ was that air stones were of no benefit and could actually do a good bit of harm if they started growing bad stuff.
Anyway, thats why the larger than usual buckets for the hydroton. More hydroton = more surface area of the water as it drips down through the bucket. In addition, I am going to make probably 4 more air tube ‘water pumps’ to circulate and agitate the water in the rez - all powered by a large air pump.
I just ordered an Apera Instruments PC60 Premium 5-in-1 Waterproof Multi-Parameter Pocket Tester to track Ph, EC, PPM, temps. I lucked out and found it on sale for $72. Most places want $130 or more.
EDIT: Avoid this seller! They are scammers. They said the item shipped, but no tracking number and no record of it with UPS. They will not return emails. Almost all of the recent feedbacks say the exact same thing. Find a different source. Im only leaving this here as a warning. Im kicking myself for falling for the low price without checking the sellers feedback
For nutes, I am going to go with the Green Leaf Nutrients Mega Crop. It sounds super easy and all the reports are that it works well.
The 17 gal tote will be raised off the ground and I plan to install a valve for draining into a bucket. Im going to cut a hatch in the tote lid for filling, inspections, testing, etc. I was wanting to do a separate control bucket, but I dont really have a good place to mount it. Plus, I think it will just add to the complexity of the system for not that much gain. I may change my mind on that after I get started using it though.
Im hoping I can get by with keeping 5 gallons of water in the tote. That will make for simple, one bucket drain and fill cycles.
If anyone has any suggestions, criticisms, corrections or what ever, Id love to hear it. I’ll be posting pics and progress reports as I get started. The first step is seeing how powerful an air driven water pumping tube I can DIY. Im curious to see what kind of gals/hr I can get. I’ll be starting on that in the next couple of days. Im in no big hurry - my current grow is only 5 days into the 12/12 flowering cycle.
