How I Built My DWC System - Recirculating Deep Water Culture - Hydroponic Peppers & Tomatoes EASY

In this video I give an overview of my newly built 5 - 5 gallon bucket DWC System. This is for growing 5 large plants such as peppers or tomatoes.

5 - 5 Gallon Firehouse Buckets (2 dollar donation for the bucket at firehouse)

1" Uniseals, 1" PVC Drain/Riser in Bucket

3" PVC Gravity Return to Reservoir

Pump is a 264 gal/hr, running 24/7 from eBay (12 dollars or so)

Feed is 1/2" PVC drilled for 1/8" brass barb at each bucket just squirting in - capped at the end of the rail.

3" Net Cups in Bucket Lid made with hole saw.

Reservoir not pictured because it is not the final one, currently a 5 gal tote. (Plants are very small)

No aeration, I don't run any on my other buckets - relying on agitation of water alone to oxygenate.

Media is Rockwool for the seeded plants with clay pebbles.
The tomato sucker was rooted in just clay pebbles no rockwool.

Growing media is subjective and up to you. Rockwool, clay pebbles (Hydroton), coco, perlite, etc can be used.


Total system volume is currently 25 gallons. The reservoir tote is only 4 gallons. Will be changing reservoir to 27gal or 55gal tote like my other DWC/Dutch bucket system when I buy one or plants start drinking a lot.

Currently not running nutrients for plants to get acclimated to new system/environment.

Will put in Masterblend Tomato Formula 4-18-38, calcium nitrate, magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) after a couple days.

I do not check TDS or PH, I simply follow the instructions on nutrient label and add extra water every now and then.


Changes from 1st system:

1. 3" Return Tube rather than 1" and connectors. (Better flow, easier, less leaks and I could possibly use it as NFT rail for herbs between Buckets)

2. Single 1/2" PVC feed with barbs, better than using drip tubing/fittings which clog easily and are difficult to clean. The barbs you can clean with a tooth pick. (On my next setup I might not even use barbs and just notch the bucket and drill the holes in the PVC, brass barbs aren't the cheapest $1.5 each x 5)

Items that I recommend and/or use
Amazon Link to Pump: https://amzn.to/3btIwFC
Amazon Link to Nutrients Kit: https://amzn.to/2wR1rvg
Amazon Link to Masterblend Kit: https://amzn.to/2wR1rvg
Amazon Link to PPM Meter: https://amzn.to/2WWJ3eX
Amazon Link to 3" Net Cups: https://amzn.to/3ah8mvl
Amazon Link to Hydroton Clay: https://amzn.to/3biFNPw

These are affiliate links that support the channel.