How to build a recirculating DWC system? Step-by-step guide!

You’re probably familiar with the term “hydroponics.” In a nutshell, it’s a method of growing plants without soil. Instead, the plant roots are submerged in water, the plant the nutrient-rich solution added to the water and obtained by the plant roots ensures healthy plant growth. 

There are a lot of different ways to do hydroponics, but one of the most popular methods is called Deep Water Culture (DWC).

The recirculating Deep Water Culture system is a type of hydroponics that uses a recirculating system. This means that the water and nutrients are cycled through the system and used over and over again. 

This keeps the water and nutrients in contact with the roots of the plants, which helps them to grow faster and stronger.

What is the Deep Water Culture system?

The Deep water culture system, or DWC for short, is one of the simplest and most efficient hydroponic systems a gardener can use.

In this system, the plants are suspended in a deep water solution, with their roots dangling down into it. 

This allows the roots to absorb large amounts of nutrients and oxygen from the water, resulting in healthy and robust plants.

Advantages and disadvantages of recirculating Deep Water Culture system 

There are a few advantages and disadvantages to using a recirculating Deep Water Culture system. Let’s take a look at both:

Advantages:

• Efficient use of water and nutrients: The water in a recirculating Deep Water Culture system is constantly recycled, which means that very little is wasted. This also means that the plants get the nutrients they need in the right amounts, which leads to healthy growth.
• Less maintenance: Since the water is constantly recycled, there is less maintenance required than with other irrigation systems. You only need to top up the water level and add nutrients occasionally.
• Easy to set up: A recirculating Deep Water Culture system is very easy to set up, even for someone who has never gardened before.

Disadvantages:

• Can be prone to algae growth: If the water isn’t circulated properly or if there is too much light exposure, algae can grow in the system. This can clog up the filters and disrupt the flow of water and nutrients to the plants.
• More susceptible to pests and diseases: Because the plant roots are in direct contact with the water, they are more susceptible to pests and diseases. You need to be vigilant about keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble and take corrective action immediately.

Required materials for building a recirculating Deep Water Culture system

The materials you’ll need for this project are pretty easy to find. You’ll need a water container or tub, PVC pipe, fittings, a bubbler or airstone, and some tubing to build a recirculating Deep Water Culture. 

You can find most of these at your local hardware store, or you may be able to order them online.

The PVC pipe is the most important part of the Recirculating Deep Water system, as it will be responsible for holding the water and delivering it to your plants. 

The fittings are necessary to create a tight seal between the pipe and the container, and the bubbler will provide oxygen to the plants and help keep the water moving. The tubing is used to connect everything.

Setting up the geometry of a recirculating DWC system

Now that you have the components and the design, it’s time to build a recirculating Deep Water system. Before beginning, make sure to clean all the pipes, manifolds, and reservoirs with warm water.

This will reduce the chance of clogging and contamination, which could cause your plants to die or stunt them from growing.

Start by attaching the air pump to one end of the plumbing pipe with a T-connector. From there, lay out net pots in a checkerboard pattern inside or around a container or grow bed. Use PVC pipes to connect every square of your net pots so that they’re all connected in a “waterfall” fashion and evenly spaced. 

To create an even water flow between each square, use elbows as needed when connecting them. Next, fill out your central reservoir with water and mix in nutrients accordingly before adding your plant cuttings or seeds into net pots.

Lastly, place your air stone at the bottom of one corner square and attach tubing near it so that the air stone will be submerged in the nutrient-rich water solution and deliver oxygen to all parts of your system.

Once these steps are completed, you have now successfully built yourself a Recirculating Deepwater Culture System and are now ready to watch as your plants take root in this unique irrigation system. Usually, the additional reservoir is used to store the nutrient and water solution. 

Installing the air pumps and air stones

The next step is to install your air pump and air stones. First, you’ll want to place the air pump in the tank and make sure it’s securely attached. 

Next, you’ll need to put the air stones in the tank as well. The stones will help keep the water circulating and will provide oxygen for the plants. 

Your timer may need to be connected at this point, too. Once all of these elements are added, then you’re ready to connect all of them using flexible tubing and clamps. 

Make sure that your connections are tight and secure so that everything stays in place. Now your system is almost complete! 

Managing your nutrient water solution

Now that you’re familiar with building a recirculating Deep Water Culture system, it’s time to move on to managing the nutrient solution. 

All plants need adequate nutrition, plant roots can reach nutritional water solution which is why the nutrient solution needs to be changed and monitored regularly to ensure healthy growth.

The first thing you should consider when managing your nutrient water solution is the type of water used. The best type of water to use for hydroponics is Reverse Osmosis (RO) water solution as it contains fewer minerals than tap water, helping prevent a build-up of excess nutrients in your system.

The second thing to keep in mind is the number of nutrients needed for your plants. Plants require different amounts of nutrients at different stages of their lifecycle, so it’s important to adjust your nutrient solution concentrations depending on what stage your plant is in. 

The ideal range for a recirculating Deep Water Culture system is between 100 and 200 ppm (parts per million).

Lastly, don’t forget about aeration! The recirculating Deep Water systems require oxygenation for optimal growth, so an air pump and air stones are necessary components to keep your plants happy and healthy.

The DWC types 

Now, let’s dive into the different types of Deep Water Culture systems. There are a few systems that use deep water culture, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. The most popular Deep Water Culture system is the RDWC. 

This stands for Recirculating Deep Water Culture, and it uses an air pump to circulate oxygenated nutrient-water solution to the plants through individual chambers, the deepest being 10 inches or more. 

This type of setup is efficient because the roots get plenty of oxygen from the air stone, with fewer algae growth than other systems which can lead to lower amounts of maintenance. Another popular system is Bubbleponics. 

This type of hydroponic system uses a deeper reservoir and is also known as Top Feed Deep Water Culture. 

It works by circulating a mixture of oxygenated nutrient-rich water and air and bubbling it up through a tube in the center of the net pot in your reservoir before draining back into the tank below so that only minimal misting or spraying is needed for cooling, which makes Bubbleponics ideal for hotter growing climates.

Kratky Method is a passive DWC that grows plants without a pump or electricity. This method uses gravity to feed nutrients to your plants by suspending them in a net pot filled with clay pellets above a nutrient-filled tank.

How does a recirculating DWC work?

A recirculating Deep Water Culture system works like this. The nutrient solution is held in a central reservoir and the roots of the plants are suspended in the nutrient solution so plants absorb beneficial substances. 

An air pump continuously pumps air into the bottom of the central reservoir, oxygenating and circulating the nutrient solution at a consistent rate. A timer can be used to shut down the pump during lights-out to conserve it.

The oxygenated water is constantly moving, meaning that dissolved solids are constantly moving with it which increases active absorption and prevents stagnation or the build-up of possible contaminants. 

This reduces the risk of waterborne diseases and increases water quality, which is particularly important in areas where public utilities are lacking or unreliable.

In such cases, it’s always good to have an alternative source of clean water for irrigation purposes, and DWC systems offer just that—cleaner water for growing plants than other hydroponic systems thanks to the constant motion of its nutrient solutions. 

Sanitation is also greatly improved because you can control exactly what nutrients are added and when they are removed, mitigating risks associated with algae buildup.

The Water Pump: The RDWC system’s heart is the water pump. The water pump is also known as a recirculating culture framework powerhouse.

It differentiates between the recirculating DWC and the traditional DWC. Water pumps are widely available online or at local retailers.

Water temperature: It is advisable to get a water temperature regulator if you leave in a cold or hot area. 

DIY RDWC system lighting

It is time to add the finishing touches to the RDWC system. Lighting is a difficult DIY component to choose from. Wattage, bulb type, and reflector type are important. We have solutions if you are feeling overwhelmed. 

DIY RDWC systems benefit from LED lighting. LEDs are more efficient and produce less heat than fluorescent and HID bulbs. They provide a better photosynthesis spectrum and can be used with air-cooled hoods or open reflectors. You should consider square footage and distance between lights and plants when choosing wattage. 

For optimal results, use adjustable LED bars or strips that can be changed as your plants grow.

Plants that grow well in recirculating DWC systems

So what plants can be grown in the RDWC system? Any plants that do not require significant amounts of water, such as lettuce, basil, and herbs. These plants require little maintenance, and as long as they receive enough light and nutrients in the right amounts, they will flourish!

Another great thing about this system is that it is perfect for growing leafy greens like kale, spinach, and arugula. These types of veggies are known for their nutritional benefits, so it’s a bonus that you can easily grow them in a hydroponic system!

If you’re looking for something a bit more challenging to grow in your DWC system, then you could also try tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, or strawberries – all of which do well in this environment.

You just need to make sure that you are providing the right amount of oxygenation to these plants through the pump and air stone. Keep an eye on the temperature too – whatever variety of plants you choose should be comfortable with temperatures between 18-20 Celsius (64-68 Fahrenheit).

Why not just garden?

Because the plants are suspended in water rather than soil they require much less maintenance and are easier to monitor. They also take up far less space than traditional gardens and can even be built indoors if necessary!

Conclusion

The recirculating is a great choice for gardeners who want an efficient hydroponic system. The system is simple to build and has a few disadvantages. It’s worth putting together and learning how to use it, and it can be used in future projects.

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