Are you wanting to do top feed or undercurrent rdwc? It will be hard to grow in buckets due to roots clogging the lines. You also have the option to grow auto pots.
I run an rdwc under current system, meaning the water flows under the roots.
So, the way mine works, I have an 18 gal trash can bought big enough for two 1.5” pvc outlets, each run to a separate tote (not necessary) you could run one out and tee off to each grow spot. I have two 20 gal totes as my grow sites.
I have a 400 gal gph water pump that pulls water out of the totes and pumps through a water chiller and into the reservoir where water flows back to the totes. Never ending circle.
My grow foot print is 3’ x 5’. I have two lights above each plant.
I set my net pot near the back of the tote to give room for the roots to grow out so they won’t get sucked into the outlet.
You can take a look at the beginning of my two journals and get the idea how it works and how it’s built.
This is my current grow.
If you want to grow big plants in hydro, you need to build it for that. In a 2’x4’, I would have one grow site and a res.
In a 4’x4’ I would have two grow sites and a res. Of corse in both scenarios, the res would be outside the tent along with a chiller.
We have seen lots of folks try to manage multiple plants in a 4x4 hydro setup and it just get way too crowded too fast. That’s why I say 2 plants.
Hydro is not meant for small grows. If you want small grow, grow in coco. You can fill a 2x4 with one plant with the proper training and a scrog which you may need with 5ft tall tent. It can be done easily. And, two plants will fill a 4x4 easily. There are folks here that fill a 5x5 scrog with one tote. I have no problem filling my 3x5 with two plants.
BTW, don’t mean to be a buzz kill, but you may not want to run autos in hydro because it’s a shame to build something and grow possibly a small plant. You have no control on how big they get.
My last grow was two autos which turned out pretty good considering a lot of autos I see are half the size I grew.
I would much rather grow photos. You have more control over how big they get. Keep in mind, this is my preference and my opinion.
After tinkering around with it for three years, it is dialed in and runs flawlessly. I have extra everything in case something goes wrong and I’ll be able to change it on the fly. I use cutoff valves on everything. All of it will come in time. This was an investment not just a hobby. I average 10-14 oz per plant. Absolutely love it.
Let me know what you think.