Battle of the Bubblers...DWC vs. R-DWC
DWC and R-DWC are both great growing methods. But which one's right for you? Find out now.
What’s the difference?
DWC (deep water culture) is a hydroponic growing method.
- DWC = Deep Water Culture
- R-DWC = Recirculating Deep Water Culture
With Both Methods
Both methods use bubblers – a kind of pot. In these pots, roots grow straight into an oxygen rich nutrient solution.
Hardly any media is needed (just clay pebbles).
This means roots get instant and unlimited access to nutrients & oxygen!
- Fast nutrient uptake
- Bigger, healthier roots
- Bigger yielding plants
On top of this, nasty root diseases can’t survive in an oxygen rich environment.
...With DWC
Nutrient solution is static – it stays in whatever bubbler you put it in.
You can use standalone bubblers (like an Oxypot). If you want to, you can use multiple Oxpots and manage them individually. To keep several Oxypots filled from one tank, get an R-DWC system. You'll get better results if you do.
...With R-DWC
Instead of staying in one pot, your feed constantly travels round your entire system, mixing and cooling along the way.
Which Option is Right for You?
It depends on how many plants you're growing and how expreienced you are.
...in DWC
If you’ve never used a hydro system before, DWC is a great place to start.
You don’t need to go big – it’s as simple as swapping your standard pots for Oxypots. You can connect multiple air stones to one air pump to keep costs low.
There’s also loads of margin for error with DWC – great for beginners!
Nutrient doesn’t travel from pot to pot, so you do get a problem (like Pythium), it’s easier to stop it spreading.
...in R-DWC
For best results, go R-DWC!
As your nutrient recirculates, it mixes and cools! Your feed doesn’t get the chance to stagnate.
With all that mixing, your pH, temperature and CF stays stable… oxygen levels are much higher too.
Ultimately, you’ll get a much bigger yield.
If you're growing lots of plants, a system like this is much easier to manage.
- Option 1: IWS R-DWC System - Recirculating (great price, flexible pot positions, shop favourite)
- Option 2: IWS R-DWC System - Recirculating & Dumpback (periodically sends nutrient to tank for remixing)
- Option 3: RUSH (best results, faster recirculation, bigger pipes, powerful pump)
- Option 4: ALIEN RDWC Pro Silver System - Recirculating (professional grow system that delivers extremely rapid growth rates)
- Option 5: ALIEN RDWC V-System - Recirculating (professional grow system that creates a whirlpool effect and doesn't require air pumps)
Where to See them
Growing systems are assembled and on display in all shops! Ask a member of staff for the grand tour!
Don't Forget
To keep your nutrient solution oxygenated, you need to use an air pump, airline and air stones.
Most DWC and R-DWC Systems come with them - all except the IWS R-DWC System where you need to buy an air kit.
