Growrilla Hydroponic system 2.0 RDWC 9

Three rows of three, on 120 by 145 centimetres. The first system in the range that goes deep rather than long.

Every smaller Growrilla system is one or two long rows. The Growrilla Hydroponic System 2.0 RDWC 9 is the first to stand three rows deep, and that is exactly why it suits a square 150 by 150 tent where a long run would leave half the floor unused.

Nine pots and 150 litres ask more than the eight-pot system can deliver: the water pump moves up to an HR1500 at 1400 L/h and the air pump to a V40 at 40 L/min, together drawing 60 watt.

Plan your access before you build

This is the size at which the layout of your room matters more than the specification of the system, and where most of the regret comes from afterwards.

With one or two rows you can reach everything. From three rows onwards there is a middle row, and the only way to reach it is across an outer one. With small plants that is fine. In week seven of flower, with a full canopy you would rather not damage, it is a genuine problem, and by then the system holds 150 litres of water, so moving it is no longer an option.

Three things to decide up front:

• Which side will you work from? Put the controller pot there. It is where you will be most often: measuring, correcting, topping up, draining.
• Can you reach the middle row? If not, reconsider whether three rows of three is the right shape. The system is push-fit, so you can also lay it out as one long row of nine if your space allows.
• Where does the air pump go? Preferably outside the tent, cool and dry, with the tubing distributed neatly to nine air stones.

The 50 centimetre plant spacing is not fixed. The pots slide along the 32 mm pipework, so you can make the whole thing more compact if space is tight. At the cost of airflow between plants, so do not overdo it.

What nine pots changes

At 150 litres the reservoir itself becomes a factor. A full change means removing 150 litres and mixing 150 litres fresh, which is no longer something you do with a watering can. Plan for a drain hose on the controller pot's tap and somewhere for that water to go.

Against that, a large volume moves slowly. EC and pH drift more gradually than in a small system, temperature swings are damped, and an error in your feed schedule dilutes itself across 150 litres instead of showing up on the leaves within a day.

Technical Specifications:

• System type: RDWC recirculating hydroponic system
• Growing pots: 9 x 19 litre (Ø 30 x h 33 cm)
• System rows: 3
• System water volume: 150 litre
• Plant spacing: 50 cm
• System footprint: 120 x 145 cm
• Recommended growing area: 150 x 150 cm
• System power: 60 watt
• Air pump: Hailea V40 (40 L/min, 2400 L/h)
• Water pump: Hailea HR1500 (1400 L/h)

Frequently asked questions

Why nine pots and not eight or ten?
Because three by three is the layout that fills a square 150 by 150 tent best. In a rectangular space the eight-pot system in two rows is often more practical.

Can I build it in a different shape?
Yes. The pipework and joints are not fixed, so three rows of three can become one row of nine, or another layout that suits your room. Do bear in mind the total distance the water pump has to cover.

How do I drain 150 litres?
Through the tap on the controller pot. Connect a hose there and let it run to a drain or a container. Do this before disconnecting any pots, not after.

Is 60 watt a lot?
No. That is less than an incandescent bulb, running continuously, for nine plants. Against your lighting it disappears entirely.

How much headroom do I need above the system?
The pots are 33 centimetres tall and stand on the floor, so allow that plus the mature plant plus your lamp clearance. In a tent 200 centimetres tall you have plenty.