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Best DWC System

Last Updated: February 2, 2024
Roy Stevens
Product Review by Roy Stevens

As many growers know, a DWC System (or Deep Water Culture System as it is otherwise known) is a hydroponic system of plant production that relies on the suspension of plant roots in a solution of oxygenated, nutrient-rich water.

Depending on your budget, space, and individual requirements these systems can vary widely in size, intricacy, and effectiveness, and whilst many home growers who are growing for personal use will not require a massively complex system, for anyone looking to produce crops on a mass scale there are systems out there for you if you are willing to pay more,

DWC Systems will require access to a water source and multiple refillings as and when required and will also need to be situated within range of an electrical supply, so it is important to remember that the set up of such systems do require additional financial output in the short term with an increase in your utility bills,

However, if a DWC System is used correctly and efficiently then users will undoubtedly be able to see a significant increase in not just yield size but also the quality of the yield as well.

There are many different varieties of DWC Systems to choose from and they all suit different needs, whilst this variety means there will always be a system out there to suit you, it can make choosing your first DWC System intimidating.

That’s why we here at The Highest Crop have taken the liberty of putting this list together of the best DWC System on the market.

So let’s take a look at the top DWC Systems and see if we can’t help pick the best DWC System for you.

Our Reviews
1

Atwater HydroPod - DWC System Kit

The Atwater HydroPod is a state-of-the-art hydroponic system that uses DWC (Deep Water Culture) technology. This easy to setup hydroponic kit contains everything you need for your first plant, including the reservoir and pump! After assembling the unit according to instructions, fill it with water.

This is the perfect hydroponic system. It has an air pump and 2 air stones that create a growing zone, reservoir, and creates the ideal environment to help your plants thrive.

This kit contains a 5-gallon USA-made food-grade black bucket, dual-outlet DC air pump kit, and all parts and fittings. Simply follow the included instructions to set it up with your desired cannabis strain.

Pros

  • Hydroton Grow Rocks
  • 6 Pack of Grodan 1.5" Starter Cubes
  • Nutrient mixing instructions

Cons

  • Expensive compared to competitors
2

Bubble Brothers DWC Hydroponic System

Hydroponics is a popular choice for those who want to grow their own plants, Bubble Brothers offers all-inclusive deep water culture systems that are perfect no matter your skill level!

Growing cannabis plants with the Bubble Brothers DWC self-contained system has never been easier. This reliable method allows you to grow bigger, healthier crops that yield more flavorsome buds in less time and for a lower cost than other hydroponic systems would allow!

With the Bubble Brothers XL 6-site systems, you can grow amazing plants in no time with all of the power that is needed. This system includes a high-powered commercial air pump and higher quality air stones to provide better oxygenation and diffusion than other similar units on the market.

Bubble Brothers XL systems have a new lid component that is exclusive to their product. This RhizoCore bucket lid by HTG Supply outperforms other units in the market, and Bubble Brother’s system are the only ones with this feature.

RhizoCore’s innovative bucket lids allow for a super-aerated center channel that provides more oxygen and solution flow to the root zone, which results in accelerated plant growth. The Bubble Brothers 6 Site XL system has six large-size pots with high-quality clay pebble grow medium included.

Pros

  • High-quality clay pebble grow medium
  • HTG Supply
  • Highly Rated

Cons

  • No water indicator
3

Root Box Hydroponics Grow 2 System

Root Box Hydroponics RDWC system is a revolutionary design that connects two 12 gallon grow modules to one controller unit. This set-up uses the 6 outlet air pump and six 2″ round air stones to oxygenate roots at all times. The 660GPH waterfall pump recirculates nutrients by sending the nutrient in lower 1″ tubing up through 3/4″ tubing to the fitting on top of the controller unit.

Root Box Hydroponics RDWC Lower Feed Grow System is a revolutionary way to grow plants. You never need to worry about your plant’s access to oxygen or nutrients when using this method, which means the energy they spend searching for these things can be used on other important tasks like vegetative growth and flowering!

Pros

  • High Quality
  • Highly Rated
  • Good for the Intermediate Grower

Cons

  • Not Widely Available
4

Power Grow - DWC Bubbler Bucket Kit

What if I told you that there was an easy way to grow hydroponically? Well now, thanks to the PowerGrow Systems Deep Water Culture System, growing has never been more simple. You might be thinking it’s going to take some time and effort but this system makes everything as straightforward as possible with little maintenance required.

The Power Grow – DWC Bubbler Bucket Kit is the perfect tool for anyone who wants to grow their own cannabis. The PowerGrow ultimate indoor gardening system includes nutrient-rich water reservoirs (5 gallon HDPE buckets) capable of supporting your new strain.

With the PowerGrow Deep Water Culture System, you’ll have access to all of the equipment needed for an indoor hydroponic garden. With an oxygen-rich solution that helps build healthy roots faster and more efficiently, your plants will flourish with superior growth rates and production levels.

Pros

  • Growing Medium
  • Rockwool Seed Plugs
  • 1 Year USA Manufacturers Warranty
  • Good for Beginners

Cons

  • Pump Could be More Powerful
  • Included Stone Medium Could be Better
5

SuperPonics Hydroponic Grow System

Introducing the SuperPonics XL 12-Plant Hydroponic Grow System. It’s fully automated, so you can grow your plants up to 5x faster than ever before and with less labor required.

The SuperPonics Hydroponic Grow System helps plants grow faster than any other single method of hydroponics. The system is also safer because there are always two independent systems operating at the same time, so if one malfunctions your plants will still thrive! With both Top Feed Watering and Bottom Feed oxygenation, you can create extremely happy buds.

The Eco air pump produces very quiet yet powerful pressure thanks to its innovative technology. This reliable water reservoir has been designed specifically for hydroponic growers.

The SuperPonic XL 12 Hydroponic Grow System is designed to grow plants with ease. This system comes fully assembled and can be plugged in right out of the box! The custom-molded 35-gallon reservoir will hold up against UV damage for years, making it easy to clean at any point throughout its lifespan. With 3.75″ cups that are able to nest together, you have an efficient option available when growing up to twelve large plants simultaneously!

Pros

  • Quality construction and materials
  • Well-known trusted brand
  • Highly rated
  • Produces amazing results

Cons

  • Pricey option for some home growers

DWC System Buyers Guide

Now that we have gone over each of the products in our review in further detail, we need to ask ourselves some more general queries that will help us decide which product to award the title of best DWC system and more importantly help you decide which particular product best suits your needs.

Whilst these general concerns may at first glance appear to be trivial and considerations of little consequence actually by taking the time to consider such broad questions you may find this Buyers Guide gives you more clarity and allows you to make a better more complete decision.

DWC Bucket Quantity

The first thing we need to think about is how many buckets are in the DWC System that you are considering purchasing and more importantly still, how many do you actually need?

For growers who already have large, complicated setups and grow tents that take up a considerable amount of space, this may not seem particularly important.

However, if you are new to growing and limited on space and require a minimal but functional system to help you optimize crop yields then clearly a system with multiple buckets that requires significant storage and processing room will not be for you.

Size & Space for Your DWC System

Similarly some of the actual buckets in the individual DWC Systems we have covered come in different sizes and this should be something that you also consider.

Not only do you need to think about the space that the whole setup requires but you also need to think about the specific size of the buckets, how much water you will need to fill them, how often, and what effect this would potentially have on your yields.

Additionally, you will also need to consider just how much extra equipment you will need for any of these products as some DWC Systems have extensive accessories that need to be put together and utilized in the correct way for the product to work effectively and efficiently.

Complexity of DWC Systems

Whilst some of the DWC Systems we have reviewed are absolutely capable of being used by relatively inexperienced growers, there is no doubt that some of the products are quite complex and will require that a significant amount of time is set aside for both initial setup, testing and ongoing maintenance.

That being said if you have spent the time researching your DWC options then hopefully you are fully aware of the necessary time you will need to dedicate to initially setting up the product to ensure that it works properly and continues to do so for an extended period of time.

Personal Experience Level Growing in a DWC System

Again while your own personal experience level is by no means a disqualifying factor of your purchasing any particular DWC System, some of the more complex, intricate, and difficult to build may be more appropriate for experienced growers.

Of course, all growers should always be pushing themselves, their abilities, and their growing techniques to ensure they stay up to date with the latest growing philosophies and technologies, this means that even if you want to purchase a DWC System that is currently beyond your experience level, there is no reason why with additional research and learning you can’t quickly get yourself up to speed with the product.

Accessories & Help

Carrying on from the discussion about product complexity, it must also be said that some of the DWC Systems we have reviewed come with an extensive array of materials and accessories.

None of these accessories are superfluous and as such even if you don’t immediately need them you more than likely will in the very near future, so this comes with additional storage concerns that it’s important to recognize early so that you are not overwhelmed upon opening your DWC System for the first time.

Additionally some of the DWC Systems we have covered come with helpful reading literature that will come in extremely handy for fewer experimenters and may even provide some excellent hints and tips to the more experienced and knowledgeable growers.

Price & Budget of Your DWC System

The most important of all the considerations though is the one of budget, price, and correspondingly the value for money of the DWC System in question.

We here at The Highest Crop always recommend that prior to starting your product search you have a budget in mind and we advise even more strongly that you should make every effort to stick to it.

Of course, only you can know your specific budget and how affordable each product is to you but like with most products a standard rule of thumb is that the more you pay for a product the better and higher quality that product will be.

Now whilst of course there are exceptions to this rule, (occasionally you will find a high-quality product that comes with a phenomenally low price tag or a very basic product with what seems an excessive price), it is undoubtedly true that usually the more you pay the more you get.

That being the case, when considering your budget is, therefore, appropriate to temper your product expectations to equal the amount that you can realistically afford.

Of course, if you are one of the lucky few where budget is of no concern then it is still an intelligent idea to look for bargains and the product that offers you the best value for money, and hopefully, this review and corresponding Buyers Guide will help clarify if any of the DWC Systems do just that.

Recap

After we have thought about all the important considerations featured in our Buyers Guide, and taking into account all of the individual pros, cons, and features of each of the products in our review we have decided to award the title of Best DWC System to the Bubble Brothers DWC System.

Exceptionally easy to use and providing a perfect product to help keep your precious plants thriving, the Bubble Brothers DWC Hydroponic System is a much more efficient use of water when compared to traditional growing techniques.

With no waste, minimal evaporation, and capable of improving growth yields by up to three times previous levels, the Bubble Brothers DWC Hydroponic System could take your growing to the next level.

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