DWC Hydroponics Grow System 5 Gallon Deep Water Culture with 8W Air Pump, Multi-Purpose Air Hose, Air Stone, 2 Buckets and Top Drip Kit

As a technically-minded grower using an AC Infinity Advance 2x2 tent system, I wanted a deep water culture solution that could match the engineering precision of my environmental controls. The Mars Hydro Single Bucket DWC Kit turned out to be an excellent pairing for hydroponic root zone management inside a tightly controlled grow space. ---Bucket Design & Engineering (10/10) The primary bucket is made from food-grade, BPA-free polypropylene, with thick, rigid walls to prevent deformation under high root mass and water pressure. This extra wall thickness also provides thermal insulation—critical in my AC Infinity 2x2, where the LED lighting and environmental controls can otherwise cause nutrient temperatures to drift. Even with long light cycles (20/4 veg), the bucket maintained nutrient solution temperatures between 66°F–68°F, allowing the root zone to stay in the optimal range for oxygen solubility without requiring a chiller. The heavy-duty net pot lid supports large, heavily trained plants. Integrated tie-down holes around the rim allowed me to run low-stress training (LST) and mainlining directly from the bucket without external supports. --- Aeration and Root Zone Health The included air pump and large micro-pore air stone kept dissolved oxygen (DO) levels above 7.0 mg/L at a consistent 68°F water temperature (measured with a Milwaukee MW600 DO meter). This level of aeration ensured: Explosive root growth during early veg. Bright white roots with no signs of pythium or anaerobic pockets. Rapid nutrient uptake in my Advanced Nutrients feed regimen. The system’s airline and tubing were easy to set up and routed cleanly through the ports in my AC Infinity tent, integrating seamlessly with the existing environmental automation. ---Real-World Performance in AC Infinity 2x2 Veg Phase: Tightly spaced nodes and vigorous lateral branching due to perfectly balanced root oxygenation and nutrient uptake. Root ball reached the size of a basketball by week 4 in DWC. Flower Phase: The root system easily supported a large SCROG canopy of 16 main colas. Reservoir changes were simple thanks to the external water level indicator and drain port. Final yield: ~375g (13.2 oz) dried flower in a single-plant SCROG setup. System efficiency: Minimal effort for maximum hydroponic performance. --- Highlights ✔ Food-grade bucket maintains nutrient stability in enclosed tent environments ✔ Excellent aeration system prevents root rot and supports aggressive feeding schedules ✔ Compatible with Advanced Nutrients, silica supplements, and Purpinator without precipitation issues ✔ Fits perfectly into an AC Infinity 2x2 footprint with space for LST and trellising ---Minor Observations The included air pump could use a longer power cord for easier placement in tight grow tent setups. No built-in insulation for extreme climates—requires a chiller if ambient temps are high. --- Final Verdict The Mars Hydro Single Bucket DWC Kit is a rock-solid hydroponic foundation for growers who want to focus on plant training and nutrient dialing instead of worrying about root zone problems. Paired with the precision automation of my AC Infinity 2x2 system, this DWC setup performed flawlessly and supported a high-yield, high-quality grow cycle with minimal intervention. -- What’s Next? I’m so impressed with this system that I’m considering scaling up and would love to see Mars Hydro recommend: A multi-bucket RDWC system for my next run. Any Mars Hydro accessories that integrate well with a DWC + AC Infinity environment (like pH/EC automation or reservoir chillers). It also runs extremely quiet.

Bought 2x bucket set. This is a fantastic product for hydroponic enthesitis who don’t have suitable DIY skills nor the avenue to purchase the various parts needed create air/water flow reactions. Bucket has holes already drilled in for the air pumps and water gauge. Fairly simple to assemble. You will have to cut the air hose accordingly during assembly at lengths you deem appropriate for your setup. And the hoses are a task to push and pull through the rubber sealers of the bucket holes. You have to push enough material in to pull the rest into place. That’s how I got mine through. KEEP THIS IN MIND: the inline check values need to be inserted correctly with the hose and air pump or else you will block the airflow of the hoses. Its hard to see on the inline values due to clear plastic making, but there is a “IN” marking that will tell you which way the air must flow. The lid/cup that holds the plant seems sturdy to hold weight, though I can’t vouch for the durability if your intent is to grow a tree or heavier products. The cup does have a circular insert hole that you have to cut—which was a pain for me, to open the pathway for the water tube to get through. Leave some of the remaining plastic tips there as it will hold the tube in place afterwards. The motor is moderately noisy but you are not going to get away from that as device is pushing for four airways. The provided motor is a Mars Hydro brand, which is of a good quality from my understanding. There is an adjustable switch on the motor to control the air pressure on its design which you must adjust to your needs. The connecting power wire to the air motor is a straight two-pronged plug that is not long. No AC adaptor to offer modification options. My intent was to attach this to a small outdoor solar panel outside but that is not possible with this setup. If you plan to place this outside, consider waterproof/weather proof covering products to protect the motor and plug. Consider purchasing a timer for this product. It is not recommended to have waterflow constantly on. Do your research on suggested active times and shutoffs. Really happy with this product. Here’s hoping blueberries can grow via hydroponics…I learned after purchasing how hard that is. The only thing I have to complain about is only getting one tiny bead for two water gauges. Sadness.

The **Mars Hydro DWC Hydroponics Grow System** is a solid choice for indoor growing, with some minor drawbacks. The **8W air pump** does a great job oxygenating the water, and the **top drip kit** ensures even hydration. The build quality is sturdy, and the **reflective cover** is a great addition to block light and maintain temperatures. However, the system can be a bit **loud**, and water tends to **leak slightly from the top** of the buckets. Setup is easy, and the system works well, but the noise and minor leaks are worth noting. **Pros:** - Strong air pump for great oxygenation - Durable construction - Reflective cover for light protection - Top drip system works well **Cons:** - Air pump is a bit loud - Minor water leaks from the top Overall, a solid system with great performance but with room for small improvements. **Four stars!**

This was incredibly easy to setup! The front two buckets are a part of the Mars Hydro DWC system. It comes with an air pump so you don’t have to purchase one separately, and it even has a water level indicator so I don’t need to open the reservoirs to check on the water level. I love how it has an insert for drip irrigation, and I love that they included reflective covers! This is a great setup at a great cost!

This kit is working great so far. We've got bell peppers going in it and after the germination they have taken off like rockets!!

Conceptually, sure its an interesting idea. In reality I am using both buckets and in order to do reservoir changes I need two fresh buckets to mix my nutes in. Using a standard black 5 gallon bucket is more practical for me, the weight of the baskets dont cut air flow for the airstones and the standard buckets other airstones/pumps make more sense for the way I am growing.

Excellent units for indoor growing. I put 2 in my 4x6 tent and they are simple to set up and grow. I will purchase these again when necessary.

Soild grow system. This was my first time trying DWC & so far plants are doing great. Air pump is strong & the seals are holding tight. No issues at all with the units & the plants so far. Assembling the system was super easy once I figured out how everything went together. The instructions are a bit hard to read. Other than that I can't wait to flower these plants. This DWC System is better than I thought it would be..