Am i lacking air?

Ive got two 3.5 watt pumps feeding four 5-gallon buckets (filled with 4 gallons of water each atm). I know im lacking but by how much? Noise is definately an issue (I'm sleeping 10 feet away from the grow spot), so commercial air pumps are out of the question, i think? Any suggestions? My budget's between 20-60, btw.

Any suggestions or links to similar threads is greatly appreciated

the DWC setups I've seen have always had one pump with two airstones for every 4-5 gallons of nutrient solution, at the least... I'd start there, atleast one air pump with two airstones per 5 gallon bucket. Not sure about wattage.

Get rid if the air stones. I got better results with stainless steel screws. You screw them in the ends of your air line the more you screw them in the less air, they can't plug up like an air stone. As for the noise make a muffler for them, a insulated box to put them in will cut alot of the noise, or sleep with a fan on, it will drowned out the air pumps. As for your oxygen question, I had 1 pump for 2 containers, but I didn't have that much solution either, you could use 2-1/2 gallon buckets, you don't need all that solution for one plant.

Thanks. Im thinking theres no way i could drown out a comercial air pump though. I handle the 2 small pumps easily once the fans on so mybe 2 more pumps the same size would do. 2 stones for each, volunteer a stone from 2 of the buckets when im brewing some tea.I gotta give the screw thing a try lol.

Screw the air stones. They are slime magnets, they are unneeded. Noise? Guess what? You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Lol, i live right by the Mexican border so good quality cake is dirt cheap I was thinking of distance myself from the pump maybe running the lines longer.

They have to be stainless or brass will work also. Those two metal won't react with your nutrient solution. I also seen a little brass valve body, with a little needle valve. I thought would work well.

Yeah I was born and raised right on the TX/MX border. $25 a kilo in Juarez, another $25 for a straight looking old white guy to cross it for us. 1965.

I'll live with the air pump noise.

And I'm trying your screw-in-the-end, topfuel. So simple I can't believe I didn't do that earlier. Brass would work too I think if somebody has old plumbing fittings around. Works great!

Awesome!! I was hoping you guys didn't think I was nuts. LOL happy its working for you.
the screw has to big enough, if its to small the air wants to blow it out the line.

Pumps in a box are quieter than pumps not in a box.