Chiller for 4 Bucket System?

onthedl0008

Well-Known Member
Yes u have to imagine its gotta fill the first bucket first before it naturally overflows to the second and so on and so forth by blowing thru the buckets inline your essentially keeping them all filled and adding the equalizer pipe connecting them all up keep the water naturally all the same level this was the easiest way ive found my 4 bucket sytem to work but im on single level it be even easier if i was able to raise my grow buckets and allow for natural drainback like i think db mentioned but i have head hieght issues so i had to make what i had work.
 

onthedl0008

Well-Known Member
Without cooling my controller bucket yes my res temps will eventually reach ambient roos temps just like setting a glass of water out will eventually become room temp.. Getting them as low as possible at lights out will also help with res temps but i would not reccomend allowing your res temps to raise past 77 degrees ive done whole entire grows in 77 degree res temp but would not reccomend it as some water sources have pathogens that will grow in higher temps luckily i dont have to worry about it plants use more nutrients at 68-72 degrees..
Portable ac should do u good cooling ur water on top of that should put u where u need to be.
 
Just remember a small a/c unit requires twice as much power to run than a chiller, and chillers are definitely quieter than an a/c unit.(it's even quieter than my air pump) I've used a 1/10 hp chiller for a couple years on my 8 bucket RDWC with no room a/c. Room temps don't exceed 80 degrees so an a/c unit is not necessary.
 

RemeberMe

Active Member
Thanks for the info, I do not know anything about the chillers (noise or power usage). I am hoping it was just a fluke that the mold grew in the first place. I've grown hydro in the same temps about 3 times and never had that problem. I kind of like the idea of the ac to make sure it comes out really purple which is a big deal where I am at.
 
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