DWC pump output

how much air per bucket does your system put out?

  • 150-200 gph (570-760 lph) (9.5-12.6 lpm)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    4
  • Poll closed .

Saint Skinny

Active Member
hey all! I was wondering what other people are using as far as O2 pumps in their DWC/bubbleponics setup, along with the number of buckets per pump? So what I guess I'm really asking is how many gph/bucket (or lpm/bucket) are you using?
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
hey all! I was wondering what other people are using as far as O2 pumps in their DWC/bubbleponics setup, along with the number of buckets per pump? So what I guess I'm really asking is how many gph/bucket (or lpm/bucket) are you using?
You need about 150 gph per 5;gal bucket minimum. Also, I regret buying commercial pumps that are shaped like one big heatsink. Because they are. They're SO hot and SOOOOOO loud.
These diaphragm pumps from GH are much better. 2-3x as much but 10X quieter.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/General-Hydroponics-Dual-Diaphragm-Air-Pump-High-Output-320-GPH-GH2716-/400696387326?nav=SEARCH
 

Yesdog

Well-Known Member
hey all! I was wondering what other people are using as far as O2 pumps in their DWC/bubbleponics setup, along with the number of buckets per pump? So what I guess I'm really asking is how many gph/bucket (or lpm/bucket) are you using?
I'm using about 150gph for 10g total, maybe not enough but there's plenty of theories going back and forth about how much good you get from extra air. It's a really complicated thing to figure out, its factors of: surface area of water exposed to fresh air (bubbles), area of water exposed to 'stale' air (dissipation), area between 'oxygenation zones', and most importantly temperature. at least from what I've read, one of the biggest factors is that you're breaking the surface tension of the water (the bubbles 'pop'). So it probably doesn't need to look like it boiling, but as long as the bubbles pop and you feel mist you're probably golden.
 

cat of curiosity

Well-Known Member
I'm using about 150gph for 10g total, maybe not enough but there's plenty of theories going back and forth about how much good you get from extra air. It's a really complicated thing to figure out, its factors of: surface area of water exposed to fresh air (bubbles), area of water exposed to 'stale' air (dissipation), area between 'oxygenation zones', and most importantly temperature. at least from what I've read, one of the biggest factors is that you're breaking the surface tension of the water (the bubbles 'pop'). So it probably doesn't need to look like it boiling, but as long as the bubbles pop and you feel mist you're probably golden.
bubbles popping splash roots above the water line. this is what makes the roots grow out of the net pot and hang, eventually hanging into the water. this is a very important aspect to dwc.

You need about 150 gph per 5;gal bucket minimum. Also, I regret buying commercial pumps that are shaped like one big heatsink. Because they are. They're SO hot and SOOOOOO loud.
These diaphragm pumps from GH are much better. 2-3x as much but 10X quieter.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/General-Hydroponics-Dual-Diaphragm-Air-Pump-High-Output-320-GPH-GH2716-/400696387326?nav=SEARCH
better is a matter of opinion and lack of experience with other products/techniques. i use a commercial pump with 12 outlets. hung from a bungee cord, it's not audible from ten feet away and not intrusively loud when you are standing in front of it. my fan is 100 times louder than the air pump.

i also keep mine at the ac register, so the pump is always cold, never gets hot (and therefore pumps cold air into the buckets).

i've had the pump for almost 12 years and it still operates like brand new. i use it to power up to 12 10.5'' commercial airstones, which make the water 'boil', but with no heat. placing the pump at the ac register makes the air pump a water chiller as well. dual purpose, effective, efficient, and cheap (when compared to three of the gh pumps for half the job, a chiller and external res, extra plumbing, etc)...
 

Yesdog

Well-Known Member
bubbles popping splash roots above the water line. this is what makes the roots grow out of the net pot and hang, eventually hanging into the water. this is a very important aspect to dwc.
I made some adjustments to the second DWC grow, I was using a larger airpump but the heat buildup was really bad in the sealed tent. Just opted for the 150gph pump I have now, and I installed extra dripper lines into the lid of the res to get a nice 8" drop during watering. 7 days from just-sprouted to 8" roots, extra mist reallllly paid off.
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
bubbles popping splash roots above the water line. this is what makes the roots grow out of the net pot and hang, eventually hanging into the water. this is a very important aspect to dwc.



better is a matter of opinion and lack of experience with other products/techniques. i use a commercial pump with 12 outlets. hung from a bungee cord, it's not audible from ten feet away and not intrusively loud when you are standing in front of it. my fan is 100 times louder than the air pump.

i also keep mine at the ac register, so the pump is always cold, never gets hot (and therefore pumps cold air into the buckets).

i've had the pump for almost 12 years and it still operates like brand new. i use it to power up to 12 10.5'' commercial airstones, which make the water 'boil', but with no heat. placing the pump at the ac register makes the air pump a water chiller as well. dual purpose, effective, efficient, and cheap (when compared to three of the gh pumps for half the job, a chiller and external res, extra plumbing, etc)...
Man I do the same thing hanging my pumps inside my tent, but YOU DEFINITELY hear it from 10' away. You can't be serious.
 

cat of curiosity

Well-Known Member
I made some adjustments to the second DWC grow, I was using a larger airpump but the heat buildup was really bad in the sealed tent. Just opted for the 150gph pump I have now, and I installed extra dripper lines into the lid of the res to get a nice 8" drop during watering. 7 days from just-sprouted to 8" roots, extra mist reallllly paid off.
that's pretty cool! my air pump is 12' outside of our 5x10x7 tent, an inch from the ac register.
Man I do the same thing hanging my pumps inside my tent, but YOU DEFINITELY hear it from 10' away. You can't be serious.
serious as cancer. rubber bungees, air cooled, 12' from tent and cannot be heard inside tent or outside of the room. at all... even in the room and close to it, you hear a low hum, like a central ac fan running (easily ignored, disregarded, forgotten). our fan is ten times louder, fortunately the filter, ducting, and tent mute it sufficiently.
 

cat of curiosity

Well-Known Member
another thing with the commercial pumps, they have an intake barb (usually 1/2'' to 5/8'') that a hose can attach to, and be run to a cold air area, effectively precooling the air going into the pump, making a cooled air pump deliver even cooler air.
 
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