DWC water levels

JSB99

JSB99

Well-Known Member
I see that a lot of people keep their water levels around an inch under the net pots. I've also seen where people let their water drop pretty far, and this is what I used to do.

The differences in the two that I can see are:
With more water, the bubbles keep the roots from drowning
With less water, the bubbles that are produced pop on the surface of the water, creating a fine mist that is carried up to the top by the air pressure.

Problem I can see with less water is a lot less of a buffer for Ph levels and nutes. Maybe that's why I was working on my grow every hour of the day when I did it last time LOL

I'm going to be running a pretty meaty pump and stones, so either way will work fine.

I was just wondering what everyone's thoughts and experiences were on this.
 
J_907

J_907

Member
JSB99 said:
I see that a lot of people keep their water levels around an inch under the net pots. I've also seen where people let their water drop pretty far, and this is what I used to do.

The differences in the two that I can see are:
With more water, the bubbles keep the roots from drowning
With less water, the bubbles that are produced pop on the surface of the water, creating a fine mist that is carried up to the top by the air pressure.

Problem I can see with less water is a lot less of a buffer for Ph levels and nutes. Maybe that's why I was working on my grow every hour of the day when I did it last time LOL

I'm going to be running a pretty meaty pump and stones, so either way will work fine.

I was just wondering what everyone's thoughts and experiences were on this.
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I run a system of 4/ 5gallon bucket with small net pots a low water level about 10 gallons of water for all 4 inc. The controller. I also have a constant running top drip and its been super loyal.
 
Anon Emaus

Anon Emaus

Well-Known Member
I use one 5 gal, when i do res change i fill to around an inch under net. Then i just change every 7 days(1 week), no matter how much water it drinks. At it's heaviest drinking it'll drop pretty low, but i see no reaction from the plant itself. With doing a full res change every week it's not like it sits in really low water that long anyway. With my setup it would be a chore to constantly fill it and keep it 1 inch from bottom of net pot. I grow for fun and don't want it to be a chore so i'll never top off. I can see how it'd be more beneficial to keep it full though, i mean that is the whole point of dwc, keeping the roots submerged in airated water
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
Does your PH start to drop as the water level drops? Not the same setup but when my ph starts to drop I change the Res. Not familiar with DWC but my 4 plants drink about 10 gallons every 7 days using spray nozzles.
 
JSB99

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Budley Doright said:
Does your PH start to drop as the water level drops? Not the same setup but when my ph starts to drop I change the Res. Not familiar with DWC but my 4 plants drink about 10 gallons every 7 days using spray nozzles.
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Maybe. It was hard to tell when they'd get to that point because you're having to add so much new water and nutrients (which throw off your ph levels). So in essence, yes, as the water levels would drop the ph levels would be effected. But whether it was only effected by the adding of new water and nutrients, I don't know.

I can't say that the amount of water had any effect though. In other words, if I had 50 gallons that I let drop to 10, I don't think the ph level would be any different. Unless, the nutrient drop in levels due to plant intake effects it.

Experts, what's your take on this?
 
M

Medicationist

Member
Budley Doright said:
Does your PH start to drop as the water level drops? Not the same setup but when my ph starts to drop I change the Res. Not familiar with DWC but my 4 plants drink about 10 gallons every 7 days using spray nozzles.
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If you don't have adequate oxygen or temps root rot sets in lowering pH. However.... Most of the time if you don't have nasty root rot pH dropping means they are drinking more water than nutrients, leaving the remaining water more acidic. When my ph drops it usually returns to normal in a few days after their growth spurt.

If you have chilled water, max air, and protein based nutrients like Cyco, you can go a looooooooooooong time between Rez changes.
 
JSB99

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Medicationist said:
If you don't have adequate oxygen or temps root rot sets in lowering pH. However.... Most of the time if you don't have nasty root rot pH dropping means they are drinking more water than nutrients, leaving the remaining water more acidic. When my ph drops it usually returns to normal in a few days after their growth spurt.

If you have chilled water, max air, and protein based nutrients like Cyco, you can go a looooooooooooong time between Rez changes.
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Great answer! Yes, I'll be running a Coralife 1/4hp titanium chiller, AirForce AP80 (80LPM) air pump, and a Danner 12 mag-drive water pump for my 70 gallon 4-bucket grow.
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
I run a chiller as well but still change things up just to keep it balanced. But yes actually I haven't noticed a big drop lately since the chiller was added.
 
M

Medicationist

Member
I have a 235 gallon system with a 70lpm pump . It's really more about aeration design than the pumps and stones. Get some pvc and attach a 90 elbow on one end. On the other cut an inch long cut out that goes halfway around the pipe. This is for the water inlet. Put a 3/8 inch air stone in the cut out and place it at the bottom of the Rez, with the 90 elbow sticking out from the surface like a periscope. The air will lift the water up the pvc, concentrating DO and then spraying it out the top. It disperses a lot better than a traditional waterfall too. You can also use 2" tubing with bigger sized stones which I do. 4 4" stones on the 70lpm and that's it. I made custom drip rings for the inside of my buckets with about 30 holes dripping water into my bucket which aerated even farther . I also top feed for the first few weeks and the water dripping on the hydroton aerated even farther. Air pumps are loud and annoying to me and the sound of flowing and dripping water is soother to me. If you have any questions feel free to Message me, I have my shit dialed in on my RDWC!
 
M

Medicationist

Member
This was the last harvest of mine. 4 week veg, plants grew waaaaay too fast and my basement has low ceilings, so the plants reached the lights . I veg for 20 hours a day, but the last week of veg I will change to flower bulbs and 16 hour days to let them know flower time is coming. You wouldn't believe how nice a plant will stretch because of it. Plus defoliate properly so you don't have a messy jungle like mine, light penetration is key as my leaves get HUGE.
 

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Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
image.jpeg I also found running air caused ph to go up or down, can't remember lol. It's been a bit since I packed away the air stones. This is how I get DO into the water. The cuttings in this pic just got transplanted and are 9 days from cut and this is 6 days later image.jpeg
 
JSB99

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Medicationist said:
This was the last harvest of mine. 4 week veg, plants grew waaaaay too fast and my basement has low ceilings, so the plants reached the lights . I veg for 20 hours a day, but the last week of veg I will change to flower bulbs and 16 hour days to let them know flower time is coming. You wouldn't believe how nice a plant will stretch because of it. Plus defoliate properly so you don't have a messy jungle like mine, light penetration is key as my leaves get HUGE.
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LOL, yeah I've had a few kiss the hood :-)

I top a few times to control height.

My new tent is going to be a gorilla 4x4 lite with the extension so it'll be 7ft 7in. That extra foot's gonna be nice :weed:
 
JSB99

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Medicationist said:
I have a 235 gallon system with a 70lpm pump . It's really more about aeration design than the pumps and stones. Get some pvc and attach a 90 elbow on one end. On the other cut an inch long cut out that goes halfway around the pipe. This is for the water inlet. Put a 3/8 inch air stone in the cut out and place it at the bottom of the Rez, with the 90 elbow sticking out from the surface like a periscope. The air will lift the water up the pvc, concentrating DO and then spraying it out the top. It disperses a lot better than a traditional waterfall too. You can also use 2" tubing with bigger sized stones which I do. 4 4" stones on the 70lpm and that's it. I made custom drip rings for the inside of my buckets with about 30 holes dripping water into my bucket which aerated even farther . I also top feed for the first few weeks and the water dripping on the hydroton aerated even farther. Air pumps are loud and annoying to me and the sound of flowing and dripping water is soother to me. If you have any questions feel free to Message me, I have my shit dialed in on my RDWC!
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Very cool!
 
JSB99

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Medicationist said:
Yeah for sure. And good going with the gorilla tent, the off brands can be cheap and can barely support the heavier hoods on the market.
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Sucks tho because I'm going to have to port a couple holes in the back to run my controller send and return to the tent. That's not the big deal. I'm going to mount bulkheads on the holes so it'll look nice and everything. The part that's going to suck is trying to cut through that really thick fabric of theirs LOL
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
Medicationist said:
This was the last harvest of mine. 4 week veg, plants grew waaaaay too fast and my basement has low ceilings, so the plants reached the lights . I veg for 20 hours a day, but the last week of veg I will change to flower bulbs and 16 hour days to let them know flower time is coming. You wouldn't believe how nice a plant will stretch because of it. Plus defoliate properly so you don't have a messy jungle like mine, light penetration is key as my leaves get HUGE.
Click to expand...
I'm running into the same problem with my present grow. Had some major issues which prompted the chiller so I was waiting for them to get healthy and they went wild now I'm super cropping like a mad man lol image.jpeg
 
monkz

monkz

Well-Known Member
If you have a high-grade airpump, then it doesn't matter if your level is above the base of your netpot, or below. Just make sure you don't let it drop too much... 6 inch drop would be the max for me, then I'd refill. I use a 60 lpm pump in my 50l container.
Btw, haven't changed my res in 7 weeks and all is fine. If your temp, ph and dissolved oxygen are in check, you shouldn't experience any problems which would need you to change water in res. having said this, if you're a new grower, change water weekly.
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
^^^ how do you know after 7 weeks that your nutrient ratio' are not totally out of whack? I actually have never added back other than when away and just have the girlfriend top up the Res. Always was worried that things would get out of balance re nutrients.
 
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