Ebb and Flow vs RDWC

Colo MMJ

Well-Known Member
P.s. id be more than happy to help you build your system. So feel free to ask what you need. You can pm me or post here, I don't care either way.
Thank you. I may take you up on that and will review the parts this weekend. Thanks. Some of the people on this forum are amazing, kind and incredibly helpful.
 

Jimbo01

Well-Known Member
Would a single site RDWC be worth the time? I like the idea of being able to maintain the system from outside the tent and scrog area. I also like the idea of being able to take a weekend away without much worry. The biggest issue that I see would be heat from the pump becoming a problem. What size water pumps are being used and what are the heights of the drain and feed holes? Ever have problems with roots plugging the drain holes?
 

Colo MMJ

Well-Known Member
You need a chiller for RDWC more so than ANY other Hydro setup. Flood and drain doesnt require it.

Sorry to sound brain dead. I re-read the thread and you are running RDWC? Correct? I did not see a chiller in your tent. Sorry if I am confusing thing. s

If you go away and something happens and lose power to the chiller....aren't you screwed? Thanks.
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Sorry to sound brain dead. I re-read the thread and you are running RDWC? Correct? I did not see a chiller in your tent. Sorry if I am confusing thing. s

If you go away and something happens and lose power to the chiller....aren't you screwed? Thanks.
Chiller is outside tent. ;) you can see the black vinyl tubing from my res bucket going through the wall of the tent.
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Checking out these DIY peliter coolers for making a DIY chiller.



This is almost as cool (pardon the pun) as DIY COB LED lights. I am amazed that a little chip and a heat sink could keep water at 53 deg]
I ve seen these before I tried to attempt it but was shot down and just bough a chiller. You should do the same
 
I ve seen these before I tried to attempt it but was shot down and just bough a chiller. You should do the same
Which chiller did you end up settling on? I know some people pay big $$ for em but ive seen a few for $400, was wondering if i needed to make the big investment or not.
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
For anything under 50gallons, a 1/10 hp one (which is what I got used from a friend for $175) is all you need. They're $260-350 on eBay amazon all day brand new. Mine is the OLDER MODEL EcoPlus. Before they started assembling in China. He payed $500 for it new. If you can get this model anywhere, buy it. It's wonderful.download (1).jpg
AND this is the newer Chinese style:images (1).jpg
 
Last edited:

Twerkle

Well-Known Member
Would a single site RDWC be worth the time? I like the idea of being able to maintain the system from outside the tent and scrog area. I also like the idea of being able to take a weekend away without much worry. The biggest issue that I see would be heat from the pump becoming a problem. What size water pumps are being used and what are the heights of the drain and feed holes? Ever have problems with roots plugging the drain holes?
Just add airstone to grow bucket and rez and then set the pump on a timer, like 1min on /15min. would generate very little heat and allow you to controll ppm/ph from outside the scrog area.
 

tyler.durden

Well-Known Member
I started growing with rdwc, it was fun and productive but too much to do for a lazy stoner like me. I do F&D in pots now a la Al B. Fuct, so much less maintenance and less to go wrong. Doesn't get much easier than F&D. These guys know what they're doing, so they can make anything work. If you're new to hydro you may want to start with flood and drain. Another thing about pots is that I can move them around the lights to even out growth, and for ease of mobility, like when you eventually get pests. Pots are simple to take out of the grow room to spray them down. If you grow in an absorbent media, they'll hold enough nute solution for 3-4 days if all your power goes out. Just my 2 cents, good luck...
 

Yesdog

Well-Known Member
How are spider mites in RDWC versus soil? I hate f***king spider mites and I am getting to hate soil. Thanks "homies." :-|
Can definitely still get mites. Can still hide in hydroton too, so probably similar to soil growing...

As far as chillers, the IceProbe works pretty good for 10g or less. Installed mine recently and it works great.
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
This system solves the chiller issues by essentially heavy bubbling and splashing the water back into the reservoir.
http://growershouse.com/powerflow-dwc-hydroponic-system-10-bucket
As the water drops - the air supposedly cools it. I wonder if airwalker's system could be modified for this "air" cooling?
I like my chiller. Although, I have been thinking lately of maybe doing an aeroponic/flood drain 4x4 tray with a light proof lid and 6" holes for net pots. Roots would just grow into an open environment being sprayed constantly but also flood it 2-3 times a day for 15 mins or so.
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Can definitely still get mites. Can still hide in hydroton too, so probably similar to soil growing...

As far as chillers, the IceProbe works pretty good for 10g or less. Installed mine recently and it works great.
I almost did ice probes but figured that for the cost of 2 of them, I could just get s chiller which can do so much more for me in future runs.
 

Yesdog

Well-Known Member
Yea the iceprobs are way expensive for what they are. The only 'difficult' thing about them is that aluminum probe. Other than that its like $15 worth of parts you can get on amazon =\
 
Top