Flushing out RDWC System?

I haven't seen a lot on here about flushing out RDWC systems. I know most systems are similar in that there's always a few inches of water left in the system once it's pumped out to the bottom of the bulkheads or whatever. Is this enough to refill with fresh water and new nutrients? Or should it be filled again with fresh water and diluted, then flushed out again to carry more of the old stuff out?

The problem is I have a Hydro Logic RO system running on a 1/4in line and it takes like 3 effin hours to fill up my 23 gallon system! Is it ok to run tap water through just for flushing purposes? Or will this negatively effect my plants/rootzone?

In my future build, I will have the system elevated off the floor with a drain valve installed on the bottom so I can get every last bit of water out. Anyone seen this before or use something similar for a more complete drain of their system?

GeneralGrower said:

I haven't seen a lot on here about flushing out RDWC systems. I know most systems are similar in that there's always a few inches of water left in the system once it's pumped out to the bottom of the bulkheads or whatever. Is this enough to refill with fresh water and new nutrients? Or should it be filled again with fresh water and diluted, then flushed out again to carry more of the old stuff out?

The problem is I have a Hydro Logic RO system running on a 1/4in line and it takes like 3 effin hours to fill up my 23 gallon system! Is it ok to run tap water through just for flushing purposes? Or will this negatively effect my plants/rootzone?

In my future build, I will have the system elevated off the floor with a drain valve installed on the bottom so I can get every last bit of water out. Anyone seen this before or use something similar for a more complete drain of their system?

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yeah, when i built mine, i had a last minute "duh" moment and decided to elevate it so i could install a drain.

get a cheap shop vac at walmart and vacuum out all the old nutes. less things to possibly go wrong if your nutes get out of balance

rkymtnman said:

yeah, when i built mine, i had a last minute "duh" moment and decided to elevate it so i could install a drain.

get a cheap shop vac at walmart and vacuum out all the old nutes. less things to possibly go wrong if your nutes get out of balance

Click to expand...

I've been using a shop vac, but I can't lift the lids anymore on my containers because the plants are under a trellis net now. I can only get to the control rez. Not much I can do. Just running H202 and doing the best I can.

GeneralGrower said:

I've been using a shop vac, but I can't lift the lids anymore on my containers because the plants are under a trellis net now. I can only get to the control rez. Not much I can do. Just running H202 and doing the best I can.

Click to expand...

I've always ran into this problem as well. But to be honest, I just never changed nutes the entire run. I just kept adding nuted water as they drank it. No problems.

I've: elevated a single res about two feet with a drain near the bottom, used a shop vac to fully empty buckets on the ground, and I've used a cheap pond pump lowered in with a 1/4" hose feeding to a water hose. All a pita.
Also as long as your tap water isn't ridiculously bad it'll be fine using it to flush.

buy the bucket head shop vac from HD it cost 25 bucks and attach the hose to the straight connectors that attach your hoses to your buckets you will never be able to get all the water out if you can't tilt the buckets but this will get most of the water out and like Airwalker said just keep refilling it up as it not going to make that much if a difference with adding new water just my opinion

Thanks everyone, gonna see how this run goes then I may build an elevated setup with a bulkhead in the bottom of the container attached to a pump going out so I can get a complete drain. Until then I'll just be draining the rez every 2 weeks and filling up fresh RO & light nutes. My tap is 0.22 EC and around 7ph, not too bad, maybe I'll fill up with tap as I'm flushing and get more of a thorough cleanse.

GeneralGrower said:

Thanks everyone, gonna see how this run goes then I may build an elevated setup with a bulkhead in the bottom of the container attached to a pump going out so I can get a complete drain. Until then I'll just be draining the rez every 2 weeks and filling up fresh RO & light nutes. My tap is 0.22 EC and around 7ph, not too bad, maybe I'll fill up with tap as I'm flushing and get more of a thorough cleanse.

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I suggest ro always. I've had slime issues using tap. Mines 125PPm.

Any thoughts on what's causing these very light tan deposits on a few leaves?

looks like a bit of tip burn from too strong nutes.

take a pic under normal light would help see it better.

I have been running DWC for a few years now and have never had any problems with the left over water in the systems from the week before. I also us a shop vac and just get as much as I can out but like I said it has never been an issue. But as far as your RO taking so long to fill up your system why dont you get a fresh water resi so you always have RO ready whenever you need it.