Recirculating DWC Setup

Im redoing my hydro setup from DWC to Recirculating DWC so ill have a res only to really check instead of 4 diff buckets and screwing with my roots. I have been looking at 2 diff setup ups. there are 1 inch drain tubes going from one bucket to bucket. 1 of 2 ideas was to feed water from the top kind of like top feed, but just feed through the top side through a hole with grommets letting gravity do it job and push the water down and through the tubes to the res. I have a pump that does inline, so my 2nd thought was doing like the picture posted below.

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I would like to know witch one would be more productive.

I am planning to do the exact same thing, convert my DWC buckets to recirculating while still using my buckets! I am also planning to top feed from a manifold, and was making the same decision about draining: gravity vs inline pump. I am interested in seeing what you come up with.

I ended up doing just like how the picture is. But I used 1" vinyl tubing for the drain, bad idea because its not straight due to when its packed they wrap it in circles. Im already planing on making a new system with 2" PVC. Im using a 1000GPH pump for the recirculating, and 240GPH pump for top feed. It seems to be working good, but USE 2" PVC pipe for the draining or you will be pissed at yourself in the end. This is the site to get cheap grommets - http://cableorganizer.com/grommet/rpd-grommets.htm , and this is the site for the tee - http://www.amazon.com/Genova-31496-Pvc-Red-Tee/dp/B000BQKXR8 . I think this is going to be a good system, must be for the fucking price! I have been looking for 8 Gal square buckets because it would be so easy to make a vice to drill a hole dead center of the bucket on both sides. The total cost for everything would be about 300 - 400, and a little time devoted into making it nice. They are making bank on something so easy and simple. The only thing that has me is the picture shows the PVC going into the tubes cut at an angle, did you catch that or can someone clear this up for all of us DIY guys about the angle and if their even is one?

I cut my pipe to be straight as I just assumed instead of looking
at their documentation. I think the angle could help with getting
it in with those uniseals being so tight, but I haven't seen anything
bad come from a straight cut though. Everything is going very well
for my DIY.

I had them in their own buckets a couple weeks ago, and would just lift up the buckets and add whatever, destroying roots as well in the process. Now I deal with one res for my 4 plants and they have grow double the size. I thought my plants would be small, but veg for 1 month and 2 weeks, what a mistake! This is my first grow ever and was told my one plant would produce almost a half a pound. It is taller then me and takes up almost 3 foot round. It's crazy how this shit grows, and see buds EVERYWHERE!