Recirculation pump for Rez

I have 2 - 55gal rezs. They both are connected to an air pump with airstones. I was told airstones are bad for rez because they raise the pH and to go with a circulation pump instead. Any specific pump recommendations?

Anything will do. 200gph pumps available at Harbor Freight for $12. Slap it on a timer to run intermittently as running all the time will add heat.

ruwtz said:

Anything will do. 200gph pumps available at Harbor Freight for $12. Slap it on a timer to run intermittently as running all the time will add heat.

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What do u look for? "Circulation pump"?

ThaMagnificent said:

What do u look for? "Circulation pump"?

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Submersible pump.

if your just holding water then there nothing wrong with aerating the tanks .. pumps do add heat and heat in water holds less oxygen for roots. 65 to 70. deg. is ideal range imo.

420producer said:

if your just holding water then there nothing wrong with aerating the tanks .. pumps do add heat and heat in water holds less oxygen for roots. 65 to 70. deg. is ideal range imo.

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Right now I'm running air stones for 6 mins every 25 mins. I was told airstones raise pH and to run a circulation pump instead

Just add a small pump and run it once every few hours for 10-15 mins to get the nutrients moving around. You can run an airstones, what kind of system are you running? Air bubbles do rise the ph a bit, but it's temporary, if you stick a ph meter inside a bubbling bucket the ph will show alittle higher maybe .1-2, but if you put the same water in a cup and let it sit for a few mins it will drop to the right PH, but the difference isn't that much to make a difference on the plants.

I use a pond pump, inline. It pulls water into the barrels, recirculates them, and waters my plants all via a series of valves.

a senile fungus said:

I use a pond pump, inline. It pulls water into the barrels, recirculates them, and waters my plants all via a series of valves.

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Soil I'm guessing not hydro? Just use a small pump to run for 10-15 mins every few hours it's more then enough

Jerro said:

Soil I'm guessing not hydro? Just use a small pump to run for 10-15 mins every few hours it's more then enough

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Yes, peat. And this is exactly what I do. I just turn a few valves and set the pump to always on when I'm watering. Otherwise the pump is only on for 15min every few hours.

Or try one of these, they are for aquarium circulation and can be run continuously. You can get cheaper pumps but they have suction cup bases and don't stay where you want them so I opt for magnetic bases.

If anything running airstones will lower the pH as CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid but it takes a long time to make much difference. Run the air an hour before you water then you'll have as much O2 in the water as it will hold just before watering the plants. I do that with my RO water before watering and have for years. When I grow with DWC the airstones run 24/7 or root rot will set in.