A RDWC question

J232 · Apr 28, 2020

Hey guys, I been poking around here years and can’t thank everyone enough for the vast collection of knowledge over the years. I’m currently playing with my first hydro setup. It’s a 75 gallon 5 tote 8 spot RDWC setup, eco plus chiller, grow boss nutrient monitor (always on), 2x32w air pumps, 5 nano bubblers 5 traditional. 1000w de setup. My question is regarding water in a situation where my control tub has a float valve fed off my de chlorinating filters keeping my water level consistent. My ppm is usually consistent as well will little variation. I guess the question is, with a constant top up and my ph and ppm sitting at 5.8 and 600 .5 for 4-5 days now, is this a normal thing, the ppm sways a little bit the high low is 60 apart. I do understand how to read fluctuations but I can’t find my particular scenario. The plants are only about 25 days old and have been topped. They are showing decent growth as well and look happy, the root mass looks good as well. I don’t think it’s a issue personally but I had a very early calcium issue that I caught and corrected (thought my water had more ca being 250ppm). Is this steady ppm just the hard water constantly topping up and the plants are using nutrients or am I missing a problem in the making? Is the only way to ensure all the nutes needed are there is to do water change outs? I have to assume some nutes build up or go missing and mess with a true usable ec reading. The 75 gallons of water is about a month old now but is slime free and clear, I’m thinking of doing a 2/3 change out soon. Thanks guys, sorry if it’s rambling, I just can’t find the clarification I need.

Airwalker16 · Apr 28, 2020

J232 said:
Hey guys, I been poking around here years and can’t thank everyone enough for the vast collection of knowledge over the years. I’m currently playing with my first hydro setup. It’s a 75 gallon 5 tote 8 spot RDWC setup, eco plus chiller, grow boss nutrient monitor (always on), 2x32w air pumps, 5 nano bubblers 5 traditional. 1000w de setup. My question is regarding water in a situation where my control tub has a float valve fed off my de chlorinating filters keeping my water level consistent. My ppm is usually consistent as well will little variation. I guess the question is, with a constant top up and my ph and ppm sitting at 5.8 and 600 .5 for 4-5 days now, is this a normal thing, the ppm sways a little bit the high low is 60 apart. I do understand how to read fluctuations but I can’t find my particular scenario. The plants are only about 25 days old and have been topped. They are showing decent growth as well and look happy, the root mass looks good as well. I don’t think it’s a issue personally but I had a very early calcium issue that I caught and corrected (thought my water had more ca being 250ppm). Is this steady ppm just the hard water constantly topping up and the plants are using nutrients or am I missing a problem in the making? Is the only way to ensure all the nutes needed are there is to do water change outs? I have to assume some nutes build up or go missing and mess with a true usable ec reading. The 75 gallons of water is about a month old now but is slime free and clear, I’m thinking of doing a 2/3 change out soon. Thanks guys, sorry if it’s rambling, I just can’t find the clarification I need.

You'd have a more stable water situation if you had it moving constantly with waterfalls and got rid of the air pumps/stones/lines

J232 · Apr 28, 2020

Airwalker16 said:
You'd have a more stable water situation if you had it moving constantly with waterfalls and got rid of the air pumps/stones/lines

There’s a waterfall in the main res, I’m using a 1800gph pump with 1” draw and 2” connections to the other 4 tubs, I dose the main res and my probes are in 2 separate containers, usually within a few mins my readings stabilize again. Anyways, no biggie, I can’t see how removing my main oxygen source would help, tubs are turbulent with no air indicating the R is working well. Plants look happy so far, I could re pipe and add a 3/4 pipe to each tote to blast water down, I would leave the air in place too. Actually sounds pretty cool but I don’t think I would do that till next round.

Airwalker16 · Apr 28, 2020

J232 said:
There’s a waterfall in the main res, I’m using a 1800gph pump with 1” draw and 2” connections to the other 4 tubs, I dose the main res and my probes are in 2 separate containers, usually within a few mins my readings stabilize again. Anyways, no biggie, I can’t see how removing my main oxygen source would help, tubs are turbulent with no air indicating the R is working well. Plants look happy so far, I could re pipe and add a 3/4 pipe to each tote to blast water down, I would leave the air in place too. Actually sounds pretty cool but I don’t think I would do that till next round.

If you build a manifold from your res for waterfalls in each tote, you don't need air pumps anymore. You'd get rid of the reducing tee your pumps connected to right now and just connect those pipes with a coupling, or get new totes and don't even have that plumbing in the back at all.

Airwalker16 · Apr 28, 2020

I GOTTA LOSE THE AIR PUMPS! HOW?! Plus my awesome mini DWC :)

That thing is way overpriced. The whole thing sits on a very simple method of splitting the water to oxygen and hydrogen. In big system I’d be worried about the hydrogen gas... I was looking around and saw 2 more very interesting thing. First one called Carmin. I don’t really get how it...

www.rollitup.org

I GOTTA LOSE THE AIR PUMPS! HOW?! Plus my awesome mini DWC :)

That's cool man. Pretty low-key. I think you'll be surprised at the pressure of mine. i can't remember now, but its some where around 5-600 gph

www.rollitup.org

J232 · Apr 28, 2020

Airwalker16 said:
If you build a manifold from your res for waterfalls in each tote, you don't need air pumps anymore. You'd get rid of the reducing tee your pumps connected to right now and just connect those pipes with a coupling, or get new totes and don't even have that plumbing in the back at all.

Very interesting man, I’m going to check it out, like I said I’m new to hydro but been playing in the dirt since the 90s. When you said waterfall I literally thought you meant like a cheap aquarium looking thing haha. Is there a brand/model that is a favourite across the community? And here I thought I had it pimped out, totally would of skipped the air, shit I just doubled my air too.

J232 · Apr 28, 2020

Ok I have some reading to do now on that waterfall subject, not sure if I could pull it off until this run is done but if it’s better then consider that done lol.

rkymtnman · Apr 28, 2020

J232 said:
Very interesting man, I’m going to check it out, like I said I’m new to hydro but been playing in the dirt since the 90s. When you said waterfall I literally thought you meant like a cheap aquarium looking thing haha. Is there a brand/model that is a favourite across the community? And here I thought I had it pimped out, totally would of skipped the air, shit I just doubled my air too.

there is a reason ponds and pools and fountains use a waterfall. it looks cool but it provides way more dissolved oxygen than airstone.

J232 · Apr 28, 2020

Yeah I never even thought of it, a quick search showed tons of info, how tf did I miss it during my planning, no clue. So basically do this to all my tubs.. this is the main res.

rkymtnman · Apr 28, 2020

J232 said:
Yeah I never even thought of it, a quick search showed tons of info, how tf did I miss it during my planning, no clue. So basically do this to all my tubs.. this is the main res. View attachment 4548838

yes! if you want to increase your DO even more put a PVC cap on the end of that. drill about 10 1/8 holes in the end of the cap. it will peel your skin off.

J232 · Apr 28, 2020

rkymtnman said:
yes! if you want to increase your DO even more put a PVC cap on the end of that. drill about 10 1/8 holes in the end of the cap. it will peel your skin off.

I get what your saying, the tubs are pretty deep, is there a concern with oxygenated water all the way threw or is that where the recirculated part kicks in. Alrighy, so add a spray bar to each tub like I’m washing gravel looking for gold! I’m guessing the more surface disturbance and area the better.

rkymtnman · Apr 28, 2020

J232 said:
I’m guessing the more surface disturbance and area the better.

yep.

rkymtnman · Apr 28, 2020

J232 said:
so add a spray bar to each tub like I’m washing gravel looking for gold!

how much does an OZ of gold cost? how much does a LB of weed cost? about the same. lol.

J232 · Apr 28, 2020

Haha yeah man, I have a oz of gold but pretty harsh to smoke. I took a few years off of this and this is my come back. I’m only 25 days in and already thinking of starting over. I have clones of my currents and the grows happy. If I can improve now I rather now then next time. Hmm..

rkymtnman · Apr 28, 2020

J232 said:
Haha yeah man, I have a oz of gold but pretty harsh to smoke. I took a few years off of this and this is my come back. I’m only 25 days in and already thinking of starting over. I have clones of my currents and the grows happy. If I can improve now I rather now then next time. Hmm..

i have always tried to fix things until they just fall over dead. experience counts.

J232 · Apr 28, 2020

rkymtnman said:
i have always tried to fix things until they just fall over dead. experience counts.

I hear that, I also have a 1/4hp chiller I just installed. I would prob just chill the main res still. My temp probe is 2 tubs away and it’s usually 64-66.

GBAUTO · Apr 28, 2020

My 40 gal UC setup typically uses about 5 gals of water/day.
I'm running Jacks 3-2-1 and I've found that just replenishing with water keeps it happy.
It seemed kinda weird at first but the girls are quite happy.
I dump the system every 10 days.
Nice setup

fragileassassin · Apr 28, 2020

Half inch PVC caps with 5 holes drilled in a + pattern.
1400GPH pump feeds all 12.

fragileassassin · Apr 28, 2020

Youll be good for that long period during veg, but things will change in flower.
I usually only do one change in the middle of my veg and just do full strength top of. Its good for a month or more.
During flower, 2 weeks is really pushing it unless youve really dialed in what that strain wants.
I usually get about 10 days before things start drifting.

J232 · Apr 28, 2020

GBAUTO said:
My 40 gal UC setup typically uses about 5 gals of water/day.
I'm running Jacks 3-2-1 and I've found that just replenishing with water keeps it happy.
It seemed kinda weird at first but the girls are quite happy.
I dump the system every 10 days.
Nice setup

Thanks man, I’m running the Lucas formula with gh, really want it to be a situation where it works well. After all this and having half my seeds give me so much grief, I’m thinking of canning half the setup and swapping in water falls a side at a time. This is backwards, I should of drawn from the res and put 4 water falls as the guys said. I just got some pre 98 bubba seeds I might just have to split. As far as water changes, the tubs are 25 gallons, I’m really close to the 70-75 gallon mark running, I will play it by week on the water but hoping 20ish days. I have 4 plants really happy and 4 that gave me problems right from trying to germinate which is new for me.

A RDWC question

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