Air pump (sizing) suggestion for rdwc

Hey everyone,

So I am just about done putting my own current culture inspired rdwc together. I am selecting the air pump and the water pump. I am doing a 6 site setup with epicenter.

Current culture told me they use the blue diamond et80 for the setup and a dana 350 mag drive water pump.

They do use an air flow regulator, but no where does it list the suggested settings, just that it comes with one. i intended to just let it run full strenght without the regulator since I cannot see any problems since the more air the better (It is an a co2 filled tent with the spydr2 led).

Does anyone have experience to chime in? I am leaning towards the et80, but not sure if its overkill and should i go with th et60 or even less strength. I currently use the general hydroponics dual diaphragm in a 4 site rdwc and it seems to do fine ( I would like stronger as it puts out 25 lpm) the ones I mention above put out lpm respectivly to their model numbers. ie et80 = 80lpm

Thanks for the advice folks!

No air pump. Use the waterfall effect. Air stones cause pH flux and the heat from the compressed air heats up the mix.

Thought about it but concerned it wouldn't bring enough air into the water. My problem is I am not educated on how much water actually has to be present in the water for optimum results and I cannot really seem to find that answer anywhere.

There is no definitive answer to that question. Honestly I think the concerns about oxygen levels are overrated. Are you going to run sterile or with bennies?

No airpumps are needed with waterfalls. Mine & others builds are here:

https://www.rollitup.org/t/i-gotta-lose-the-air-pumps-how-plus-my-awesome-mini-dwc.960807/page-3#post-14262160

Waterfall setups will produce more DO than airstone/airpump combos, and if you want to go that route than @rkymtnman is the guy to ask about that. But not everyone is able to do waterfalls, like myself (even though I do intend to later on). There isn't a set limit on max lpm's a gallon you should use for bubblebucket type setups, but as long as your roots aren't being bubbled so violently that it can tear roots, you're in the clear. I've used a 110lpm pump for 3 5 gallon standalone buckets. I did leave one unused valve on the manifold barely cracked just because my airpump was getting hot, but it was no where close to being too much air.

Thanks Ill be using the advanced line. I usually follow the expert suggestions with a few things I throw in like Pure Blend Tea which really did bring out terpenes I didn't notice as much before.

I do like the idea of the waterfall with less heat and less to buy in the long run as well.. Now I am thinking here

I heard there's no such thing as too much air. Your limit will be budget and noise factor. I just bought this thing, you can too or you can get something else - that's your call.

That "thing" is the loudest piece of shit ever and eventually you'll want to throw it through the window.

athomegrowing said:

I heard there's no such thing as too much air. Your limit will be budget and noise factor. I just bought this thing, you can too or you can get something else - that's your call.

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Best air pump I've found is the active aqua 110lpm pump. Generally, pumps that measure in GPH aren't very high output. Anyways, I was able to fix that god awful sound by buying a cheap end table, putting it inside my tent, putting the air pump ontop of it and drilling it down to the end table. Most of these pumps come with little holes on their rubber feet for this purpose, to be screwed down to something and reduce all that god awful racket. Mine still makes noise of course, but nothing that you can hear from any other room in my house.

Airwalker16 said:

That "thing" is the loudest piece of shit ever and eventually you'll want to throw it through the window.

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I have heard this as well about that pump.. but of noise isnt his factor then hopefully he will be g2g

I am now leaning towards the waterfall more so than ever

BigGreenHulk said:

I have heard this as well about that pump.. but of noise isnt his factor then hopefully he will be g2g

I am now leaning towards the waterfall more so than ever

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I wear my engineers hat when needed, if it's too loud i'll figure it out. I'm not prissy.

BigGreenHulk said:

I have heard this as well about that pump.. but of noise isnt his factor then hopefully he will be g2g

I am now leaning towards the waterfall more so than ever

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what size is your epicenter?

you could probably get by with just a small waterpump, some tubing and a sprayer nozzle for the waterfall part just in the epicenter. as long as you inline pump moves the water thru the 6 sites fast enough, that should be plenty of DO I would think.

athomegrowing said:

if it's too loud i'll figure it out

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if it's too loud, you're too old. lol.

Current setup is in the pic ..I use 8 gallon buckets.. but I have been reading and brainstorming for a bit of a change .. this 4 site will be moved to it's own 4x4 tent ..then I am building /designing a new 6 site to go in a 5x5 ... looking to move semi fast as these ladies are about 2 weeks away from harvest (pics are from january)

i'd make one suggestion: move your epicenter out of the tent. makes it so much easier to access, change/drain res, etc. don't have to worry about doing it while they are in the dark either. and keepst temps lower too

i personally would use a different and much bigger tote (27 gal maybe) for the epicenter. that will give you more water volume in the setup which means less res changes, more nute and pH stability etc.

I am totally moving that epicenter lol.. that's what started my redesign and upgrading.. thanks for confirming I'm making the right choice ... I always second doubt myself but glad you threw your .02 in.

But I was told and read epicenter should be of the same size as the buckets to have even water levels among them all.. I could put a larger epicenter in but once full, the pressure would cause the other buckets to over flow as the water level would not de able to be distributed evenly..then eventually the 27g epicenter would just be 8 gallons of water once it settled out.. but moving it outside will make a reservoir much easier

Also, cut the pipes shorter. You get a decent root ball in between those and it's game over.

BigGreenHulk said:

I am totally moving that epicenter lol.. that's what started my redesign and upgrading.. thanks for confirming I'm making the right choice ... I always second doubt myself but glad you threw your .02 in.

But I was told and read epicenter should be of the same size as the buckets to have even water levels among them all.. I could put a larger epicenter in but once full, the pressure would cause the other buckets to over flow as the water level would not de able to be distributed evenly..then eventually the 27g epicenter would just be 8 gallons of water once it settled out.. but moving it outside will make a reservoir much easier

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They need to be the sme HEIGHT. Not volume(width X length)

Airwalker16 said:

Also, cut the pipes shorter. You get a decent root ball in eternity those and it's game over.

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And the new setup has 3" urrent culture bulkheads