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

diggs99 said:

awesome, thanks
where did you buy your bulkheads?

so are we still using 2"abs as return lines still? or are you suggesting upping it to 3"?

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I said 3" return line. Black ABS. Bulkheads vary. Amazon is decent, but activeaqua has the best prices on cheaper black ABS. Buy Threaded X Threaded and use 3" Male adapters on the ends of all your return line piping that connects between an all the totes and res. That way it's easy to take apart and clean after each use. The black oil filter wrench from harbor freight make tightening and untightening very simple. Then there's another website you can buy extra rubber gaskets to use on the bulkheads. Somehow I got the 2 I had to work and have never ever leaked but I remember it sucked to finally do it, cause the gasket kept squishing with tightening it. It needed to be thicker. I think wetting it during install would be smart. Silicone or sealant SHOULD NOT BE NEEDED If its done right.

This is what I found so far on amazon.ca for threaded bulkheads

I think I'm gonna use the 13g totes for the plants, I have another 40g tote, will that be big enough for res?

diggs99 said:

This is what I found so far on amazon.ca for threaded bulkheads

I think I'm gonna use the 13g totes for the plants, I have another 40g tote, will that be big enough for res?

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I'd grab them quick if they're 3" cause I can't find Shit for 3" cheaper abs bulkheads online. Plenty of 2", but that's it.
Here's a link for replacement gaskets for current culture ones but they take a 3 7/8" hole so as long as the one your looking at requires the same size it'll fit great.
I guess your Canadian though but here it is anyways.

These aren't terribly expensive, but seriously Bad Ass, best ones for the price and comes with that gasket I posted already.

The picture you posted says 2". You could probably get away with 2" if you only use 13gallon totes. The walls have to be parallel to each other.l and perpendicular from the floor. Straight up and down basically to use bulkheads. Keep that in mind. Otherwise you gotta use Uniseals.

Airwalker16 said:

I'd grab them quick if they're 3" cause I can't find Shit for 3" cheaper abs bulkheads online. Plenty of 2", but that's it.
Here's a link for replacement gaskets for current culture ones but they take a 3 7/8" hole so as long as the one your looking at requires the same size it'll fit great.
I guess your Canadian though but here it is anyways.

Current Culture Replacement flat gasket for the 3" bulkhead body

Buy the Current Culture Replacement flat gasket for the 3" bulkhead body at Hydrobuilder.com. Shop the entire line of Current Culture products along with thousands of hydroponics supplies on sale now.

hydrobuilder.com

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Nah they were 2" unfortunately, can't find 3" on there

Airwalker16 said:

These aren't terribly expensive, but seriously Bad Ass, best ones for the price and comes with that gasket I posted already.

Current Culture UC Spin Tight Bulkheads

Buy the Current Culture UC Spin Tight Bulkheads at Hydrobuilder.com. Shop the entire line of Current Culture products along with thousands of hydroponics supplies on sale now.

hydrobuilder.com

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Oh nice, I'll order some of those. Tha ks

I seen earlier you mentioned you decreased the size of your pump from 1600gph to 600? I think? Is that size pump still optimal in your opinion? Or would you prefer a different size?

I have 2x 400gph pumps already, one I use in my cloner and the other for my res for hand watering with hose. Wondering which size I would need for 4 sites + res

Here's my secret website for super cheap 2" gaskets. If you have trouble getting it to seal.
There are more on that website as well.

diggs99 said:

Nah they were 2" unfortunately, can't find 3" on there



Oh nice, I'll order some of those. Tha ks

I seen earlier you mentioned you decreased the size of your pump from 1600gph to 600? I think? Is that size pump still optimal in your opinion? Or would you prefer a different size?

I have 2x 400gph pumps already, one I use in my cloner and the other for my res for hand watering with hose. Wondering which size I would need for 4 sites + res

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A 400, would be plenty for only 4 sites on 3/4" to 1/2" fittings.

Airwalker16 said:

The picture you posted says 2". You could probably get away with 2" if you only use 13gallon totes. The walls have to be parallel to each other.l and perpendicular from the floor. Straight up and down basically to use bulkheads. Keep that in mind. Otherwise you gotta use Uniseals.

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Ya I'm looking for square/ rectangle totes or buckets as we speak. Those buckets you linked from amazon.com can't be found on .ca and it said it wouldn't ship to Canada.

diggs99 said:

Nah they were 2" unfortunately, can't find 3" on there



Oh nice, I'll order some of those. Tha ks

I seen earlier you mentioned you decreased the size of your pump from 1600gph to 600? I think? Is that size pump still optimal in your opinion? Or would you prefer a different size?

I have 2x 400gph pumps already, one I use in my cloner and the other for my res for hand watering with hose. Wondering which size I would need for 4 sites + res

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Or. Yah, just buy the 3" if you want. But 2" will probably do in 13 gallon totes.

diggs99 said:

Ya I'm looking for square/ rectangle totes or buckets as we speak. Those buckets you linked from amazon.com can't be found on .ca and it said it wouldn't ship to Canada.

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You can always buy 4gallon square buckets. See if you can get the 12gal HDX totes up there.

Airwalker16 said:

A 400, would be plenty for only 4 sites on 3/4" to 1/2" fittings.

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Oh ok perfect, I already have 2 pumps at my
Disposal.

By all means, any info or advice you wanna toss my way, im all ears. You guys have built them already and got the kinks worked
Out. I'm not out here trying to reinvent the wheel lol. I like what you done

diggs99 said:

Nah they were 2" unfortunately, can't find 3" on there



Oh nice, I'll order some of those. Tha ks

I seen earlier you mentioned you decreased the size of your pump from 1600gph to 600? I think? Is that size pump still optimal in your opinion? Or would you prefer a different size?

I have 2x 400gph pumps already, one I use in my cloner and the other for my res for hand watering with hose. Wondering which size I would need for 4 sites + res

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I'm noticing now this bulkhead doesn't ha e threads though so you wouldn't be able to take it apart, ever again. Glue it forever.
I'd just make sure you don't go above 13gal totes and use 2".

Airwalker16 said:

I'm noticing now this bulkhead doesn't ha e threads though so you wouldn't be able to take it apart, ever again. Glue it forever.
I'd just make sure you don't go above 13gal totes and use 2".

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Ya I'd be better off with 2" threaded rather than 3" glued forever for sure, and if you say it's fine, I'll just use the 2" and order them right now on amazon.

If I can't find good totes I'll just use the square buckets if I can find them anywhere. I assume Walmart or Canadian tire will have something tho.

diggs99 said:

Ya I'd be better off with 2" threaded rather than 3" glued forever for sure, and if you say it's fine, I'll just use the 2" and order them right now on amazon.

If I can't find good totes I'll just use the square buckets if I can find them anywhere. I assume Walmart or Canadian tire will have something tho.

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Yah,I'd look online more there's plenty of stuff on there. But hardware stores like our home depot are also probably your best bet.

Here's the end you want to glue on the ends of all 2" return piping to thread on and off the bulkheads. Use Teflon tape everytime you're putting it together. Plenty of it. And remove old tape before you replace it when putting things back together.

@diggs99 I went with 3inch bulkheads on my 6 site system but I also built a smaller 2 site version for mother plants and I went with 2inch bulkheads. Both working the same no issues with water returning on the 2 site.

Axion42 said:

@diggs99 I went with 3inch bulkheads on my 6 site system but I also built a smaller 2 site version for mother plants and I went with 2inch bulkheads. Both working the same no issues with water returning on the 2 site.

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Thanks , the 2" are much easier to find and seem a bunch cheaper, AW said for 4 sites the 2" should be fine, so thats probably what ill do.

I have been looking around on hydrobuilder tho, they got some cool shit, might just spend a few bucks and take the easy route haha

Love your build tho bud, i just used the pic when showing another grower what i want to build. Very clean job.

Thanks I really like it too, getting super charged growth rates. Day 14 since flip on my 2nd run with it.

Axion42 said:

Thanks I really like it too, getting super charged growth rates. Day 14 since flip on my 2nd run with it.

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Nice
You got a journal or any recent pics posted anywhere?