I GOTTA LOSE THE AIR PUMPS! HOW?! Plus my awesome mini DWC :)
- Thread starter Airwalker16
- Start date
Spent 20 years growing aquatic plants... The first thing you learn about and always considered most important is the nitrogen cycle and how it works. Next is nutrients. Those little bacteria are freaking amazing. Like i said i feel the bacteria is the reason high temps can be done without issue but they are also sensitive so I run a chiller to be safe. No doubt water temps of 75-77 will provide optimal growth but also come with a bigger risk. The bigger and more established the system the safer you are.
I only do partial water changes. I may even end up doing s sump system in the future bu
The_Dude
Well-Known Member
I purchased a 70w chinese knock off chiller for a 5 gallon bucket, there are several variations of he same brand. This is only for a 5 gallon bucket I am using in veg. The rest of my potential moms are in soil, I am running a strain from Snow High which I can't get enough of, called Thors Hammer(Acapulco Gold x C99) x Vortex. I want to eventually put her in a 20gallon DWC pot. She has survived all week with outside temps in the 90-100 range. I've had to defoliate twice, because she makes so much plant matter. Temps have been getting up to 85 in the room, and I have no root rot, using Azo bacteria & hydroguard. That chillers not going to get here until Friday, but hell if I can keep this plant going like I have in these temps, I should be ok.
The_Dude
Well-Known Member
I also added another air stone close to the top layer of water, to break up that top surface like ttystikk was talking about the top layer. I have a larger chiller in the flower room. One interesting note I'd like to say, my aero cloner doesn't have any problems cloning with higher temps either, running Azo and Hydroguard in it also. Just some observances I've made. Hopefully everything stays positive.
linky
Well-Known Member
I run no air pumps or stones in any of my rdwc setups, the bubbles coming out of the air stones do not add air to your water at all, its the bursting/turbulence of the bubbles breaking the surface that adds DO to your water. The most DO you can get into your water is around 8.5 mg/l (depending on your elevation/water temp) when using air stones or water falls or whatever method you are using to get more air in that is not adding/injecting pure oxygen. There have been studies done with various plants on the effect of more or less DO in the water when growing in hydroponics. Some plants can do just fine at 2 mg/l in the water where others that had 12 mg/l over 8 mg/l of DO were double in size. Not sure how well cannabis does with more but I purchased the o2 grow oxygen emitter (2 40 gal. kits) to do some testing in one of my rdwc setups and compare the 7.5-8 mg/l (running all systems at 68 F) which is what my current systems DO are sitting at as is and the 12-13 mg/l which can be achieved with the o2 grow. I guess water temp may affect that some also, have to experiment with it.
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The_Dude
Well-Known Member
I really like your setup. What size chiller is that?
linky
Well-Known Member
Thanks, using 1/4hp chillers.
hey guys, amazing info in this thread.
got some input that might be of use as i am considering doing it to my setup.
will using a faucet increase DO, using it in my tap makes water really cloudy so i suspect it might do something right?
id like to also ask if dropping the waterfall at a 45 angle would increase DO since it will increase area of contact with the waterline which should increase agitation
got some input that might be of use as i am considering doing it to my setup.
will using a faucet increase DO, using it in my tap makes water really cloudy so i suspect it might do something right?
id like to also ask if dropping the waterfall at a 45 angle would increase DO since it will increase area of contact with the waterline which should increase agitation
Yes it will absolutely increase aeration and anything that increases surface agitation will increase gas exchange
linky
Well-Known Member
In case anyone was wondering the o2 grow emitters were a no go, bought 2 40 gal ones (over 700 dollars) and put them in my ~80 gallon rdwc system and after 5 hours of running the DO went from 7.9 to 8.1 only, so it did add oxygen but not nearly a fast enough rate. If you run them 4 hours a day they need to be replaced every year or so.. so considering after 5 hours it had barely raised the DO that means they would have to run all the time and need replacing every 2 months. Maybe a larger one would work better but I am not willing to spend a thousand or more dollars on one to find out.
DrKiz
Well-Known Member
Great thread!
Looks like I’ll be building a RDWC for next run.
What would you guys suggest for a 9x5?
I want to start using only half. So I guess really a 4.5 x5.
I’ll build another system later for the other half once I iron out the kinks for the first. Think this may be better as I can run two strains and tailor feed ppm to each strain.
Gotta question. I was think 4-6 pots per side. So 8-12 plants for a 9x5 eventually.
So 4 or 6 pots per side? I was thinking of maybe using 4 big containers with 2-3 net pot holes each so I could run different plant counts/sizes depending on what I want to do that run.
Thoughts?
Looks like I’ll be building a RDWC for next run.
What would you guys suggest for a 9x5?
I want to start using only half. So I guess really a 4.5 x5.
I’ll build another system later for the other half once I iron out the kinks for the first. Think this may be better as I can run two strains and tailor feed ppm to each strain.
Gotta question. I was think 4-6 pots per side. So 8-12 plants for a 9x5 eventually.
So 4 or 6 pots per side? I was thinking of maybe using 4 big containers with 2-3 net pot holes each so I could run different plant counts/sizes depending on what I want to do that run.
Thoughts?
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
You're gonna wanna use square black 4 gal buckets. The res needs to be a tote the same height as the buckets but wider for more volume. Not much, but say 10-12 gal. Also, I've never ever had one single strain in a Rdwc setup. Its always been different kinds. The beauty of this setup is that the plants will take what they need while the roots are submerged. You never need to go even go much higher than 800-1000PPMs in peak flower. It works out really well. Also, build the manifold going to each bucket from the res(which should be kept outside the tent, along with the chiller) to use the waterfalls I go over earlier in this thread.
Air stones are old tech and should be left out of the setup. You really only need a single waterfall from a 1/2" line connected off each bucket to a 3/4" manifold. That way you get evenly distributed pressure out of each one. There's pics I'm sure you saw but it's as easy as using a 1/2" elbow for the bucket and a grommet to stick it through from the INSIDE of the bucket right near the top. Black vinyl tubing is your friend for this part but PVC is where you wanna be on the 3/4" manifold part.
You can also get 2gal buckets and make a miniature setup in a smaller say 4X4 tent to veg in so you're ready to put more in as soon as you pull the larger tent flowers out at harvest. I recommend a 3rd tent to dry in so you can simply stick a piece of 4" vent hose in one hole of the tent, cinch it tight and then do the same for the other end of the venting hose in your main tent.
Vuah-Lah. Perfect drying area, dark and easy to take down when you're done.
That way you're not wasting 5-13 days drying in your main tent when you should be putting those plants from the veg area in there as soon as they come out and accumulating the new ones to the stronger light for a few days, training them under a screen, and ultimately flipping them to 12/12 about 4-10 days after they've gone in.
Air stones are old tech and should be left out of the setup. You really only need a single waterfall from a 1/2" line connected off each bucket to a 3/4" manifold. That way you get evenly distributed pressure out of each one. There's pics I'm sure you saw but it's as easy as using a 1/2" elbow for the bucket and a grommet to stick it through from the INSIDE of the bucket right near the top. Black vinyl tubing is your friend for this part but PVC is where you wanna be on the 3/4" manifold part.
You can also get 2gal buckets and make a miniature setup in a smaller say 4X4 tent to veg in so you're ready to put more in as soon as you pull the larger tent flowers out at harvest. I recommend a 3rd tent to dry in so you can simply stick a piece of 4" vent hose in one hole of the tent, cinch it tight and then do the same for the other end of the venting hose in your main tent.
Vuah-Lah. Perfect drying area, dark and easy to take down when you're done.
That way you're not wasting 5-13 days drying in your main tent when you should be putting those plants from the veg area in there as soon as they come out and accumulating the new ones to the stronger light for a few days, training them under a screen, and ultimately flipping them to 12/12 about 4-10 days after they've gone in.
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DrKiz
Well-Known Member
Damn homie!
Thanks for the response. I’m going/already doing exactly what you’re saying!
Got the second veg tent, and I love the drying tent idea! I was thinking of heating part of the house from my grows already, the drying idea is slick!
I do like a slow dry and cure though.
I’m basically going to copy the system and do as you said. Although I may go 13 gallon buckets in the tent and a large res. I want ease of maintenance and the ability to walk for days.
I understand more water volume means more stable ph and a longe time between tops offs. Correct me if I’m wrong.
I’ve got a couple 6 month old plants I brought in from inside. They’re eating 900 ppm every water. Going to bump up next. Just put em on 12/12.
I’m ditching the air stones too. I hate them. Always knew they were a weak link.
Thanks for your time to you and all. These rdwc waterfall threads rule. I picture the whole system running in my mind. That’s when you know it’s time to build the fucker.
And I think four totes per half of the 9x5 is what I’m going to do from further reading and plotting.
And your experience with running multiple strains on the same system is very inspiring. It makes sense too. Widens my plans for runs. Of course they’ll eat as they please.
Thanks for the response. I’m going/already doing exactly what you’re saying!
Got the second veg tent, and I love the drying tent idea! I was thinking of heating part of the house from my grows already, the drying idea is slick!
I do like a slow dry and cure though.
I’m basically going to copy the system and do as you said. Although I may go 13 gallon buckets in the tent and a large res. I want ease of maintenance and the ability to walk for days.
I understand more water volume means more stable ph and a longe time between tops offs. Correct me if I’m wrong.
I’ve got a couple 6 month old plants I brought in from inside. They’re eating 900 ppm every water. Going to bump up next. Just put em on 12/12.
I’m ditching the air stones too. I hate them. Always knew they were a weak link.
Thanks for your time to you and all. These rdwc waterfall threads rule. I picture the whole system running in my mind. That’s when you know it’s time to build the fucker.
And I think four totes per half of the 9x5 is what I’m going to do from further reading and plotting.
And your experience with running multiple strains on the same system is very inspiring. It makes sense too. Widens my plans for runs. Of course they’ll eat as they please.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
No problem. I'm here to help. I guess you can go with bigger totes I'd you'd like, but I say 4gals, because youyour roots really don't need a lot of water to sit in.
You're correct on the volume keeling things stable.
But you could still use 4gals for each site and just use a 20-30gal Res.
Make DAMN SURE you use 2" Black ABs to connect everything. The pump in the res will drain what's in there to supply the waterfalls, faster than the piping can bring it back otherwise. There's also a really sweet new bucket on Amazon worth looking Into that are 5.3 gals.
https://www.amazon.com/Gallon-Black-Rectangular-Bucket-Hinged/dp/B074NCN7WZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?keywords=5+gal+black+bucket&qid=1568340684&s=gateway&sr=8-13
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Also, don't skimp on a chiller. A nice 1/10-1/4HP is all you'll need. But use one.
The pump is your place to choose what you'd like. Submersible inside the water, or in line, plumbed outside and in front of the reservoir tote via a small 3/4-1" bulkhead.
Chiller will probably work less if you keep the pump outside the water.
The pump is your place to choose what you'd like. Submersible inside the water, or in line, plumbed outside and in front of the reservoir tote via a small 3/4-1" bulkhead.
Chiller will probably work less if you keep the pump outside the water.