Need help with rdwc in grow tent

I have 2 4x4 tents that will be used for flowering and im having a hard time designing a rdwc system for the tents. I'm thinking either 4 or 6 3-5 gallon buckets per tent. But I can't figure out how to plum the buckets together. There's only certain holes in the tent in certain spots and I can't seem to plum things right. I tried to plum through the holes given and cannot get the water to pull and flow through the buckets evenly due to the awkward plumbing. I've done a ton of reading and trial and error. Anyone have a solution to this.

You might not like this but I cut little suits in the side of the tent low as possible and plumes it through the holes. Only way I could get proper water circulation

Getgrowingson said:

You might not like this but I cut little suits in the side of the tent low as possible and plumes it through the holes. Only way I could get proper water circulation

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Ahh I know man I was contemplating it. Gotilla should have an access port in the center of tent at the very bottom for this reason. I'm gonna end up doing this but gonna do it right and sew patch around the holes so they don't wear

Here's what I'm thinking of doing. Undercurrent rdwc. 1 1/2" pipes connecting all buckets at the base. 3/4" line pulling from backside center of plumbing and back into the res with 950 gph pump. Whatcha think

here

950 gph seems a bit over the top for so few buckets. 400-500 gph or even less would be fine. As for the sketch, that looks like the popular version, though I'd eliminate the pipe elbows and make the flow direction change inside the bucket rather than externally, thus saving floor space.

Mearle Gates said:

950 gph seems a bit over the top for so few buckets. 400-500 gph or even less would be fine. As for the sketch, that looks like the popular version, though I'd eliminate the pipe elbows and make the flow direction change inside the bucket rather than externally, thus saving floor space.

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Good idea I will try that. Should have plenty of room if I decide not too tho. I tried a 750 gph pump with 4 buckets and it did not work. Now I got much bigger buckets so I went bigger pump. I want the water flowing fast and exchanging each buckets water several times a minite. The flow will be smooth due to the 3/4" from the pump to the 2" pipe connecting the buckets. I think it will work good. I let you know

I think it's gonna work awesome and be the ultimate setup. Can't wait to get her goin

Just be prepared to throttle back your flow rate when the control bucket starts filling too fast and overflowing.

Mearle Gates said:

Just be prepared to throttle back your flow rate when the control bucket starts filling too fast and overflowing.

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I've already been through that problem and learned from it. The feed line from the backside of the buckets is 3/4" fed Into the 2" pipe. Even with that power having such large pipe fed into the small feed tube the force from the pump cannot pull fast enough to make the levels different. Just simple plumbing physics. And if I'm not right I do have a speed controller

I'm going to try to make this system as easy to maintain as possible. Ordered one of these and and gonna set up another bucket with a water pump in it next to the res. so when the water level drops in the system it will automatically be filled.

yeah don't skimp on the pump feeding your buckets, also I would recommend reducing the size of the line in (where the water pumps into the bucket from rez) to around 1/8 so you get a higher pressure stream and provides good airflow to the water in the buckets..also airstones in each bucket wont hurt anything, better to go over the top than not enough and end up suffocating roots or getting rot.

also Dutch master zone makes a additive to help kill any bio in rez if you don't plan on running benificials I would recommend taking a look at it..my last attempt at a DIY 8 site RDWC was a nightmare and these are some of the mistakes I made and learned from..

also you should have a smaller bucket setup with a sump pump so it can fill and pump into your main rez, otherwise your going to run into an issue with the passive drains running uphill to the bigger rez..

RetiredMatthebrute said:

yeah don't skimp on the pump feeding your buckets, also I would recommend reducing the size of the line in (where the water pumps into the bucket from rez) to around 1/8 so you get a higher pressure stream and provides good airflow to the water in the buckets..also airstones in each bucket wont hurt anything, better to go over the top than not enough and end up suffocating roots or getting rot.

also Dutch master zone makes a additive to help kill any bio in rez if you don't plan on running benificials I would recommend taking a look at it..my last attempt at a DIY 8 site RDWC was a nightmare and these are some of the mistakes I made and learned from..

also you should have a smaller bucket setup with a sump pump so it can fill and pump into your main rez, otherwise your going to run into an issue with the passive drains running uphill to the bigger rez..

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I'm runnin 950gph danar pump. The feed from the pump to the red wil have an elbow with a 1/4" valve I can adjust the flow. I have a 110 l per minute or whatever measure they use air pump for the 4 buckets and res lol I will be over doing it : p but theyll be happy. I don't know about beneficials. Runnin general hydropinics expert recirculating chart. I think there's some in the line up. I'll look into the product you mentioned. And what do you mean by the passive flow running uphill to the res? All 2" pipes will be level and the 3/4" pump intake like off the 2" pipe will be going slightly downhill toward the pump sitting on the ground then fed up to top of res bucket(The whole bucket system will be raised 3" off the ground) I'm sort of unsure about how to clean the thing Between cycles lol.and the only thing better if I could figure it out would be a ph regulator or something like thatZ

What do you use to sterilize everything between grows? I was thinking bleach. I'm using vinegar to clean all air stones pumps etc.

yeah I didn't lift mine off the ground so if you can do that will help. I just didn't want to chance loosing power and having the entire thing overflow on me due to water return but no out feed...

I never cleaned mine, prob half the issue I had, growing back in soil now just because I only do 1-2 grows a year and they are small so no need for the hydro. I would think soap and water and maybe one of these on a stick or something

then after you clean with soap and water maybe pray down with a bleach solution to sanitize.

Im definatly no pro on the subject, just giving you my experiences to try and help you avoid the same fatal disaster's I did lol

RetiredMatthebrute said:

yeah I didn't lift mine off the ground so if you can do that will help. I just didn't want to chance loosing power and having the entire thing overflow on me due to water return but no out feed...

I never cleaned mine, prob half the issue I had, growing back in soil now just because I only do 1-2 grows a year and they are small so no need for the hydro. I would think soap and water and maybe one of these on a stick or something

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I just ordered something just like that. And some long flexible spring type line with brushes on either end. I'm trying to find the perfect thing to set my whole system up off the ground about 2" so I can not cut a hole in my spill tray in my tent. I want it to be sort of like a tripod with small stubby legs under each of the 4 buckets so I can spray and clean virtually everywhere. Got any ideas? Was looking at plant stands and things but can't come up with anything.

just use a smaller bucket turned upside down/