I have a simple DIY hydro RDWC with 3 netpots in 5 gallons buckets individually connected to a reservoir (a separate 5 gallon bucket with no netpot). I have 2 of these "sets" so a total of 6 plants connected to 2 reservoir buckets.
Had water temperature issues (climbs slowly to about 72-73 degrees). Wanted to build a reservoir out of an igloo ice chest (12 gallon capacity). Manged to get one built after destroying the other one by cracking the shell.
After connecting this ice chest reservoir, one of the netpot bucket's water level over flowed.
I made sure to raise the level of the buckets a few inches so that the return line is slightly higher than the ice chest's return hole. It's not that much higher though, maybe 1/2" to 1" higher than ice chest reservoir return hole.
The water level did not level out after 30 minutes or so. Manually adjusted the water level by scooping, and stopped the top feed line that runs through a 400 gph pump to a manifold with 3 separate 1/4" tubing lines to each net pot bucket.
Is the overflow problem because I filled the ice chest reservoir with about 9 gallons of water and that is too much for gravity to work to even the level of the net pot buckets?
Do I need the 12 gallon ice chest to only have 4 gallons total water (same gallons each netpot bucket sits at) or can I fill it more as long as each hole in the reservoir is slightly lower than the return holes in the netpot buckets?
If I build an overflow prevention by connecting each bucket with 1/2" tubing at the level of the netpot, will it not overflow ever again even with a clogged return line?
God I hope this is just maybe a piece of hydroton stuck in 1/2" tubing. Next time this will be connected with 1" tubing if I can find it. Posted this initially in my noob journal in a the grow journal forum, but asking here since I think very few read there offering noob advice. Hoping to get some answers before I go to the hydro shop to buy more connectors. Here is more details of what the setup is from the start in case it helps: https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/617223-1st-time-journal-6-plants.html
Had water temperature issues (climbs slowly to about 72-73 degrees). Wanted to build a reservoir out of an igloo ice chest (12 gallon capacity). Manged to get one built after destroying the other one by cracking the shell.
After connecting this ice chest reservoir, one of the netpot bucket's water level over flowed.
I made sure to raise the level of the buckets a few inches so that the return line is slightly higher than the ice chest's return hole. It's not that much higher though, maybe 1/2" to 1" higher than ice chest reservoir return hole.
The water level did not level out after 30 minutes or so. Manually adjusted the water level by scooping, and stopped the top feed line that runs through a 400 gph pump to a manifold with 3 separate 1/4" tubing lines to each net pot bucket.
Is the overflow problem because I filled the ice chest reservoir with about 9 gallons of water and that is too much for gravity to work to even the level of the net pot buckets?
Do I need the 12 gallon ice chest to only have 4 gallons total water (same gallons each netpot bucket sits at) or can I fill it more as long as each hole in the reservoir is slightly lower than the return holes in the netpot buckets?
If I build an overflow prevention by connecting each bucket with 1/2" tubing at the level of the netpot, will it not overflow ever again even with a clogged return line?
God I hope this is just maybe a piece of hydroton stuck in 1/2" tubing. Next time this will be connected with 1" tubing if I can find it. Posted this initially in my noob journal in a the grow journal forum, but asking here since I think very few read there offering noob advice. Hoping to get some answers before I go to the hydro shop to buy more connectors. Here is more details of what the setup is from the start in case it helps: https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/617223-1st-time-journal-6-plants.html
