RDWC Questions

Hello all thos is my second hydroponic grow . I recently started a new grow and got lots of new equipment. I have a few questions on how to set it up . Currently my system is just a dwc with drip feed. I just purchased a 1/10 hp water chiller and a 370 gph pump to run it . I was thinking about hooking the 2 res together with 2 1" line one on each side and having the cooler suck out of one tank and return to the other .

1. Is there any way I can hook up a rdwc system with just 2 17 gal resivours without a control .
2. Will my idea work
3. Would it be easier to add a small control res if so how many gallon (running out of room in my tent) so hopefully not to big

NCSmallTime said:

Hello all thos is my second hydroponic grow . I recently started a new grow and got lots of new equipment. I have a few questions on how to set it up . Currently my system is just a dwc with drip feed. I just purchased a 1/10 hp water chiller and a 370 gph pump to run it . I was thinking about hooking the 2 res together with 2 1" line one on each side and having the cooler suck out of one tank and return to the other .
View attachment 4207251
1. Is there any way I can hook up a rdwc system with just 2 17 gal resivours without a control .
2. Will my idea work
3. Would it be easier to add a small control res if so how many gallon (running out of room in my tent) so hopefully not to big

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You'll want a control res that each tub goes back to.

But you certainly could set th chiller outside the tent and do what you said as well. It would work.

I have about 10" in front of the resivours so I can fit the cooler and like a 5 gal control bucket. I'm just not sure if 5 gal is big enough if it is what size would my return need to be

Just put the chiller outside with a line going from chiller out to one through the lid and the other out the lid by pump to the chiller in. Connect them with one single 2" black ABs pipe. Use 2" bulkheads.

You might even be able to lose that LOUD ASS air pump too if you were to tee off the "out" line of the chiller and have it going back to both totes. With that much circulation and waterfalls in both totes, I don't think air stones are necessary.

Airwalker16 said:

Just put the chiller outside with a line going from chiller out to one through the lid and the other out the lid by pump to the chiller in. Connect them with one single 2" black ABs pipe. Use 2" bulkheads.

You might even be able to lose that LOUD ASS air pump too if you were to tee off the "out" line of the chiller and have it going back to both totes. With that much circulation and waterfalls in both totes, I don't think air stones are necessary.

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Not really worried about the air pump or noise the tent is in a spare bedroom in a closet so with both doors shut cant hear anything

Don’t get rid of the air pump. Mind as well have more oxygen then less. Are you trying to avoid using bulkheads? If you are only doing a couple plants why not just have 1 bigger container that recirculates with the chiller pump?

Trying to run 4 site rdwc 5 gl buckets. 20 to 30 gl main rez. What kInd of water pump would be good guys ? Trying to get her rolling. Some thing like this but more compact.

1000 gallon would be pretty good.

Kingkush325 said:

Trying to run 4 site rdwc 5 gl buckets. 20 to 30 gl main rez. What kInd of water pump would be good guys ? Trying to get her rolling. Some thing like this but more compact. View attachment 4232590

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If you're not doing waterfalls and just need the pump to pull the water from the back of the system to the reservoir, 350-500 will be more than enough. 1000GPH would be a bit overkill I think.

1000gph way overkill and will just heat up your water more. I use a 1000gph for a 110gal system

I use a 700gph on my 40 gal UC setup. Does a great job creating a pair of waterfalls and has plenty of movement in the totes.

Kingkush325 said:

Trying to run 4 site rdwc 5 gl buckets. 20 to 30 gl main rez. What kInd of water pump would be good guys ? Trying to get her rolling. Some thing like this but more compact. View attachment 4232590

Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of using 5gal buckets. I always have so much root mass that it displaces most of the fluid volume in the bucket and gets really susceptible to roots clogging the bulkheads. I like the HDX totes-at least 10 gal and preferably the 17 gal. They will grow trees.

Airwalker16 said:

If you're not doing waterfalls and just need the pump to pull the water from the back of the system to the reservoir, 350-500 will be more than enough. 1000GPH would be a bit overkill I think.

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I was thinking the water fall as well more the better. So a 700 would do or nah ? And I plan on putting air stones in each bucket.

GBAUTO said:

I'm not a fan of using 5gal buckets. I always have so much root mass that it displaces most of the fluid volume in the bucket and gets really susceptible to roots clogging the bulkheads. I like the HDX totes-at least 10 gal and preferably the 17 gal. They will grow trees.

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True true I only have a 5×3 area to work with. So trying to stay compact so I figured 5 gl . This is my current set up trying to fit my rdwc in my closet lmao

All setups can have one basic waterfall from the pumps upwards facing g outlet side going up and right angling over top of the reservoir water. But if you want to instead push the water with a submersible pump or pull it with an inline to a 3/4" manifold that tees off to each bucket reducing to 1/2" and right angling with a fitting from the inside of the site down towards the water. To have one one in every bucket/site youll want at Least 1000 gph.

Kingkush325 said:

I was thinking the water fall as well more the better. So a 700 would do or nah ? And I plan on putting air stones in each bucket.

Click to expand...

Kingkush325 said:

I was thinking the water fall as well more the better. So a 700 would do or nah ? And I plan on putting air stones in each bucket.

Click to expand...

Notice there are no air stones needed with this setup.
You could fit a 2X2 setup of 10gal totes with a 12/17gal reservoir. Buy 8 bulkheads and just do it to it.

GBAUTO said:

I'm not a fan of using 5gal buckets. I always have so much root mass that it displaces most of the fluid volume in the bucket and gets really susceptible to roots clogging the bulkheads. I like the HDX totes-at least 10 gal and preferably the 17 gal. They will grow trees.

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Shit would you mind showing me your set up

You don't have a lot of room upwards in there. 5gal buckets would work just fine with how big youll be able to get em.

Kingkush325 said:

Shit would you mind showing me your set up

Click to expand...

There's example pics above.