So I've completed my 5 tote system with waterfalls in each tote. I did a leak test and noticed my waterfall pump drained my res before my chiller pump could fill it back. My questions are did this only happen bc I only partially filled my totes? Or do I need equally strong pumps on each end?
Rdwc troubleshooting
- Thread starter Rdot03
- Start date
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
I'm nearly positive your return lines (gravity fed) are just not large enough in diameter to supply enough water back to your res before the pump drains it. 2" is about the minimum. 1.5" is doable on a smaller 10-20gal system but larger is needed on anything much bigger..
This was an issue I had and ultimately was the reason for me completely upgrading my RDWC.
This was an issue I had and ultimately was the reason for me completely upgrading my RDWC.
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Sorry I took it apart. To change a o ring. I'll try to get a better pic or diagram later today
So a 350 gph pump pulling water to my chiller isnt strong enough? What if I up the size of the final return line or got a bigger pump to pull more water?
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
You need one pump that's APPROPRIATE SIZED for your chiller. Then an ENTIRELY SEPARATE pump for the waterfalls.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Buy as said before, a pic will tell me everything I need to know to help
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Looks like you were trying to mimic a UC system with the smaller diameter piping at the end of the totes. This doesn't work when you do waterfalls. UC systems move the water the completely opposite way. It seems though you did use larger diameter piping to connect each totes though? You'll just need to upgrade that one piece off the right angle to the same size that was used for tote connections, there, back to the reservoir.
I posted a video of the setup
Ok so maybe I need a bigger pump for my chiller
Yes 2" between totes and 2" 90 out of last tote back to chiller. I thought I needed a smaller chiller line so it wouldnt drain as fast ?
Idk? Is that how it works or should work?
redi jedi
Well-Known Member
Yes thats how it should be setup. Your video doesnt work so I still cant see how you have built your system. I think you're going to need to run 2" all the way back to your control bucket to allow the water to drain back fast enough. And then draw water from the control bucket, through the chiller and back to the control. That way it wont matter if the pumps are different flow rates.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Yeszir this is correct.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
This^
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Much better. Only thing I'd do different is having the pump for the manifold also inline. But your chiller will take care of any heat it creates. Good work.