RDWC vs Single Site RDWC

rkymtnman said:

have you ever measured the flange difference b/t these and a bulkhead? they look like they do the job but with zero margin of error. even a uniseal looks like it has more contact area than those. or does it just look that way from your pics?

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There's a few dudes using these with no issues. But pics don't lie, the lip on them is super small. Maybe just over 1/4". Kinda scary. I'd feel a lot better using an actual gasket rather than o rings. I'm curious if these would fit? There's actually a few options available:

Airwalker16 said:

There's a few dudes using these with no issues. But pics don't lie, the lip on them is super small. Maybe just over 1/4". Kinda scary. I'd feel a lot better using an actual gasket rather than o rings. I'm curious if these would fit? There's actually a few options available:

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Yea, not sure about the reliability and durability over over the course of several grows. I just want to buy the best once and not have to worry about leaks or having to redo everything in the future... Plus I seen plenty of DWC and triditional RDWC setups. I haven't really seen anyone do what I'm trying to do which is a quality, afforable, DIY one site RDWC system in a grow tent. Like the pumping is a major part of the RDWC system, and I really don't want to cheap out on it.

As long as you dont move it around it should be fine.
My cheap diy solution is very similar and they've been fine for going on like 2 years now?
After the initial setup I had 0 leaks until I cut the system in half and moved sites around. Had to put new silicone on a couple fittings.

That's one thing I do love about my uniseals. I've accidentally knocked and kicked my buckets hundreds of times and ita never caused a leak.

I have a 4 plants all in one tub going on and there is the problem that if one plant finishes sooner than the others, the roots are so tangled together that you can’t get them out. They would soon start to go rotten, meanwhile other plants are still ‘finishing up’. This can be overcome if you have 4 plants the exact same. I have this problem now... the first plant that’s done is going to have to wait a while... it will be cooked well done.

SnidleyBluntash said:

I have a 4 plants all in one tub going on and there is the problem that if one plant finishes sooner than the others, the roots are so tangled together that you can’t get them out. They would soon start to go rotten, meanwhile other plants are still ‘finishing up’. This can be overcome if you have 4 plants the exact same. I have this problem now... the first plant that’s done is going to have to wait a while... it will be cooked well done.

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Cut the stem high, it'll stay alive and not rot.

Airwalker16 said:

Cut the stem high, it'll stay alive and not rot.

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Yes that’s the plan, as well as harvest in stages, to keep alive. As long as possible. And I’m even considering trying to reveg the things as an experiment. No loss if they don’t work. I think il cut the roots in half and put them in soil.

SnidleyBluntash said:

Yes that’s the plan, as well as harvest in stages, to keep alive. As long as possible. And I’m even considering trying to reveg the things as an experiment. No loss if they don’t work. I think il cut the roots in half and put them in soil.

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Don't both reveggin. You're better off cutting a new clone from your mom a month before harvest so it's ready to take the place of the last round

Yes I know it might take a long time and may not work, but it’s only for science experiment. I will probably gift the plants to a friend and slowly watch them die. I might try to use the root stalk to graft a cutting to, that’s what il do with one or two of them.

Of course I've tested them. No way would I pay for any bulkhead knowing how to make these. I only use 1 o-ring on the outside of the container, all thats needed. Plenty of flange area , and the 331 size I suggested was trial and error to find the exact sized part # to fit.

The main thing to look out for is the common set of hole saws everyone has are either just to big or to small for the male terminal adapter threads to fit perfectly in the hole, can't remember the size off the top of my head.. if you were to buy a custom sized hole saw. But I use the smaller one to cut the hole, and have a cone like attachment I made for my drill that i put sand paper on, and sand it in till the hole gets bigger, and then the male adapter slides right in all snug. They hold super tight, could kick em if you want.. I would be skeptical too just by looking, but trust me. Works with all the sizes of male/female terminal adapters. I would never pay for a bulkhead lol. I have boxes of terminal adapters and packs of o-rings, enough to make a huge system.

Also, unlike the actual grey colored electrical PVC conduit itself, that could possibly leech chemicals (its made to be UV safe), the fittings themselves are shiny and just like regular PVC fittings as far as any concerns about toxicity go's. I done all the homework.

You guys are totally welcome and have fun building awesome systems for cheap this way.

P.S.

Any concern with the flange area being too small, you could easily find a scrap sheet of thicker plastic, and cut the same size hole you would need into pieces of it, then trim them round or just leave as squares with the circle cut out. Also you could buy a washer instead of an o-ring, probably the same price. And there you have it, cheap/free flanges for my DIY bulkheads, and still under $3 for a 2".

I have ran them for years and don't bother, I've already thought about all that, and worried about it before I started.. Some people use them on the bottom of huge stock tanks holding hundreds if not 1000s of gallons. Some guys run sophisticated aquarium\reef setups with them..

Drop That Sound said:

P.S.

Any concern with the flange area being too small, you could easily find a scrap sheet of thicker plastic, and cut the same size hole you would need into pieces of it, then trim them round or just leave as squares with the circle cut out

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I don't get what you meant here.

Airwalker16 said:

I don't get what you meant here.

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What i mean is to cut out an extra washer (plastic ring) from a scrap peice of thicker plastic, that will slide over the threads onto the smaller flange area of the male fitting, and now you have a flange as big as you want. Basically just adding a washer to beef it up and have more surface contact area. So you would add the plastic washer first, and then the rubber washer.

Drop That Sound said:

What i mean is to cut out an extra washer (plastic ring) from a scrap peice of thicker plastic, that will slide over the threads onto the smaller flange area of the male fitting, and now you have a flange as big as you want. Basically just adding a washer to beef it up and have more surface contact area. So you would add the plastic washer first, and then the rubber washer.

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I guess in theory... I'd be worried of leaks.

It does'nt have to be pretty or round, just take a square piece that's 3"x 3", and use the same hole saw you use on the container to cut a hole in the middle of it. A square shaped washer that takes all but 2 minutes to make.

I'll take it into consideration that you guys would worry, and maybe i'll do a how to DIY bulkhead thread soon.


In the mean time, I'm stoked for anyone wanting to get into DWC, and a single tub with a remote res will rock it. Better off spending your money on a chiller if you need one than a commercial or even homemade RDWC system.

Drop That Sound said:

In the mean time, I'm stoked for anyone wanting to get into DWC, and a single tub with a remote res will rock it. Better off spending your money on a chiller if you need one than a commercial or even homemade RDWC system.

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Anyone who knows me in here knows I'm a huge proponent for chillers. So THAT is some advice I can DEFINITELY get behind!

Airwalker16 said:

Anyone who knows me in here knows I'm a huge proponent for chillers. So THAT is some advice I can DEFINITELY get behind!

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Yes I already have a Active Aqua 1/4 HP chiller.

One more benefit to a single tub system, is the capacity. Put 4 five gallon sized bucket containers in a tent, and they only hold 3-4 gallons up to the net pot max, so that's maybe 10 gallons worth. You have to rely on a much larger remote res and or a dialed in top off res to make up for it.

If you use a larger container that is 3x3x?, you could possibly have 30-40+ gallons in there, and not even need a remote res, or just make a smaller more convenient one if desired, even in inside the tent but off to the side for ease of work. Seems how you would be hooking up a chiller anyway, it could be your feed line to it, and might as well plumb a single return line when you hook it all up.

Drop That Sound said:

One more benefit to a single tub system, is the capacity. Put 4 five gallon sized bucket containers in a tent, and they only hold 3-4 gallons up to the net pot max, so that's maybe 10 gallons worth. You have to rely on a much larger remote res and or a dialed in top off res to make up for it.

If you use a larger container that is 3x3x?, you could possibly have 30-40+ gallons in there, and not even need a remote res, or just make a smaller more convenient one if desired, even in inside the tent but off to the side for ease of work. Seems how you would be hooking up a chiller anyway, it could be your feed line to it, and might as well plumb a single return line when you hook it all up.

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The benefit goes both ways. Smaller buckets are easier to maintain and less hassle to move. The reservoir is a necessity if doing Rdwc. It's the entire point actually. And having one, gives you the flexibility to go as large as you'd like. There's zero difference in 4x5 gal buckets with 3.5 gals of water in them, compared to 2x17gal tote sites with 10 as long as the systems total water volume is the same.

Airwalker16 said:

The benefit goes both ways. Smaller buckets are easier to maintain and less hassle to move. The reservoir is a necessity if doing Rdwc. It's the entire point actually. And having one, gives you the flexibility to go as large as you'd like. There's zero difference in 4x5 gal buckets with 3.5 gals of water in them, compared to 2x17gal tote sites with 10 as long as the systems total water volume is the same.

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Why would I need to move anything and in what way would multiple plant sites be easier to maintain than just one?