DWC aeration - 24/7 or scheduled?

[Zest]

Hey ICers,

when I'm finished with my first grow in soil I want to give Hydro DWC a shot.

I already build the DWC and have everything I need.

Only question I haven't found a answer on yet:
Does the air pump have to run 24/7 or can I have schedules/intervals via a timer? 4 times a day, 30 minutes running for example.

Thanks in advance!

 

[foaf]

I would run it all the time. Is your system recirculating? If it is, then its a bit less important, and if you had a time you wanted it off for noise considerations, then OK, but if its not, you should run it all the time.

 

[spadedNfaded]

another vote for 24/7. It doesn't use much power and constantly keeps the water moving. That's a plus.

- SubN

 

[Zest]

Thanks for the quick answers guys.

foaf: It's non recirculating, and yes, it is about noise. My box is in my bedroom in a closet. I don't mind, but you know, from time to time some ladies stopping by and what could I say? (After sex) "Please leave now, so you don't wake up next morning to that noise the air pump makes. Oh yeah, I grow cannabis, hope to see you soon!"

 

[bobcat1963]

Thanks for the quick answers guys.

from time to time some ladies stopping by and what could I say? (After sex) "Please leave now, so you don't wake up next morning to that noise the air pump makes. Oh yeah, I grow cannabis, hope to see you soon!"

Turning your air pumps off once in a while (for a good cause)will not hurt anything,everyone has power outages ect.I Read a thread on it a while back.
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=166266

 

[MAZEinaHAZE]

24....7.....

 

[Zest]

Turning your air pumps off once in a while (for a good cause)will not hurt anything,everyone has power outages ect.I Read a thread on it a while back.
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=166266

Thanks for that link!

I see, preferably 24/7 and any other need some own research on how the plant will react.

Thanks guys!

 

[foaf]

you could have a small, inadequate, quiet one to use when you needed more quiet

 

[flyer]

Thanks for the quick answers guys.

from time to time some ladies stopping by and what could I say? (After sex) "Please leave now, so you don't wake up next morning to that noise the air pump makes. Oh yeah, I grow cannabis, hope to see you soon!"

hahaha..

i do that all the time..

 

[Haps]

Run 24/7, then they will be fine for you to turn it off overnight when you get lucky.

 

[HempAlchemist]

make a small soundproof box for the pump and run 24/7! also some airpumps are quieter than others maybe upgrade after this grow good luck !

 

[mrred]

most of the noise is from vibration i think suspending it via rubber bands will help quite a bit

 

[NiteTiger]

24/7, and it shouldn't be heard.

 

[cannagirl]

Yup, 24/7, you dont want your ladies sitting in water thats not moving and not aerated IMO, that is begging to get root rot. Like another poster above said, build a muffler box and hang it from the ceiling for the least amount of noise.

 

[darwinsbulldog]

24/7 mate. water is going to be constantly losing oxygen if it's sitting there, thus it becomes stagnant and the roots won't get the air they need. doesn't take long for this to happen so it's always best to leave it on all the time. shouldn't use too much electricity if that's what you're worried about.

 

[SumDumGuy]

Hey ICers,

when I'm finished with my first grow in soil I want to give Hydro DWC a shot.

I already build the DWC and have everything I need.

Only question I haven't found a answer on yet:
Does the air pump have to run 24/7 or can I have schedules/intervals via a timer? 4 times a day, 30 minutes running for example.

Thanks in advance!

Absolutely 24/7
No Exceptions my friend.

 

[Zest]

Thanks for all the answers guys, appreciate it.

24/7 it is

 

[jammie]

and always keep your external airpump above the water level in your buckets. that way if you do lose power water won't back flow into your pump

 

[ak-51]

I don't mind, but you know, from time to time some ladies stopping by and what could I say? (After sex) "Please leave now, so you don't wake up next morning to that noise the air pump makes. Oh yeah, I grow cannabis, hope to see you soon!"

Same. Exact. Boat.

Although the vast majority of my stuff is elsewhere, I do have a mother in my bedroom closet. Everytime that I have had a girl stay over, or I thought that there was that possibility, I would just unplug the cord going to the closet. In the dark you could see the light coming through the cracks in the closet door so we can't have that either. As for my pump I made a cardboard box to muffle the sound a bit, and with the closet door closed you actually can't discern the sound of it from the highway or the wind or whatever.

I currently run my pumps 24hrs, although I have considered letting them shut off for 15 minutes maybe 2 or 4 times a day to let them cool down. I will disagree with some of the other cats here (disclaimer: i may be a noob) and say that it's not going to hurt your girl to have the pump off for a few hours, I would go so far as to say you could even go as much as 8hrs and be ok. I once forgot to plug an air pump back in for at least 4 days; the plant still finished, it did seem stunted a bit but she still came out on par with all of her other sisters that run.

Being safe is the most important part.I can't just have random strange all up in my business!

 

[Young Pumpkin]

My first DWC I had the idea of running the pump only when the lights are on 12/12. Bad Idea, never did it again. Plants wilted from lack of air, never recovered. Sorta like over watering in soil. I'll unplug for noise once in a while but the pump goes back on asap.