DWC 3.5 gallon bucket.. too much air?

[r1tony]

So I bought a 1400L per hour pump with 8 way manifold. Works good but I have only 2 using DWC so far and they are in 3.5 gal buckets at present time.

My question is if I leave the ports full the air movement is almost too violent in the bucket like raises the water in middle like 2 inches! The roots are in the water but I am afraid the action will damage the roots.

Does anyone know of too much air ripping or damaging roots?

 

[mpd]

That amount of violence in the water could dislodge the beneficial bacterium that feed on the roots and help with nutrient uptake, blah, blah, blah...

Okay, you've been a bad boy. Now go over to the fish store and get an aquarium air pump and that will be plenty...

 

[r1tony]

That amount of violence in the water could dislodge the beneficial bacterium that feed on the roots and help with nutrient uptake, blah, blah, blah...

Okay, you've been a bad boy. Now go over to the fish store and get an aquarium air pump and that will be plenty...

Wow thought I was on RIU for a moment...

 

[vangaurd]

r1tony, i thought i was the only one to migrate from RIU lmao, yeah man that a bit much air i would get a smaller pump.

 

[singularity]

2 issues with to much air:

1. stresses root system, which then slows formation of the root structure.

2. inhibits the roots from utilizing all the available space in the rez, as the air choses its path of least resistance, the roots cant grow into the current.

simple and effective way to calculate sufficient air supply is to take your rez and x2. i would use an air pump designed for a 10 gallon aquarium since your 3.5 gallons.

 

[r1tony]

I have 140Lp/m pump, so :

140L p/m (not metric so convert)

36.98gpm

If the 8 ports are utilized then 36.98 / 8 = gpm per manifold output.

4.62 gpm for each port (worst case scenario).

4.62gpm on approx 3 gallons? Is that too little and already raising water couple inches full blast?

I am new to DWC, been growing for 5 years but thought I try this medium.

 

[trikiadi]

You said your pump is 1400l/h.
So that makes her 23.33 l/min.
23l/min = 6gal/min.
6gal/minute/8buckets=~ 0.73gal/bucket/minute

I have no idea if tha'ts enough.

I've read around you need 1watt/gal.
However i've absolutely no experience.
Could you post some pictures? that would really help me, and maybe others, understand better..

 

[singularity]

it would seem each port would be sufficient for a 3 gallon bucket. maybe even a 5.

 

[GF-Z]

So if i want to grow 4 plants in 2gal buckets, i need 4x2 = 8w air pump?