RDWC few Qs

[Dangerdan33]

1. Can the waterfall effect really substitute an air stone? Or both occurring at the same time the best? I think waterfall effect is same as top feeding.

2. Optimal size of under current piping? I've seen 2, 2-1/2 and 3".

3. Too much suction from the pump bad? Eg. Over sizing the pump. Turbulent waterways lol

4. What is ideal water level to maintain? 1-2" from bottom of net pot?

That's it for now. Any help would be appreciated

 

[overbudjet]

1.yes ,no heat/sound and never clog.
2.my first was 1,5 inch never clog,now i use 3" in the new system.
3.For the pump try to reach at least 10 time your volume of H2o.
4.Just below the net pot,if you lower to much you will have cord roots.

 

[zamzia]

What overbudjet said

 

[youngtrader9689]

i knew a danger dan once

 

[Dangerdan33]

I am building 2 x 8 tote setups. 13 gallon totes and 8 per system. These are going in a 10x10' tent with 4kw just so you have an idea what I'm doing. I was going to size the pump at 1200gph per system but seems like I can downsize a little.


The ability to go without 200w air pumps running constantly is nice.

Thanks for input. I'm a different DD, just randomly came up with name

 

[LardoThePig]

1.yes ,no heat/sound and never clog.
2.my first was 1,5 inch never clog,now i use 3" in the new system.
3.For the pump try to reach at least 10 time your volume of H2o.
4.Just below the net pot,if you lower to much you will have cord roots.

Is there something wrong
with cord roots?

 

[overbudjet]

Cord roots are not efficient for nutrients uptake.What you want is hairy roots.

 

[Dangerdan33]

Is there a recommended pipe size for the waterfall line?

Was wondering about having an air stone in the control only. Have waterfall lines to every bucket including the control. Is that going to provide optimal oxygenation?

Just trying to design the system right now. It would be nice to have 16 totes off 1 pump, reservoir and control but might be better to have 2 systems of 8 totes each?

 

[youngtrader9689]

i would go with the 8 totes each, ive run 14 water farms with nothing more than an air pump to recirc the water. wasn't referring to another dd username on here just a friends childhood nickname

 

[Dangerdan33]

Are you guys running new nutrients every 2 weeks and just topping off with fresh water? I have heard 2, 3 even a month...

Rdwc requires less ppms, true? I figure it's strain dependent, picking up some wifi clones or og. Just been reading various opinions on this.

I've dabbled with aero in the past, there's just too many things that can go wrong. So I'm looking for low maintenance, trouble free system to build. I can't see 3" pipe or 1-1/2" clogging, fml with sprayers.


With the uni seals for the undercurrent, do you guys caulk them on the outside at all? I'm planning on insulating the heck out of every pipe and tote so it makes the chiller run more efficiently. I'm very anal about water leakage.

Also what size of chiller is required for 8 x 13 gals totes? It would be nice to run 1 chiller with 2 systems..

The two systems would share a top off reservoir with RO water connected through float valves. That cool?

 

[overbudjet]

My system is dual 4 15Gal. tote (Dbl to 8 tote will be easy)3 inch uniseal (no caulking was use and no leak att all)To simulate waterfall i use a 4 foot long 4" abs tube and have 2 echoplus1056 located in each rez pumping solution in 2 3/4" Pipe that go right to the top of the abs tube and fall over volcanic rock .Each system use 4 600w. Less ppm is always better but very strain linked ex:in system 1 running lemon skunk att 400ppm max and in system 2 running L.U.I as high as 900ppm that alot in UC. I Just add water in flower room and only flush between round same think in veg. room. I use a 75Gal.per day ro system and it's running almost 24 hour a day.

 

[overbudjet]

My room layout may help you to desing a system of your own so i take on myself and i post pic of it.