Snype's RDWC Construction Tutorial For 250 Watts - 7,600 Watts!

[mjkelly93]

MJkelly, have you got the system and everything up and running ok then?

Yes. My systems are all up and running. I haven't transferred to them yet since im not there yet with my plants but yes everything is set up and running ok.

1: Is there a reason you use a washer on the inside of the bucket? I feel like I might be possibly misinterpreting this.
Maybe it's not needed. It makes me sleep better at night.

I second that. I thought about using only one washer but then i was like after all you put into it you might as well use the second washer.

Snype ill pull some receipts tomorrow and go through exactly how much a 12 bucket system cost me. I got some pretty sweet deals on ebay for cases of conduit connectors and found a really good price on my air pump so i saved there too. I bought the eco plus commercial air 7, 200LPM, for $90.50 shipped and that does 24 buckets so thats $45 for a 12 bucket system. Plus the cheap washers. Most expensive part was the danner 7. If i could take a guess right now id say about $250-$300 for a 12 bucket system but ill have a better idea tomorrow when i can add up each component.

 

[paperchaser825]

Well fuck.....

I seem to have cracked the pump housing (the part with the inlet and outlet).

Fuck my life....

Will have to figure out how to get a new one from the Danner site or something...

On a more positive note....The washers are working fantastic. 2 bucks @ Lowes but if I had more patience and time I would figure out a way to order them off the site mjkelly93 got them from. Just do make sure you get the softer (apparently 50 is good) ones.

Will update when I'm not drowning in my own misery lol

 

[Stonefree69]

Sorry i hadnt gotten back to you sooner. I dont have a part number from them but i can tell you exactly whats on the invoice.

Washer 3/16" thickness x 1-7/8"IDx2-1/4"OD Neoprene, BLack 60-70durometer Quantity 250 Price 25.00
UPS Shipping $11.72
Total Due: $36.72

Its reliantrubberco.com. They respond fast and answer the phone when you call.

Overall as a customer id give them a 10/10 no problems whatsoever and price is fantastic.

Id ask about 50 durometer though. I forgot to mention that so i got 60s and they are a little on the hard side. I really had to tighten the nuts with channel locks to prevent leaks. 60s did work fine though after being tightened.

15 cents a washer shipped. That's supposed to be a big no no in plumbing - overtightening your washers, especially w/pvc or plastic fittings. Never worked for me, even in a desperate pinch. Glad you got it going! As a last resort I also have some silicon from aquarium supply store online (Marine Depot).

We'll see about those 1/8" EDPM o-rings too (mine's 70 duro), I have more than enough o-rings & washers now for the whole neighborhood.

 

[Snype]

Well fuck.....

I seem to have cracked the pump housing (the part with the inlet and outlet).

Fuck my life....

Will have to figure out how to get a new one from the Danner site or something...

On a more positive note....The washers are working fantastic. 2 bucks @ Lowes but if I had more patience and time I would figure out a way to order them off the site mjkelly93 got them from. Just do make sure you get the softer (apparently 50 is good) ones.

Will update when I'm not drowning in my own misery lol

You probably screwed the fittings too tight. Take the fittings out and unscrew those 2 screws on the pump. Inside your o-ring may have come off. You can probably just put it back on. Happened to me but was able to fix it quick.

 

[mjkelly93]

That's supposed to be a big no no in plumbing - overtightening your washers, especially w/pvc or plastic fittings.

I think these washers need to be overtightened to compensate for the curvature of the bucket. Maybe if i would have gotten 1/4" thickness with 50 durometer then i wouldnt have had to overtighten as much as i did.

I had one connection that i had to silicone. It just wouldnt stop dripping. I think maybe the edge of the bucket was damaged a little when drilling with the hole saw.

Also, great advice from snype on running the hole saw in reverse. It makes a huge difference. Nice clean cut holes that when run in reverse.

 

[Snype]

I think these washers need to be overtightened to compensate for the curvature of the bucket. Maybe if i would have gotten 1/4" thickness with 50 durometer then i wouldnt have had to overtighten as much as i did.

I had one connection that i had to silicone. It just wouldnt stop dripping. I think maybe the edge of the bucket was damaged a little when drilling with the hole saw.

Also, great advice from snype on running the hole saw in reverse. It makes a huge difference. Nice clean cut holes that when run in reverse.

Sometimes you will have a very minor leak but it should stop itself in about a day. When you over tighten the 60s and up, the washer can bend on the outer edge which creates a problem. The 50s dont bend like that. You can also use brass washers on top of the neoprene ones on problematic buckets.

 

[mjkelly93]

You can also use brass washers on top of the neoprene ones on problematic buckets.

Good advice. I noticed a few of my washers bent when they were really tightened but they didnt leak after bending.

 

[Catatafish]

mjkelly93, hows that commercial air pump working out? Thats what i was inquiring about on the previous page.

Does it get really hot? Hows the noise level?

Was thinking of skimping by for 1 run on a smaller one for 10 bucket system, i think it was the "3" version for 70LPM.

 

[paperchaser825]

You probably screwed the fittings too tight. Take the fittings out and unscrew those 2 screws on the pump. Inside your o-ring may have come off. You can probably just put it back on. Happened to me but was able to fix it quick.

Unfortunately that isn't the case. The 1/2" female adapter I used had a wall on it that actually cracked the housing. The outlet (and this is a stupid ass design, but w/e) threads go past the main assembly of the pump and if you try to tighten the adapter all the way down it will wedge itself between the pump housing and the main assembly. Few more turns and I heard the crack. O well, lesson learned I guess....

 

[Snype]

Unfortunately that isn't the case. The 1/2" female adapter I used had a wall on it that actually cracked the housing. The outlet (and this is a stupid ass design, but w/e) threads go past the main assembly of the pump and if you try to tighten the adapter all the way down it will wedge itself between the pump housing and the main assembly. Few more turns and I heard the crack. O well, lesson learned I guess....

You need about 8 rotations of teflon tape so you dont screw so hard. Same shit happened to me last month and I unscrewed the pump to fix the o-ring and it worked. Sucks for you though. In the end you will be happy.

 

[paperchaser825]

I have 3/8" washers. They are super soft and also indent a bit when I tighten the nuts (female adapters). What was encouraging for me was when hand tightening, I found that the nut came to a definite halt. There was no indication that I could tighten further, nor was there indication of the nut disturbing the 1-7/8" hole in any way. Also, when visually inspecting the seal side, the washer was seated in a way that was visually assuring. I will be doing a check tonight on the 4 bucket I have and report back on the integrity of the seals.

 

[paperchaser825]

Seal integrity @ 100% Captain.

So ya...2 bucks a piece at Lowe's and Home Depot for people wanting to get these things together quick and in a hurry.

 

[Catatafish]

Snype, do you remember what model/brand your air manifold/divider is?

Was trying to find one like that instead of the alita one as i dont like the idea of outlets on both sides of the manifold. Would rather have all on one side like yours.

Trying to find one that has proper connections to hook to the alita.

I found ecoplus but it maxes out at 8 outlets. trying to find a 10-12

 

[Snype]

Snype, do you remember what model/brand your air manifold/divider is?

Was trying to find one like that instead of the alita one as i dont like the idea of outlets on both sides of the manifold. Would rather have all on one side like yours.

Trying to find one that has proper connections to hook to the alita.

I found ecoplus but it maxes out at 8 outlets. trying to find a 10-12

It's a:

Hydrofarm - Active Aqua - Air Divider, 12 Outlets - AAPADIV12

It wont connect right to the Alita without 1 other piece. I dont know the name of the more official piece but I will take a pic when I get a cord. There's another piece that can be used at Home Depot though. It's a:

3/8" ID x 1/2" MIP Brass Hose Barb

Or

Nylon Hose Barb with the same as above

Your air manifold will use 3/8" tubing connected to the hose barb and the other end of the hose barb goes to the black fitting on the Alita.

 

[mjkelly93]

mjkelly93, hows that commercial air pump working out? Thats what i was inquiring about on the previous page.

Does it get really hot? Hows the noise level?

I havent run it for a very long amount of time on end since i haven't needed to use them yet so i dont know much about the heat. They are a little on the loud side however. But, if you are going for a set up that you need a pump that large for, then you should be prepared for some noise. I found that the wall fans create as much noise as the air pumps do, maybe slightly less.

When you take the pump and turn it on out of the box, it is LOUD. But then, after you hook up the T's and reducers, and the 12 way splitters, it definitely lowers the noise alot. It has big rubber feet on the bottom of it so there is no noise from the surface its sitting on, just the airflow generating dB and once thats broken it and submerged, it lowers the volume.

I can update on the noise level and heat in a few weeks to document it here when things get going.

 

[paperchaser825]

Snype, wondering if you still have access to all of your dissolved oxygen testing equipment. Have a cool experiment if you do......

Look up venturi tee's. As in pvc tee......Also, any you may already be aware of this.....look up venturi effect. We may, depending on test results, be able to eliminate the air pump all together.......

 

[Snype]

Snype, wondering if you still have access to all of your dissolved oxygen testing equipment. Have a cool experiment if you do......

Look up venturi tee's. As in pvc tee......Also, any you may already be away of this.....look up venturi effect. We may, depending on test results, be able to eliminate the air pump all together.......

I haven't broken into my equipment yet and probably wont any time soon. I can only focus on a few things at a time and my work currently is on other things. I can barely keep up with my work as it is. I highly doubt air pumps can be eliminated at this point. Well, unless you want to use bottled oxygen pumped into the solution. In a perfect world, some of you would be right here with me doing lots of tests but I am only 1 person.

 

[Snype]

I finally tested the Alita AL 60s on 3 of the new 10 bucket systems as well as the Danner Model 5 in-line pumps and they are perfect. That's a big savings for the 2,000 watt model. I will remove the 12 bucket system on the front page soon.

 

[Stonefree69]

Snype, wondering if you still have access to all of your dissolved oxygen testing equipment. Have a cool experiment if you do......

Look up venturi tee's. As in pvc tee......Also, any you may already be away of this.....look up venturi effect. We may, depending on test results, be able to eliminate the air pump all together.......

There are RDWCers including me not using air pumps using those venturi air pumps, waterfalls, flooming with powerheads, top drip over hydroton or other grow media, and chillers set at 68-72 degrees. With a venturi in the res, the last bucket in line has been measured with very little drop in DO at all.

Relatively chillers costs nothing to me when I'm eyeing a $2,500 Intellidose system with 5-6 peristaltic pumps for auto dosing - which btw can keep grow records minute by minute if you want (I'll set mine to record every 10 minutes).

I know Snype doesn't care about chillers but then again you may need those air stones right in each of your buckets with your res above 75-80 degrees or so. But if if ain't broke as Snype would say why fix it?

 

[Snype]

There are RDWCers including me not using air pumps using those venturi air pumps, waterfalls, flooming with powerheads, top drip over hydroton or other grow media, and chillers set at 68-72 degrees. With a venturi in the res, the last bucket in line has been measured with very little drop in DO at all.

Relatively chillers costs nothing to me when I'm eyeing a $2,500 Intellidose system with 5-6 peristaltic pumps for auto dosing - which btw can keep grow records minute by minute if you want (I'll set mine to record every 10 minutes).

I know Snype doesn't care about chillers but then again you may need those air stones right in each of your buckets with your res above 75-80 degrees or so. But if if ain't broke as Snype would say why fix it?

No thread? No pics? Id like to see one of your grows.