Do I need to aerate my reservoir with a pump?

N

nice fella

Member

• Aug 14, 2020

• #1

I have a submersed water pump that I use to assist in daily watering. But I have not been aerating the water:nute mix otherwise. The water in the reservoir is shielded from light.

Should I be leaving the pump on 24/7?

Thank you.

 

AgentPothead

Just this guy, ya know?

• Aug 14, 2020

• #2

Like is this a DWC setup the plants are growing in the reservoir? Or it's a separate reservoir that gets flooded to the plants? I think if the plants are in the reservoir, you want as much oxygen as possible so pumps good. If it's a separate reservoir I think you only need enough oxygen to keep it from being taken over by anaerobic organisms? If the pump is small or the reservoir is large I wouldn't think it would be a problem leaving it running. I think most people problem with pumps 24/7 is that they create heat.

 

Vanilla Phoenix

Super Lurker

ICMag Donor

• Aug 14, 2020

• #3

I have never used anything to aerate my rez. It’s only 30 gallons and is empty in 5 days though. I just stir/mix it once a day before I water. I’ve heard that if you aerate it, it will spike your pH. If your rez is automated, you might want to have a mixing pump come on a few minutes before your watering starts.

 

troutman

Seed Whore

• Aug 15, 2020

• #4

Without aeration or serious water movement the water will eventually stagnate and smell bad.

 

mean mr.mustard

I Pass Satellites

Veteran

• Aug 17, 2020

• #5

Yes

 

M

madalasatori

Well-known member

Veteran

• Aug 17, 2020

• #6

troutman said:

Without aeration or serious water movement the water will eventually stagnate and smell bad.

Click to expand...

Not if you are using a h20 type product

 

mack 10

Well-known member

Veteran

• Aug 17, 2020

• #7

you don't have too but most do.
if your ontop of your water changes,
you will slay it.
dude here, Badfish did some amazing bucket grows
a few years back. no airpump.
the size of his plants was something else.

 

R

Rheaun

New member

• Aug 27, 2020

• #8

Only reason I wouldn't aerate my reservoir is if the pump heats it up.

 

R

roybart

Member

• Aug 27, 2020

• #9

Vanilla Phoenix said:

I have never used anything to aerate my rez. It’s only 30 gallons and is empty in 5 days though. I just stir/mix it once a day before I water. I’ve heard that if you aerate it, it will spike your pH. If your rez is automated, you might want to have a mixing pump come on a few minutes before your watering starts.

Click to expand...

Water temperature will influence oxygen intake the colder the water the more oxygen.
Oxygen cannot donate hydrogen ions, or can it accept them.
Pumping is moving water, aeration is adding oxygen by pumping air into the water. Unless you are pumping the water and creating a waterfall.
Get some distilled water and run a bubbler in it.

Measure the pH before and after, let us know the results.

 

troutman

Seed Whore

• Aug 27, 2020

• #10

You can also set a water pump to run like a fish livewell to aerate the water too.

Like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akyyg9R0E3o

 

Zeez

---------------->

ICMag Donor

• Aug 27, 2020

• #11

I used a fish tank pump and a stone in the res.
Always figured getting oxygen to the roots was a good thing.

 

S

Starmstr

Member

• Aug 28, 2020

• #12

roybart said:

Water temperature will influence oxygen intake the colder the water the more oxygen.
Oxygen cannot donate hydrogen ions, or can it accept them.
Pumping is moving water, aeration is adding oxygen by pumping air into the water. Unless you are pumping the water and creating a waterfall.
Get some distilled water and run a bubbler in it.

Measure the pH before and after, let us know the results.

Click to expand...

Do not use distilled water!