^ROOKIE^ Bubbler (help please)

CingCush30

CingCush30

Member
So I'm starting up my first DWC "bubble bucket".
I'd like some insight from a few O.G's about water pumps. (air pumps)

I'm Rollin with just one 5 gallon bucket for this first try. I have 2 aquarium pumps rated for 60/40.
(One says 60 gallons and the others 40) They both have one 6in Air stone a piece. (They don't really fit on the bottom like I thought they might)

My question?: is this enough movement? I've read when it comes to bubbles, the more the better. With both pumps running it kind of looks like there's not that much going on. (In terms of water movement) it looks like there's about 25-30 baby elves, with straws, blowing bubbles.

Would that be enough? Should I just scrap the pumps and get something heavier?
Thanks for the knowledge, always.
Cman
 
Vumar

Vumar

Well-Known Member
CingCush30 said:
You think it's enough? ... I'll try and post a flicc when I get home, I can't help but think the roots will need more!
Click to expand...
You want the smallest possible bubble in large amounts. So if you are un-happy with your bubbles than it might be worth the $15 bucks to try different stones. From experience I can tell you the cyclinder stones that are like $5-$7 (hydro store price lol) a piece are perfect. The idea is to get the most surface area per bubble which allows for better dissolved oxygen rates. (referred to as DO all the time on rollitup, high DO rate bro~!)
 
CingCush30

CingCush30

Member
Thank you Vumar, I'll hit the hydro store in the a.m. I'm running some shizz straight outta wallyworld! They're 6in stones, but they're flat on the bottom.
I'm gonna do some more reading on the subject though, thanks again.
 
CingCush30

CingCush30

Member
biddyblossom said:
cing, im having the same problem as u. I got this one -
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141342908511?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

it wont even put bubbles to the top in 2-3 gallon of water. I must have a bigger one
Click to expand...
*******
I'd try switching those stones, I went out and bought the same ones and I thought they were garbage compared to the 6in flat style.
(The problem I'm having now is no growth, I transplanted my seedling and normally (in soil) they **!!pew!!**
Take right off. Not sure what I'm doing wrong)

... But yea, I'd try bigger stones, I'm gonna hit the hydro store on Tuesday and see if I can get some disk shaped.
(I looked at the boxes and ones a 10-20 and the others a 20-30, I thought they were bigger)
 
B

biddyblossom

Member
stones wont help this little pump. I got a small air pump my son uses for air brushing and I hooked it up just to see and Blasto, it will churn and put bubbles over the top with these same stones. its too noisy to use though. also I got a nebulizer and it will churn and bubble like crazy. the ebay pump is just too weak.
 
T

twistedwords

Well-Known Member
les do absolutely nothing for the water. All the bubbles do is agitate the water surface by creating disturbance and that is what causes oxygen from the air to mix with the water. Google how bubbles agitate water to oxygenated water. I will clue you in no one here has created something new with bubbles, aquariums have been using it for a long time.
 
Vumar

Vumar

Well-Known Member
CingCush30 said:
*******
I'd try switching those stones, I went out and bought the same ones and I thought they were garbage compared to the 6in flat style.
(The problem I'm having now is no growth, I transplanted my seedling and normally (in soil) they **!!pew!!**
Take right off. Not sure what I'm doing wrong)

... But yea, I'd try bigger stones, I'm gonna hit the hydro store on Tuesday and see if I can get some disk shaped.
(I looked at the boxes and ones a 10-20 and the others a 20-30, I thought they were bigger)
Click to expand...
Your 6" flat style disc won't sit flat unless you run an elbow in the air tubing =( I just drop my stone cylinders in and it's magic. Gotta love commercial pumps too not those cheesy ebay aquarium ones. Not to mention a nebulizer is a horrible idea for a hydro system lmao. It's so loud! xD
 
P

pappybear

Active Member
i agree with vumar. the chunky cylinder ones are the only way. doesnt hurt to add a second air stone tho, they can clog up on you. gotta rinse them every so often. other than that i would say you dont need high ppms, change your water every 7 to 10 days. and keep hygrozyme or some kind of zyme in o shit at all times. and if you dont take any of that advice and end up with root slime or rot/bugs. fuckin bleach tht shit.. freshly opened bottle and only like one or two mil per gallon. run fo an hr and replace. ive had white flies and for some reason springtails and bleach did them in. plants dont mind. just my experience.
 
CingCush30

CingCush30

Member
Thank you everyone, for their input.

Vumar said:
Your 6" flat style disc won't sit flat unless you run an elbow in the air tubing =( I just drop my stone cylinders in and it's magic. Gotta love commercial pumps too not those cheesy ebay aquarium ones. Not to mention a nebulizer is a horrible idea for a hydro system lmao. It's so loud! xD
Click to expand...
The stones I run are not disks, they're "flat cylinders" (I guess you'd call them) or maybe "flat boxes"? They're the shape of a square and have the stone material on the top. (Where the bubbles come from)
 
CingCush30

CingCush30

Member
I know I'm getting off topic from this post but, any info on what I should run in my res at all time? (There's NOTHING in it yet and I think this is the reason I have VERY MINIMAL growth)
Thanks again!

C-man
 
P

pappybear

Active Member
you shouldstart with half strength grow formula hydroponic nutrients. or quarter strength for new plants and increase feed until you see tip burn or something similar. but like i said hygrozyme or a zyme of some kind is prettymuch a must if you dont have a water chiller
 
CingCush30

CingCush30

Member
pappybear said:
you shouldstart with half strength grow formula hydroponic nutrients. or quarter strength for new plants and increase feed until you see tip burn or something similar. but like i said hygrozyme or a zyme of some kind is prettymuch a must if you dont have a water chiller
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input Pappybear, I hit the hydro store today and they were out of water stones! :( BUT I bought a new air pump and let me tell you... WOW! There IS a difference, immense difference! I scooped an elemental 254GPH and in not lookin back:)
I just blessed my baby with some GH root juice and a touch of grow and the myc. (Only like 1/5 strength, my res change is in 3 days and I'll hit her a little harder on the change.)

C-man
 
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pappybear

Active Member
ya i did the same thing lol. then i got the gnarley mini compressor air pump with a six gang adaptor. i quit bubbling for a min tho. everybody talked meinto pro mix. its a lot less work but im just not seeing the growth i was seeing with hydro. im slowly switching back. i just put a clone in a net pot with a bubble bucket today. maybe this time ill use the ph perfect nutes and save myself some headache
 
CingCush30

CingCush30

Member
That's great to hear Pappy, the reason I'm switching to buckets is;
It's out of my element. Its all brand new again, trials, tribulations, ups and very low downs! I want to see for myself if hydro is worth all the extra "mechanics". Everything seems to be good, now that I gave her some food. She's definitely grown but it's too early to weigh the bud before it grows!

(To be considered a true master, one must master truly. (Science)

C-man
 
P

pappybear

Active Member
oh yeah. if you do it right a strain that takes 65 days in dirt takes 60 or less to flower. and you can literally see them grow every day. illbe glad to share my experience.
 
BecauseIgotHigh

BecauseIgotHigh

Well-Known Member
As long as you have air pumping into the tote. The air will form into bubbles when they reach to the top. The more air, the better. When your tote gets filled with root mass, make sure your air is pumping at the very bottom of the tote. The air will then squeeze through your root mass creating plenty of bubbles side by side.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
In buckets do NOT just mix feeds at any strength and go for it. Buy a PPM meter and learn to use it. Suggest starting off with 300PPM and NO MORE. Wait until it starts to drop before increasing your nutes to 500PPM etc. This info is intended for those who read to learn.
 
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