Dwc air pump

[monkz]

Hi guys,

done plenty of soil grows, but this will be my first hydro.
Using a home-made dwc bin. My question is the following; I bought an aquarium air pump which pushes out 100 lph. I didn't know what that would look like since I've never seen one in action, but I set it up and it looks weak imo.
What pumps do you guys use.
Thinking of buying a quad-outlet 15lpm/900lph instead.

 

[hotrodharley]

Buy the BIGGEST pump you can. There is no such thing as too much aeration with DWC. Also, look at aquarium shops and buy a UV filter pump. Usually run about 90 GPH. It will keep a lot of troubles from ever happening.

 

[hotrodharley]

http://www.amazon.com/Watts--Tank-Submersible-Sterilizer-Clarifier/dp/B00JGCWYYI/ref=sr_1_14/187-0172410-2582654?ie=UTF8&qid=1445804341&sr=8-14&keywords=uv+aquarium+filter

 

[monkz]

Cheers dude.
What exactly is the UV filter for?

 

[rkymtnman]

even better than an air pump is a waterfall. i use a small water pump in my res with some tubing on it and 2 90 deg elbows to make a waterfall in my res.

water temps are very important too. 68F is optimal

 

[hotrodharley]

Cheers dude.
What exactly is the UV filter for?

To kill the bacteria that will come. If they come. The UV makes sure they do NOT!

 

[hotrodharley]

Especially use with a waterfall. Waterfalls are good for lowering temps like rkymtnman said. VERY important. Bacteria and algae need warm non-aerated water to thrive

 

[rkymtnman]

agree with hotrod. except it's not if the bacteria come, but when. i use dutchmaster zone in mine. it's bascially chlorine which kills most.

 

[monkz]

So is a waterfall better than an air pump? If so, could you link me to one on eBay so I can but it.
Do you use that dutchmaster product continuously, as in, is it always in your res, or do you wash your roots with it?

 

[fanleaves]

Yeah, the bacteria are floating around in the air, nothing you can do but make sure the water is inhospitable towards the bad ones. They like warm non-aerated water. The more air you have the better. Not all bacteria is bad though (some people brew microbial teas to put in their water), so running a sterile system isn't really necessary...it'll just save you some headaches while you get started and learning what's going on. With high aeration levels, I've had no root issues at 78 degree water. Wouldn't recommend running at that temperature though.

 

[hotrodharley]

http://rollitup.org/t/worms-in-my-roots-bubble-bucket-please-help.888172/#post-12013881

"Hey guys,

I checked my roots and there are hundreds of tiny RED worms, about the size of the letter J on the screen.

I have researched and they are called bloodworms. : http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Live Food, Blood Worms.htm


Please someone help me....there are hundreds in my roots!!!!"

Here you go.No BS like this with a UV filter or dutchmaster. You MUST stay on top of hydro grows.

 

[rkymtnman]

So is a waterfall better than an air pump? If so, could you link me to one on eBay so I can but it.
Do you use that dutchmaster product continuously, as in, is it always in your res, or do you wash your roots with it?

waterfall is better than air pump. are you handy building stuff? grab a smallish water pump (maybe 300 gph), some 1/2" tubing, 2 90 degree plastic elbows and build one to fit in your res.

yes i use Zone at 20mL per 10 gallons all the time. it's really cheap to use.

 

[fanleaves]

Even better than a waterfall is a venturi. Many pumps come with a venturi fitting. Either way you might want to consider having the pump external to the res so roots don't grow into it as easily and it will keep the temps down a little better.

 

[hotrodharley]

The pumps he's talking about are external. Only the air lines and the air stones are in the actual soup in the grow container.

 

[hotrodharley]

Buy the BIGGEST pump and a multi-port manifold. You will get so hooked on DWC and hydro you will always have one going I'll bet. Then you can simply add buckets and an air line from the manifold to your new DWCs as you add.

 

[past times]

or use both use this product in 5 gallon buckets http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-DWDrip-Hydroponic-System
with a 2 outlet pump, one for aeration and one for the drip system on top (Drips out from the brown ring on top). Super easy and cheap.

 

[monkz]

Yeah I've already built my dwc bin.
I'll be getting a bigger air pump and uv filter then.
Is the point of the water pump solely for aeration? As in, is it because the force of the falling water creates an oxygen rich environment? If this is the case, it seems to me that a more powerful air pump would suffice for this purpose?

 

[ttystikk]

I built my RDWC around using waterfalls from topfeed through the same hydroton the roots are in.

No airpump, lines or stones at all.

No chlorine, Zone or other conditioners/antimicrobials.

I control my water temps to remain below 70f, 64f is about ideal.

Stupid simple;

 

[rkymtnman]

Yeah I've already built my dwc bin.
I'll be getting a bigger air pump and uv filter then.
Is the point of the water pump solely for aeration? As in, is it because the force of the falling water creates an oxygen rich environment? If this is the case, it seems to me that a more powerful air pump would suffice for this purpose?

day 1 your airstones are putting out 100%. what about day 21? day 85?

why do you think most ponds etc have waterfalls? not for looks. for aeration.

 

[hotrodharley]

Good luck with that in a 5-gallon DWC which is what he is doing. Damned nice plants, ttystikk.