mr jones15
Well-Known Member
Anybody got some good instructions for a diy rdwc system? I've never built one before so please, spare no details.
DIY RDWC
- Thread starter mr jones15
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- diy rdwc rdwc build
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
It's pretty easy. You can use these pics to help you.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/i-gotta-lose-the-air-pumps-how-plus-my-awesome-mini-dwc.960807/page-2#post-14251657
https://www.rollitup.org/t/i-gotta-lose-the-air-pumps-how-plus-my-awesome-mini-dwc.960807/page-2#post-14251657
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
This system uses a waterfall at each site and requires no airpump/air stones/air line at all.
mr jones15
Well-Known Member
Oh what!? No air pump that's cool! Is that your setup? If you remember, about how much did it cost?
mr jones15
Well-Known Member
I need instructions I'm not handy I cant just look at your pictures and make that I've never done it before I have no idea what I'd be doing.
mr jones15
Well-Known Member
Never mind I'll just buy one.
Michael Huntherz
Well-Known Member
Yeah, if you are new to DIY, I would start with making something simple. Learn to drill holes and install bulkheads that don’t leak, get some tools together, learn as you go. If you jumped into building a system like dude posted you might end up with quite a flood.
If you are set on getting into hydro right away with no diy background, buying a system is probably a better approach for now. Designing a system optimized for your needs/goals takes patience and planning, a lot of both.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Less than $100
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
It's simple. This is what you need.
12-2" uniseals.
2- ABS 2" bulkheads.
8- 1/2" grommets.
8- 1/2" elbows.
10-15' 3/4" pvc.
2- 3/4" crosses.
2- 3/4" Tee.
1- 3/4" threaded tee.
4- 3/4" male adapters.
1- 3/4" threaded elbow.(both sides)
8- threaded 3/4-1/2 bushings.
8- 1/2" male thread to barb fittings.
A small (1")piece of 3/4" threaded pipe for connecting threaded elbow to threaded barbed 90 through the lid.
1- 3/4" Female thread 90* to Barb to connect 3/4" black vinyl tube(1'-2') to pump.
Some PVC Glue.
Roll of Teflon thread prep.
A 1600GPH water pump that has a 3/4" outlet.
8- 5 gallon buckets/ lids you cut holes in to the size net pot you wanna use.
2- 2" ABS 90*.
2- 2" ABS Tee.
10'+ of 2" ABS pipe.
3-5' of 1/2" black vinyl tubing.
1- 8gal EZ store container from Walmart.com.
3" hole saw for bulk heads and uniseals.
And a 2 piece step bit set from harbor freight.
That's literally all you need.
12-2" uniseals.
2- ABS 2" bulkheads.
8- 1/2" grommets.
8- 1/2" elbows.
10-15' 3/4" pvc.
2- 3/4" crosses.
2- 3/4" Tee.
1- 3/4" threaded tee.
4- 3/4" male adapters.
1- 3/4" threaded elbow.(both sides)
8- threaded 3/4-1/2 bushings.
8- 1/2" male thread to barb fittings.
A small (1")piece of 3/4" threaded pipe for connecting threaded elbow to threaded barbed 90 through the lid.
1- 3/4" Female thread 90* to Barb to connect 3/4" black vinyl tube(1'-2') to pump.
Some PVC Glue.
Roll of Teflon thread prep.
A 1600GPH water pump that has a 3/4" outlet.
8- 5 gallon buckets/ lids you cut holes in to the size net pot you wanna use.
2- 2" ABS 90*.
2- 2" ABS Tee.
10'+ of 2" ABS pipe.
3-5' of 1/2" black vinyl tubing.
1- 8gal EZ store container from Walmart.com.
3" hole saw for bulk heads and uniseals.
And a 2 piece step bit set from harbor freight.
That's literally all you need.
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Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Used air pumps and stones for years. They suck ass and are loud and get slimy and gross. There's ZERO NEED for airstones when you're moving water through this system with a 1600GPH pump through the waterfalls. Water is always moving very quickly through it.
People associate air pumps and stones with anything "(R)DWC" because it is necessary to use one in a single site bucket because there's no way to create the gas exchange needed for the roots besides air bubbles or possibly flooming. But when you can move the water (RECIRCULATE) It isn't needed at all. Waterfalls agitate the surface more than bubbles do. And the water is constantly being filled into each bucket from the reservoir and pulled back to the reservoir through the 2" returns at the same rate and kept level.
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Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Going to be $500+. This will take you maybe 2 hours to build if you have everything in front of you. It's very simple to do.
Also, they do not make anything like this system. It's completely custom.
Closest thing is a Current Culture H2O Under Current system which are close to $1,000.
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
I kind of went the reverse. My system recirculates, but at a much slower rate but I push a bunch of air into each box. Pumps are along the back wall near my exhaust inlet, I use my exhaust to essentially air cool them, theyre quiet enough that I cant hear them outside the tent and i really enjoy the bubbling water sounds. I have 2 pumps that push ~50gph to each res and have a gravity drain that keeps each res at desired level and all at the same level. Water drains into an external res outside the tent where it gets chilled and then pumped back in. Float valve from holding tank to keep external res topped off.
TBH i never really came across RDWC when I was doing all my research (somehow, in literal months of videos and websites) and was more going for a way to hook a bunch of "bubbleponic" boxes up together to make managing a bunch of them at once easier. My only concern of my system is roots clogging up the drains, but I offset my pots to the other side of each res to hopefully at least combat that some. If this doesnt work out ill be switching to 2" pipe and probably only putting a few stones in the external res.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Confused....haha
But I can tell you the sound of 8 small waterfalls is world's more enjoyable than air pumps.
Since talking to tty Ive been wanting to build a rdwc with waterfalls and here you are explaining how. Thanks man! This will come in useful for me
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
Its like most bubble setups with the water line to the bottom of the basket but its supplied from an outside res instead of recirculated in the same box.Confused....haha
But I can tell you the sound of 8 small waterfalls is world's more enjoyable than air pumps.
I have a hose loop that connects all the boxes together. I ran my drains at the bottom and have a small piece of hose run straight up the side of the box to T in to the main drain line. Once the water hits this level it drains out to the outside res because of gravity. I can fill my outside res with clean water and it will fill all of my res with no pumps.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Very glad.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
I kinda get it more... Pics would explain it all a lot easier.
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
Im going to post up here in the next couple days once I get all my hoses and stuff cleaned up a bit and everything actually started. Flushing h2o2 atm and everything seems to be working as designed and no leaks so far!
Heisengrow
Well-Known Member
DO only can saturate to a ceartian point,Waterfalls are worthless in smaller buckets where the roots fill the entire bucket,You cant create DO if the water is running onto the roots,Air stones work perfect for some people.Go ahead and give all the good without the bad,
Who wants to run giant ass totes and 100s of gallons of water and big ass pumps for plants when i can run 47 gallon 12 bucket systems.Less water to chill down and super efficient.My water chillers barely run.And what happens when you get a clog up on a dump pipe.LOL yeah man dont knock air stones cause your on the waterfall bandwagon.I love them and have no issue whatsoever.
If your getting slime on your hoses than your fuckin up something.
All air stones,47 gallons on each side and my chillers barely run
Air stone buds
