Rdwc troubleshooting

[Rdot03]

So I've completed my 5 tote system with waterfalls in each tote. I did a leak test and noticed my waterfall pump drained my res before my chiller pump could fill it back. My questions are did this only happen bc I only partially filled my totes? Or do I need equally strong pumps on each end?

 

[GBAUTO]

Pics or diagram of your system will help.

 

[Rdot03]

Res with inline 1200 GPh pump to waterfalls 3/4" to 1/2" with 90s. The return is 2" to 1/2" reduced to 350 gph pump the feeds I to chiller and back to res.

 

[redi jedi]

Still cant see what you got going on there. Need to see all the plumbing and pumps but it sounds like your problem is because you are using two pumps of different size. And your returns go from 2" down to 1/2"?

 

[Airwalker16]

I'm nearly positive your return lines (gravity fed) are just not large enough in diameter to supply enough water back to your res before the pump drains it. 2" is about the minimum. 1.5" is doable on a smaller 10-20gal system but larger is needed on anything much bigger..
This was an issue I had and ultimately was the reason for me completely upgrading my RDWC.

 

[Rdot03]

Still cant see what you got going on there. Need to see all the plumbing and pumps but it sounds like your problem is because you are using two pumps of different size. And your returns go from 2" down to 1/2"?

Sorry I took it apart. To change a o ring. I'll try to get a better pic or diagram later today

 

[Rdot03]

I'm nearly positive your return lines(gravity fed) are just not large enough to supply enough water back to your red before the pump drains it. 2" is about the minimum. 1.5" is doable on a smaller 10-20gal system but larger is needed on anything much bigger.

So a 350 gph pump pulling water to my chiller isnt strong enough? What if I up the size of the final return line or got a bigger pump to pull more water?

 

[Airwalker16]

So a 350 gph pump pulling water to my chiller isnt strong enough? What if I up the size of the final return line or got a bigger pump to pull more water?

You need one pump that's APPROPRIATE SIZED for your chiller. Then an ENTIRELY SEPARATE pump for the waterfalls.

 

[Airwalker16]

Buy as said before, a pic will tell me everything I need to know to help

 

[Airwalker16]

Res with inline 1200 GPh pump to waterfalls 3/4" to 1/2" with 90s. The return is 2" to 1/2" reduced to 350 gph pump the feeds I to chiller and back to res.

Looks like you were trying to mimic a UC system with the smaller diameter piping at the end of the totes. This doesn't work when you do waterfalls. UC systems move the water the completely opposite way. It seems though you did use larger diameter piping to connect each totes though? You'll just need to upgrade that one piece off the right angle to the same size that was used for tote connections, there, back to the reservoir.

 

[Rdot03]

Buy as said before, a pic will tell me everything I need to know to help

I posted a video of the setup

 

[Rdot03]

You need one pump that's APPROPRIATE SIZED for your chiller. Then an ENTIRELY SEPARATE pump for the waterfalls.

Ok so maybe I need a bigger pump for my chiller

 

[Rdot03]

Looks like you were trying to mimic a UC system with the smaller diameter piping at the end of the totes. This doesn't work when you do waterfalls. UC systems move the water the completely opposite way. It seems though you did use larger diameter piping to connect each totes though? You'll just need to upgrade that one piece off the right angle to the same size that was used for tote connections, there, back to the reservoir.

Yes 2" between totes and 2" 90 out of last tote back to chiller. I thought I needed a smaller chiller line so it wouldnt drain as fast ?

 

[mytwhyt]

Here I've been thinking that the chiller should be in a closed loop with the reservoir... Doesn't the chiller pump only circulate the water from the reservoir, through the chiller, then back to the reservoir???? The other pump moves water through the system...

 

[Rdot03]

Here I've been thinking that the chiller should be in a closed loop with the reservoir... Doesn't the chiller pump only circulate the water from the reservoir, through the chiller, then back to the reservoir???? The other pump moves water through the system...

Idk? Is that how it works or should work?

 

[redi jedi]

Idk? Is that how it works or should work?

Yes thats how it should be setup. Your video doesnt work so I still cant see how you have built your system. I think you're going to need to run 2" all the way back to your control bucket to allow the water to drain back fast enough. And then draw water from the control bucket, through the chiller and back to the control. That way it wont matter if the pumps are different flow rates.

 

[Airwalker16]

Here I've been thinking that the chiller should be in a closed loop with the reservoir... Doesn't the chiller pump only circulate the water from the reservoir, through the chiller, then back to the reservoir???? The other pump moves water through the system...

Yeszir this is correct.

 

[Airwalker16]

Yes thats how it should be setup. Your video doesnt work so I still cant see how you have built your system. I think you're going to need to run 2" all the way back to your control bucket to allow the water to drain back fast enough. And then draw water from the control bucket, through the chiller and back to the control. That way it wont matter if the pumps are different flow rates.

This^

 

[Rdot03]

I think I got something to work with now

 

[Airwalker16]

I think I got something to work with now

Much better. Only thing I'd do different is having the pump for the manifold also inline. But your chiller will take care of any heat it creates. Good work.