RDWC 2 site tote with controller. Which waterfall method works better?

Which waterfall method works the best?

  • Angled elbow with reducer to 1/2

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 90 degree elbow with reducer

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 90 degrees elbow reducer

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    4

snap360

Member
Hello fellow RIU. I'm looking for opinions on which waterfall displacement is best. Currently building a 2 tote RDWC with a controller and water reservoir. I have to some videos hoping you can help me decide on the choices. With one of these methods, do I need an air pump to supplement as well? Would it increase my yields with air pump?

Waterfall methods

Link to bucket design
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Hello fellow RIU. I'm looking for opinions on which waterfall displacement is best. Currently building a 2 tote RDWC with a controller and water reservoir. I have to some videos hoping you can help me decide on the choices. With one of these methods, do I need an air pump to supplement as well? Would it increase my yields with air pump?

Waterfall methods

Link to bucket design
It can be as simple as a 1/2" barb inside the bucket. Works and has worked for 2 years straight. Just need to have the water fall in to the water below. That's it. Plus your answers to your poll are basically all the same thing.
IMAG0738.jpg
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Hello fellow RIU. I'm looking for opinions on which waterfall displacement is best. Currently building a 2 tote RDWC with a controller and water reservoir. I have to some videos hoping you can help me decide on the choices. With one of these methods, do I need an air pump to supplement as well? Would it increase my yields with air pump?

Waterfall methods

Link to bucket design
Only suggestion I have is for you to plumb your pump inline using a smaller 3/4" bulkhead off the front bottom of the reservoir(control bucket) rather than using a submersible. It helps greatly to cool the pump by ambient air and not your systems water being used as a heatsink
 

fragileassassin

Well-Known Member
Hello fellow RIU. I'm looking for opinions on which waterfall displacement is best. Currently building a 2 tote RDWC with a controller and water reservoir. I have to some videos hoping you can help me decide on the choices. With one of these methods, do I need an air pump to supplement as well? Would it increase my yields with air pump?

Waterfall methods

Link to bucket design
I use exactly like the first method on both my systems, no airstones needed.
 

snap360

Member
Only suggestion I have is for you to plumb your pump inline using a smaller 3/4" bulkhead off the front bottom of the reservoir(control bucket) rather than using a submersible. It helps greatly to cool the pump by ambient air and not your systems water being used as a heatsink
That's great tip. I'll give that a shot. Thanks Airwalker. And it doesn't matter how the waterfall hits the surface of the water itself as long as it does?
 

Lockem

Well-Known Member
That's great tip. I'll give that a shot. Thanks Airwalker. And it doesn't matter how the waterfall hits the surface of the water itself as long as it does?
Correct, the dissolved oxygen is introduced when the surface of the water is disrupted. A more powerful stream might create more disruption, but the same can be achieved with a low-pressure spray bar. Plants only benefit from dissolved oxygen levels up to 8 mg/L, which doesn't take much, assuming your water temperature isn't exceedingly high. Levels beyond that will only provide marginal benefits if any, and too much (upwards of 30 mg/L) can reduce yields.

20200529_121343 (1).jpg
 
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Mikenike

Well-Known Member
Correct, the dissolved oxygen is introduced when the surface of the water is disrupted. A more powerful stream might create more disruption, but the same can be achieved with a low-pressure spray bar. Plants only benefit from dissolved oxygen levels up to 8 mg/L, which doesn't take much. Levels beyond that will only provide marginal benefits if any, and too much (upwards of 30 mg/L) can reduce yields.

View attachment 4596066
What makes you say plants only benefit up to 8ppm of dissolved oxygen? Although it may not be hard to reach 8ppm of DO the key thing to doing it as water temp. If your water isn’t cold enough then it won’t matter how much you disrupt the water surface. I think the max saturation level is 13ppm of DO and if I remember right, the water has to be at/below 58f to reach that. Got a link for the 30ppm impacting yield?
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
What makes you say plants only benefit up to 8ppm of dissolved oxygen? Although it may not be hard to reach 8ppm of DO the key thing to doing it as water temp. If your water isn’t cold enough then it won’t matter how much you disrupt the water surface. I think the max saturation level is 13ppm of DO and if I remember right, the water has to be at/below 58f to reach that. Got a link for the 30ppm impacting yield?
It's like 65℉
 

Lockem

Well-Known Member
What makes you say plants only benefit up to 8ppm of dissolved oxygen? Although it may not be hard to reach 8ppm of DO the key thing to doing it as water temp. If your water isn’t cold enough then it won’t matter how much you disrupt the water surface. I think the max saturation level is 13ppm of DO and if I remember right, the water has to be at/below 58f to reach that. Got a link for the 30ppm impacting yield?
Sorry, I should have worded that differently. They will technically benefit from levels up to ~30 mg/L, but anything over ~8.5 mg/L is trivial. I couldn't find the exact paper, I'd have to dig through school shit, but here's one with similar findings for tomatoes:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240423948_An_upper_limit_for_elevated_root_zone_dissolved_oxygen_concentration_for_tomato

Basically, something about extreme concentrations actually decreases the development of root hairs / adventitious roots. Ultimately, none of this matters though, as you're not hitting > 30 mg/L without some sort of extreme enrichment.
 

carriere

New Member
Correct, the dissolved oxygen is introduced when the surface of the water is disrupted. A more powerful stream might create more disruption, but the same can be achieved with a low-pressure spray bar. Plants only benefit from dissolved oxygen levels up to 8 mg/L, which doesn't take much, assuming your water temperature isn't exceedingly high. Levels beyond that will only provide marginal benefits if any, and too much (upwards of 30 mg/L) can reduce yields.

View attachment 4596066
I like your setup! Is it 7 Gallon? I have a very similar one in both 7 & 13 Gallon EZ Stor buckets... But where did you get those fancy lids for the EZ Stor buckets? I wonder if they have them for my sizes?
 
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Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
:rolleyes:
I like your setup! Is it 7 Gallon? I have a very similar one in both 7 & 13 Gallon EZ Stor buckets... But where did you get those fancy lids for the EZ Stor buckets? I wonder if they have them for my sizes?
EZ stor lids are the same fit for 8 & 13gal sizes. So they'll fit. And you're ez stor is 8 gallons, not 7. Unfortunately, the buckets he's using are not EZ Stor containers. They're API Kirk 5.3gals. I walked him through his whole build.
 

carriere

New Member
:rolleyes:
EZ stor lids are the same fit for 8 & 13gal sizes. So they'll fit. And you're ez stor is 8 gallons, not 7. Unfortunately, the buckets he's using are not EZ Stor containers. They're API Kirk 5.3gals. I walked him through his whole build.
Yeah, Correction mine are 8 & 13-gallon buckets. Was just looking for a solid lid like the current culture without the added brand price tag...
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Yeah, Correction mine are 8 & 13-gallon buckets. Was just looking for a solid lid like the current culture without the added brand price tag...
You can order new lids and just cut away at the tear tab in certain spots to allow it to peel off instead of locking. you'll most likely cut out a good portion of the seam right in the middle so some reinforcement along the remaining seam would be a good idea.
 

Lockem

Well-Known Member
I like your setup! Is it 7 Gallon? I have a very similar one in both 7 & 13 Gallon EZ Stor buckets... But where did you get those fancy lids for the EZ Stor buckets? I wonder if they have them for my sizes?
What @Airwalker16 said is correct. I'm not using EZ Stores, but I believe the Current Culture lids fit the EZ Stor containers. They may have altered them by now, but they used to fit perfectly. The price will be higher, but not outrageous.

https://cch2o.com/product/cch2o-lids/

You can order new lids and just cut away at the tear tab in certain spots to allow it to peel off instead of locking. you'll most likely cut out a good portion of the seam right in the middle so some reinforcement along the remaining seam would be a good idea.
This is another good option. Use some corrugated plastic sheets, cut them out to fit the spaces on the lid, stick them down with some mounting tape, and then cover them with foil tape. Make sure to tape over the outer edges of the lid so that you get the extra durability.

 
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