Rdwc water change questions!

[ddeck96]

I’m about to start my first RDWC waterfall grow. Hydro noob here, so I figure I’m bound to run into some problems which will require some complete res changes (system holds about 30 gallons). So my questions are: How the hell do I drain my system in case of root rot? Also, i use a separate tote to mix my nutes in before adding them to the res, how do I transfer water from my mixing tote into my actual reservoir? Any help is appreciated!!!!

 

[rkymtnman]

got a floor drain nearby?

or a wet/dry vacuum?

 

[Failmore]

Oh boy. You should be removing the water every 1 or 2 weeks Ideally.

Buy a small pond pump and use that to transfer from 1 bucket to another.

These are things you gotta think about before buying or building a system.

Also...Ideally you will never have rot if you do things correct.

 

[ddeck96]

got a floor drain nearby?

or a wet/dry vacuum?

no floor drain
I think I have a shopvac tho

 

[myke]

So the key is just use an A and B nutes add calmag keep around 1 ec..NO OTHER SHIT!! ph ......you know that already,i hope.
You already have a pump? simple valve and a T garden hose done.
Dont make it complicated rdwc is easier then soil...

 

[myke]

no floor drain
I think I have a shopvac tho

bathtub.

 

[ddeck96]

Oh boy. You should be removing the water every 1 or 2 weeks Ideally.

Buy a small pond pump and use that to transfer from 1 bucket to another.

These are things you gotta think about before buying or building a system.

Also...Ideally you will never have rot if you do things correct.

I actually haven’t even built the system yet. Just want to get it all planned out so I don’t run into problems I’m unprepared for. And yeah I know I need to change water every 1-2 weeks.
Yeah I thought about using my spare pump to do changes and refills. But I won’t be able to get all of the water out with it, does that matter?

 

[Failmore]

I actually haven’t even built the system yet. Just want to get it all planned out so I don’t run into problems I’m unprepared for. And yeah I know I need to change water every 1-2 weeks.
Yeah I thought about using my spare pump to do changes and refills. But I won’t be able to get all of the water out with it, does that matter?

If everything is going well...no...if you have issues and got rot..yes.

What are your plans for water temps? You got a chiller or going sterile?

 

[ddeck96]

If everything is going well...no...if you have issues and got rot..yes.

What are your plans for water temps? You got a chiller or going sterile?

Getting a chiller around Christmas time when I can afford it. In the meantime, it’s winter and the ambient temps in my grow room stay at between 60-70 where the res will be. The tent is about 75 ish with the lights on. I’ll be using HydroGuard in hopes that it will help my plants tolerate a little bit higher temps until I can get a chiller.

 

[ddeck96]

If everything is going well...no...if you have issues and got rot..yes.

What are your plans for water temps? You got a chiller or going sterile?

so root rot is a definite possibility. So I may need a way to fully empty the system If that problem occurs.

 

[ddeck96]

So the key is just use an A and B nutes add calmag keep around 1 ec..NO OTHER SHIT!! ph ......you know that already,i hope.
You already have a pump? simple valve and a T garden hose done.
Dont make it complicated rdwc is easier then soil...

mind showing me a picture of the valve and T drainage system you’re talking about?

 

[myke]

mind showing me a picture of the valve and T drainage system you’re talking about?

I need a pic of your pump ,inline or in your res submerged?

 

[ddeck96]

I need a pic of your pump ,inline or in your res submerged?

I have two, one Danner mag drive inline, and a Hydrofarm active aqua 800gph which is also inline
One is just a back up for redundancy. The pump pulls from the res and splits off into each of the 4 buckets for a waterfall in each one. The return to the reservoir is gravity fed.

 

[myke]

then your back up pump is your drain pump hooked to a garden hose.
Where in your house is this that you dont have a drain close by?

 

[myke]

https://www.rona.ca/en/ipex-abs-wye-dishwasher-adapter-027192-0068372?viewStore=66550&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=9873658523&cq_con=100703536312&cq_term=&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=u&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&&cm_mmc=shopping_google-_-9873658523-_-100703536312-_-pla-377535711332&gclid=CjwKCAiAnIT9BRAmEiwANaoE1d0Qmdmp5hcQBLXa07WDrfmFzSqqr3WmHD6Q47xJhNcg8inbIvpxUBoCTwQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[myke]

put it on top of your washing machine drain.

 

[J232]

But I won’t be able to get all of the water out with it, does that matter?

You have to plan like you need to get all the water out, just a sub pump for the bulk and a shop vac for the rest. Not saying it has to be right drained, but at some point you will or will need to so be prepared.

 

[ddeck96]

then your back up pump is your drain pump hooked to a garden hose.
Where in your house is this that you dont have a drain close by?

I have a drain in my shower but it’s like 15-20 feet away.

 

[J232]

I have a drain in my shower but it’s like 15-20 feet away.

Most pumps come with an attachment for a garden hose, or a barbed 1/2” fitting.

 

[ddeck96]

Most pumps come with an attachment for a garden hose, or a barbed 1/2” fitting.

yea I got both of those.