How to Properly Aerate a Small (or large) Rez

GanjaJack

GanjaJack

Well-Known Member
linuxman said:
Just wow, its very rare for me to hear someone say they do not use any kind of sterile reservoir tank protocol for a controlled/predictable healthy grow when using non-organic nutes. I can only imagine what exactly is keeping your DWC grow stable and healthy of keeping pathogens at bay.

For my True Aeroponic system, I'll get some really epic thick clear translucent Gooey Louie slime build up all over on the roots when I stop using an effective sterile reservoir protocol.

What kind of nutes and water do you use?
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You'd be pretty amazed at my grow... My plants use a 5 gallon bucket of GH 3 part series every other day about 2 weeks into flowering. Keep the water moving with 4 air stones, no "pathogens" will grow. Keep the temps below 70 in the resevoirs. Easy to do in a basement in northern NY.

Pathogens simply don't have time to grow in an environment that's not friendly to begin with.

My sterilizing a bucket consists of.... using a scrubby sponge and hot water.... same buckets for the past 11 years.... I should probably get some new ones sometimes.

I don't even use PH adjusters. What happens here is... The PH from the well water is over the top near 9...

During veg, I don't bother adjusting, the plants grow fine and look fine.

Then comes flower time and I check the PH once, just because I want to make sure that the GH formula isn't doing something unusual....

The flower part of the 3 part series swings my PH WAY down to 6.5-6.0...... after I add 3 tablespoons of the stuff. So no PH adjustment is necessary.

I don't bother with adjusting after, I let the PH range as the plant needs.

Anyway, I harvest near a pound every 30 days, on plants that flower every 60 days in a 5 x 5 perpetual garden. Which isn't unusual, but is an example to you of the consistency and stability of my garden with low maintenance.45CE26C7-999A-40F8-9632-AD34BECBB1A8.jpeg013ACB89-7E30-4535-B025-B8807A5FFB8C.jpeg
 
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Bucsfan80

Bucsfan80

Well-Known Member
linuxman said:
Just wow, its very rare for me to hear someone say they do not use any kind of sterile reservoir tank protocol for a controlled/predictable healthy grow when using non-organic nutes. I can only imagine what exactly is keeping your DWC grow stable and healthy of keeping pathogens at bay.

For my True Aeroponic system, I'll get some really epic thick clear translucent Gooey Louie slime build up all over on the roots when I stop using an effective sterile reservoir protocol.

What kind of nutes and water do you use?
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I gh trio and tap water. I have a whole house filter but it's not one of those fancy ones that can actually filter out pathogens but, tap water comes out around 50-60ppm.
 
A

a31

Member
linuxman said:
You can really saturate the tank with oxygen using a simple "Pinwheel Impeller" pump... this stuff is specifically designed and engineered to saturate the water with oxygen, it's used in the fish reefing hobby/industry. Can also be used for hydroponics.

The way it works is that it uses a simple passive venturi to bring in air bubbles into the pump chamber, the air bubble are then chopped into millions of little tiny air particles using a special "needle wheel impeller".

They are expensive because its made for the reefing community, since it needs to be ultra quite, saturate the water tank with oxygen and work 24/7 without a hitch. Costs about $100+ since majority of them are DC motor based and comes with a controller which you can fine tune the pump speed.

You can obtain one for around $30, it is a replacement part for the skimmer in reefing but seems it can be easily modified for hydro:
www.coralvue.com

Reef Octopus OTP 300 Pinwheel Skimmer Pump

Cost small OTP300 skimmer pump provide exceptional performance per watt. Direct replacement pumps for Reef Octopus BH-50 protein skimmer.
www.coralvue.com www.coralvue.com

Take a look just how well these "Pinwheel Impeller" pumps oxygenates the water tank, you can do a whole lot of customizations of making the water very active and moving around:

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I have to create an account just to reply to this. Thank you for the idea, I just bought a protein skimmer for aeration in my res to ditch my airstones/air pumps in each bucket. Will report back the result (I'm running rdwc). I'm fully convinced I wasted money on my air pumps.
I tried to look for information on this pinwheel, since the vid you linked is not exactly easy for me to follow. My question is: How does this pin work? I assume on the venturi principle, with extra pins to mix the water with air.

Sorry for the bad English, I'm from Asia and illegally growing.
 
Bucsfan80

Bucsfan80

Well-Known Member
a31 said:
I have to create an account just to reply to this. Thank you for the idea, I just bought a protein skimmer for aeration in my res to ditch my airstones/air pumps in each bucket. Will report back the result (I'm running rdwc). I'm fully convinced I wasted money on my air pumps.
I tried to look for information on this pinwheel, since the vid you linked is not exactly easy for me to follow. My question is: How does this pin work? I assume on the venturi principle, with extra pins to mix the water with air.

Sorry for the bad English, I'm from Asia and illegally growing.
Click to expand...
You don't need a protein skimmer? Way over thinking stuff I mean a water fall is all you need and if you want to get fancy where the waterfall would come out attach a T with a couple inch piece coming off each side put a cap on them drill a bunch of little holes and poof you have a spray bar
 
A

a31

Member
Bucsfan80 said:
You don't need a protein skimmer? Way over thinking stuff I mean a water fall is all you need and if you want to get fancy where the waterfall would come out attach a T with a couple inch piece coming off each side put a cap on them drill a bunch of little holes and poof you have a spray bar
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Yes, I do tend to overthinking stuff like this because it is fun for me.
It might be overkill but I rather am safe than sorry.
1. I got a very good deal on the skimmer (15$)
2. I don't use a chiller (27C on res currently)
3. My waterfalls are rather pathetic because I don't let them fall too far (too noisy), only like a few cm to the surface. I attached a dripping head to the end of the waterfall so it can spray water and control the volume.

Cheers,
 
Bucsfan80

Bucsfan80

Well-Known Member
a31 said:
Yes, I do tend to overthinking stuff like this because it is fun for me.
It might be overkill but I rather am safe than sorry.
1. I got a very good deal on the skimmer (15$)
2. I don't use a chiller (27C on res currently)
3. My waterfalls are rather pathetic because I don't let them fall too far (too noisy), only like a few cm to the surface. I attached a dripping head to the end of the waterfall so it can spray water and control the volume.

Cheers,
Click to expand...
Ok that's cool wasn't meant as a dis you know and have your system set up for you and that's how it's supposed to be. Knowing now noise is an issue I get it. I don't know what a protein skimmer is honestly never heard it mentioned I'm curious tho
 
A

a31

Member
It is used to filter salt aquarium. I'm not exactly sure how it works yet, someone mentioned it and it seems like the most efficience method to aerate the water. There might be some issues with it since no one really uses it for hydro (as far as I know).
Mine is only 3.5v, so the heat should be minimal.
The bubble looks crazy good tho.
 
linuxman

linuxman

Well-Known Member
a31 said:
I have to create an account just to reply to this. Thank you for the idea, I just bought a protein skimmer for aeration in my res to ditch my airstones/air pumps in each bucket. Will report back the result (I'm running rdwc). I'm fully convinced I wasted money on my air pumps.
I tried to look for information on this pinwheel, since the vid you linked is not exactly easy for me to follow. My question is: How does this pin work? I assume on the venturi principle, with extra pins to mix the water with air.

Sorry for the bad English, I'm from Asia and illegally growing.
Click to expand...
Let us know, I'm sure it will be
Bucsfan80 said:
Ok that's cool wasn't meant as a dis you know and have your system set up for you and that's how it's supposed to be. Knowing now noise is an issue I get it. I don't know what a protein skimmer is honestly never heard it mentioned I'm curious tho
Click to expand...
a31 said:
I have to create an account just to reply to this. Thank you for the idea, I just bought a protein skimmer for aeration in my res to ditch my airstones/air pumps in each bucket. Will report back the result (I'm running rdwc). I'm fully convinced I wasted money on my air pumps.
I tried to look for information on this pinwheel, since the vid you linked is not exactly easy for me to follow. My question is: How does this pin work? I assume on the venturi principle, with extra pins to mix the water with air.

Sorry for the bad English, I'm from Asia and illegally growing.
Click to expand...
The aeration of protein skimmer is so effective that it's used in the wastewater treatment industry so that the aerobic bacteria which is inoculated will be mass populated and effectively eradicate/degrade pollutants in the water. If waterfall was so effective with oxygenation, the wastewater treatment facilities would've used it long ago. I'm not saying that waterfall is not effective, just saying that aeration/oxygenation from a protein skimmer is much better and used by professionals in the industries who needs oxygenation in the water.

The price is similar to that of regular quality pumps, its easy to install. So it is justifiable to be used in the hydro industries. Many hydro pros use it but never talk about it.
 
linuxman

linuxman

Well-Known Member
a31 said:
It is used to filter salt aquarium. I'm not exactly sure how it works yet, someone mentioned it and it seems like the most efficience method to aerate the water. There might be some issues with it since no one really uses it for hydro (as far as I know).
Mine is only 3.5v, so the heat should be minimal.
The bubble looks crazy good tho.
Click to expand...
Can you show us your setup of your hydro system?

Generally you just want the pump to aerate the water and let it circulate naturally through out the reservoir. The bubbles you see that is coming out at the top most chamber is doing a natural process of removing waste organics like detritus and particulate matter or what not, it helps the reservoir to stay clean from waste organics and particulates, therefore the top most chamber is not needed and can modify your skimmer to only just use the pump which produces the tiny bubbles. You could just leave it alone.
 
A

a31

Member
This is my setup, which I bought from ali. 7gallons bucket (should have used 3 inch pipe instead of 2).
1647441395220.png
"
Generally you just want the pump to aerate the water and let it circulate naturally through out the reservoir. The bubbles you see that is coming out at the top most chamber is doing a natural process of removing waste organics like detritus and particulate matter or what not, it helps the reservoir to stay clean from waste organics and particulates, therefore the top most chamber is not needed and can modify your skimmer to only just use the pump which produces the tiny bubbles."

Exactly as I think, but I'm keeping the chamber anyway since it fits inside the res (I couldn't find the need wheel pump version in my country too, so skimmer is the next best thing). It really overkill now as I only popped the seeds a few days ago. Dripping on hydrostones should be more than enough.

On another note, I'm using trichoderma/mycor more oxygen in the res should be good. I never heard anyone use trichoderma on hydro, what is your thoughts on that? Once I got my hands on Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens (hydroguard is not available in my country), I think root rots would not be a problem.

I wonder how much a skimmer improve DO, from what I read, people keep saying water flows should be enough.
 
A

a31

Member
Horselover fat said:
I wonder if a skimmer is going to clean nutes out of your rez.
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Maybe, does not really matter and I doubt it can. How much this thing can remove if I never really dump the content out. The chamber/filter can be removed too. So it basically a venturi pump with a chamber. Let me know if you guys want to see it in action.
 
TheChemist77

TheChemist77

Well-Known Member
a31 said:
It is used to filter salt aquarium. I'm not exactly sure how it works yet, someone mentioned it and it seems like the most efficience method to aerate the water. There might be some issues with it since no one really uses it for hydro (as far as I know).
Mine is only 3.5v, so the heat should be minimal.
The bubble looks crazy good tho.
Click to expand...
How did u find it so cheap? I was looking around any decent skimmers like $100.00 they sell some crap ones but even those are 40-50 bucks…. Just saying NICE FIND!
 
A

a31

Member
TheChemist77 said:
How did u find it so cheap? I was looking around any decent skimmers like $100.00 they sell some crap ones but even those are 40-50 bucks…. Just saying NICE FIND!
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3rd world country advantage.
Everything is kind of cheap where I live because I live close to China. Cheap goods are flooded here.
My LED lm301h 240w with meanwell driver is like 100$. The entire system above is like 75$.
Screw it, it's not like the cop in my country is crawling here. Greeting from Vietnam.
 
S

Stomate

Active Member
linuxman said:
A $2 air pump does 200 "liters" "aquarium", is irrelevant, soooo please, talk "quantitively" and not like an epic noobie.
Are you saying "200 liters" of "aquarium" water "per" what? "Per" every "sec", "min", "hour", "day", "week" or "month"?
Also how much "dissolved oxygen" (PPM or mg/L) can a $2 air pump provide for every gallon of water?

Do you realize that a proper system needs at least 1 L/min of air pump flow for every 1 gallon of water?
This means for a 50 gallon tank (about 200L), you'll need a 50L/min air pump for proper levels of dissolved oxygen.
You'll never ever find a 50L/min air pump for $2 anywhere in this universe my friend.
You might get away using a "$2 air pump" for maybe few goldfishes or 1 cannabis plant not growing larger than 2 foot tall..

You obviously would have no clue what I am talking about here... anyways I'm just laying out these info for people who would try not to follow your terrible advice in using a sponge filter (either for fish or hydro setups).

Anyways you need to follow and have the proper oxygen saturation/concentration in water for either fish or hydroponic systems.

Do not just listen what the fancy box label says "it does 200l aquariums" whatever that means... cause you'll end up with dead fish when you put your "prized" koi fish in the tank cause it'll consume all the "dissolved oxygen" in the water tank quickly. Same goes for cannabis plants.

Fresh water fish and marine water fish are different things my friend, salt water fish requires almost double the amount of dissolved oxygen as compared to fresh water fish.

Also you're laughable :lol: recommendation of using "sponge filter" can not provide the proper and optimal levels of "dissolved oxygen" with its huge globs of air bubbles, very inefficient.

If you really want to talk logically, you could have said to use a "$2 pump" bundled an "air/bubble diffuser", which creates much much finer small air bubble particles, this will indeed saturate the water with oxygen much more effectively than a sponge filter.

Here are some links to better educate yourself about proper "dissolved oxygen" levels and "science" for fresh water fish tank systems explained for noobies:

Here are some links to better educate yourself about proper "dissolved oxygen" levels and "science" for Saltwater fish tank systems explained for noobies:

Here are some links to better educate yourself about proper "dissolved oxygen" levels and "science" for Hydroponic systems explained for noobies:
This should start making you laugh why a "sponge filter" is such a terrible recommendation for cannabis hydro systems.
You could use it, but it would be a super bad way to implement it.

I like to oxygenate my hydro system as 100% confidently as possible, meaning I like to know the "exact" dissolved oxygen levels in the water tank.

I bought a lab grade "Atlas scientific" "Dissolved oxygen probe sensor" and can monitor, record and adjust the dissolved oxygen levels in reef tanks and also hydro setups. But you do not need to be such a professional as me and can do things properly without using a sponge filter or a lab grade Dissolved Oxygen sensor probe for professional or serious builds in hydros or reefs.
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Have to say I’m quite fascinated by this and incredibly surprised that with all the research I’ve done in the past that this is only now coming to my attention.
I am incredibly new to growing hydroponically but very much want to set something like this up now depending upon price ( haven’t got that far yet ) and eliminate my air pump
 
Bucsfan80

Bucsfan80

Well-Known Member
I'd like to see it in action and have some updates over a couple days. You might be on to a good idea maybe lol. There also could be a reason why it's not a common thing in rdwc. You got some pics of the pump itself?
 
Bucsfan80

Bucsfan80

Well-Known Member
Stomate said:
How many sites and how large of a pump are you running? Out of curiosity
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Right now it's a one site system. It won't be much to tie another site in if and when I expand. My pump is like 2700 lph/ or 713gph I'm sure the spray bar restricts the flow some but I figure my res should at least be turning over once in five min at least.
 
S

Stomate

Active Member
Bucsfan80 said:
Right now it's a one site system. It won't be much to tie another site in if and when I expand. My pump is like 2700 lph/ or 713gph I'm sure the spray bar restricts the flow some but I figure my res should at least be turning over once in five min at least.
Click to expand...
Yeah I have a 700 gph pump for a four site system. Don’t see myself getting enough pressure doing something like that without upgrading the pump. I do like the idea though
 
S

Stomate

Active Member
Stomate said:
Yeah I have a 700 gph pump for a four site system. Don’t see myself getting enough pressure doing something like that without upgrading the pump. I do like the idea though
Click to expand...
I am very Interested in this molecular oxygen infusion if it’s affordable on a small scale scenario
 
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