Parts for RDWC waterfall build

JealousLeaf · Mar 14, 2019

I'm looking into what I need to build a x2 5 gal bucket, x1 5 gal rez, rdwc with waterfalls into the 2 5 gal grow sites. I'm totally new to the rdwc thing and I'm having a hard time figuring out the types of piping/tubing needed, the elbow reducers for thewaterfalls,and what type of seals to use. I was thinking of having the 2 grow sites being the top part of a "T" and the rez being the bottom. These would be in either a 3x3 or a 4x3 tent under a 600 watt hid. I know thelines returning thewater too the rez should be 2", should the top feed lines be 1" into a 3/4" elbow reducer for the waterfalls?

Sorry for the newbie questions. There's lots of good pix of people's rigs but not many detailed how-to's with pix and everything written out.

GBAUTO · Mar 14, 2019

I originally built my original RDWC system using buckets with simple 1/8" feed lines and 1/2" drains back to a rez. Worked but you had to make sure the drains didn't get clogged with roots. Your drain size is fine(it's what I run now) but I would consider using square/rectangular totes with bulkhead fittings. My current setup uses 4-17 gal tough totes connected with 2" piping and a 700gph pump that returns to a waterfall in the first tote. Simple and grows some nice trees.

rkymtnman · Mar 14, 2019

JealousLeaf said:
These would be in either a 3x3 or a 4x3 tent under a 600 watt hid

in my 3x4, i had 2 27 gallon blk/yel totes, 2 plants in each and a 27 gal outside the room as the control.

like GB said above, grow some trees.

JealousLeaf · Mar 14, 2019

GBAUTO said:
I originally built my original RDWC system using buckets with simple 1/8" feed lines and 1/2" drains back to a rez. Worked but you had to make sure the drains didn't get clogged with roots. Your drain size is fine(it's what I run now) but I would consider using square/rectangular totes with bulkhead fittings. My current setup uses 4-17 gal tough totes connected with 2" piping and a 700gph pump that returns to a waterfall in the first tote. Simple and grows some nice trees.

So all the lines are 2" and only a single waterfall in the rez?

What type of pipe and bulkhead are you using? Its it on Amazon? Do you silicone or cement everything together? Or get all threaded stuff for disassembly/cleaning?

Thanks for helping btw bro! I really appreciate it!

JealousLeaf · Mar 14, 2019

rkymtnman said:
in my 3x4, i had 2 27 gallon blk/yel totes, 2 plants in each and a 27 gal outside the room as the control.

like GB said above, grow some trees.

Thanks bro! What kind of piping are you using?

rkymtnman · Mar 14, 2019

JealousLeaf said:
Thanks bro! What kind of piping are you using?

i used 1.5pvc returns on the bottom of each tote. then just 5/8 heater hose from the control, to a tee, and out to each tote as a waterfall.

JealousLeaf · Mar 14, 2019

GBAUTO said:
I originally built my original RDWC system using buckets with simple 1/8" feed lines and 1/2" drains back to a rez. Worked but you had to make sure the drains didn't get clogged with roots. Your drain size is fine(it's what I run now) but I would consider using square/rectangular totes with bulkhead fittings. My current setup uses 4-17 gal tough totes connected with 2" piping and a 700gph pump that returns to a waterfall in the first tote. Simple and grows some nice trees.

Do you remember the company that made the totes? I'm looking at Amazon and a few companies make a "tough tote"

Airwalker16 · Mar 14, 2019

JealousLeaf said:
I'm looking into what I need to build a x2 5 gal bucket, x1 5 gal rez, rdwc with waterfalls into the 2 5 gal grow sites. I'm totally new to the rdwc thing and I'm having a hard time figuring out the types of piping/tubing needed, the elbow reducers for thewaterfalls,and what type of seals to use. I was thinking of having the 2 grow sites being the top part of a "T" and the rez being the bottom. These would be in either a 3x3 or a 4x3 tent under a 600 watt hid. I know thelines returning thewater too the rez should be 2", should the top feed lines be 1" into a 3/4" elbow reducer for the waterfalls?

Sorry for the newbie questions. There's lots of good pix of people's rigs but not many detailed how-to's with pix and everything written out.

Use. The. Search.

Lol

https://www.rollitup.org/t/diy-rdwc.972053/#post-14374194

JealousLeaf · Mar 14, 2019

rkymtnman said:
i used 1.5pvc returns on the bottom of each tote. then just 5/8 heater hose from the control, to a tee, and out to each tote as a waterfall.

Do you use an elbow pointing down into the tote for the waterfalls or just let it exit through the heater hose and pour out through the bulkhead?

JealousLeaf · Mar 14, 2019

Airwalker16 said:
Use. The. Search.

Lol

https://www.rollitup.org/t/diy-rdwc.972053/#post-14374194

Oh I've been using the search,I didn't see that though,thanks man!

rkymtnman · Mar 14, 2019

JealousLeaf said:
Do you use an elbow pointing down into the tote for the waterfalls or just let it exit through the heater hose and pour out through the bulkhead?

i made an elbow from pvc adaptor to the heater hose. i think it was 1/2"? i used an end cap that i drilled about 8 1/8" holes in it. made it like your kitchen faucet sprayer.

JealousLeaf · Mar 14, 2019

rkymtnman said:
i made an elbow from pvc adaptor to the heater hose. i think it was 1/2"? i used an end cap that i drilled about 8 1/8" holes in it. made it like your kitchen faucet sprayer.

That's tricky, I like it!

JealousLeaf · Mar 14, 2019

So all the pvc gets cemented together,like if you were doing regular plumbing.

The vinyl tubing with the barbed fittings ,does that get silicone or anything? Or does the barbs seal it all well enough?

rkymtnman · Mar 14, 2019

JealousLeaf said:
So all the pvc gets cemented together,like if you were doing regular plumbing.

i cemented all mine. i figured better safe than sorry.

and i used heater hose. it's thick walled rubber hose. vinyl would work too. just a hose clamp on the barb that adapts it from the hose to the pvc.

JealousLeaf · Mar 14, 2019

rkymtnman said:
i cemented all mine. i figured better safe than sorry.

and i used heater hose. it's thick walled rubber hose. vinyl would work too. just a hose clamp on the barb that adapts it from the hose to the pvc.

Oic,sorry,I hadn't looked up what heater hose yet,why'd you go with that?

JealousLeaf · Mar 14, 2019

JealousLeaf said:
Oic,sorry,I hadn't looked up what heater hose yet,why'd you go with that?

Never mind I see now,that stuff is heavyduty!
https://www.amazon.com/Heater-Inside-Diameter-Length-052615C/dp/B06XXNG35M/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=2S2HDD951J9E6&keywords=5/8+heater+hose&qid=1552600619&s=gateway&sprefix=5/8+heater&sr=8-5

Didyou use a clamp like this?
https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Brand-Micro-Miniature-Stainless/dp/B001HWGMBG/ref=pd_aw_fbt_60_img_3/132-2073034-2031528?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001HWGMBG&pd_rd_r=7841f524-46a4-11e9-b40f-e948c6584ac1&pd_rd_w=A2BtI&pd_rd_wg=S2bJ5&pf_rd_p=3ecc74bd-d08f-44bd-96f3-d0c2b89f563a&pf_rd_r=GX5TPDRSV1PPH5JW0TQZ&psc=1&refRID=GX5TPDRSV1PPH5JW0TQZ

rkymtnman · Mar 14, 2019

JealousLeaf said:
Oic,sorry,I hadn't looked up what heater hose yet,why'd you go with that?

i bought a roll of it cheap. as long as it's black in color, any hose will work.

rkymtnman · Mar 14, 2019

JealousLeaf said:
Didyou use a clamp like this?

exactly.

rkymtnman · Mar 14, 2019

if you do it like i did with the hose, just make sure that each hose is the same length from the tee. will keep you water flow as equal as possible to each tote

Axion42 · Mar 14, 2019

I just built this system with the help of Airwalker. Came out really clean and it's very simple man I think you're overthinking it a little bit. Of course you dont have to do 3inch bulkheads like I did but I didn't want any trouble of roots blocking return lines.

Parts for RDWC waterfall build

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