T.C. Bosby
Well-Known Member
If I'm using a RDWC system with the reservoir outside of the grow tent, do you think I would I still need a water chiller? I'd be using a 715W actual draw COB. Thank you for your opinions!
RDWC System Water Temp.
- Thread starter T.C. Bosby
- Start date
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
So many factors to figure out man. You gotta just get a water thermometer probe like for fish tanks and just run it and see what happens. You may or may not need one.
T.C. Bosby
Well-Known Member
Thank you for the quick reply. What would the desired temperature be?
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
65-69*F
Budley Doright
Well-Known Member
I noticed a big difference when I switched to chilled water in my setup. In 4 years of running I never had a problem with F&D but the plants/roots were never like what they are now with huge root structure and happier plants. I run temps at 66f but never actually tried anything different.
T.C. Bosby
Well-Known Member
Did you notice a quicker veg time or increased yield?
notyouravrghorticulturist
New Member
Anywhere from 19-23 degrees Celsius is fine in Dwc .
Bareback
Well-Known Member
I've got a diy water chiller idea. I haven't built it yet and would like to hear from more experienced players. First you use a dedicated pump to a automotive heater core with a fan pushing or pulling air through it . Probably outside the grow area. I know heat exchange will be dependent on air temps. Is there really any more to it than that.
Thanks Bare
Thanks Bare
Freddie Millergogo
Well-Known Member
Go to youtube. Lots of DIY videos especially Peltier systems.
Budley Doright
Well-Known Member
I have a passive chiller with about 150' of coiled copper outdoors filled with glycol, I use open loop heat exchangers to chill each res. It works well when temps outdoors are down around 50 but any higher and it struggles to chill below 70. Finned rads may be more efficient but haven't tried any. I run three 100L res's
VegasWinner
Well-Known Member
If you space where you place the rez is cool probably not. But like most residences 72 to 80 average temps means you need additional cooling. Peace
Bareback
Well-Known Member
Hey thanks , that pretty much says it all I guess . Makes sense that if ambient temps are marginal , any fiction creating devices like pumps and fans just add to it . One more silly question if u can spare the attention . I'm almost-to imbearested to ask. What if I used a ac unit , one of those portable-units inside the grow , combine ac exhaust with the reflector exhaust maybe put the cooling radiator in to res . If it works I hoping to control the franklinstine of a thing with the original controls , hopefully keeping res temp and room temp good
trapmarley420
Member
Well I will tell you from the nube that has that exact same set up and man its a hassle to change water jugs every 6 hours when u have this thing called a life ...lol like I thought the same considering I have a 12 bucket system with 30 gallon rez and the chiller was like 2 or 3 hundred. I decided to go ice jugs In summer time and got root rot which stunted my plants bad. I'm actually currently fighting the dam root rot as we speak. I used hydroguard and it still came. Part of the reason was I flushed every 2 weeks but it's mainly because the temps were above 75 for the most part. So currently I am in the middle of a flush after doing a stagnated harvest and I even just dipped my roots in hydrogen peroxide PhD water. So to answer your question for safety just get the cooler if you can financially. Other wise your plants might turn out like this...
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Budley Doright
Well-Known Member
I found that keeping ambient temps closer to 80 with res temps stating cool gave the plants a great environment but didn't play with different temps and strains, only had the chiller running for 6 months and yup I'll try to get some pics up in the next few days, it's time to give the lab a good cleaning and power it up for the winter.
VegasWinner
Well-Known Member
Portable AC is fine but you still have to overcome the heat created by the pump in the water or else the heat is transferred throughout your grow. I use glycol filled freezers for coolers. I place them below the pump under the rez to cool the source. Peace
Budley Doright
Well-Known Member
I doubled the dose of hydroguard but also lowered temps and it brought my girls back from the brink
.