rdwc water pump question

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louiedogg

Well-Known Member
hey there, looking to build my first rdwc, my initial plan was to make a undercurrent rdwc with 4 5 gallon sites and a 20 gallon res.

i have a 250 gph waterpump i was gonna use to return water to the res, but now i kind of want to do a waterfall in each bucket coming from the res. heard id get more DO that way.

i feel like the 250 wouldnt be strong enough to make 4 individual waterfalls. im not sure if i should use the 250 to return water to res then add another stronger pump to make waterfalls to the plants? or just upgrade my pump now and just have 1 running pump from the rez to plants.

what size pump would give me 4 good waterfalls that could chirn water really nicely
 
myke

myke

Well-Known Member
I run a 350 with 4pails, 3/8" id hoses .About a 1/4 of the flow bleeds in my res.I get good flow but now 3 weeks into flower theres so many roots that I turned on my air stones.I think for waterrfalls your better off in totes.IDK.
 
M

ms_sucks

Member
How large are the drain/flow hoses/pipes between buckets? I think you need something like a 3" PVC pipe between each to keep the roots from completely clogging it. I'd also want larger than 5 gal. buckets. 8-13 gallon buckets. Tote lids are weak if you have a heavy plant(s) causing them to sag and occasional leaks.

I've heard 100gph per bucket for a nice waterfall. So if you have 4 you'd need a 400gph pump.
 
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louiedogg

Well-Known Member
i got bulkheads sized for 2" pvc pipe to plumb it all together.

i thought about using 4 of those heavy duty totes with the yellow lids from home depot for the plants. i figure that was overkill but i agree the 5 gals probably would be too smallc
 
D

drb01

Active Member
louiedogg said:
hey there, looking to build my first rdwc, my initial plan was to make a undercurrent rdwc with 4 5 gallon sites and a 20 gallon res.

i have a 250 gph waterpump i was gonna use to return water to the res, but now i kind of want to do a waterfall in each bucket coming from the res. heard id get more DO that way.

i feel like the 250 wouldnt be strong enough to make 4 individual waterfalls. im not sure if i should use the 250 to return water to res then add another stronger pump to make waterfalls to the plants? or just upgrade my pump now and just have 1 running pump from the rez to plants.

what size pump would give me 4 good waterfalls that could chirn water really nicely
Click to expand...
I built myself a bottm fed, top drain rdwc system and I am using 1000gph pump with the return being a waterfall into the res. I have air stones in each pail(4). Each pail has a water level of appr. 4 gal and with the pump I use the water is recirc about every 6-10 min. With good water pressure there are never any dead spots in the pails where nutes or salts etc. can collect. Hope this helps .
 
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louiedogg

Well-Known Member
drb01 said:
I built myself a bottm fed, top drain rdwc system and I am using 1000gph pump with the return being a waterfall into the res. I have air stones in each pail(4). Each pail has a water level of appr. 4 gal and with the pump I use the water is recirc about every 6-10 min. With good water pressure there are never any dead spots in the pails where nutes or salts etc. can collect. Hope this helps .
Click to expand...
hmm so maybe my 250 wouldnt be strong enough as i thought per my original plan
 
GBAUTO

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
Even the 11 gal HDX totes would work better than 5 gal buckets. I run the 17 gal totes in my UC setup and they will fill the totes with roots.
 
Mechanicalbuds

Mechanicalbuds

Active Member
My experience the tote will fill with roots and not block the 2 inch return pipe. They tend to stay in a wad under the waterfall.
 
Mechanicalbuds

Mechanicalbuds

Active Member
Buckets fill up quick when plants are kept for long times.
I use 4 - 12 gal totes for mothers. I made a res that is 4 x 4 feet and made a lid to hold 42 clones. All together it holds 110 gallons. 2 inch return with 3/4 supply lines. I bought a 6500 lph pump thinking it was over kill. I was disappointed in the flow. Hardly moved the water visually. So I bought a 13000 lph pump. The flow looked the same.
Plants are super happy with either pump, I just wanted the more noise one would expect with a "waterfall"
I suggest a larger pump for sure. But I also recommend an adjustable pump. I bought the jebao brand from Amazon. They are pretty cool. Low power, easy to adjust and install.
 
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louiedogg

Well-Known Member
Mechanicalbuds said:
Buckets fill up quick when plants are kept for long times.
I use 4 - 12 gal totes for mothers. I made a res that is 4 x 4 feet and made a lid to hold 42 clones. All together it holds 110 gallons. 2 inch return with 3/4 supply lines. I bought a 6500 lph pump thinking it was over kill. I was disappointed in the flow. Hardly moved the water visually. So I bought a 13000 lph pump. The flow looked the same.
Plants are super happy with either pump, I just wanted the more noise one would expect with a "waterfall"
I suggest a larger pump for sure. But I also recommend an adjustable pump. I bought the jebao brand from Amazon. They are pretty cool. Low power, easy to adjust and install.
Click to expand...
are the pumps your using inline or submersed?
 
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louiedogg

Well-Known Member
the only way i can fit 4 totes in my tent is staggerlike.. would i be able to plumb them like this? bulkhead in the middle on the short side and near the opposite end of the long side? even so i believe it would be too difficult. to run the return line back to the res (which im.planning on setting up outside tent)
 

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GBAUTO

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
Mechanicalbuds said:
Buckets fill up quick when plants are kept for long times.
I use 4 - 12 gal totes for mothers. I made a res that is 4 x 4 feet and made a lid to hold 42 clones. All together it holds 110 gallons. 2 inch return with 3/4 supply lines. I bought a 6500 lph pump thinking it was over kill. I was disappointed in the flow. Hardly moved the water visually. So I bought a 13000 lph pump. The flow looked the same.
Plants are super happy with either pump, I just wanted the more noise one would expect with a "waterfall"
I suggest a larger pump for sure. But I also recommend an adjustable pump. I bought the jebao brand from Amazon. They are pretty cool. Low power, easy to adjust and install.
Click to expand...
I hear you on being disappointed with my original waterfall effects. I found that making a simple fan nozzle for the outlet of the return(s) solved any lack of aeration. My 40 gal system uses a 700gph mag drive and the plants thrive.
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
louiedogg said:
the only way i can fit 4 totes in my tent is staggerlike.. would i be able to plumb them like this? bulkhead in the middle on the short side and near the opposite end of the long side? even so i believe it would be too difficult. to run the return line back to the res (which im.planning on setting up outside tent)
Click to expand...
put them up on cinderblocks and install the drain/bulkhead on the bottom in the center of each tote.
 
myke

myke

Well-Known Member
rkymtnman said:
put them up on cinderblocks and install the drain/bulkhead on the bottom in the center of each tote.
Click to expand...
But then you need the res to also be that high so water levels stay same.Id say those totes are too big.5 gallon pails work just fine as long as you dont grow 10' plants.
 
Mechanicalbuds

Mechanicalbuds

Active Member
louiedogg said:
the only way i can fit 4 totes in my tent is staggerlike.. would i be able to plumb them like this? bulkhead in the middle on the short side and near the opposite end of the long side? even so i believe it would be too difficult. to run the return line back to the res (which im.planning on setting up outside tent)
Click to expand...
I think as long as all the totes are plumbed in and out, it does not matter where the hole is located.
 
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