Water chillers?

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Niblixdark

Well-Known Member
FennarioMike said:
I ran my comparisons in 5 gal DWC buckets with an air stone in each. On top of that - to really push it - I didn't change the nutes for the entire veg cycle - I just topped with RO or fresh nutes as needed. I don't recommend doing that - but I had the space and more plants than I needed so I wanted to experiment. This was in the early summer and the tent was regularly in the upper 80's and the rez temps had to be close to that.

I also was spending a lot on electricity and the RDWC was very resource intensive so I wanted to see if I could reduce expenses. Hydroguard is a whole lot cheaper that electricity.
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Very interesting your view on this but I think it would make most people nervous trying this. I see your point though. Its just not main stream yet. Am taking note though.
 
FennarioMike

FennarioMike

Well-Known Member
Niblixdark said:
Very interesting your view on this but I think it would make most people nervous trying this. I see your point though. Its just not main stream yet. Am taking note though.
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I was absolutely one of the anti-bennies-in-DWC folks until I ran this experiment. I didn't want to trust my entire crop with an experiment, so I did this. I honestly wouldn't have switched if I hadn't seen it for myself. It caused a complete 180 in my views on it.
 
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Niblixdark

Well-Known Member
FennarioMike said:
I was absolutely one of the anti-bennies-in-DWC folks until I ran this experiment. I didn't want to trust my entire crop with an experiment, so I did this. I honestly wouldn't have switched if I hadn't seen it for myself. It caused a complete 180 in my views on it.
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Thanks for sharing your experience Mr !
 
chasingwaterfalls

chasingwaterfalls

Active Member
Idk if it's worth mentioning at this point, but with my chiller, I do use a wort chiller (coil) with it. I circulate plain water and algacide through the chiller so that I don't have to worry about nute build-up in the chiller itself
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
FennarioMike said:
I ran my comparisons in 5 gal DWC buckets with an air stone in each. On top of that - to really push it - I didn't change the nutes for the entire veg cycle - I just topped with RO or fresh nutes as needed. I don't recommend doing that - but I had the space and more plants than I needed so I wanted to experiment. This was in the early summer and the tent was regularly in the upper 80's and the rez temps had to be close to that.

I also was spending a lot on electricity and the RDWC was very resource intensive so I wanted to see if I could reduce expenses. Hydroguard is a whole lot cheaper that electricity.
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I had great luck using hydroguard to bring a run back from the brink but can't buy it in Canada it seems. I run res at 66f and basically the same results but if I had it, I'd use it, seems to help with growth as well but that is only a personal observation.
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
Budley Doright said:
As for the copper coils I've have not experienced any issues with my one copper heat exchanger but my chiller has cuppernickle as do most of my coils. I would love to see the results of a 150 w Pelletier cooler myself. I've heard of a couple of guys using them in 5 gallon pails but keep in mind the heat removed is added to the room.
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Ya I've heard it will kill the plants etc but so far so good. I use it in my veg room res and will upgrade to cuppernickle someday lol. I have 4 heat exchangers so I upgrade when I can. Here is my chiller IMG_4343.JPGIMG_4344.JPG
 
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DrGhard

Well-Known Member
i have a few questions:
how large is your growth tent/environment?
what kind of growth lights you use?
what climate is were you live?


i ask you these because in my case (small grow tent with 5 gal bucket, LED lights and cold continental weather) i solved my temp issues just by bying a stronger extraction fan, really sucking the air out. in some case you don't really need a chiller in small setups, as they come quite expensive (and suck a lot of electricity as well).

i got an approximately 5 degree drop in the res temp, and never had issues with microorganism growth etc.
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
DrGhard said:
i have a few questions:
how large is your growth tent/environment?
what kind of growth lights you use?
what climate is were you live?


i ask you these because in my case (small grow tent with 5 gal bucket, LED lights and cold continental weather) i solved my temp issues just by bying a stronger extraction fan, really sucking the air out. in some case you don't really need a chiller in small setups, as they come quite expensive (and suck a lot of electricity as well).

i got an approximately 5 degree drop in the res temp, and never had issues with microorganism growth etc.
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What temp do you run your room at and what Temp are you able to maintain in the res?
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
rkymtnman said:
budley, see if you can get this. @Jypsy Dog turned me on to it. Southern Ag Garden Friendly Fungicide. Same strain as Hydroguard but WAY more concentrated and WAY cheaper. Been using it in 2 Waterfarms with water temps at 75F plus.
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I had a look a few months ago when I read a thread about it, from you most likely. It's not listed on amazon CA but I haven't checked mail order hydro suppliers much at all. I think it has something to do with it being a bacteria and approvals here. Hydroguard just kind of slipped away lol. I've tried a couple of other products but they both turned my water and roots black lol.
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
DrGhard said:
all is around 20C (68F). is 2 degree above optimal but still 0 signs of microbial problems and the plant is growing great.
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I was good until it got over 70 then all hell broke loose lol. My room runs mid to high 70's at 50ish % humidity so res is warmer due to pump if not chilled. I do run a passive glycol cooling loop in colder months which operates on one small circ pump.
 
D

DrGhard

Well-Known Member
Budley Doright said:
I was good until it got over 70 then all hell broke loose lol. My room runs mid to high 70's at 50ish % humidity so res is warmer due to pump if not chilled. I do run a passive glycol cooling loop in colder months which operates on one small circ pump.
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ye that was the same for me as well. 70 seems to be the magic number (in negative). does your room intake air from outside or just recirculating the air inside?
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
DrGhard said:
ye that was the same for me as well. 70 seems to be the magic number (in negative). does your room intake air from outside or just recirculating the air inside?
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I have a intake and exhaust that is temp controlled. I like to keep room in upper 70's at canopy
 
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