Amount of air needed for DWC

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Scootman

Member
I am working numbers for a DWC setup and have found a reference to 600cc/min per gallon number.
http://www.420magazine.com/forums/how-grow-marijuana/71848-what-kind-pump-should-i-use-how-much-air-does-each-bucket-need.html#post1165177

Anybody have any input on this number?

So here is what I worked up (assuming 600cc/min), did I do this correct?

600cc/minute per gallon X 25 gallons of solution = 15,000cc/minute
15,000 cc/m * 60 = 900,000 cc/hour
900,000 cc/hr = 237 gallons/hour

Using the 950 gph pump:
Sunleaves DuraPump Air - 950GPH - View All - Cheap Hydroponics - Indoor Gardening and Hydroponic Supplies - (Powered by CubeCart)

I should have plenty of air going in, yes?

The numbers say I should be able to safely run three 25 gallon setups with the single pump but I would probably only do two with this pump.

Any comments on my math would be appreciated.
 
D

disposition84

Well-Known Member
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
I'm using a 4 port 140GPH adjustable air flow pump, that's 5 watts for each DWC Igloo cooler.
 
S

Scootman

Member
Flo Grow......

How many gallons are the coolers?

What temperature do you keep the water at?

Do you think 25 gallons is too big? I was thinking more solution makes it easier to maintain levels. I know that works with fish tanks.

Thanks for chiming in.
 
D

disposition84

Well-Known Member
Ideal temps should be around 68*f, for optimal growth and do saturation.

Reservoir size should be dependent on how you want to grow your plants out as they drink more
as they get bigger as well as quantity of plants you're growing. I like to go with more than I need
as I wont find myself ever needing to refill with fresh nutes as they're drinking too fast.

Here's a great read if you've got a spare 10 minutes. Really helps explain things in detail about Do.
It also covers many other aspects of growing in detail.
http://urbangardenmagazine.com/2010/04/hydroponic-recirculation-basics-part-3/
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
Scootman said:
Flo Grow......

How many gallons are the coolers?

What temperature do you keep the water at?

Do you think 25 gallons is too big? I was thinking more solution makes it easier to maintain levels. I know that works with fish tanks.

Thanks for chiming in.
Click to expand...
12 gallons each.
Temps stay 62F - 64F once I drop a 1/2 gal frozen water bottle in at lights on for 12 hours.
Otherwise they stay below 69F
Ideal is approx 65F. The most oxygen uptake/production.
My ph stays very stable. Never experienced the daily fluctuations some ppl speak of. That's because my temps are so stable. Swings in temps will cause swings in ph as well.
If keep my ph at 5.8, maybe 5.9 and it stays !
Here's a pic of my pumps.
From PetCo. Online for $19.99
Comes with 4 - 78" tubes, 4 check vavles and 4 mini air stones (worthless for some/most ppl).
Good for tanks 26 - 212 gallons !!
 
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disposition84

Well-Known Member
I don't think 1w is a good idea, I've owned some very shitty air pumps that don't put out
nearly as much as some better quality ones.
 
BoomerBloomer57

BoomerBloomer57

Well-Known Member
110 liters per minute split to two 120 quart Igloos. Six 6 inch airstones in each.
Active Aqua, Hydrofarm.
AAPA110, 112 watts. 10 lbs. $100.00

I run 10 of em.

I get loads of bubbles.

bb57
 
Heisenberg

Heisenberg

Well-Known Member
1wt per gallon will keep the plants happy and the water properly aerated. I personally use the 35wt sunleaves and i'm very happy with the performance. It's a little loud but you get used to it. I am currently using the entire pump in a total of 9 gallons of water, but i've used it in as much as 25 in the past and it was more than adequate.

With a DWC you want about 2gal per plant, but that's a very loose number. It depends on how big your plants will get and your set up ect. I grow my plants pretty big and they typically drink 2+ gallons a day in the final weeks. I've grown them in as little as 3 gals for two plants, and as much as 6 gals for one, the results are identical. The smaller the res the more attention it will demand because of water usesage and ph/ppm fluctuation, however the bigger the res the more expensive it is to fill, and proper res maintenance means changing the water every 7 to 10 days, so try to find a happy medium.
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
disposition84 said:
I don't think 1w is a good idea, I've owned some very shitty air pumps that don't put out
nearly as much as some better quality ones.
Click to expand...
I agree !
Where did this, 1 watt/gallon, theory come from anyway ?
I've been using 0.5 watt per gallon with outstanding results.
12gal cooler filled with 10gal of water/nute solution and using 5 watt air pump per cooler.
That equals 0.5 watt per gal !!
If my pump can keep fish alive in a 26 - 212 gallon tank, they can sustain some plants in 10 gallons !
 
S

Scootman

Member
I am waiting for the 950gph pump to get here. I feel confident it will give me the air I need for the 25 gallon setup.

Thanks for all the comments!
 
BuddGreen

BuddGreen

Active Member
Flo Grow said:
I agree !
Where did this, 1 watt/gallon, theory come from anyway ?
I've been using 0.5 watt per gallon with outstanding results.
12gal cooler filled with 10gal of water/nute solution and using 5 watt air pump per cooler.
That equals 0.5 watt per gal !!
If my pump can keep fish alive in a 26 - 212 gallon tank, they can sustain some plants in 10 gallons !
Click to expand...
How often do you change your nutes??? Technaflora says every 7 days or when it's 40% of what you started with. I mixed a 2gal batch and it still looked clean when I dumped it???

I'm using the Hydrofarm air pumps. http://www.hydrofarm.com/pb_detail.php?itemid=7640 One pump per two DWC 5gallon planters with a 6" round air stone in each. Does anybody know what style air stones work better???
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
Testing that rez change theory too.

My Magic Monkey's have been changed ONCE since 50 days from seed. But will be changing this weekend to bloom only nutes.

My Ultimate Chem's have NOT been changed yet, and it's Day 32 from seed.

Look at my girls. Healthy as can be !
I believe some ppl just don't keep a clean grow room, which causes probs after while.
And some ppl just think and put too much into their grow (literally).
It's really just a WEED. Doesn't take much to grow it and you CAN NOT increase it's predetermined genetic potency !
So ppl need to save their money.
 
O

onthedl0008

Well-Known Member
To Be Honest ive always gone and bought the cheapest air pump i could find when setting up a 5 gallon bucket. Think the most they have ever been rated for was a 5-10 gallon aquarium.
Setting up to as much as an 18 gallon tub i went with the second cheapest air pump i could find not even sure what they where max rated for.
The point of the air pump is to Add oxygen and water movement to the res to keep ur water from becoming stagnant. As well as carry and distribute food to ur plants roots.
RES change theory is again a growers preferrence really and already been tested. Being that i am more or less a grow freak when comeing to whats going on in my res at any given time considering stages of life and what i feel i want to be feeding my plants during these times. I can SAY that RES changes are not necessary and that u can take a plant from the first day of transplant until chop time if u wish to considering ur reservoir is healthy and allows u to.
I change my reservoirs at different stages now to change the ratios of nutrients im feeding my plants at any given time and thats the only reason.
With this being said anyone growing DWC for any amount of time DOES notice major GROWTH spurts especially during the time after a major res change while replenishing our systems with fresh water. This im sure we can all cosign.
And FLO again Props on the info ur bringing always str8 to the point educated and makes alot of sence. I do highly agree these plants are just weeds afterall.
But i will end this post with something i read from master grower MBLAZE back in the day when asked similar questions. That when asked a similar question he answered exactly how u did about not being able to increase genetic potency in a plant. He did however say that it is scientificly possible and most grow efficient to feed ur plants properly to bring out the very best ur plants are able to produce geneticly. I remember that post. It was prolly one of the most stand up classy posts ive read on a forum.
Well im done babbleing.
Peace.
 
BuddGreen

BuddGreen

Active Member
BuddGreen said:
How often do you change your nutes??? Technaflora says every 7 days or when it's 40% of what you started with. I mixed a 2gal batch and it still looked clean when I dumped it???

I'm using the Hydrofarm air pumps. http://www.hydrofarm.com/pb_detail.php?itemid=7640 One pump per two DWC 5gallon planters with a 6" round air stone in each. Does anybody know what style air stones work better???
Click to expand...
I found an awesome air stone @ the hydro shop.

http://www.sunleaves.com/detail.asp?sku=SOS504
 
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