- When I "Tee" off the return line (where the water pump intake will connect), what is the best way to connect that up? Should I use PVC reducers/adapters to incrementally step down from 2" to 1/2"? And then how can I connect a barb to that for the flexible return line to pump? Is using a soft line ok?I use a T fitting for this, the connection consists of two 2" slip fittings and one 1/2" threaded fitting... From that I use a 1/2" double male threaded fitting .... from there I connect my 1/2" ball valve.... from there I use a coupler 1/2" Female threaded & female 3/4" threaded..... from there I attach the inline filter.... from there I use another coupler 3/4" female threaded to 1/2" female threaded.... from there I use a barb fitting with a 1/2"male threaded end to 1/2" barb.... from there I attach my 1/2" flex tube to the water pump.
- From the water pump output, it needs to connect to the rez. Should I just do the same plumbing, but in reverse (1/2" up to 2") for entrance into the rez? I have heard that your return line should be bigger than your intake line, to help avoid over-pumping in the event of a clog or flow issue. Would that apply here? Plus the in-line filter I was looking at online comes in 3/4". Home Depot might have some other sizes but I haven't checked.From the inline water pump out I connect another 1/2" female threaded to 1/2" barb fitting.... to a length of 1/2" flex tube... to another 1/2" barb fitting with a male threaded end.....to a 90 degree 1/2" pvc threaded to 3/4" slip fitting..... to another length of 3/4" pvc.... this goes through a 3/4" uniseal into the Epicenter then connects to a 3/4" T fitting.( do not glue the T fitting to the 3/4" pvc, if you do you won't be able to take the fitting apart to get it out of the epicenter)
- I was looking at a 500GPH mag-drive submersible/in-line water pump. I'd prefer mag-drive for the reduced power consumption and to minimize heat in the water. Do you think 500GPH would be a good target for this size system (60gal. capacity with about 30-45gal active). Is it too much? Also, you noted that you run yours at about half. Are you halving the flow or halving the pump speed? I too run mag-drive supreme pumps, 500gph should be plenty, I had to match my pump to the size water chiller I'm running 750gph for a 1/2Hp chiller. I think he's halving the flow
- Is there a preferred size of the water line that will connect from the top-up tote to the rez? 1/4", 1/2"? Not sure what size output the float valves usually come with. I plan on attaching the top-up float valve to a vertical dowel that will control the height of the water level so I can adjust it between veg and flower. The float valves come in 1/4 of 1/2" the bigger the line the faster you'll fill your system, The float valves are sold with either short of long handle floats both are adjustable for multiple water levels.
Alright I think thats all the questions I have now... sorry to bug. Oh and after we spoke the other day about having movable scrog nets for RDWC/UC, i got to thinking... ill update in another post. I took a look at your scrog idea... looks a little over engineered.
Hope that helps
UCDWC~
