RDWC/UDWC Air versus Water

M

meltdown213

Well-Known Member
Man, these RDWC that use water pumps to circulate the buckets look like they have the potential to be a huge pain in the ass. I use a DIY water farm kit and it works great... it uses air to circulate the water. So why have so many people went to so much extra trouble using water instead of air? All and all, air looks to me to be the most efficient and least problematic.

Not trying to flame anyone's shit...just wanted to hear their opinions.
 
m420p

m420p

Well-Known Member
meltdown213 said:
Man, these RDWC that use water pumps to circulate the buckets . I use a DIY water farm kit and it works great... it uses air to circulate the water. So why have so many people went to so much extra trouble using water instead of air? All and all, air looks to me to be the most efficient and least problematic.

Not trying to flame anyone's shit...just wanted to hear their opinions.
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"look like they have the potential to be a huge pain in the ass"

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people talk down on something when they have never tried it. I decided to grow using a RDWC my first ever indoor grow. I grew two NL plants using LST and Scrog that came out to just under 2 lbs under a 1000 watt HPS of dank bud that could have easily gone for $20 a g. Only problems I had was that I was in a attic and had 4-5 feet of height to deal with so some bud tops and leaves were burnt a little and had a little nute burn. If people are having problems in a RDWC it is either their water source or over feeding. After that first grow I have run 1/2-3/4 strength nutes and have had no nute burn since.

I just think you need to worry about what your doing and not talking down on other systems...
 
redi jedi

redi jedi

Well-Known Member
How do you create flow from bucket to bucket using an air pump? How do you move water through a chiller using air? Water pumps are the easiest solution.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
I don't know about pot growing but I had some gold dredges that operated by air shooting up the tube from near water level. The displacement created a suction/vacuum that the water rushes to fill and follow. Not a lot of head space - 2 feet at most - so it moved a lot of water quick. Huge industrial compressor body and it moves water right on up those 4" lines. Vacuum a creek bed pretty easy.

Way easier to keep operating than pumps with screens that fail and rocks trash your pumps by jamming or breaking vanes.
 
M

meltdown213

Well-Known Member
m420p said:
"look like they have the potential to be a huge pain in the ass"

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people talk down on something when they have never tried it. I decided to grow using a RDWC my first ever indoor grow. I grew two NL plants using LST and Scrog that came out to just under 2 lbs under a 1000 watt HPS of dank bud that could have easily gone for $20 a g. Only problems I had was that I was in a attic and had 4-5 feet of height to deal with so some bud tops and leaves were burnt a little and had a little nute burn. If people are having problems in a RDWC it is either their water source or over feeding. After that first grow I have run 1/2-3/4 strength nutes and have had no nute burn since.

I just think you need to worry about what your doing and not talking down on other systems...
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First, I know how it works. just wonder why it's so popular when you can achieve the same goals with less work and more flexibility. I don't have fixed pipes, nor do I have to worry about flow rate between buckets, uniseals etc...
 
M

meltdown213

Well-Known Member
redi jedi said:
How do you create flow from bucket to bucket using an air pump? How do you move water through a chiller using air? Water pumps are the easiest solution.
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Blow air into a line and it pushes water out the other end. Blow it into a series of buckets and the results will be the same. Look up the water farm instructions and you'll see how it works. You see, I don't have to worry about manifolds, or overflowing my buckets, and I get the same desired results.

I'm just wondering how using water became so popular while air seems to be the most flexible, reliable solution.
 
M

meltdown213

Well-Known Member
hotrodharley said:
I don't know about pot growing but I had some gold dredges that operated by air shooting up the tube from near water level. The displacement created a suction/vacuum that the water rushes to fill and follow. Not a lot of head space - 2 feet at most - so it moved a lot of water quick. Huge industrial compressor body and it moves water right on up those 4" lines. Vacuum a creek bed pretty easy.

Way easier to keep operating than pumps with screens that fail and rocks trash your pumps by jamming or breaking vanes.
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Too be honest, I think few understand vacuum/suction/pressure. They see one solution and it works so they run with it. But could care less about efficiency. Just like an ass monkey who uses a 1000 watt lamp for two freaking plants!
 
redi jedi

redi jedi

Well-Known Member
meltdown213 said:
Blow air into a line and it pushes water out the other end. Blow it into a series of buckets and the results will be the same. Look up the water farm instructions and you'll see how it works. You see, I don't have to worry about manifolds, or overflowing my buckets, and I get the same desired results.

I'm just wondering how using water became so popular while air seems to be the most flexible, reliable solution.
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Im familiar with the water farm. I assume your talking about one with multiple units. Comparing recirculation rates of a water farm to RDWC is a bit of stretch. Moving water with air is like rowing with a tennis racket.

Pumps are the best way to move a fluid, that's why they are the primary means of moving fluids in industry.

meltdown213 said:
Too be honest, I think few understand vacuum/suction/pressure. They see one solution and it works so they run with it. But could care less about efficiency. Just like an ass monkey who uses a 1000 watt lamp for two freaking plants!
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To be honest, I think your one of those few.
 
^Slanty

^Slanty

Active Member
I have no issues leaving my filter for 5+ days without having to clean it out, and it is a micro filter. The advantages of utilizing air and a water pump speak for themselves imo once you have tried it! I can't explain why, but it is definitely more efficient than anything else I have run to date. I built my own system. I used bulkhead fittings and not uniseals. I have flexible hoses that connect the tubs. As stated earlier, I can walk away for 5+ days and not give it a second thought.
 
M

meltdown213

Well-Known Member
redi jedi said:
Im familiar with the water farm. I assume your talking about one with multiple units. Comparing recirculation rates of a water farm to RDWC is a bit of stretch. Moving water with air is like rowing with a tennis racket.

Pumps are the best way to move a fluid, that's why they are the primary means of moving fluids in industry.



To be honest, I think your one of those few.
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Have you ever siphoned anything? All it uses is air, vacuum and pressure. And it works dam good. Depending on the number of buckets my system will equilibrate anywhere from 30min -1 hour or so...why do you think you need it faster than that? What benefits did you gain over my setup? I'd bet good money when it comes to res changes and maintenance that PVC is no comparison to good ole rubber hoses. --Also, I've haven't seen many designs where you install shutoff vales on PVC for returns etc.. another pain in the ass.
 
m420p

m420p

Well-Known Member
meltdown213 said:
Have you ever siphoned anything? All it uses is air, vacuum and pressure. And it works dam good. Depending on the number of buckets my system will equilibrate anywhere from 30min -1 hour or so...why do you think you need it faster than that? What benefits did you gain over my setup? I'd bet good money when it comes to res changes and maintenance that PVC is no comparison to good ole rubber hoses. --Also, I've haven't seen many designs where you install shutoff vales on PVC for returns etc.. another pain in the ass.
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Well the biggest benefit for me is I save on nutrients, when your moving solution that fast around your roots you can only use just over 1/2 nute strength before you start burning your plants. I made that mistake with my system on two separate grow. I finally dialed it down to half strength last grow and didn't burn a plant and had no loss in potency and a gain in yield. So it saves money for me in the long run....
 
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