Air Stones vs water pump

Badmofo529

In Bloom
For R/O reservoirs specifically. Probably gonna pick up a 32 gallon trash can for a res, and was wondering what you guys were using to keep the water good. I've heard of people having pH issues from airstones, plus then I gotta listen to the air pump rattle away, so I'm leaning towards a water pump.

Is there any disadvantage to using a water pump to make a waterfall to oxygenate/ make it easy to fill a bucket? Or is this GMOozy making me paranoid and overthinking this lmao.
 

spyralout

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For R/O reservoirs specifically. Probably gonna pick up a 32 gallon trash can for a res, and was wondering what you guys were using to keep the water good. I've heard of people having pH issues from airstones, plus then I gotta listen to the air pump rattle away, so I'm leaning towards a water pump.

Is there any disadvantage to using a water pump to make a waterfall to oxygenate/ make it easy to fill a bucket? Or is this GMOozy making me paranoid and overthinking this lmao.
I do this exact thing both with RO res and Nute res. If you want a quiet air pump check out linear vs. pistón design. Alita air pumps are a fraction of the noise if you need a lotta air. Otherwise a dual chamber Aqua Culture from Walmart is quiet, cheap, and does the job.
 

spyralout

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40 gal square trash can, (square makes space more efficient). 400GPH pump at bottom, pumps up, and back into res. Use the same hose to fill nute res and RDWC system. Trash can handle makes a good hose hang-guide. Encased UV inside. First time trying UV. Lid is loose but snaps right over the top, without pinching the hoses. When the hose is place at an angle instead of straight down, I noticed It creates a little whirpool effect.
View attachment RO-Res-Water-Pump.mp4
 

HydroRed

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40 gal square trash can, (square makes space more efficient). 400GPH pump at bottom, pumps up, and back into res. Use the same hose to fill nute res and RDWC system. Trash can handle makes a good hose hang-guide. Encased UV inside. First time trying UV. Lid is loose but snaps right over the top, without pinching the hoses. When the hose is place at an angle instead of straight down, I noticed It creates a little whirpool effect.
View attachment 9423
:clapping::clapping:Thats whats up!
 

Badmofo529

In Bloom
40 gal square trash can, (square makes space more efficient). 400GPH pump at bottom, pumps up, and back into res. Use the same hose to fill nute res and RDWC system. Trash can handle makes a good hose hang-guide. Encased UV inside. First time trying UV. Lid is loose but snaps right over the top, without pinching the hoses. When the hose is place at an angle instead of straight down, I noticed It creates a little whirpool effect.
View attachment 9423
Nice, yeah that's pretty much what I had in my head. I probably don't need a 400gph pump though lol. Do you just run the pump 24/7 or do you have it on a cycle timer?


I switched to a cheap bottom feed pump on a short cycle timer
(BN-LINK Short Cycle Timer), feel like it keeps it mixed better?
How long will it sit?
Lot of air to stir 30 gal.?
Yeah after I thought about it I would need a pretty decent sized air pump to accomplish anything, water pump seems to be the way to go. Not quite sure how long it will sit for, not planning on using it until I get my room built, it will have a float valve. I figure 25-30 gallons is more than I will need at a time until it fills back up, but not so much that it will be sitting around for too long.
 

spyralout

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I probably don't need a 400gph pump though lol.
That's the rating on this Active Aqua (Hydrofarm) unit, but I don't think all pumps are made the same. Plus after it goes through the 10ft or so of hose, it's less than that. I had a 250gph in there and man the 400gph is way better for only $5 more. I can fill up my res and system in less than half the time. Remember that it has to pump back up, through the length of the hose, and back in the can, so you'll kick yourself if you get one that's just a bit too weak.

Do you just run the pump 24/7 or do you have it on a cycle timer?
24/7. It doesn't heat up much. If you're concerned about heat then you can always plumb it on the outside of the can with a bulkhead then pump it back in. I just don't want to have a hole in a huge water res if I don't have to. No joke, my GF and I have become quite accustomed to the sounds and actually missed them. Just put everything back up and sleep has been more restful lol.
 

Caddis

Zinger
That's the rating on this Active Aqua (Hydrofarm) unit, but I don't think all pumps are made the same. Plus after it goes through the 10ft or so of hose, it's less than that. I had a 250gph in there and man the 400gph is way better for only $5 more. I can fill up my res and system in less than half the time. Remember that it has to pump back up, through the length of the hose, and back in the can, so you'll kick yourself if you get one that's just a bit too weak.


24/7. It doesn't heat up much. If you're concerned about heat then you can always plumb it on the outside of the can with a bulkhead then pump it back in. I just don't want to have a hole in a huge water res if I don't have to. No joke, my GF and I have become quite accustomed to the sounds and actually missed them. Just put everything back up and sleep has been more restful lol.
My wife wants to know why I’ve been sitting next to the sink watching the water run.
 

OldG

Elite Hobbyist
I have recently done the double bubble idea to the power of 2....i run bubblers in my flood and drains. They work GREAT but...there is a single problem i have found with a flood and drain.

I use coco pots in flood and drains and...you have to FLUSH The pots during the grow. I figured it out with some help but a lot of the problems i had were salt build up in the coco. So now i take them out of the flood and drain trays and hand water them every couple of weeks and let them flush. I get less really burned crispy leaves at the end of a cycle with the new approach.

And aerated water in the flood and drain is a CHAMP!

Just my 2 cents...holy shit is doob oclock...i am 2 doobs behind at least !
 

HydroRed

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I have recently done the double bubble idea to the power of 2....i run bubblers in my flood and drains. They work GREAT but...there is a single problem i have found with a flood and drain.

I use coco pots in flood and drains and...you have to FLUSH The pots during the grow. I figured it out with some help but a lot of the problems i had were salt build up in the coco. So now i take them out of the flood and drain trays and hand water them every couple of weeks and let them flush. I get less really burned crispy leaves at the end of a cycle with the new approach.

And aerated water in the flood and drain is a CHAMP!

Just my 2 cents...holy shit is doob oclock...i am 2 doobs behind at least !
I can see coco holding salts like that in a F&D. Theres no real washing action like in a DTW or top feed drip etc.
 

Badmofo529

In Bloom
That's the rating on this Active Aqua (Hydrofarm) unit, but I don't think all pumps are made the same. Plus after it goes through the 10ft or so of hose, it's less than that. I had a 250gph in there and man the 400gph is way better for only $5 more. I can fill up my res and system in less than half the time. Remember that it has to pump back up, through the length of the hose, and back in the can, so you'll kick yourself if you get one that's just a bit too weak.


24/7. It doesn't heat up much. If you're concerned about heat then you can always plumb it on the outside of the can with a bulkhead then pump it back in. I just don't want to have a hole in a huge water res if I don't have to. No joke, my GF and I have become quite accustomed to the sounds and actually missed them. Just put everything back up and sleep has been more restful lol.

Cool, looking at This pump right now, it should work alright. The heat shouldn't be too bad with it sitting on the cold concrete, plus the water coming into it is pretty cold year round (I have a well).
 
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