Doobious

Okay, I have designed a cross between a DWC bubbler and an Ebb Flow hydro setup. This method allows for a large resevoir (31 gallon rubbermaid buckets for $10.00 at Home DePOT)

This is how it works, a pump is constantly on, pumping nutrients through a Fill/Drain fitting in the bottom of the bucket. Then, there is a tube either extending from the bottom of the bucket or drilled to the side of the bucket at the max depth of the water -- the overflow tube. Once the water reaches this point, it flows back to the resevoir and is recirculated!

This serves a few purposes:
1. A large resevoir mean less "check up" time required.
2. A constant circulation of nutrients.
3. The return water, splashing in the resevoir, oxygenates the water.
4. Run multiple DWC bubblers off of one resevoir (if a 30 gallon resevoir, then you could easily run 3-4 buckets without worrying about running water levels too low.

Now, I have a question. Would it be best to put the airstone in the bucket where the plant is, or in the resevoir. Or both? Or, with the return and constant agitation of water... is an airstone necessary?

doob

[This message has been edited by Doobious (edited August 26, 2000).]

lilbuddie

Well, I am not Mr Hydro but I would venture to say yes absolutely. You are providing air directly to the roots which they need and they can never have too much air. Also I would think it woul dhelp keep everything mixed up as it circulates through the system

Is that tube going in the bottom really going right in the bottom of the bucket? If so how is the bucket standing up? Ican see the hols on the side of the bottom with a 90 angle so you can just set them on the floor

I am itching to build a stand alone bubbler but I just need to get around to it and I am watching you guys to get ideas

LB

[This message has been edited by lilbuddie (edited August 27, 2000).]

Doobious

What I'm planning on doing is cutting circles in a cafeteria table (I got one today for free from work!!!) The holes will be just big enough to slide the buckets in and out - in essence, they'll be suspended. The resevoir will be below them. I will be lining the top of the table (area right under the plants) with Mylar. I figure with the eight foot table I can fit about 4, 5 gallon bubblers.

I'll keep you posted.

doob

Doobious

Also, the table will serve as a good light shield from the buckets and the resevoir...

doob

lilbuddie

How big is the reservior in height and gallons?

And how tall is it to the table top?

Just curiuos?

LB

420_scientist

Doobious

A good design for a recirculating DWC system I must say. The only weak point that could use even further improvement is addiding air pumps and air diffusers. Sure there will be a decent amount of oxygenation from the water splashing back in to the res. But it will never compare to the amount of O2 that could be introduced by having individual small pumps and diffusers in each bucket, or at least two large pumps and large diffusers in the res.

I have seen the difference in a side by side comparison between a DWC bubbler that was oxygenated by surface agitation (very similar to your proposed method) and one that was done by a powerful dual air pump with quality silica air diffusers. To say the least, both were quite healthy, both produced excellent quality, but the one done in the air pump/diffuser based bubbler resulted in a faster finish time and far more in terms of yield and just sheer mass, even though both were identical cuts from one mom. Throughout the entire grow the air pump based bucket just seemd to outgrow the other on a daily basis.

I cant remember the link but it discussed the amount of O2 saturation in the water in direct relation to bubble size. Since water running in to another body of water only produces very large to medium large sized bubbles, it would never really be capable of matching the saturation rate of a fine or medium pore air diffuser.

So by all means your system will work, but it could work better with air pump based oxygenation if you want to fork out the cash for the pumps and diffusers. I did not mean to put down this idea at all in any way, just wanted to pass along a little info which I gained from first hand observation. Overall I think it is a good design, and I like how you created the overfill pipe in the vertical position. I assume you are going to use bulk heads to make the holes for the fill and overfill tubes? They are real slick if you opted to use them since they create a perfect seal for the tubes. Anyways, good luck

420_sci

[This message has been edited by 420_scientist (edited August 28, 2000).]

Doobious

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 420_scientist:
The only weak point that could use even further improvement is addiding air pumps and air diffusers.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes, I agree. I was always going to add the air pumps... I actually have a 2500cc Maxima Dual Air pump ready to go. I was just curious as to whether it would work without them.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 420_scientist:
I did not mean to put down this idea at all in any way, just wanted to pass along a little info which I gained from first hand observation.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thank you for the information you provided, excellent post.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 420_scientist:
Overall I think it is a good design, and I like how you created the overfill pipe in the vertical position. I assume you are going to use bulk heads to make the holes for the fill and overfill tubes?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hehe, I will use bulk heads... only if I knew what they were. Please inform me... I would appreciate it greatly. Maybe I know what they are, but are unsure of the term "bulk heads"

Once again, thank you for the post. I enjoyed reading such a well informed post, keep up the good work.

doob


[This message has been edited by Doobious (edited August 28, 2000).]

420_scientist

Doobious,

hey man, glad to hear the post was of some use to you Regarding the bulkheads, It would take forever to try to describe them, but a quick break down is this. Imagine a PVC tube that is threaded on the outside and the inside at both ends. One end has a large lip so that the tube will not slide through the hole you are inserting it in to. There is a nut and gasket that fits over one side of this tube. You make a hole in the bucket, then screw in the bulkhead fitting and then on the inside of the bucket, you place the gasket on the tube and then screw on the pvc nut. This is what makes the tight seal and prevents leakage under normal pressures.

The overall length of the tube is maybee 1 inch, so it wont be in the way. The internal diameter of the threaded pvc tube varies from 1/2" to 4" so you can be creative with tubing size. The outer diameter of the tube varies from 1 1/8" to 5 9/16" which will also give you some creativity room.

Here is the link to where you can purchase these bulkhead fittings.
http://www.aquaticecosystems.com/aquatic1v1/dir3.icl?secid=0&subsecid=120&catid=1158&orderidentifier=ID9675693250312C207D&itmcnt=45&begincount=1 &endcount=30&curpage=1&numpages=2

The average price of the fittings ranges from $4.90 to $8.00 each. You would also need some threaded and or threaded and barbed fittings to screw in to the inside portion of the tube so you can screw in or somehow secure the overfill tube. Just browse around the site, they have any and every type of PVC tube and any other item you will need to complete this setup.

Let me know if there is anything else you need to know. Good luck

420_sci
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Doobious:
Hehe, I will use bulk heads... only if I knew what they were. Please inform me... I would appreciate it greatly. Maybe I know what they are, but are unsure of the term "bulk heads"

Once again, thank you for the post. I enjoyed reading such a well informed post, keep up the good work.

doob


[This message has been edited by Doobious (edited August 28, 2000).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>



[This message has been edited by 420_scientist (edited August 29, 2000).]

GntlmnLsr

420_sci I would like to pick your brain if I could. How long would it take a pump with 2-3 air stones (regular ones I assume w/ about 6-8 sq inchs of surface area) to properly airate a 20 gallon resevoir? I tried to introduce airation into a system and found an increase in slime build up but I was leaving it on 24/7. Would it help to run the airator only when the plants are being feed? Any tips in this area would be helpfull.