are air stones even necessary?

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glani

Member
Can I put an air hose with the backflow restricter in a dwc bucket without an air stone?
The bubbles would be bigger, the airflow would increase, and if roots get the majority of their air atmospherically (as opposed to through the water), then all the air has to do is mix the water up, right?
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
glani said:
Can I put an air hose with the backflow restricter in a dwc bucket without an air stone?
The bubbles would be bigger, the airflow would increase, and if roots get the majority of their air atmospherically (as opposed to through the water), then all the air has to do is mix the water up, right?
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Better yet; use a waterpump to lift water above the surface and then let it always back down. This aerates, helps cool, agitates the water and churns the surface, all good things.

And it's quieter!
 
G

glani

Member
I have two small waterfall filters in my turtle tank and i hear running water from a room away. Wouldnt that splashing be louder?
I'm setting up 4 buckets with a 5th one as a rez. No recirculating just yet until i get experience. So right now ive got a few cheap air pumps and hose, and am pretty much at the end of my budget. With what i have, do i need to buy this 24pak of stones i found on ebay for $10 or can i just secure the hoses to the bottom of the buckets? I know the waterfalls keep the temps down but im hopin to be able to avoid water pumps and all that until i start cloning these mothers and getting more buckets and switching to rdwc. Its going to be a 9 bucket veg and 9 bucket flower, two rooms, one bucket a week rotating crop.
 
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G

glani

Member
The idea is that a tube with no stone would make bigger bubbles, agitating water more, and since i read the roots get the majority of their oxygen from the open air than from the water, I havent been able to find a reason why attaching a stone would be better than just the tube
 
Jypsy Dog

Jypsy Dog

Well-Known Member
G

glani

Member
Enigma said:
Short answer, yes.
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Thanks man. I have a few stones and will have some with and some without to see and get more stones if i have to, I just noticed in all the reading i did that that hadnt come up yet and wanted some opinions or to see if anyone had done it
 
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Enigma

Enigma

Well-Known Member
glani said:
Thanks man. I have a few stones and will have some side by side to see and get more stones if i have to, I just noticed in all the reading i did that that hadnt come up yet and wanted some opinions or to see if anyone had done it
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Time and time again.

Use the stones that produce the smallest bubbles. PetSmart brand 2" cylinder stones work well, inexpensively.

You'll be adding heat with an air pump, you'll have to come up with a solution for that.
 
G

glani

Member
Im getting contradictory advice from these forums. Some say the bubbles mostly agitate the water, and that o2 absorbtion mostly happens at the surface when bubbles pop. If that's true, theres no need for tiny bubbles with greater surface area since the amount of o2 getting absorbed by the water on the bubble's way to the top is minimal. Then others say the bubbles oxygenate the water on their way up so smaller ones are better. I mean i guess ill find out soon enough since I'll try them side by side.
Also, the reason for the 9 week weg is because theyre getting mainlined 3 times each, and i read every time you do it you add a week to veg
 
G

glani

Member
HydoDan said:
I've gotten root rot when one of my airstones came lose from the airline.. Small bubbles make oxygenated water..
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That's the info I was looking for. Getting more stones. Thanks.
Hopefully I'll feel confident enough to switch over to rdwc before too long
 
Enigma

Enigma

Well-Known Member
glani said:
That's the info I was looking for. Getting more stones. Thanks.
Hopefully I'll feel confident enough to switch over to rdwc before too long
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He didn't say anything about more air stones, just that you need them.

He gave you an example of what happens when there isn't enough oxygen in the water.

Read up on some DWC journals, there are a few RDWC journals going (one I know is about to start taking off), and that will show you how involved hydroponics can be as well as how simple it can be.

The search function is your best friend, thousands of people were where you are right now.
 
G

glani

Member
Enigma said:
He didn't say anything about more air stones, just that you need them.

He gave you an example of what happens when there isn't enough oxygen in the water.

Read up on some DWC journals, there are a few RDWC journals going (one I know is about to start taking off), and that will show you how involved hydroponics can be as well as how simple it can be.

My question was never whether or not i needed air, it was whether i needed a stone at the end of my hose or not, and when his came loose he got root rot, so now i know. Ive read alot about the rdwc, ive just reached my budget and will have to wait until i get more money. Will be a month or more before i can get any more parts, i got laid off right after buyin most of this equipment so i was planning to just flower some local clones in regular dwc until then. Thx for the help.
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PetFlora

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
About a year ago I read a thread that suggested eliminating air stones by replacing them with a venturi pump. ever since, I have been using a SEPARATE small pump with venturi: it's on a separate timer and runs it 4minutes/40 minutes. works great and eliminates clogged air stones. By aiming it into a corner, it helps recirculate the nutes

IMG_3856.JPG IMG_3980.JPG
 
TheChemist77

TheChemist77

Well-Known Member
ive been growing in a flood n drain set up for many years..the pump kicks on 4 times per day for 15 min. i always had an air stone in rez 24/7 to keep it oxegenated.. ive found in f&d set ups the flood process creates all the oxegen u need,, no need for air stones or even a seperate pump to waterfall.
my plants are happy as ever, ive also found the flood n drain helps to mix the nutes w water in rez,, especially nutes that fall to the bottom..
in deep water culture,, ive always used air stones too but now i use the waterfall i like the sound and it airates far better than stones that clogg..
 
D

Dr.Nick Riviera

Well-Known Member
PetFlora said:
About a year ago I read a thread that suggested eliminating air stones by replacing them with a venturi pump. ever since, I have been using a SEPARATE small pump with venturi: it's on a separate timer and runs it 4minutes/40 minutes. works great and eliminates clogged air stones. By aiming it into a corner, it helps recirculate the nutes

View attachment 4012376 View attachment 4012377
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that bud looks like shit, Burnt leaves, Nanners everywhere. I can't believe you would post that and think it was cool.LMFAO
 
PetFlora

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
anyone pay attention to the good dr? doctor of what I wonder? Plenty good about that pic for anyone who isn't jealous, or but hurt

And to imply that my venturi method somehow was at fault only points to your lack of knowledge
 
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Dr.Nick Riviera

Well-Known Member
PetFlora said:
anyone pay attention to the good dr? doctor of what I wonder? Plenty good about that pic for anyone who isn't jealous, or but hurt

And to imply that my venturi method somehow was at fault only points to your lack of knowledge
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your bud points to your lack of knowledge. My "diagnosis" of your shitty bud is spot on. Don't think anyone is jealous of that crap, and it's "butthurt".:bigjoint:
here is some cream for yours
 
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