DIY RDWC - First Timer - Any Advice Welcome

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Perfect. But you'd plumb a 1" bulkhead at the bottom of the front of the res container for your pumps 1" inlet you said it had. Then have the 1" PVC be just a few inches long to the pump, then up with 3/4" to the height of your waterfalls on your totes, elbow over, and into the tent!
You can probably make it work by off setting the tote a bit so the return line and pump line can both be in the Front, but it might be easier to just use 8 bulkheads instead of 5 and have the returns go through the totes, out the tent, and then elbow over to the sides of the res so the front is left nice and open for the inline pump. That or just plumb a small bend on the return line to move it a bit out of the way for your pump in your design you've drawn here.
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Unless I'm completely missing that you're using a submersible pump and in that case you'll want a chiller. I recommend one regardless but they're a few hundo.
 

FuqStiK

Active Member
Here's my recommendations:
GeekLight has a bar spread and spacing that is better than anyone else for even ppfd. Just wish it was 8 bars.


If Amazon is a MUST, these are what I recommend. 2 of these:



They'll be back in stock eventually, which is crazy cause they had 8 in stock like 2 days ago... Or just use their website. But for some reason they don't list the double board fixture so you might wanna contact them. Tell em I sent ya.

www.fissioning.com
I'll have to take a look at these and do some heavy research on lights for a little while. Not trying to buy anything that's overly cheap. I'll probably be okay with spending $300-400 on lights - initially.

Just not really sure where or what to look for. Is Alibaba a good source to buy from? Seems like shipping is outrageously expensive.
 

FuqStiK

Active Member
Unless I'm completely missing that you're using a submersible pump and in that case you'll want a chiller. I recommend one regardless but they're a few hundo.
I think I'd like to eventually get a chiller - I just don't know if it's in the initial bucket unless temps get a little high. Then I'll dedicate buying a chiller here in the next month or so.
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
I'll have to take a look at these and do some heavy research on lights for a little while. Not trying to buy anything that's overly cheap. I'll probably be okay with spending $300-400 on lights - initially.

Just not really sure where or what to look for. Is Alibaba a good source to buy from? Seems like shipping is outrageously expensive.
Well the 3 you listed are absolute garbage
 

FuqStiK

Active Member
Well the 3 you listed are absolute garbage
Thanks for the honesty :) I figured these main manufacturers that list on Amazon aren't the best. I'm gonna do some digging in the forums and see what other lights may be best for me. I'm in a hot / humid state -- so I'm afraid that a CMH light may run toooooo hot for where I'll be having this grow -- 3rd floor in my house near the attic. Separate Window AC unit is in the room and the main AC unit of the house has a couple vents upstairs.
 

FuqStiK

Active Member
Perfect. But you'd plumb a 1" bulkhead at the bottom of the front of the res container for your pumps 1" inlet you said it had. Then have the 1" PVC be just a few inches long to the pump, then up with 3/4" to the height of your waterfalls on your totes, elbow over, and into the tent!
You can probably make it work by off setting the tote a bit so the return line and pump line can both be in the Front, but it might be easier to just use 8 bulkheads instead of 5 and have the returns go through the totes, out the tent, and then elbow over to the sides of the res so the front is left nice and open for the inline pump. That or just plumb a small bend on the return line to move it a bit out of the way for your pump in your design you've drawn here.
Am I starting to understand you a little more? :lol::lol::lol:
1.png
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the honesty :) I figured these main manufacturers that list on Amazon aren't the best. I'm gonna do some digging in the forums and see what other lights may be best for me. I'm in a hot / humid state -- so I'm afraid that a CMH light may run toooooo hot for where I'll be having this grow -- 3rd floor in my house near the attic. Separate Window AC unit is in the room and the main AC unit of the house has a couple vents upstairs.
Put a 4" duct directly into the central a/c vent with a 4" fan to pull into your tent as your intake. HUGE ADVANTAGE. Fresh co2 cause it's filtered outside air, and it's cooled!
 

FuqStiK

Active Member
Put a 4" duct directly into the central a/c vent with a 4" fan to pull into your tent as your intake. HUGE ADVANTAGE. Fresh co2 cause it's filtered outside air, and it's cooled!
Myyyyy man!! I don't know why I didn't think of that, but that should help with all aspects of the grow..
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Myyyyy man!! I don't know why I didn't think of that, but that should help with all aspects of the grow..
Absolutely. Done it for years. You wanna have that air come in through the top duct socks. Cold air falls to the floor, hot air rises.
 

FuqStiK

Active Member
So with that new tidbit, a CMH light is actually doable for my grow and then can upgrade to a new really nice LED. Seems like QB LED are the way to go
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
I always had it set up on the bottom socks though because in flower my scrog net gets so full and my carbon filter/exhaust is on the opposite side of the 4x8 at the top. I wanted my cool air to be somewhat pulled up through my canopy, over and out to the exhaust. plus I have an oscillating 8" fan on the floor opposite side of the intake moving the air around down there and another fan on the top on the opposite side.
 

FuqStiK

Active Member
I would use LED. CMH can't do a 4x4 unless it's a 630 and they get pretty damned hot. LEd stays remarkably cool especially strips/boards.
Okay so just spend the extra coin and it'll help all aspects of the grow - heat, power consumption, etc. So are full spectrum the way to go in terms of LED
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Okay so just spend the extra coin and it'll help all aspects of the grow - heat, power consumption, etc. So are full spectrum the way to go in terms of LED
White LED. Samsung LM301B/H Diodes with additional 660/730bm reds and anything with additional 385-460nm near UV/blues is a bonus too. That's why that geek light is dope.
 
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