Help Me With Recirculating DWC

pimp juice · Jul 21, 2012

I have a water chiller and 4 buckets with plants in them. Just started em off 1-2 weeks ago and the water in the buckets is getting way too hot (80-90F on hot days) so my friend lent me his water chiller (recirculating pump). Tried connecting the buckets with 4 inlets and 4 outlets but can't get the water levels consistent. Going to connect the 4 buckets together to keep their water levels constant and then just have 1 input and 1 output from the buckets. How should I connect the buckets (what glue or connection system for connecting vinyl tubing to the PVC bucket??)

Thanks!

BigLittlejohn · Jul 22, 2012

I cannot help you with R-DWC, as I have no idea how to go about it, but I just wanted to say that "Pimp Juice" is by far the best RIU handle I have seen and I am sorry that I didn't take the name for myself. :clap:

BigBuddahCheese · Jul 22, 2012

You need uni-seals or grommets with appropriate fittings. Uniseals seem to be the favorite.

redi jedi · Jul 22, 2012

The best way to plumb the buckets together is using PVC pipe and uni-seals but you could use bulkhead to barb fittings and hose. These fittings are tough to find especially in PVC. Check out diy rdwc tutorial thats stickied in this forum. It will give you an idea of what you gotta build to accomplish what you wanna do.

Its worth the work and expense, RDWC is far superior to DWC in terms of yeild, ease of use, maintenance and stability.

pimp juice · Jul 23, 2012

just did 2 coats of silicone and 1 coat of "flex seal" ill let u guys know how it works out (flex seal just on the outside)

onthedl0008 · Jul 25, 2012

I would add a controller bucket ive built several rdwc rigs now the way i got my levels all proper in the buckets was by simply adding equalizer tube in the bottom of the buckets that simply all drain back to the controller bucket.
The pumps connected to the controller buckets outtake and pushes water thru the buckets in a line with t connectors all at 4 inches i left my equalizer tubeing at 2 inches u could simply just cool the controller bucket at this point..
Have a look at mine its very simple str8 to the point runs smoothly..

pimp juice · Jul 25, 2012

fail-->switched to tote. this is my "controller bucket":

http://www.pchemlabs.com/product.asp?pid=3357

friend who was given it lent it to me thankfully. only problem is it somewhat broken I believe and doesn't stop pulling in water before it overflows, also stops pumping altogether if it runs out of water... so i have to be careful and reach equilibrium. another problem is it outputs a ton of heat and raises the room temp about 15F and temps around 95F when its on. Water is cool (set @ 70F) now though (before the cooler they reached 90F and ice just wouldn't do the job), so I think it's a compromise I need to take to prevent massive root rot. I tried putting it on a timer but after rebooting it needs a button pressed to start back up. Dont really want to run it the whole time because of power consumption and heat, so I'm in a bit of a predicament but been running it occasionally.

onthedl0008 · Jul 25, 2012

I feel ya to bad u couldnt set that in an adjacent room and run your tubeing or pipe in or out of it you should be able to reduce down your in and out take depending which is pushing or pulling harder and equal out your flow ive had to do the same on one of my rigs.. Good luck tho looks like u got alot on your plate.

redi jedi · Jul 28, 2012

pimp juice said:
fail-->switched to tote. this is my "controller bucket":

http://www.pchemlabs.com/product.asp?pid=3357

friend who was given it lent it to me thankfully. only problem is it somewhat broken I believe and doesn't stop pulling in water before it overflows, also stops pumping altogether if it runs out of water... so i have to be careful and reach equilibrium. another problem is it outputs a ton of heat and raises the room temp about 15F and temps around 95F when its on. Water is cool (set @ 70F) now though (before the cooler they reached 90F and ice just wouldn't do the job), so I think it's a compromise I need to take to prevent massive root rot. I tried putting it on a timer but after rebooting it needs a button pressed to start back up. Dont really want to run it the whole time because of power consumption and heat, so I'm in a bit of a predicament but been running it occasionally.

Fancy!...looks like lab gear more than agricultural equipment.

Does it have a sink?

pimp juice · Jul 31, 2012

sink? it has a 7 gal reservoir if that's what you're referring to

redi jedi · Jul 31, 2012

Well its called a water bath circulator, so I figured it would have a sink or bath tub if you like. The reason I ask is because it looks alot like an ultrasonic bath I use at work to decontaminate machine parts. I work at a nuclear power plant.

pimp juice · Aug 1, 2012

ha yeah, not quite ultrasonic

but yeah i used to have one of those at a medical valve manufacturing plant i worked at as well

Help Me With Recirculating DWC

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