New RDWC Build, Opinions

Well, I scrapped my original idea of using the HD 27 gal totes, and decided that individual 5 gallon buckets would save a lot more time, space and water. I am planning on using the GH areoflo 1.25" grommets, with 1.25" pvc for my return line.

Has anyone had any experience with these grommets? Good, or bad? Any input would help, I am trying to find the correct hole saw locally for these right now and before I go mad and spend a ton of money trying to get these to work, it would be nice to know what I am in for lol.

BTW if anyone is planning on using these, the correct hole saw size is 46mm or 1 13/16"......Lol I had to call GH and even the rep was like WTF....

krinen said:

Well, I scrapped my original idea of using the HD 27 gal totes, and decided that individual 5 gallon buckets would save a lot more time, space and water. I am planning on using the GH areoflo 1.25" grommets, with 1.25" pvc for my return line.

Has anyone had any experience with these grommets? Good, or bad? Any input would help, I am trying to find the correct hole saw locally for these right now and before I go mad and spend a ton of money trying to get these to work, it would be nice to know what I am in for lol.

BTW if anyone is planning on using these, the correct hole saw size is 46mm or 1 13/16"......Lol I had to call GH and even the rep was like WTF....

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Generally, grommets seal better with a flat surface than a radius, but may work fine. You could also use a bulkhead or thru-hull fitting. Uniseals are an option but some people have problems installing them...IMO

redi jedi said:

Generally, grommets seal better with a flat surface than a radius, but may work fine. You could also use a bulkhead or thru-hull fitting. Uniseals are an option but some people have problems installing them...IMO

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+1 Really good advice here
I had issue after issue using grommets and uniseals on my buckets and settled on bulkheads. LIFE IS SO MUCH BETTER NOW.

I use vinyl tubing between buckets and res for return b/c when I started building my RDWC system, I was afraid of PVC. That said, I enjoy being able to make small adjustments for one odd reason or another that would otherwise be impossible (or far more difficult) with PVC connected buckets

https://www.hydroponics.net/i/141795 and 1" vinyl tubing are what I use to connect my buckets together and to my res - cheap and super easy to work with, perfect seal.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0079JTX3U?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 is what I use from my res to my pump input.



The flexibility, peace of mind, and ease of install all make bulkheads a no brainer for me.

Major Blazer said:

+1 Really good advice here
I had issue after issue using grommets and uniseals on my buckets and settled on bulkheads. LIFE IS SO MUCH BETTER NOW.

I use vinyl tubing between buckets and res for return b/c when I started building my RDWC system, I was afraid of PVC. That said, I enjoy being able to make small adjustments for one odd reason or another that would otherwise be impossible (or far more difficult) with PVC connected buckets

https://www.hydroponics.net/i/141795 and 1" vinyl tubing are what I use to connect my buckets together and to my res - cheap and super easy to work with, perfect seal.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0079JTX3U?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 is what I use from my res to my pump input.

View attachment 3567825

The flexibility, peace of mind, and ease of install all make bulkheads a no brainer for me.

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Is that 1" return line big enough? Are you running undercurrent or waterfalls in each bucket? What size line if doing waterfall? And how many buckets are you running with the 1"? I plan on doing 8.

I certainly do not have the movement of people with 2"+ PVC but yes, a lot of movement and yes I have a waterfall at each grow site, 1/2" lines. Big enough is subjective. Water moves freely enough that the res bucket stays 5-6" lower in water when the pump is on and if I turn the pump off, they level out in a few seconds. If I adjust pH or add nutrients, it takes just almost no time for the buckets to mix 100%. There is enough negative pressure that bubbles from the airstone in my bucket make their way into the res. At first I thought I had a leak and i was going crazy trying to find it lol. Three buckets total, two in a 2'x4' tent and one res outside. I got the ecoplus 396 in there now so its really moving water compared to the 185 I just swapped out.

I think that 1" return might end up being a little too small to keep up with my 900Gph mag drive pump when I have all 8 buckets rocking. I am actually thinking that my 1.25" might be a tad too small

krinen said:

I think that 1" return might end up being a little too small to keep up with my 900Gph mag drive pump when I have all 8 buckets rocking. I am actually thinking that my 1.25" might be a tad too small

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Too much pump..

What size should I stay with? I'm assuming I should stick with inline rather than submersible just to keep the heat down, correct?

Inline is a PITA at times but definitely helps to minimize water temperatures.

I'm interested in what jedi has to say about pump size in that large of grow. I'm @ 3 buckets (11gal) and the 396 is more than enough but I'd like to go bigger once I get more comfortable.

krinen said:

What size should I stay with? I'm assuming I should stick with inline rather than submersible just to keep the heat down, correct?

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Most mag-drive pumps..google danner mag drive...can be run inline or submerged, but yes inline prevents the pump motor adding heat.

350-500 gph would be plenty..this is also the desired flow rate for a 1/10hp chiller if you decide to add one.

Yeah now I'm looking at the active Aqua 550gph. I'll see what Jedi reports though. I'm just tired of buying equipment over and over again. Lol. I have pumps for days all submersible though.

I have a 1/4hp chiller. Forgot to add that.

Hey major blazer, is the insulation that's on your buckets the stuff with the sticky back made for duct insulation?

redi jedi said:

Too much pump..

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THANK YOU! Water does NOT need to be moving that fast. Its recirculating deep water culture not super fastest re-circulating water culture.

Vumar said:

THANK YOU! Water does NOT need to be moving that fast. Its recirculating deep water culture not super fastest re-circulating water culture.

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3-4 circulations/hour is enough...I think most UC systems are 7 but I don't think its a critical spec.

krinen said:

Yeah now I'm looking at the active Aqua 550gph. I'll see what Jedi reports though. I'm just tired of buying equipment over and over again. Lol. I have pumps for days all submersible though.

I have a 1/4hp chiller. Forgot to add that.

Hey major blazer, is the insulation that's on your buckets the stuff with the sticky back made for duct insulation?

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You sure your current submersibles can't also run inline? Many do at and over the 200gph size.

That's bubble foil from lowes doubled wrapped and a double layer underneath too. I used foil tape to adhere it. The bottom layer made a big difference since mine are off the floor, a design change I'll undue next cycle.

krinen said:

Well, I scrapped my original idea of using the HD 27 gal totes, and decided that individual 5 gallon buckets would save a lot more time, space and water. I am planning on using the GH areoflo 1.25" grommets, with 1.25" pvc for my return line.

Has anyone had any experience with these grommets? Good, or bad? Any input would help, I am trying to find the correct hole saw locally for these right now and before I go mad and spend a ton of money trying to get these to work, it would be nice to know what I am in for lol.

BTW if anyone is planning on using these, the correct hole saw size is 46mm or 1 13/16"......Lol I had to call GH and even the rep was like WTF....

Click to expand...

Just another idea, because I am brainstorming my RDWC as well, that you can get 18g HDX totes if you dont like the 27 HDX. I made a x4 tote system out of 27gal HDX's and a tidy cat 3gal container as a res. Worked well... I wouldnt hate on the totes too much, they have flat surfaces!

Major Blazer said:

You sure your current submersibles can't also run inline? Many do at and over the 200gph size.

That's bubble foil from lowes doubled wrapped and a double layer underneath too. I used foil tape to adhere it. The bottom layer made a big difference since mine are off the floor, a design change I'll undue next cycle.

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Yes most submersibles do have the option of being inline. Just take the filter off and theres attachments to convert it.

Vumar said:

Just another idea, because I am brainstorming my RDWC as well, that you can get 18g HDX totes if you dont like the 27 HDX. I made a x4 tote system out of 27gal HDX's and a tidy cat 3gal container as a res. Worked well... I wouldnt hate on the totes too much, they have flat surfaces!

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I loved the tote idea with multiple net pots. I just didn't like the amount of water that the 27gals took to fill. That was my only gripe.

My 600gph does not have the female end under the filter. I think my 396 does though. I'll try using that to start with

Has anyone else had issues with 5 gallon buckets cracking while trying to insert pvc into grommets or uniseals? I have put little vertical tears in about 6 buckets. Starting to get frustrated

krinen said:

Has anyone else had issues with 5 gallon buckets cracking while trying to insert pvc into grommets or uniseals? I have put little vertical tears in about 6 buckets. Starting to get frustrated

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you're better off finding 5 gal square pails. a uniseal or bulkhead will always seal better on a flat surface vs semi-round.

buckets are also made different thicknesses of plastic. are yours kinda thin and flimsy?