Waterfalls

MItonic

Well-Known Member
Im seeing alot pf people that have waterfalld in thier systems still have an airstone in there as well...

I thought the whole purpose of the waterfalls was to fully eliminate the airstones and pumps? Or are the stones still necessary?? I made a post a little while back talking about my new build im doing in 3 weeks amd would really appreciate some info on this. My system will include high pressure jet type falls in each bucket, 13g buckets, 28 buckets, 55g epicenter, 3 inch feed lines with 1 inch return line (maybe?).

I am also going to raise the system 6" off the ground and run a drain from the bottom of each bucket to a master drain for easier system water swaps. Im just still a bit lost on how exactly to do the waterfalls???
 

MustGro

Well-Known Member
You don't need too much air in your system; usually either airstones or waterfalls is enough. I think there's a limit to how much air that you can put into water; maybe like 10 PPMs, but not 100% on that.
 

MItonic

Well-Known Member
You don't need too much air in your system; usually either airstones or waterfalls is enough. I think there's a limit to how much air that you can put into water; maybe like 10 PPMs, but not 100% on that.
Thats what everything ive read says as well water can only hold so much DO. So why do people have stones and falls? The whole point of my build is to eliminate stones and airpumps completely!
 

ZenWolf

Well-Known Member
Thats what everything ive read says as well water can only hold so much DO. So why do people have stones and falls? The whole point of my build is to eliminate stones and airpumps completely!
Some still use air stones to keep roots away from outflow lines to avoid blockages from occurring.
 

myke

Well-Known Member
I use 3/8ID feed hoses and air stones. I use the bigger feed lines as they don’t gum up over time so naturally I get a waterfall. I first tried a larger pump to try and avoid an air pump but it was way to loud. So back to smaller circulation pump and air. As said above air pushes the roots away from the drains. Why people say air is too loud I don’t know.
 

MItonic

Well-Known Member
I use 3/8ID feed hoses and air stones. I use the bigger feed lines as they don’t gum up over time so naturally I get a waterfall. I first tried a larger pump to try and avoid an air pump but it was way to loud. So back to smaller circulation pump and air. As said above air pushes the roots away from the drains. Why people say air is too loud I don’t know.
Right now im thinking i may try running a 1" feed line for the waterfalls to a 3/4 waterfall line, each bucket containing a tee inside that will then have a jet like mini showerhead on each side of the bucket. Planning to use a 1200+gph danner pump for it for the pressure. The system itself will be 3in feed pipes with 1 inch suction pipe back to rez. Ill be feeding 28 13g buckets
 

Mr. Mohaskey

Well-Known Member
Think you get you feed and return sizes mixed up. I would go 3" return, 1" or 3/4" feed with possibly a reducer to 3/4" or 1/2 inside each bucket for the waterfall pressure. Dont need the airstones.

I personally have 2" returns and no issues yet with clogged returns.
 

MItonic

Well-Known Member
Ye
you will love yourself for doing that. i did that with mine and draining took about 5 minutes and one turn of a valve.
Yea after running the one i have now (the one u helped me with some issues in lol) im going to glue 3 inch pvc leg holders to each bucket bottom and use 2.5 inch pvc legs exactly for tbat draining purpose
 

MItonic

Well-Known Member
Think you get you feed and return sizes mixed up. I would go 3" return, 1" or 3/4" feed with possibly a reducer to 3/4" or 1/2 inside each bucket for the waterfall pressure. Dont need the airstones.

I personally have 2" returns and no issues yet with clogged returns.
Mine is pretty much going to be set up the same as a current culture system just raised on legs for draining each bucket completely and easily. If i had 8g buckets id go 2" but with the 13g i want the volume difference between the 2 mainly.

What u mentioned aboit the actual waterfall lines is exacy what im doing though. I will just also have a tee inside each bucket to make 2 sprayers per bucket to get each side
 

Original StinkyG

Well-Known Member
The idea with water falls would be to have a few before hitting last one into your tub or bucket and high power jets are not the way to go. Damage to roots ! Roots damage !! Just my 2 cents....... Cool water is important as warm does not hold dissolved oxygen aswell, no where near as efficient ! People over do it on air stones as water can only hold about 2% D.O full stop, if I remember correctly anyway !
 
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