ok getting ready to add around 6 more buckets to my system and currently running the gh dual outlet pump running 4 buckets but the problem is i'm not getting near the bubbles i need to be getting and adding 6 more buckets would mean buying 2 more of these or similar pumps which aren't cheap.So my big idea is to use my 55 gallon upright shop compressor and just hard line me a line to the grow area. then add in a pressure regulator and finally a valve bank to power all 10 buckets should use less electric and cut down on the noise factor. plus the ability to boil the water if needed have a 120 psi at standby !!! only question is will this cause my compressor to kick on to often any input or past knowledge would be greatly appreciated
I would think that the problem becomes when the pressure is too high. You may not be able to get away with aquarium tubing. I'm just picturing a fitting or tube being shot across the room and then no more air to your buckets until you notice. Or the air lines just bursting. gallons of air/hour is different than high pressure systems I think, but then again I'm no expert and I'm sure Macgyver would be able to make it work somehow.
Sounds awesome, I'd try it. He's going with a remote regulator and I've worked plenty of jobs that run 100psi or so in 1/4" airlines. I doubt aquarium tubing will fail but airline is cheap.
Sounds like an awesome idea, as long as the air compressor never blows out oil. I've seen quite a few air compressors that blow out their lubricating oil over time. I'm not saying yours does, but I would think that could be rather bad if oil got in the water.
yes i will be using a regulator and can dial the pressure clear down to about 1 psi if desired as for the oil yeah that could be a problem more concerning is the nasty rust water that comes out but i use this compressor to paint cars with so its got a very good water seperator and dryer on it. I'm just disapointed with the small airpumps and their cost.think this is the way to go i will document the build so if you'd like follow my grow log in my sig just getting started so can see from the start
im gonna agree, as a contractor, i have seen lots and lots of different air compressors that at least 95% of them spew oil....i think this is a great idea for sure, but its gonna take some serious enginuity!! some kinda filter in the line maybe...that would add maintenance. I have dipped my hands into automotive painting...maybe look into a HVLP sprayer, but they blow heated air, you would have to unhook the heat coil from inside...there kinda loud too.
They make all kinds of compressed-air filters. The OP knows this but for anyone else interested : Point of Use Compressed Air Line Filters. I've seen perfectly good ones thrown out at work and now I'm kicking myself for not grabbing them!
there is no oil in the compressor side only in the crankshaft assembly and its sealed so no way for oil to really get in. this isnt a cheapo craftsman compressor i have an inline filter that should be more than enough to remove any moisture that does get kicked out, reason i know its a good airsource is any contaiments in the air will get in my paint jobs and at 400 bucks a gallon don't want that happening
I did the same thing on a grow setup I did a while back.. I used a 2L soda bottle to catch the nasties.. Drill two holes in the lid and seal two air hoses (only down into the bottle about an inch) in it with sealant.. One hose goes to the compressor, the other hose goes to your BBs.. You're compressor will pressurize the bottle, forcing the air out the other hose going to your BBs, while the bottle catches all the nasty liquid drips... Just make sure you keep the soda bottle emptied so the nasty shit don't get to that second hose going to your BBs...
The air is going to escape through your BBs, so how ever many you have, its going to just bubble through them. Well as long as you use a good regulator to turn down the 125psi they will bubble... It is like you have a slow leak in the line or something, and that slow leak gets faster with more buckets... So I guess how loud you air compressor kicks on, and off... But I would just crack open the regulator, wait a few minutes and see how you're percolating the water, if not, a little more, wait a few and check again until you get them bubbling....