Air pump size for DWC?

Discussion in 'Hydroponic Growing' started by pcp44, Jan 20, 2013.

  1. i.m a total beginner and i'm building a dwc with rubbermaid totes i just need to know what size of airpump will be able to provide enough air to be split between the 2 totes. ideally even be able to be split a 3rd time incase i ever add another res.
     
  2. I use the biggest ones available at wal-mart(think rated for 50g).. sad to say it, but seen the best results with these.

    I have an Alita 200l, thing is MASSIVE. Water was too turbulent, was snapping roots off like crazy.
     
  3. If your water is too turbulent then you probably arn't using a micro pore stone or you need a bigger one. I run 8 inch stones and a 112 watt pump that pushes 110-LPM. I have each pump run anywhere from 2-4 stones. That was the strongest pump and the biggest stone I could find and my roots go crazy. By the time flowering is over they have consumed a entire 5 gal tote. I tried all the stuff at walmart and that was my 1st mistake was trying to start a grow off home improvement stores and walmart :eek: I say the most air and biggest stones you can afford. They will always pay for themselves 1000 times.

    There is a rule of thumb that says minimum 1 watt per gallon of water. More air is always better imo.
     
  4. I run 16, 8" micro discs. Looked like a bubbling boiling cauldron.

    I run shitty pumps and i'm 2lb+ club.
     
  5. k great i was looking at either an aquarium pump that says its for 100gal tanks or the pump that actually looks like a little heavy duty pump 38 lpm i believe. pretty sure i'ma go with that one. now just to find quality airstones. i had gotten this little 20 gal that i have split into 3 stones in 3 different little containers waiting to see some roots and needless to so i was allittle less than impressed by the amount of bubbles
     
  6. This is my first attempt at DWC and I think my airstones aren't pushing enough because ive got browning of hte roots and it's only just into week 3, so they're wayyyyy too young for root rot. i'm stumped, only thing i can do is buy some algeacide fungal treatments cuz putting more stones in hasn't relally worked...
     
  7. Are your roots slimy to the touch? Are your plants healthy looking otherwise?
    I use Fox Farms nutes, and my roots get stained brown from the nutes, but that's normal for the nutes I'm using.
     
  8. theres no age limit on root rot really :)

    browning is often from nutes. Keep temps low (below68F) and you should be fine
     

  9. use one airpump per resevoir for ease of use. Otheriwse youll need a larger air pump that youll have to restrict to balance airflow to each depending on res level. It can be a process. Best to just use one for each and avoid t's and valves
     
  10. I bought a 602 gallon one but it was way to loud so i returned it and replaced with one from walmart that is doing fine with a 2 bucket setup.

    i have read you want 5 liters per minutes of air per bucket.
     
  11. I use a 180 gallon fish tank pump split 4 ways so 45 gallons of air to each 3 gallons of water have no problems with roots can grab them n feel really healthy not slimy n not fragile at all , its like pulling a strong vine
     

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