Logan Burke
Well-Known Member
I also use Silica, Jypsy, for that reason exactly. While I use it for more of a general stress and extra Potassium additive (Armor Si, 0-0-1 Silica additive), I'm sure it helps plants tolerate higher temps.
Best of luck to you!!
For anyone else having heat problems from their airpump, I've found that a clip on desk fan blowing on the airpump at all times can make a large difference....for me, it easily keeps my water at least 2-5F degrees cooler. And I am running a 120lpm pump with at least 5 out of 12 of the valves shut off (10 of them are shut off right now) at all times, and even now with over 60lpm going to a single 5gal bucket, it creates very minimal heat. 75F degree weather in my tent creates 70F water...then again, I am on concrete floors in my basement. That, I am sure, makes a big difference.
Are you substituting an airpump by using the water pump to reduce the temperature in your water, or is it simply a different method you wanted to try? I must say, while plenty of people use a water pump in hydro successfully, if you are doing it purely to reduce heat, I would really just bite the bullet and get a water chiller.....I've seen folks do just fine at upper 70, even low 80 degree water while running beneficials. But high 80s or 90s....I think with how much innovation you've already shown, you could probably create a similar system (running an exhuast tube from an air pump to an AC unit, etc) and achieve the same lowered temperatures.Where I grow room temps are > 80-90*+ 7 months of the year
My rezes are ~ 3 gallons, without help they are the same as room temps
For years I used air stones, then read about replacing them with lp pump. My smallest pump is 160 gph. I did not realize that running 24/7 would bring the water to > 95*s. 2 days of this definitely damaged my roots and consequently the primary leafs, which probably affected the final weight
I made a couple changes, replaced a kitty litter container with a Igloo cooler, put the pump on a deep cycle timer 5/15 off, employed a Hydro Halo drip ring for added agitation, + I replace blue ice blocks 2-3xs/day. Will be starting with this once the babies are ready to move to the main lights
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Best of luck to you!!
For anyone else having heat problems from their airpump, I've found that a clip on desk fan blowing on the airpump at all times can make a large difference....for me, it easily keeps my water at least 2-5F degrees cooler. And I am running a 120lpm pump with at least 5 out of 12 of the valves shut off (10 of them are shut off right now) at all times, and even now with over 60lpm going to a single 5gal bucket, it creates very minimal heat. 75F degree weather in my tent creates 70F water...then again, I am on concrete floors in my basement. That, I am sure, makes a big difference.
Hello Smokey; I switched from recirculating DWC to standalones for the same purpose you stated. Just to get an idea of your setup, how big was/is your air pump you plan on using on your second attempt?...Consider using a fan as I described above for some heat dissipation. Were you using any beneficial microbes your last DWC, such as Hydroguard, Orca, Great White, etc?....What kind of light were the plants under?...For HID lights, wrapping your buckets with mylar/reflective material can make a great difference...I think you will be able to do DWC by using some of these methods, combined altogether, they can help a lot with water temps.Dgringo
Definitely following this thread. For my first grow i started DWC, to much heat. Pulled them all and planted in soil. They are doing great. But would like to go back to DWC. My whole concept of DWC was that I would NOT have to pump water.
Watching closely. And will probably try DWC again after this crop is harvested
Smokey