PetFlora
Well-Known Member
I've been working on the best way to eliminate air stones after having read a thread about the subject. I am now on version 4.0 and likely da bomb. That said I still use air stones for seedlings and clones
Here's a couple pictures of my rez with 2 pumps. One is to flood the totes, the other to circulate/aerate the nutes (Ecoplus Convertible bottom draw pump (265 gph)
The new pump has the inlet on the bottom, outlet on either the top (conventional) OR, alternately on the lower side. The idea is to cap the outlet not being used. With conventional top outlet pumps a venturi (aerates the solution) can be incorporated into the outlet tubing by inserting a smaller diameter tube into the outlet tube, the opposite side of the venturi tube must be above the water line. When the pump is on, air gets sucked into the outlet water, effectively aerating it. I did a couple effective DIYs, but...
This new pump simplifies aeration in that it provides a built in venturi when using the lower outlet and not capping the top outlet. This requires installing a riser on the top outlet that must be tall enough to be above the water line
When the pump is on the riser acts like a venturi pulling in air that mixes with the lower nute outflow, creating bubbles that aerate the nutes. This pump moves the water briskly. It is on a deep cycle timer @ ~ 4 minutes on, 15 minutes off in my 2 gallons of nutes. I keep on times short otherwise the motor heat quickly over heats the nutes
Expecting big things for current and future grows
Here's a couple pictures of my rez with 2 pumps. One is to flood the totes, the other to circulate/aerate the nutes (Ecoplus Convertible bottom draw pump (265 gph)
The new pump has the inlet on the bottom, outlet on either the top (conventional) OR, alternately on the lower side. The idea is to cap the outlet not being used. With conventional top outlet pumps a venturi (aerates the solution) can be incorporated into the outlet tubing by inserting a smaller diameter tube into the outlet tube, the opposite side of the venturi tube must be above the water line. When the pump is on, air gets sucked into the outlet water, effectively aerating it. I did a couple effective DIYs, but...
This new pump simplifies aeration in that it provides a built in venturi when using the lower outlet and not capping the top outlet. This requires installing a riser on the top outlet that must be tall enough to be above the water line
When the pump is on the riser acts like a venturi pulling in air that mixes with the lower nute outflow, creating bubbles that aerate the nutes. This pump moves the water briskly. It is on a deep cycle timer @ ~ 4 minutes on, 15 minutes off in my 2 gallons of nutes. I keep on times short otherwise the motor heat quickly over heats the nutes
Expecting big things for current and future grows