What connectors do you all use to plumb all of your tubs together

Sour Wreck

Sour Wreck

Well-Known Member
i'm looking to plumb all my my DWC tubs together and to an external reservoir.

PVC?

something else?

thanks
 
Sour Wreck

Sour Wreck

Well-Known Member
and while i'm at it, can i provide the oxygen to the water in just the external rez or do i need to keep an airstone in each tub?
 
Smok3yMcChok3y

Smok3yMcChok3y

Well-Known Member
I did standard 1.5" slip fitting bulkhead to plumb my bucket system together with vinyl tube that just happened to fit the id of the bulkhead well. That was not large enough as roots in the last few weeks of flower clog the outlet causing floods if I run the recirc pump. I always run double stones in every bucket for this reason. I've never heard of too much air and since I dont use commercial pumps they run nice and cool. my new system is running 2" PVC with uniseals. I was afraid of going rigid but really once the ladies get flipped to 12/12 I dont move them anymore any way.

1.5" bulkhead I used
http://www.aussieglobe.com/Bulkhead-ABS-Thread-x-Thread--12-Inch_p_43.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2Y_UBRCGARIsALglqQ1icheIrtPr_ihtSLkDHxK1WrmjNnrJP_yAennuA7OUkIbAZQjbhtcaAkZHEALw_wcB

Vinyl tube. Pretty sure this was it. I did get in short lengths since that's all I needed for 2 buckets at the time.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-2-in-O-D-x-1-1-2-in-I-D-x-2-ft-PVC-Braided-Vinyl-Tube-1000017941/207170837

But seriously all said and done just do 2 or 3 inch PVC and uniseals. They fit well on the hdx totes. Only reason I ever did bulkheads was to avoid seals on a round bucket. Still needed silicone sealant...

Edit: certainly no expert but im not sure I would use pex. I know it's used in some residential installs for water supply lines but there hasn't been any long term studies on the possibility of leeching into water supply. Take that with a grain of salt. I just know if I were building a house I'd spring the extra for copper supply lines and ditch the pex.
 
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be4meliz

be4meliz

Well-Known Member
As Smok3y mentioned-Uniseal or bulkhead fittings and try for rectangular buckets(better seal) Research RDWC for more info and designs) Can't see how pex would work-used it to run inside water, but no type of thru bucket fitttings that I know of.
 
Smok3yMcChok3y

Smok3yMcChok3y

Well-Known Member
be4meliz said:
As Smok3y mentioned-Uniseal or bulkhead fittings and try for rectangular buckets(better seal) Research RDWC for more info and designs) Can't see how pex would work-used it to run inside water, but no type of thru bucket fitttings that I know of.
Click to expand...
You could go slip fit or Barb to male pipe threads and use threaded bulkheads but all that stuff costs so it's just cheaper to use seals
 
be4meliz

be4meliz

Well-Known Member
Age old arguments for either Bulkheads /uniseals- but Uniseals are way cheaper and no matter which, use silicon sealer to avoid having indoor pool and would agree that Uniseals best for standard rd. 5 gal. buckets.And vinl pipe or PVC, deburr pipe before inserting thru seal(either) so less chance of leaks. Also, 2 ways to get O2 to buckets-Water fall or airstones(each bucket) Research is your friend
 
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Sour Wreck

Sour Wreck

Well-Known Member
Smok3yMcChok3y said:
I did standard 1.5" slip fitting bulkhead to plumb my bucket system together with vinyl tube that just happened to fit the id of the bulkhead well. That was not large enough as roots in the last few weeks of flower clog the outlet causing floods if I run the recirc pump. I always run double stones in every bucket for this reason. I've never heard of too much air and since I dont use commercial pumps they run nice and cool. my new system is running 2" PVC with uniseals. I was afraid of going rigid but really once the ladies get flipped to 12/12 I dont move them anymore any way.

1.5" bulkhead I used
http://www.aussieglobe.com/Bulkhead-ABS-Thread-x-Thread--12-Inch_p_43.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2Y_UBRCGARIsALglqQ1icheIrtPr_ihtSLkDHxK1WrmjNnrJP_yAennuA7OUkIbAZQjbhtcaAkZHEALw_wcB

Vinyl tube. Pretty sure this was it. I did get in short lengths since that's all I needed for 2 buckets at the time.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-2-in-O-D-x-1-1-2-in-I-D-x-2-ft-PVC-Braided-Vinyl-Tube-1000017941/207170837

But seriously all said and done just do 2 or 3 inch PVC and uniseals. They fit well on the hdx totes. Only reason I ever did bulkheads was to avoid seals on a round bucket. Still needed silicone sealant...

Edit: certainly no expert but im not sure I would use pex. I know it's used in some residential installs for water supply lines but there hasn't been any long term studies on the possibility of leeching into water supply. Take that with a grain of salt. I just know if I were building a house I'd spring the extra for copper supply lines and ditch the pex.
Click to expand...

Thank you sir, unseals are what I need
 
be4meliz

be4meliz

Well-Known Member
Lordhooha said:
Pex and shark bites for the win.
Click to expand...
How do you seal them? Going thru bucket? Would be fine for basic lines, but vinyl tubing is cheaper as are Uniseals
Smok3yMcChok3y said:
I did standard 1.5" slip fitting bulkhead to plumb my bucket system together with vinyl tube that just happened to fit the id of the bulkhead well. That was not large enough as roots in the last few weeks of flower clog the outlet causing floods if I run the recirc pump. I always run double stones in every bucket for this reason. I've never heard of too much air and since I dont use commercial pumps they run nice and cool. my new system is running 2" PVC with uniseals. I was afraid of going rigid but really once the ladies get flipped to 12/12 I dont move them anymore any way.

1.5" bulkhead I used
http://www.aussieglobe.com/Bulkhead-ABS-Thread-x-Thread--12-Inch_p_43.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2Y_UBRCGARIsALglqQ1icheIrtPr_ihtSLkDHxK1WrmjNnrJP_yAennuA7OUkIbAZQjbhtcaAkZHEALw_wcB

Vinyl tube. Pretty sure this was it. I did get in short lengths since that's all I needed for 2 buckets at the time.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-2-in-O-D-x-1-1-2-in-I-D-x-2-ft-PVC-Braided-Vinyl-Tube-1000017941/207170837

But seriously all said and done just do 2 or 3 inch PVC and uniseals. They fit well on the hdx totes. Only reason I ever did bulkheads was to avoid seals on a round bucket. Still needed silicone sealant...

Edit: certainly no expert but im not sure I would use pex. I know it's used in some residential installs for water supply lines but there hasn't been any long term studies on the possibility of leeching into water supply. Take that with a grain of salt. I just know if I were building a house I'd spring the extra for copper supply lines and ditch the pex.
Click to expand...
As far as return lines, can use wire mesh to withhold roots and still get flow.
 
be4meliz

be4meliz

Well-Known Member
Basic plumbing for RDWC is easy, but well worth taking time and doing it right( cleaning up holes in buckets to get good seal,deburring pipe, whether PVC or vinyl so you don't break seal, Testing small amount of water for leaks, etc.) No joy in finding res. worth of water in tent or basement floor. And measure well on bucket spacing so you get it right for full grown plants, cause you can't change easily.
 
Lordhooha

Lordhooha

Well-Known Member
be4meliz said:
How do you seal them? Going thru bucket? Would be fine for basic lines, but vinyl tubing is cheaper as are Uniseals

As far as return lines, can use wire mesh to withhold roots and still get flow.
Click to expand...
My return is a 4” pipe they won’t clog. From my res I have the pex flowing back into the totes
 
Smok3yMcChok3y

Smok3yMcChok3y

Well-Known Member
be4meliz said:
Basic plumbing for RDWC is easy, but well worth taking time and doing it right( cleaning up holes in buckets to get good seal,deburring pipe, whether PVC or vinyl so you don't break seal, Testing small amount of water for leaks, etc.) No joy in finding res. worth of water in tent or basement floor. And measure well on bucket spacing so you get it right for full grown plants, cause you can't change easily.
Click to expand...
Yes to the measure well thing. I plotted and planned for a week or two taking trips to homeless despot for tote sizes and pricing. I got it down to half inch accuracy on centers of pots in a 5'4"x5'4" room. Luckily you can jmmy the pipes in or out of seals a bit
 
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