I GOTTA LOSE THE AIR PUMPS! HOW?! Plus my awesome mini DWC :)
- Thread starter Airwalker16
- Start date
MICHI-CAN
Well-Known Member
I used a small terrarium or pond pump, submersible. Connected to an air stone above the fill level as a noise suppressor. Just running water to hear. Minimum noise. And a few watts of power. Full aeration. Worked for 4 years in a studio on the third floor with biotchy neighbors. Just a thought.
MICHI-CAN
Well-Known Member
If you get one with multiple adapter nozzles? Look for one with a venturi port. Direct injection of air with only a tube and valve. Check the pet shops. Easy fix. About $30 total. Keep it pre filtered. Lasts a long time.
harrythehat
Well-Known Member
one thing i noticed air pump was on the floor if it stops you could end up having it syphon back, it will be a little less noisy if above the water less weight to pump against
MICHI-CAN
Well-Known Member
An aquarium check valve. $1.
harrythehat
Well-Known Member
maybe solves the problem on that yes. but there will be less weight to pump against if it is above the waterline and a little quieter
MICHI-CAN
Well-Known Member
Air pumps should always be hung. But a power head or in tank pump is silent. And they suck air without the noise or vibrations. Big improvement over an air pump.
2cent
Well-Known Member
If ua dont angle em right they do yeah
I mastered the angle they enter water and u cant hear anything.
The thing u can hear is me pump vibrating.
Airstones sounded like a fiz and if 2 moved up and got stuck on roots it makes rocking rattle noises
Then theres the pathogen home they create.
But most importantly i conducted a test flume vs airstones and your mire efficient running a flume down ur tanks than an airstone.
Really easy a few corners and a little mj1000
Topshelfruns
Well-Known Member
I knew someone that ran RDWC with no air pumps lol no lie im positive i can find his video on youtube still ill find it today and post it, i cant grow in DWC due too air pumps being so loud so i just grow in plastic buckets using hydroton and rockwool grow cubes in a drain too waste setup my end quality screams if i have great genetics.
2cent
Well-Known Member
Its squydros v2 grow mate. Thats who i did the flume study with thats our system and what im in now haha he smashed it in there
ProcessSpecialist
Member
Downsize your pump and buy the lowest dB you can afford. Focus on acoustics rather than skipping a most important quality of life for your plants. You will be more upset with loss in quality than a noise issue that could be resolved with building a small box out of acoustical panels (hint...hint).
ProcessSpecialist
Member
Forgot to mention most acoustical panels have decent thermal properties so you would be creating a sound dampening box that would further stabilize your reservoir temp...think acoustical cooler box.
Detroitwill
Well-Known Member
Anybody say waterfall yet? Ya I’m serious, if it’ll keep fish alive it’ll work for weed 
Sdh777
Well-Known Member
I’ve used just waterfalls alone in my RDWC and it worked fine, but I much prefer including the pump & stones to optimize performance & multiple fail-safes.
I also have a nice flood and drain system, but it in no way compares in performance to my RDWC.
These 2 girls were planted from seed on the same day, from the same genetics, but in different grow systems. I’ve tried this experiment multiple times and the RDWC radically outperforms the flood & drain every time.
I also have a nice flood and drain system, but it in no way compares in performance to my RDWC.
These 2 girls were planted from seed on the same day, from the same genetics, but in different grow systems. I’ve tried this experiment multiple times and the RDWC radically outperforms the flood & drain every time.
ProcessSpecialist
Member
Just curious, have you done a side-by-side on DWC vs DTW
Sdh777
Well-Known Member
No. I have zero experience with drain to waste. Is it more effective than Flood & Drain?
ProcessSpecialist
Member
Way more stable. The plant alters pH, TDS, EC, etc. during the feed process. Flood and drain mixes the altered “waste” with your remaining reservoir. You should be checking and adjusting your water quality after every drain. In DTW, if you have a good reservoir, you only need to adjust the levels once (in theory) because the out of spec waste does not get mixed with your in spec reservoir. More accurate, less maintenance. You can dump the waste in your less important vegetable garden.
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
i run dwc dtw in waterfarms. love it.