Will air in the water pump hurt it?

C

CKsGrow

New Member
So here's the deal, I built a bubbleponics type setup with 3x 5 gallon net buckets and 1x 5gallon res. The res feeds the top through a drip system, simple 100g/hr pump to 1/4" lines, and 3/4" return lines on the bottom to connect to the res. But it was a pussy pump, and it sucked. After a couple days it wasn't flowing anything and I'm pretty sure the 1/4" lines were clogged. So I upgraded!

Went to a 380g/hr pump, 3/4" feeds that T to 3/8" to feed each plant. But this pump is a bit of a beast. It empties the res faster than the 3/4" return lines can fill it. So now the pump is running 1/2 dry. It still pumps, and still flows ALOT, but 1/2 of what it's pushing though the lines is air (plus I have 2x 4" air-stones in the res). So this could be good because I'm aerating the shit out of the water, but could this also be hurting the pump?


Here's a couple pics, one of the feed, and one of the feed line with hella bubbles in it.
photo 3(2).JPGphoto 1(2).JPG
 
dimebong

dimebong

Well-Known Member
CKsGrow said:
So here's the deal, I built a bubbleponics type setup with 3x 5 gallon net buckets and 1x 5gallon res. The res feeds the top through a drip system, simple 100g/hr pump to 1/4" lines, and 3/4" return lines on the bottom to connect to the res. But it was a pussy pump, and it sucked. After a couple days it wasn't flowing anything and I'm pretty sure the 1/4" lines were clogged. So I upgraded!

Went to a 380g/hr pump, 3/4" feeds that T to 3/8" to feed each plant. But this pump is a bit of a beast. It empties the res faster than the 3/4" return lines can fill it. So now the pump is running 1/2 dry. It still pumps, and still flows ALOT, but 1/2 of what it's pushing though the lines is air (plus I have 2x 4" air-stones in the res). So this could be good because I'm aerating the shit out of the water, but could this also be hurting the pump?


Here's a couple pics, one of the feed, and one of the feed line with hella bubbles in it.
View attachment 2988378View attachment 2988379
Click to expand...
You could ask the seller or the manufacturer if it's safe but my water pump can't run dry, not even for a minute.
It uses water instead of oil to lubricate the cylinder and it sounds nasy when it runs dry, it has a warning
never to run it dry.
 
waterdawg

waterdawg

Well-Known Member
Perhaps you could time the pump to run for a short period of time and have it shut off before it drains the res. Or bigger pail (res).
 
lushgreen

lushgreen

Active Member
As said the life of the pump will be greatly shortened running it dry. You could put a 3/4" tap on the output side of the pump and adjust it until you are flowing just enough to not pump the res dry. Pump won't mind the resistance.
 
topfuel29

topfuel29

Well-Known Member
Right guys. You never wanna run a water pump dry. Yep the water lubricates, and cools the pump.

IMO- for a bubble-Ponics system that is way to complicated. You should only need a tote (container) (bucket), and a fish tank air pump.

Good Luck on Your Grow
 
dbkick

dbkick

Well-Known Member
Maxijet makes pumps that can run dry for days and still not overheat.
That's the problem with most all other water pumps, they overheat to a point of failure when run dry.
But on the other hand if you let a pump run 24/7 it will heat up the water.
If I'm using pumps I cycle them at 30 seconds to 1 minute on, off time depends on what the appilcation is.
 
JohnDee

JohnDee

Well-Known Member
CK,
I had a similar situation and made a modification that helped. On the outlet line from the pump, I cut that line and installed a Tee and ran a second hose back to the res. That allowed a certain % of the outlet to just pump back to the res. It assisted with aeration as well as decreasing output volume of pump. In that second line back to the res, I put a valve so I could partially close it off...as a means of adjusting flow.

Or, like the others said...install a timer.

And regarding run dry pumps...I've been around RVs my whole life and they use a rubber diaphragm pump to provide pressure water from water tank. That type of pump can tolerate running dry.
JD
 
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