RECIRC DWC BUCKET LST HELP!!! LEVEL ISSUE

[jdthirteen]

Hi all, this is my first official post on the boards here. But I have been a browser for a while now. Here is a little information about my grow, with some pics. The problem I am having is that all my buckets fill at different levels it is driving me crazy and I need to know what my issue is and how to fix it! The furthest row seems to be taking a longer time at draining. but the furthest bucket of the back row takes even longer! I believe my problem to be one of the following:
1) return drain lines are different lengths between rows.
2) control container is different size.
3) maybe if I put connecting hoses (x3) from each bucket to its partner bucket it may even out pressure?!?!


6 5gal buckets (two rows of 3)
control container is 37L
400gph pond pump
1/2" return and feed mains
1/4" feed


Here is my basic layout

jdthirteen Reviewed by jdthirteen on 12-07-2009. RECIRC DWC BUCKET LST HELP!!! LEVEL ISSUE Hi all, this is my first official post on the boards here. But I have been a browser for a while now. Here is a little information about my grow, with some pics. The problem I am having is that all my buckets fill at different levels it is driving me crazy and I need to know what my issue is and how to fix it! The furthest row seems to be taking a longer time at draining. but the furthest bucket of the back row takes even longer! I believe my problem to be one of the following: 1) Rating: 5

[SpaceNeedle]

I think what is happening is that your pump is pumping faster than your buckets can handle an even flow. What you need to do is either replace your pump with a much smaller one, or place a valve on the exit side of the pump and and slow down the amount of water you are sending to the back buckets until they fill up evenly. 100 gph would be more than enough, and you might even have to shut off part of the water flow for even that.

sn

[jdthirteen]

thanks SN for the response. ok I do have ball valves installed on all the lines going to the control, and I have slowed down the flow to the back row already it is either too much or too little so far. I even tried countering by slowing down first the back row, and then the front row to get even more precise, but no luck! Now if I shut off the pump completely, control fills up almost to the top, and once again the back row of buckets have their baskets in water.

So when everything should be level, it's all out of wack.

I'm thinking this issue has something to do with the size of the control container considering it is a different size completely. or, it needs to be right inline of each row of buckets meaning the return lines would go straight in, instead of bending so much, hence giving it better, even flow.

But i dont want to change my whole setup until someone tells me they had the same issue and resolved it a certain way.

[copobo]

I went through the same thing.

Spaceneedle is correct, methinks.

put a cycle timer on your pump. I have mine run for 45 seconds every 7 minutes, so I never have an overflow issue.

I found that three 5-gallon buckets was the max on one return to the reservoir, otherwise they take forever level out.

[SpaceNeedle]

Of course the other thing you could do it enlargen your half inch lines to one or one and a half inch lines, but 400gph is far too much. just get the smallest pump you can find! ....and it has nothing to do with the SIZE or SHAPE of your control bucket, all that matters is that the HEIGHT of the water is equal, and your floor is half assed level.

sn

[jdthirteen]

copobo what size drain lines are you running on your system?

[jdthirteen]

ok well thanks for the help everyone! I have somewhat resolved the issue by cutting way back on both feed lines with valves 80% and 90% closed. also it makes perfect sense they arent draining fast enough so much bigger lines would resolve but i'll wait until next grow.

Just curious how close everyone elses buckets are to be level with each other? if anyone cares to share

[Daddynobucks]

try connecting the ends of the two feed lines making a loop, it will even out the pressure and they should fill evenly.:thumbsup:

your system is similar to mine, only I don't run DWC but a spray feeder at the top of the buckets and return lines to a repump bucket, back to the res.

Daddy

also I run two 1056 gph pumps for 12 plants