How does Aquafarm/Waterfarm Recirculate Solution?

[grow4fun]

I was looking at the Waterfarm (buckets attached to a controller-bucket), and wanting to build a system like it, but I want my system to be re-circulating. Where the nutrient solution in the bottom of the buckets is constantly flowing into the buckets, like NFT/SWC, and back out.

Iâ??ve read threads on the construction of Krusty buckets and DWC buckets, but no-one explains the path the nutes take through the lines and buckets.

Some (like Waterfarms) only have a single grommet/feedline coming out of the bucket at the bottom. Connected to the main feed line that the other buckets are connected to (see photo). So how can it re-circulate?

If I made a Waterfarm or KB system, I picture one grommet/nutrient line at the bottom of the bucket on one side, and an identical one on the other side. So the pump would force water into the bucket through the first and out through the second. The buckets would be connected in series. The nutes would flow into one, out of it, into the next, out, etc. Re-circulating. Mainly for temperature control of the buckets (using the nutrient to cool/heat the buckets/medium).

Would that system work or am I missing something?

Also, since I want to connect Waterfarm-type modules that way, would the water flowing through the buckets let the air pump pressure (that forces the nutes up to the drip ring) escape? I see pics of Waterfarms with that feedline going into the bucket-bottom, but canâ??t see where the nutes go back out. Or how the movement of fluid through those lines doesnâ??t release the airpump pressur in the bucket that forces the nutes to the top.

Does anyone know how that works?

thanks

grow4fun Reviewed by grow4fun on 01-27-2006. How does Aquafarm/Waterfarm Recirculate Solution? I was looking at the Waterfarm (buckets attached to a controller-bucket), and wanting to build a system like it, but I want my system to be re-circulating. Where the nutrient solution in the bottom of the buckets is constantly flowing into the buckets, like NFT/SWC, and back out. Iâ??ve read threads on the construction of Krusty buckets and DWC buckets, but no-one explains the path the nutes take through the lines and buckets. Some (like Waterfarms) only have a single Rating: 5

[grow4fun]

... and so the roots that hit the bottom of the bucket are in swiftly flowing water, not just airstones.

[grow4fun]

....

[Gen]

Try over at overgrow.com. There is a thread about bio-buckets building.

[grow4fun]

Thanks. Read 'em. Don't understand how the water circulates. Many photos show a bucket with only one line going into it, like the Waterfarm.

[The White Snoop]

recurculating DWC is easy...you have a feed line..and you have a drain line. The feed line feeds nutes to the bucket through a drip... and then the water pump attatched to the drain line changes the water out...read this

http://www.overgrow.com/edge/showthr...&pagenumber=1/

[grow4fun]

Thanks for the link, read it, plus your comments, now makes sense. The water drips in the top/netcup, and drains out the bucket-bottom to reservoir. Still don't see what makes the water back up until it reaches the netpot/overflow at top of bucket, seems like it would just drain back to res.
Doesn't matter........ Now if we replace that DWC bucket filled with liquid with the same bucket filled with grow rocks, and put a second bucket beneath the first one [like KFB] so you can remove the top bucket to clear the drain, it would be the system I'm envisioning. A waterfarm! [well a Waterfarm without the noisy air pumps].
The only question then is whether to let the bottom bucket passively drain back to res or have a second pump flowing water into/out of it, then through all the other bucket's bottoms, from one to the next, in a line. And back to res.
Would there be any advantage in that last step?

[The White Snoop]

thats up to you about the second pump...you can just let gravity do its thing...or you can get another pump..Ive seen it done both ways.. but if you get a 2nd pump you might run into some higher res temps... I suggest a inline instead of a submersible pump.

[latewood]

roots need oxygen, whenever you use a reservoir you really need to have airpump for oxygenating the solution, check this page out...great products, too,hope this helps.lw
http://www.americanagritech.com/grow...m.asp?ID_PK=13

[Ziggy Stardust]

http://www.genhydro.com/genhydro_US/...structions.pdf
^^^^^^^that there is the inst manual for the waterfarms unit and it dont re circulate nuets it uses a gravity system. when the level of nuets in the bottom resv bucket gets low the valve allows a thined out mix of food to be fed into the system and then it uses the same princible as an aquairum to "bubble" nuets to the top feeder ring. to me this is different that the drip feeding that others use and is more common. im not sure but with this system not only do u have to have a PH meter but you have it use it in the resv, the bucket and in the feed lines (more work?). in my setup i just change the food every 5 days. i already know that the water in LA is hard but not hard enough to make the nuet toxic as long as im not lazy about changing it. and this place might not be heaven but the water is well tested and consistant in what it has in it.