Running airlines - Hiblow

[nucleotide]

Hey guys. :tongue0011:

What adapters will I need to run air lines to a group of buckets?

I'm using a Hiblow 200 that I'm getting used and I'm not sure if it comes with any adapters. So, I'm curious as to what parts I'll need to convert from the regular pump outlet to the common 1/4" airline.
Thanks

 

[chrometrichs]

Damn a hiblow 200, now that's a serious pump. Check out hiblow-usa.com, you should be able to find what your looking for there.

 

[nucleotide]

Thanks. I couldn't really find any info on adapters on their webpage. The manual gives the size of the output as 0.71 inches, so I'm thinking it looks like a 3/4" ID hose will fit it and then find a reducer to bring it down to 1/4 inch airline to run to the stones.

 

[doubleds]

god damn bro, hi blow 200. hope your running a ton of airstones. You can buy a 10 way valve right from hi blow, give them a call. you r going to need to run at least 60 - 6 inch airstones or your water will heat up fast.

dds

 

[OregonMeds]

Just use soaker hose instead of airstones and don't even bother with standard size air lines go bigger on everything than what everyone else is using.

You can buy petcock valves on ebay, grab a bunch of 3/8" and make your own manifold.

If you can't find soaker hose in 3/8" there is 1/2"... That would make things simpler requiring a lot less work, but you'd need to work out how long/how many pieces by trial and error. 3/8" would be ideal though and 1/2 is probably too big.

Play with it until you get the most air evenly distributed, and the pump is running with the least effort.

The main line off the pump should be 1" or so with the least restriction you can work out/ least adapters.

 

[OregonMeds]

People have use soaker hose instead of airstones for a long time though and with his size pump he wouldn't have any shortage of aeration no matter what he used.

 

[Lost]

and you know so well from experience?

Yes/no?


Talk to a few of us who tried it last run with a hi blow..


Get airstones..

x 2

 

[OregonMeds]

and you know so well from experience?

yes/no?


talk to a few of us who tried it last run with a hi blow..


get airstones..

Yes I've always used them, not in this system though.

Don't take what I said as in me thinking I know better though, your answer seems hostile.

I'm asking why. Ok so it doesn't work as good, why?

 

[nucleotide]

I plan on it being run to 24 buckets.

So you say the water will get hot from running less airstones?
What is creating the heat and how much heat is caused?
This is the first time I've used an air pump like this so I'm not clear on what to expect.

I figured go bigger rather than smaller and I scooped it for pretty cheap.
Hopefully I don't get screwed by trying to get the big daddy air pump, haha.
I'll figure something out.

I'm curious to see what you guys think about how I should run the lines in 24 buckets.
It could be potentially run to 48 if I get crackin'

 

[chrometrichs]

The soaker hose that I and probably northone used wasn't self cleaning, which is why it began to clog. They make self-cleaning air diffuser tubing, but I just couldn't resist the ceramic air diffusers and went that route. As far as running the lines to the 24 buckets, it really depends on how your room will be configured and where the hiblow will be.

 

[OregonMeds]

"Yes I've always used them, not in this system though.

>ok cool

Don't take what I said as in me thinking I know better though, your answer seems hostile.

>i don't think i know a pile either bro..
my answer was more desperate so the person doesn't go ahead and use them..
why? because at least three people here have tried soakers with hiblow's since the new year and they plugged almost right away.

Somehow before when i used the noisy Thomas compressor pump with the same soaker hose they didn't do as bad.

I'm asking why. Ok so it doesn't work as good, why?"

>my guess is the hi blow delivers air differently...but i don't know why...just that me and
a few of us found they did not work..so even a cheap airstone was better than finding that no air was coming out..

Ok thanks guys, sorry I took it wrong.

Make that 4 people who used soaker hose on dd's system then. That's part of why I was so concerned when you said that.

The other part of the concern is I'm out of money to replace the soaker hose with stones and I already had one crop failure when I lumen shocked them to death in only the first couple days in the main bins. My soaker hose is from Lowes and the tag doesn't say anything about self cleaning either, just says 1/4" recycled tire soaker tubing.

If it's not one thing it's another... Shit!

 

[nucleotide]

Thanks for the info guys.

So, can you guys tell me whats going to cause the water to get hot?
Is it from running too large of a pump to too few stones?

 

[chrometrichs]

and self cleaning soaker hose has to be expensive and so rare..

JK, had a post where he talked about this tubing. You can find it at alita.com, its silicon air diffuser tubing and the cost is actually pretty reasonable. JK said he has been using the same tubing for 8 runs. Just to be clear, I haven't used it, I'm only going by JK's statement. The majority of the blue airstones I've bought barely lasted past the drive home... lol, I'm liking the ceramic ones though, bit pricey, but def worth it imo.

 

[Lost]

Thanks for the info guys.

So, can you guys tell me whats going to cause the water to get hot?
Is it from running too large of a pump to too few stones?

The pump work so hard trying to push the air thru too few stones. Hard work = heat

I was one of the people that used soaker tubing. I actually thought the soaker tubing I had was going to work, but what I realided about it is this.. The size of the bubbles is too large. And they can clog. All you do is stretch it and your back in business, but the bubbles are still too big.

Good luck everyone :)

 

[nucleotide]

Lost, thanks for the answer. That's exactly what I was looking for ;)

maybe if I run the output of the Hiblow to a gang valve and just leave some of the ports somewhat open so that the pump isn't working as hard? I think that I should be able to find a way to accomodate the pump and keep it from working too hard. I plan on using it for more eventually, for the time being I'll have to scale back it's power somehow without hurting the pump.

 

[Lost]

Dont leave ports open, just run more or larger airstones. The sunleaves large ones are 2.99 at my local shop. I bet if you run 2 a bucket you'll be fine. It that the new sunleaves 200 lpm pump?

 

[nucleotide]

I got the Hiblow HP200 which is probably similar to the Sunleaves one which pumps the same amount.

Ok, I think I'll try running two stones to a bucket.
I'll let you know how it goes when I put it into action.

 

[OregonMeds]

"The other part of the concern is I'm out of money to replace the soaker hose with stones and I already had one crop failure when I lumen shocked them to death in only the first couple days in the main bins. My soaker hose is from Lowes and the tag doesn't say anything about self cleaning either, just says 1/4" recycled tire soaker tubing."

yeh i know about failed mission

honest bro the 2$ elite brand fish tank air stones will get you through without any trouble...

and anything is better than plugged soaker hose.

and self cleaning soaker hose has to be expensive and so rare..

Ok, thanks. Will those cheap stones work as well as the ones dd lists though or is that just a better compromise?

I have been working with needle wheel pumps for another project, and modifying my own regular pumps.

I could just stick a couple of them in the mix to make up for the cheap stones maybe, they're great at creating micro bubbles, but I was trying to keep this system in line with what you guys are doing and not deviate too much.

 

[chrometrichs]

I plugged in that sunleaves 200lpm pump at the store, the sound is deafening. I would rather have a team of landscapers running lawnmowers in my room.

 

[mcattak]

I use the ecoplus commercial 7 with 15 buckets it says 200/lpm..The eco came with a 16 port manifold..
Should I be worried about heat???
I do understand the ecoplus was quite cheaper than the hiblow 200 is that beacause the lpm on the ecoplus lpm's aren't as advertised???