hypertyper
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I was using a piece of equipment i have been dragging my ass on to reach o2 levels beyond whats capable with traditional methods alone. No air stones… just a venturi that would have otherwise been insufficient.I've read a bunch of opinions on DO over the last few days and I have not found a conclusive best practice based on anything other than bro science. Has anybody done an analysis that has the right tools?
1. Airstones
Are they the best method? Is there an advantage over flooming or waterfall?
2. Waterfalls
Can a waterfall provide optimal levels of DO? What are the parameters that matter? Volume of water pumped? Surface penetration?
3. Flooming
Do they provide more DO than airstones?
4. Venturi
Are they the answer? I've seen them used less around here.
Since Aqua Man is Jesus and he was using fairly small looking water streams into his buckets & res in a very successful looking grow, should I just assume that's the way to do it and stop worrying? I don't want to waste energy and resources on equipment that isn't providing a benefit. I'm running a waterfall and airstones currently but I have too many variables to isolate DO as factor in my grow. I'm on my first RDWC grow after one DWC grow and some soil runs. Now it's escalating and I love / hate it :D
Thanks for your time.
Imo the easiest way is airstones. It ensures new air is brought into the system and pushes co2 buildup out. There are a lot of complexities any of those will work if adequately thought out taking all factors into account.Change the atmosphere I will not
I guess I can phrase it more accurately: What factors determine what the optimal solution is if you are trying not to waste resources?
I assume a recirculating pump is always required. Venturi and airstones are extra equipment.
Hence: What is the simplest use of waterfalls or flooming that keeps DO / O2 in the best possible concentration at the most relevant sites?
I’m loosely aware @Aqua Man is working on supercharging O2 with yet to be revealed methods. I’m intrigued but that’s not what I was digging for here.
Welcome!
As you might be able to see from this thread there seems to be experience from growing but not mich data from testing. It sounds like you’re in the position to actually run tests and gather data.
What’s your do level now?
Flooming is something you might be able to test without mich extra gear and see what happens to DO levels if you use it exclusively or in conjunction with airstones.
I would love to know what your setup is and what data you can gather.
I will more than likely end up leaving it in one place, I could time not having the res floomer pump on with readings?I have no idea to what extent DO will vary between spots in a single system. It probably depends on circulation, consumption etc. That would be one of the many things to test. Once you’ve run the experiments that you’re interested in I’d probably settle on a single spot if it were me.
I also recently purchased some atlas scientific sensors when they had sale. I bought their hydroponics kit plus a DO sensor for the free aux slot. I'm waiting on a couple more things to arrive before I hook up the DO sensor. So far I just have pH/EC/temp going and love being able to access data from my phone. No more super long OCD spreadsheets for me
I also bought a JBJ Mini Arctica Chiller 1/15HP a month ago. I'm between grows right now, but hope to redo my system to incorporate everything soon as I as I stop being lazy. Then on to testing everything, and then start my 3rd grow.
I plan to place a sensor manifold at the reservoir recirculating pump, horizontally and parallel to the ground. I read that the DO sensor needs to be placed in flowing water, so I don't think you can just drop it into buckets and get accurate readings.
Yeah, I’m doing the same regarding having a manifold also. You’re correct regarding flowing water but I’m not sure if you need the probe horizontal? Unless I misread you or I’m wrong?
Oooo, never seen that, cheers! I didn't know there was a probe mount for the temp sensor, will be picking that up.The orientation isn't mandatory for the probes, but they have a document with suggested best orientations. Basically you don't want stuff settling into the pocket the probe tees create: https://files.atlas-scientific.com/connecting-probes-into-a-pipe.pdf
Oooo, never seen that, cheers! I didn't know there was a probe mount for the temp sensor, will be picking that up.
Any reason you're doing your horizontal?
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