A floating solar fountain would be a nice addition to that pond: https://www.amazon.com/Solatec-Solar-Fountain-Black/dp/B077215M1R/
I use a 400 GPH sub pump. A drum pump would work but you're either going to have to manually crank it or shell out a few $100 for a motorized one.
Do you own a solar-powered garden fountain? Interested in adding a water feature to my little space and I don't have access to electricity outside. I was looking at this one but some of the reviews threw me off. I'd love to hear your recs.
I go days without checking the plants. During peak flower maybe 3-4 times a week I would go in for about an hour at a time. Typically topping off twice a week. The monster in the back needed water every two days during peak growth.
I only did a full water change twice (I run a small 400 GPH pump attached to a length of 1/2" ID vinyl tubing to drain out the tanks).
Once change was when flipping to flower and then I did a full change prior to flushing.
I spend way more time defoliating than I do messing with the tanks. I never once checked pH in the actual grow tanks. I just kept adding pH 5.5 nutrient solution and the plants loved it. Once you have the system dialed in it's really easy.
VIVOSUN 317-1750GPH Commercial Air Pump 20W-102W, 18L-110L/min, 4-12 Outlets Air Pumps for Aquarium and Hydroponic Systems https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XDKRYC6/ref=cm_sw_r_u_apa_fabc_t-54Fb3K1AVNS?psc=1
This is not the least expensive pump out there, but I know this $31 pump is capable of both of your uses (recirc chilling water) and line cleaning: EcoPlus 396-gal submersible pump. It also comes with a lot of fittings.
https://www.amazon.com/EcoPlus-Submersible-Aquarium-Fountain-Hydroponics/dp/B0018X2XT4
Depends on your budget and what you're willing to use in your operation. GAST makes really kickass industrial compressors of all kinds, they are skookum AF, but rather spendy and probably overkill. I use one of these and it works amazingly great. Has been running almost continuously for 4 years with no problems whatsoever. They even have a build in barbed fitting to throw a hose on, so that you can draw the air for your compressor from somewhere cool, outside the room for example.
Disc airstones work best, but sometimes need to be changed out, as they can get plugged up somehow and stop emitting after a few cycles.
If you have an electric drill this is perfect. Drill pump https://www.amazon.com/Milescraft-1314-DrillPump750-Priming-Transfer/dp/B00F1ZJG5E/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=drill+pump+for+electric+drill&qid=1602610629&sprefix=drill+pump&sr=8-3
I LOVE them! They only work in direct sunlight, but we get plenty of that. They’re troopers. I named them Flotsam and Jetsam. I got these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077215M1R?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
We haven’t had any issues with them yet.
I am moving and the kitchenette of the studio doesn't have a sink. Can I install an immersible pump and a water tank to an ikea sink (like, I don't know, this one right here) and some tanks to empty out later and make my own sink?
4 buckets plants and 1 res with 1 air pump. Upgraded from using multiple 2 outlet pumps, more convenient.
Just concerned about putting unneeded heat into each Res.
Not sure where you're at in the world, but here's a Canadian link..
EcoPlus Eco 396 Water Pump Fixed Flow Submersible Or Inline For Aquariums, Ponds, Fountains & Hydroponics - UL Listed, 396 GPH, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018X2XT4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BAE76AZ9MCD2CMKNEZZB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
You can do DWC without lugging water around by using a water pump + tubing
Hydrofarm AAPW250 Active Aqua, 250 GPH Submersible Water Pump, 250-GPH, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002JPGID2/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_Y38FP5X6ZR6KM1G1NRTF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I built a set using the shorter version of that container and found that I needed a MUCH bigger air pump for it to exchange the air properly. That size air pump works great when you are using jars but it just didn't cut it for larger containers. THIS is the pump I went with and it is powerful enough to support a couple of those containers.
Milescraft 1314 DrillPump750 - Self Priming Water Pump Attachment for Drills - Water Transfer Pump - Uses Common Garden Hose - 750 Gallons per Hour https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F1ZJG5E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_R88DG5M3M94AMAXZZG0X
Yea that noise does suck. I disassembled mine and put in that grey electrical putty on the inside of the lid. Greatly reduces buzz.
Ive had good luck with this style. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XDKRYC6/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_NZHPRQRCCW6YB1D2DVKD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
But I also had to disassemble, clean and re-lubricate with 3-IN-ONE - 120032 Multi-Purpose PTFE Lubricant, 4 OZ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J25JDDY/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_7EGXS3FT0JRDRZ997NFV?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
You will need to reassemble and then adjust the alignment of the chassis until the buzz goes away. Very drastic improvement vs fresh out of the box. I need to make a video some day.
Yea that noise does suck. I disassembled mine and put in that grey electrical putty on the inside of the lid. Greatly reduces buzz.
Ive had good luck with this style. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XDKRYC6/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_NZHPRQRCCW6YB1D2DVKD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
But I also had to disassemble, clean and re-lubricate with 3-IN-ONE - 120032 Multi-Purpose PTFE Lubricant, 4 OZ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J25JDDY/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_7EGXS3FT0JRDRZ997NFV?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
You will need to reassemble and then adjust the alignment of the chassis until the buzz goes away. Very drastic improvement vs fresh out of the box. I need to make a video some day.
Plants get too heavy to take out like this every time. I pre mix in another master bucket/rain barrel and use this (https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-Active-AAPW250-Submersible-Water/dp/B002JPGID2 ) pump from master into 5 gal buckets.
VIVOSUN Air Pump 1750 GPH 110L/min 12 Outlet Commercial Air Pump for Aquarium and Hydroponic Systems (102W) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B072N2HPWB/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_GTTH5W4T2BR0DMB0JA47?psc=1
I think it was this one.
Honestly they are all probably from the same factory so any 100w one is probably fine.
The bigger models say they have more pressure but it might be bullshit.
It's not very loud but it is an annoying noise. It also gets pretty hot so I try and keep the duty cycle down.
In an ideal world I would have an unloaded valve or relay on it so it doesn't run unnecessarily.
I grabbed this one. Each drip halo needs around 90-100gpm each. So 4 halos at 396 is perfect.
Place a pump on top with a hose attached to pump the water off of the cover.
I do not have one, though I've been meaning to get one, but I've heard that putting a fountain in a birdbath (your bowl of water in this case) can draw them to it, because they like the water movement.
I've been looking at something like this (I'm not recommending this specific one, it's just the first one that came up when I googled it - https://www.amazon.com/Solatec-Solar-Fountain-Black/dp/B077215M1R ) for my own birdbath, though I don't have any real issue drawing birds to my birdbath... I just want a fountain, hehe.
Anyway, if you search for "solar powered birdbath fountain", there are tons of them, and something solar powered would probably be good on your rooftop. Whether or not it would actually draw the birds to it... I can't say for sure. It may just be that it will take some time before the birds realize there's water there.
I plan on using this little guy, someone said they use it with their dwc. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F1ZJG5E/ref=crt_ewc_img_srh_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER Do you have any tips you'd give someone starting dwc who's grown in soil? Appreciate the reply
Start a couple projects like:
Disassemble this
Solatec Solar Fountain, Black https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B077215M1R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Q0CXJPKCX8GWJKN15KXW
Look up how to make simple solar panel at home. There are several ways.
Work a small part time job to see the real world and how much people struggle to survive.
I have a couple brands and some fall apart easier than others. Mainly I see degeredation of the airstone around its sharp corners will drop a small bit of sediment; miniscule, but noticeable.
Don't really see any impact to the plant. They all make the same amount of bubbles.
I use this for bubbles and can scale up if needed in the future. Lots of people complain about buzzing or noise. I dissassembled, cleaned and lubed all parts; specifically using a PTFE lubricant . WD40 did not work well and only lasted a day. When re-assembling you have to loosen some of the screws and kind of wiggle around the middle heatsink area. You are trying to find the sweet spot of no noise+bubbles. Its a bit tricky, but not complicated. After the cleaning, lubing and re-assembling I've gone months with no issue (sound/vibration or bubbles); night a day difference, difficulty 3.5/10.
For small hobby lasers, many people use aquarium air pumps like this.