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.
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..
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.
Its easier than it looks, however there is usually a lot of pH maintenance especially at first till you get your nutrient ratios dialed in. If you check pH every day you can usually keep it in balance.....get the big bottle of pH-
the commercial grade air pumps from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XDKRYC6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_RWfWFbKAF61SD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 much better than the cheap plastic ones.....i dont think you can have too many bubbles
Make sure to get a beneficial bacteria for your res, i use Hydroguard now after learning the hard way with root rot
Buckets need to be 100% light proof where the roots are or u can get root rot, can use a towel or mylar to make a simple cover
I'm using 4 different 5 gallon buckets and 3 different strains so can adjust individually, but with single reservoir you may wanna stick with the same, clones preferably.....you would just have to not overfeed based on the "weakest" one so could be potentially holding one back
I am also doing a DWC grow and with the research I did I found a rate of 1 LPM/ Gallon was recommended.
Just to be safe I decided on this pump: VIVOSUN Air Pump 950 GPH 60L/min... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XDKRYC6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
The sound is minuscule in my application, but I built a grow box that this is stationed in, and it’s also in my spare bedroom, at night I can’t hear it all. I also have a couple smaller pumps from the same amazon page and any size smaller then this is very quiet :)
I have 3X 5 gallon buckets with 2 air stones per bucket just to maximize surface area of bubble to water contact. Which translates to 4 LPM / Gallon.
I am quite in excess in air power but I found it actually is quite beneficial! Since the bubbling is so vigorous I can lower my water level and the top third of my bucket is filled with water vapour/mist which essentially makes it DWC/AEROPONICS.
Last thing; I also have a home made water chiller that keeps my water at exactly 68°F, because air flow is irrelevant if the water isn’t able to retain dissolved oxygen. (I plan on making a post on how I made my chiller soon!)
Sorry for the long comment!
I'm using this one. It's also loud, but I have it on a separate switch so that I only have to have air and exhaust running when I'm actually lasering. Works fairly well and it was recommended in another forum, which is why I got it.
Sorry, got my units wrong... Gph is what I was thinking. I have this one and it works well!
VIVOSUN Air Pump 950 GPH 32W 60L/min 6 Outlet Commercial Air Pump for Aquarium and Hydroponic Systems (32 W) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XDKRYC6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_tCxHAbN4MTBPN
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
The vent sticks out right to the edge of the cutting area and decreases your available cutting area, you can make it nearly 300x300 mm. It's a popular mod to make your area a little bigger.
I made the box because the stock fan was not sufficient and I had a spare 6" from my indoor garden. The 4" Vivosun will probably move enough air for you, I had a six inch from an indoor garden with a fan controller so I used what I had. Ask around the site below about that 4" fan, if it moves enough air you dont need the 6" conversion box.
Boxes.py seems down this morning, or id have posted it for you. Adding a six inch circle and a 5 inch square to two of the cuts is not hard at all. I don't have the measurements handy for the thru holes, you'll just have to hold it up and mark and drill those. But it wont take a minute to make the design.
The chain, flexible deal is what I was trying to describe, not all machines come with that. I run O2 tubing thru mine to the air assist. My air pump is this one, works well for my needs.
Lightburn will be the best mod or upgrade you can do to a K40 in my opinion. Too many features to list, it sells itself.
Have a peek at Lahobbyguy.com has the most resources around for laser stuff and you can get material libraries for most machines there.
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.
27 gallon totes, Minimum 2 2"x4" cylinder airstones, hydrofarm 3 watt 2 outlet model, used 2 t splitters to turn 2 ports into 4 stones.
recently upgraded to a 32 watt pump and can run 20 2"x4" airstones without breaking a sweat. these models have very poor remarks for its loudness/buzzing. I can confirm that these are very loud unless you dissassemble, clean, and re-lubricate with PFTE. When you re-assemble you have to leave the screws a little loose and manually move the parts around until its not buzzing anymore; once you have it not buzzing while still pumping air, then you can tightent the screws. Takes it from volume 10 to volume 3, you can also use with anInline Fan Control Knob.
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.
Ya this isn't this complicated.
Source: have a 50 gal rez