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#1
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Just wondered if anyone uses an air compressor for their air supply
Just wondered if anyone uses an air compressor for their air supply. I've seen a lot of good buys on 2 gallon models.
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#2
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If you do want to use a compressor there are a few things you should consider. First, You need to filter the air to your system/s because even a dry compressor still needs a lubricant from time to time or it wears out fast. These contaminates would get trapped in the nutrient solution as well as the air stones contaminating your nutrient solution. Second you need to regulate the presser. Most compressors will have a presser regulator, but are designed for power tools and may not go low enough. You probably wouldn't want more than 5 to 10 psi Max or you risk blowing the lines and damaging the stones. Also if you have multiple systems you are using it for you may need multiple inline presser regulators, because the more stones and farther the distance form the source, the presser will drop rapidly. |
#3
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Thanks for the reply. I was just thinking, I have four dual pumps now. This coming spring I plan four beds outside another couple dual air pumps. I was thinking it might better in the long run to supply all air from one source.
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#4
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I have often thought that myself, I have 3 systems running right now and have more planed. I am also looking for another single source for the air supply, though I haven't been really looking. I would first find a place that sold really large fish tanks. Like 1000 gallons and up and ask what they use in those fish tanks for there air supply.
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#5
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I Did a quick search for Large aquarium air pumps and found a few possibility's (especially the last one), but I would want to call them and talk to a live person to make sure that they will work for your purpose.
TETRA-TEC DEEP WATER AIR PUMPS High-Pressure Aquarium Air pump 7.0 P.S.I. Air Pump with Diffuser - 9150 cu. in. per Minute Aquarium Linear Air Pumps Last edited by GpsFrontier; 11-27-2009 at 06:07 AM. |
#6
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oil in the water? no way. Dont worry about that.
There are many many large air supply for fish pumps that feed 4+ air lines. Remember air pumps only push out around 3 - 4 psi. Now you can add a oil catch can to a air compressor and no oil or water will be returned to your water supply system. Think about it, they paint cars and such with air compressors and if oil got into paint it would look like crap. It you think that you need a mass amount of air, I would recommend getting a high volume air pump for a fish tank not a air compressor. However if you needed to get a air comp. then get a large one, like 25 gallons and set the regulator to 2 psi - just like a fish pump. It wont turn on very much. I have used the above fish pump to make an air lift system to filter a 6000 gallon fish tank. So I think a compressor is over kill. |
#7
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Quote:
Quote:
Also if you were using it for many systems you will probably run into a problem with the amount of volume it would put out. Just like with an air pump every time you add an air stone the line the pressure/volume drops. So if the output is 2 psi at the compressor, by the time you run it to all the multiple hydroponic systems you wanted to you will probably not have enough output to do much good. Unless you run multiple lines out of the compressor at say 50 psi then have a regulator at the end of those lines set at 2 psi. From there you could probably run 3 or 4 lines of 2 psi at that point that will have enough volume of air to do the job. Then again with some trial and error as well as a regulator that has a wide range of low pressure output you could probably use a higher output at the compressor like maybe 5 or 6 psi, and by the time you run the lines to 15 or 20 air stones the pressure could be right at the stones. Though you would probably need to build a splitter so you can run all your lines from one place. Though I cant see it as being cost effective unless you were building a hydroponics farm for selling produce. Quote:
Last edited by GpsFrontier; 12-29-2009 at 05:45 PM. |
#8
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See all the holes? The small pipes on the left and right, pump air into the air chamber. The holes defuse the air, in the water line. Air rises right? as it bubbles to the top, it pushes water over the top of the tank. |
#9
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I can only read English so I cant read the words in the diagram. I Assume the water is suppose to fill the center tube and rise as it fills with air, at the same time it would need to have a continuous supply of water. I cant tell from the pictures or diagram but I would guess the center tube should extend down farther with holes in it to allow water to continue to fill it? I did however find a picture that gave me an idea (picture attached).
This seemed to illustrate the same principal but just on a much smaller scale. The air line goes in through the left side of the "T" connector and up the center. There is a second tube (the green one) in the center of the "T" connector that directs the water/air where to go. Lastly a continuous flow of water is supplied by the opening on the right side of the "T" connector. I did put one of these together and test it. It did allow the water to bubble over the top, not real strong but did flow over the top. I then tried to up the scale and used 1/2 inch P.V.C. tubing and "T" connector. I got a lot of bubbling but no water over the top. I don't know if my conclusions are correct but I think that there are three major factors here. One is the smaller the air bubbles the better. The second one is the deeper it is in the water the better, allowing the air bubbles more force in rising to the top. Lastly I think the diameter of the tube the air rises up in lifting the water is directly affected by the amount of air being pumped. Wider tube and less air flow, probably less water flow. Smaller tube and the same air flow I think probably more water flow also. Mainly because there would be more force from the air rising in a smaller tube. I don't know how much volume of water can be displaced nor how high above the water surface it would be able to go. Last edited by GpsFrontier; 01-03-2010 at 02:45 AM. |
#10
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That's how the a Waterfarm works. The air forces the water up the pipe.
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#11
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#12
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It would probably work, but I think you would need more air the higher you lift it.
A pump likw this might work good. 110 lph I use it to make compost tea for my giant pumpkin. |
#13
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I plan to buy another one just for the Hydroroom.
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