Building a simple, effective air-lift pump to recirculate nutrient solution from the final bucket back to the level controller reservoir. Re-circulation keeps the nutrient even in strength and assists aeration.
I like it. Good video, simple setup. Just a suggestion, but it seems to me that you might have too much air flow and you might want want to dial it back some. I suspect there's a sweet spot between air flow and pumping action.
Thanks for the comment Dana! I will be installing the airlift pump for the next video as mentioned. I will tweak it some to get an adequate flow - that's why I like to use the variable air pumps which, surprisingly, doesn't cost all that much. Thanks for watching!
Hello Ronald, trying to create an aquaponics system in my horticulture class in high school. I just have a few questions about this pump, because I am interested in recreating it. Do you have a link or a name for the air pump that you are using? I can't quite make out the name on the silver box in the video, and I'm really new to this so I could use some help finding one of my own. Also, is there any limit to how long the pump will run? I'd like to have it plugged in and running almost 24 hours a day; would that be feasible with this system? Thank you so much! -Charlie Lott
I would use a separate adjustable air pump for the air-lift pump to make it easier to control flow. If your main air pump for the buckets has a manifold with adjustable outlets you can attach it to one of the outlets. Hope that helps - thanks for watching my videos!
A quick question for you. Could an air hose be ran down the inside of the tube and get the same effect as drilling the hole at the bottom. The reason I am asking thinking about doing something on a well that the submersible pump has gone bad to fill barrels for watering garden with???
+john young Hi John - I tried what you propose and it didn't work for me. But, like everything else in hydroponics, I am sure there are other ways that work too! Experiment and see what you can come up with - the hole method seemed to work best for my project. Please let me know if you come up with anything easier - thanks for watching the video!
It will work but you need a regular air compressor like for airing up car tires. 3/8 inch tubing being fed by 1/4 inch air sully line can make 300 gallons or more per day depending on the strength of the compressor
+Giobel Koi Center Increasing air input will increase the water output some but not a great deal. You can try larger components but basically what you see is what you get. Good luck and thanks for watching!
+Csaba Farkas Hello, thanks for your comment. The air-lift pump constructed for this project does not require a closed system. As demonstrated in the video, it pumps freely from an open container. Thanks for watching!
+Csaba Farkas Hi again. No, it doesn't require a sealed container. Check out the video using the same air-lift pump in the DWC recirculation video at: th-cam.com/video/3ba5ZBY_LfM/w-d-xo.html Thanks again fro watching.
How lame to do a video when half the words are muffled by all the surrounding rain noise! Gosh people wake up or find another hobby and leave videos to people who know what there doing and appreciate their audience
Thanks for posting. Simple idea made clear.
You're welcome Dennis - thanks for watching!
constrict the water inlet and you'll get more water volume pumped.
great video! thanks a lot!
+Mitch S
No problem Mitch - Thanks for watching!
I like it. Good video, simple setup.
Just a suggestion, but it seems to me that you might have too much air flow and you might want want to dial it back some. I suspect there's a sweet spot between air flow and pumping action.
Thanks for the comment Dana! I will be installing the airlift pump for the next video as mentioned. I will tweak it some to get an adequate flow - that's why I like to use the variable air pumps which, surprisingly, doesn't cost all that much. Thanks for watching!
Try to zoom out next time so we can see the entire thing at once
thanks for the video. would you mind explain how it works? I can't seem to figure out how the air moves the water without being in a sealed container.
How far down did you push the 3 /8" pipe down inside The PVC pip
Hi, thanks for sharing. I have tried but the bubbles are pumping out from the bottom... do you know why? it is not working for me...
Turn your air line so it points in direction of flow, if not your air is trying to push the water out the bottom.
Hello Ronald, trying to create an aquaponics system in my horticulture class in high school. I just have a few questions about this pump, because I am interested in recreating it. Do you have a link or a name for the air pump that you are using? I can't quite make out the name on the silver box in the video, and I'm really new to this so I could use some help finding one of my own. Also, is there any limit to how long the pump will run? I'd like to have it plugged in and running almost 24 hours a day; would that be feasible with this system?
Thank you so much!
-Charlie Lott
Ron i will be doing this with my 5 gallon bucket system. However do i need a separate air pump to oxygenate my water?
I would use a separate adjustable air pump for the air-lift pump to make it easier to control flow. If your main air pump for the buckets has a manifold with adjustable outlets you can attach it to one of the outlets. Hope that helps - thanks for watching my videos!
A quick question for you. Could an air hose be ran down the inside of the tube and get the same effect as drilling the hole at the bottom. The reason I am asking thinking about doing something on a well that the submersible pump has gone bad to fill barrels for watering garden with???
+john young Hi John - I tried what you propose and it didn't work for me. But, like everything else in hydroponics, I am sure there are other ways that work too! Experiment and see what you can come up with - the hole method seemed to work best for my project. Please let me know if you come up with anything easier - thanks for watching the video!
It will work but you need a regular air compressor like for airing up car tires. 3/8 inch tubing being fed by 1/4 inch air sully line can make 300 gallons or more per day depending on the strength of the compressor
Hi, do you have other design that will increase the output of the water?
+Giobel Koi Center
Increasing air input will increase the water output some but not a great deal. You can try larger components but basically what you see is what you get. Good luck and thanks for watching!
Ronald Kleinman I am planning to try your design in our well, you're welcome
may I used water pump in place of air pump
you can but it would pump a lot of water, and use a lot more electricity. for an off grid greenhouse you dont want that.
the bucket where you pumping out from, has to be closed air tight, in order to lift liquid up.
+Csaba Farkas Hello, thanks for your comment. The air-lift pump constructed for this project does not require a closed system. As demonstrated in the video, it pumps freely from an open container. Thanks for watching!
+Ronald Kleinman i meant in order to function properly,
+Csaba Farkas Hi again. No, it doesn't require a sealed container. Check out the video using the same air-lift pump in the DWC recirculation video at: th-cam.com/video/3ba5ZBY_LfM/w-d-xo.html
Thanks again fro watching.
Why didn't u wait till it stopped raining....poor sound
How lame to do a video when half the words are muffled by all the surrounding rain noise! Gosh people wake up or find another hobby and leave videos to people who know what there doing and appreciate their audience