DIY SIP idea.

[Gumdrawp]

So I have one of these sitting in my garage that never got put up in my garden, I saw it last night getting my tree out of storage. It fits conveniently on top of a 4x4 botanicare tray I have currently.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lifetime-4-x-4-Raised-Garden-Bed-2pk-with-1-Tent-Brown-60053/20904030?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228015557813&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=42531275552&wl4=pla-81188526392&wl5=9016841&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=20904030&wl13=&veh=sem

My idea was to stack it on top fill the tray with large grow stones or clay pellets, put 4 wicks one the center of each 1x1 area and use weed cloth also sitting in my garage to separate the water table from the medium then fill the planter with some soil I plan on cooking for this spring. I can use some ebb and flow fittings to set up a water level monitor in the tray with a small tube. Now do I need to aerate the water in the bottom with air stones or a waterpump? Either would be pretty easy to figure out logistically for me.

Does anyone have experience setting up a sip with similar materials or have any input?

Big thanks to everyone who helped with my worm bin a month or two ago also, they're doing quite well although they did get a little too wet when I threw in the stuff I strained out of a tea once.

 

[DonTesla]

So I have one of these sitting in my garage that never got put up in my garden, I saw it last night getting my tree out of storage. It fits conveniently on top of a 4x4 botanicare tray I have currently.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lifetime-4-x-4-Raised-Garden-Bed-2pk-with-1-Tent-Brown-60053/20904030?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228015557813&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=42531275552&wl4=pla-81188526392&wl5=9016841&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=20904030&wl13=&veh=sem

My idea was to stack it on top fill the tray with large grow stones or clay pellets, put 4 wicks one the center of each 1x1 area and use weed cloth also sitting in my garage to separate the water table from the medium then fill the planter with some soil I plan on cooking for this spring. I can use some ebb and flow fittings to set up a water level monitor in the tray with a small tube. Now do I need to aerate the water in the bottom with air stones or a waterpump? Either would be pretty easy to figure out logistically for me.

Does anyone have experience setting up a sip with similar materials or have any input?

Big thanks to everyone who helped with my worm bin a month or two ago also, they're doing quite well although they did get a little too wet when I threw in the stuff I strained out of a tea once.

I would aerate that water. I am working on a design close to this for our perpetual heirloom garden..

 

[Gumdrawp]

I would aerate that water. I am working on a design close to this for our perpetual heirloom garden..

Yeah my thought was to aerate it too, air stones seem like a bad option because of the build up and the fact that they're going to be inaccessible. I'll have to find a way to use some water pumps, even if I need to drill holes and run some grommets or something.

Would rigging up some sort of float valve to keep the res full be worth even doing? My only concern with water pumps is that they'll burn out if I forget to keep it full lol.

 

[DonTesla]

Have you looked into vortex brewers or aqua culture?

The more alive your mix is, too, the more you could use a really clean and simple, plain water ..

Also, maintaining access is a goal of ours, at least some sort of visual cue.

Perhaps you can get rid of one of the plastic panels that encloses the unit, and replace it with wood framing that still allows you to do something.

You could technically then literally stir the water or see if your gold fish is still alive, etc etc.

For us, we would like to be able to slide the reservoirs out from under neath, at any time, and give them a rinse if we want.. so just some food for thought.

Let us know what you decide on!!