Ever Make Your Own DIY Flood and Drain Table?

[FarmlingtonFooj]

Anyone have experience building their own flood and drain table? I'm planning on using a trellis next run, so I need to figure out a better drainage option than individual saucers. I'll have 4 clones in 3 gal fabric pots of coco, all housed in a 3'x3' tent. Tips and photos are appreciated. Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[coreywebster]

I built pods before based on this.

Esoteric Hydroponic Systems

www.1-hydroponics.co.uk

Worked well apart from the noise but that was my fault for bad pump choice.

I would probably just run drain to waste though in coco.
Have a catch tray with some kind of sump pump or just wet vac it out.

 

[PhatNuggz]

Too many plants for a 3 x 3. If they're at all bushy you'll be lucky to grow 2

 

[XDabxdoubx]

Depends on how you trail them. If you use a combination of lst and topping with proper defoliation at the end of veg, you will maximize your production area.

As for the original question, just get some shallow clear bins from Walmart, paint them black and the lids black and then you can fit out holes you need with a drug for specific pipe fittings. Clay pellets all the way.

 

[PhatNuggz]

One plant LED max light spread is 3 x 3

 

[FarmlingtonFooj]

Too many plants for a 3 x 3. If they're at all bushy you'll be lucky to grow 2

Could be. I currently have 3 Mexican Haze flowering in 5 gallon pots and they just fit. I'm just looking for a more even spread of tops in my canopy, so i decided to try an additional plant but with smaller pots for the next run.

 

[FarmlingtonFooj]

Depends on how you trail them. If you use a combination of lst and topping with proper defoliation at the end of veg, you will maximize your production area.

As for the original question, just get some shallow clear bins from Walmart, paint them black and the lids black and then you can fit out holes you need with a drug for specific pipe fittings. Clay pellets all the way.

I usually like to implement both LST and topping fairly early in veg. I also like to defoliate specifically a week before the flip and 19 days into flower.

That seems like a good inexpensive alternative, but what about the frame? I know I need to consider where the drainage nozzle will go, but is there anything else I should be aware of before starting the build?

 

[BobBitchen]

on the cheap, you can do a DIY PVC table & buy a Washer tray from home depot that will fit in a 3x3

 

[Renfro]

on the cheap, you can do a DIY PVC table & buy a Washer tray from home depot that will fit in a 3x3

I like the way you think. Nice that those trays let you make the hole anywhere you want and you can use whatever type fitting because of that.

 

[BobBitchen]

I like the way you think. Nice that those trays let you make the hole anywhere you want and you can use whatever type fitting because of that.

Thanks, I'm not sure how well it would work as a true FtD, low sides & fairly thin plastic, but I've done it for a couple of my 3x3's for drain to waste/top feed and they work quit well.

 

[Renfro]

Thanks, I'm not sure how well it would work as a true FtD, low sides & fairly thin plastic, but I've done it for a couple of my 3x3's for drain to waste/top feed and they work quit well.

Yeah thats what I was thinking, just a waste collection tray. Although I hate open collection for humidity reasons, thus I use the bucket in a bucket closed collection setup for my trees.

 

[BobBitchen]

Yeah thats what I was thinking, just a waste collection tray. Although I hate open collection for humidity reasons, thus I use the bucket in a bucket closed collection setup for my trees.

It's on a PVC table with a 10gal tote underneath to catch the runoff

 

[FarmlingtonFooj]

It's on a PVC table with a 10gal tote underneath to catch the runoff

This is more along the lines of what I'm looking to build. Something simple and straightforward. I do like idea of a pvc frame, but I'd worry about the amount of weight it can hold.

 

[Renfro]

This is more along the lines of what I'm looking to build. Something simple and straightforward. I do like idea of a pvc frame, but I'd worry about the amount of weight it can hold.

You could build a really sturdy one with strut channel. Probably the low profile lighter gauge stuff because that would be plenty strong.

 

[BobBitchen]

This is more along the lines of what I'm looking to build. Something simple and straightforward. I do like idea of a pvc frame, but I'd worry about the amount of weight it can hold.

They are stronger than you'd think, for a 3x3, I usually run 6 or 8 two gal pots, weight has never been an issue, I'v had the same trays for a few years now.

 

[BobBitchen]

1" PVC (maybe over built, I can stand on it )



tray on top, drains to tote......6 x 2gal....
please excuse the mess, coming to the end of the run

anyway, hope this helps....good luck

 

[OneHitDone]

One plant LED max light spread is 3 x 3

Are those Amare Bars?

 

[FarmlingtonFooj]

View attachment 4546750
1" PVC (maybe over built, I can stand on it )


View attachment 4546754
tray on top, drains to tote......6 x 2gal....
please excuse the mess, coming to the end of the run

anyway, hope this helps....good luck

I like this set up a lot! This gives me some ideas. What is that, about 1" off the ground? Is your drainage in the middle?

Thanks for sharing dun, hope you get a heavy yield!

 

[BobBitchen]

What is that, about 1" off the ground?

I'm not sure what you're asking.

Is your drainage in the middle?

mine is front of tray, center, you can drill hole wherever you want, it's not pre-drilled

 

[FarmlingtonFooj]

I'm not sure what you're asking.

mine is front of tray, center, you can drill hole wherever you want, it's not pre-drilled

Typo, my bad. I meant, does your tray sit 1 foot above the floor? I'm tired of always throwing my back out when I'm in the garden, so having the plants elevated is going to help a lot. Although, I only have about 6 feet of height to work with in my tent, so I can't set them up too high.