Heaths Flooded Tube Vertical

[Heath Robinson]

Welcome to my latest vertical grow, this time around I am using 4" soil pipe, a 4000 litre per hour pump, and one 600w bulb.
The internal diameter is 4 ft.

The build used 27 = 45 degree double sockets
4 = 90 degree double sockets
5 = Double socket pipe couplers
35 = pipe clips
and approx 8 x 3 metre lengths of pipe.

The idea is very simple, the feed from the pump enters the top tube and gravity lets the nutrients flow through the tubes until it returns to the res. The different thing about this design is the tubes are running in a floded state. I have set the level so the nutrient solution is about 1/4 of an inch above the bottom of the net pots.

This level controll is achieved by a simple dam built into a collar on each level, I have taken a pic of this simple level control so you can see how it works. To lower or increase the fluid level in the pipe is achieved by simply turning the collar which contains the dam.

 

[Heath Robinson]

Sorry for the poor picture but this collar controls the level in the tubes.

This is a pic of the dam inside the collar, as you can see twisting this collar alters the hight of liquid inside the tube.

Feed from pump into top tube.

Empty res showing brown pipe return, and the pump with bypass fitted.

And with the res full and the water returning from the vert.

Looking into the flooded tube.

And finally wrapped in reflective material ready to load up!.

Heath

 

[AeroKing]

Wow, just fucking Wow. Have you considered adding Aero to the mix?

 

[Heath Robinson]

Hi AeroKing,

Yes I have played around with Aero but for this grow I wanted a simple to use system, this has just one pump and one bulb. If the pump fails the plants will live for quite a long timeas the tubes are flooded. But never say never you might see an aero grow sometime in the future!.

cheers

Heath

 

[AeroKing]

Hi AeroKing,

Yes I have played around with Aero but for this grow I wanted a simple to use system, this has just one pump and one bulb. If the pump fails the plants will live for quite a long timeas the tubes are flooded. But never say never you might see an aero grow sometime in the future!.

cheers

Heath

That adjustable collar idea is ingenious.

It would be pretty easy to add some misters later, huh?

How far will the canopy be from the bulb?
Will you be cooling it?
600w seems low to me for a 4' area, is there a particular reason for not going 1000w?

Have you fathomed a support structure yet? (for the gigantic buds you're going to be growing in that thing, that is)

No additional oxygenation other than the waterfall?

Chiller?

Is that that self-stick insulation shit? If not, how did you fasten it?

Please forgive me for asking a ton of questions. I'm trying to design a similar system for a build coming up later this year. I really appreciate your insight!

 

[Heath Robinson]

Good questions AeroKing,

I could add misters very easily but I wont as there would be little to no advantage and would make a simple design complicated.

The vert is cooled with a single room fan laid on its back pointing upwards I will show it in later pics.

The 600w bulbs are the most efficient thats why I use them. On this grow I will be using the Sunpulse Metal Halide bulbs throughout the grow not the one shown in the pics. The furthest point away from the bulb is 2 ft so obviously as the plants grow the distance to the bulb will reduce.

I have a couple of ways of supporting the buds I have hooks all the way round the top of the vert so I could tie them up or I can simply fit a screen or netting for them to grow through.

I am an old hand at these systems and recirculating systems so I have found that I dont need any additional oxygenation.

The room temps are at 72f so at the moment I dont think I will need a chiller to keep the nutrient temps low.

hope that helps.

Heath

 

[Picasso345]

That last photo looks like Lunar Landing Module or something. Very interesting!

 

[AeroKing]

Good questions AeroKing,

I could add misters very easily but I wont as there would be little to no advantage and would make a simple design complicated.

Many thanks, I hope you'll be around when I get started.

Not to take your thread off topic, but I'm surprised that you state "little to no advantage" of going aero.

Flooded tubes would fall under the recirculating DWC category of hydro, would it not?
Everything I've read rates that as a mediocre method, with expected effectiveness less than aeroponic or NFT. I'm not trying to call you out or anything like that - I'm just intrigued that an obviously experienced grower such as yourself would make a statement like that. Is this based on experience?

Also, (back on topic), can you explain the pump bypass and how you use it?

 

[Heath Robinson]

Many thanks, I hope you'll be around when I get started.

Not to take your thread off topic, but I'm surprised that you state "little to no advantage" of going aero.

Flooded tubes would fall under the recirculating DWC category of hydro, would it not?
Everything I've read rates that as a mediocre method, with expected effectiveness less than aeroponic or NFT. I'm not trying to call you out or anything like that - I'm just intrigued that an obviously experienced grower such as yourself would make a statement like that. Is this based on experience?

Also, (back on topic), can you explain the pump bypass and how you use it?

Thanks Picasso345

nowthen Aeroking, you have obviously been reading the wrong growthreads then! lol. I can show plenty of my own examples from a single cannabis tree grow which weighed 42 0z to numerous grow threads vertical and sog.

To be honest I have never heard that fast recirculating DWC is a "mediocre method" I learnt to do my own thing and dont pay much attention to anything I read on grow forums. Anytime you read something, see if the grower can back up their claims because unfortunately there are lots of poor growers masquerading as experts on all the grow forums.

You can answer your own question by building your vertical and converting it to aero or Vice-versa and see which has the biggest yields.
thats how I would do it.

good luck

Heath

 

[Heath Robinson]

Sorry missed your last question, the bypass is very simple on the output from the pump there is a "T" one side goes to feed the vertical and the other side of the "T" returns to the res and has a valve fitted. When I open the valve some of the output from the pump circulates into the res this helps control the flow into the vertical and also helps with oxygenation.


Heath

 

[fluffydog]

sorry to hijack your thread but can you checkk yout tree thread out please.thank you

 

[AeroKing]

I see... believe me, I have no intentions of starting a pissing match about this, I just enjoy picking the brain of somebody with real-world experience vs. the hundreds of books, gardening sites, mfgs sites, forum postings... that I've read through. I am in no way belittling your tek, just trying to learn as always. So, what about that pump bypass???

 

[FLoJo]

very nice work there Heath!

i have been anticipating this new vert grow since you had talked about it and of course am not disappointed!! i really like how it goes down level to level..

I was wondering though, wont the collar that adjusts the water level stop the water from traveling down the rest of the system leaving standing water in the pipes?

also, if it is only a few inches off of the ground (or so it seems) how does the bottom level drain back into the res? I am assuming the res shown is just with a sump pump with the float valve that pumps back into a larger res?

how many sites is it if you dont mind me asking? also what medium will you be using in the net cups?

EDIT: also forgot to ask your feeding schedule.. the reason i ask is because the only way i could see the collars not creating standing water is if it was constantly flooding instead of once every 2 hours or so..

 

[Heath Robinson]

Hi fluffydog, will do!

Sorry missed your last question, the bypass is very simple on the output from the pump there is a "T" one side goes to feed the vertical and the other side of the "T" returns to the res and has a valve fitted. When I open the valve some of the output from the pump circulates into the res this helps control the flow into the vertical and also helps with oxygenation.


Heath

No probs AeroKing you must have missed my reply, I have quoted it for you.


FLoJo, yes thats the idea, I wanted the tubes to be full of fast flowing water. The collar I have shown in the pics acts as a dam and the water builds up behind and eventually flows over and down to the next level.

The whole system runs in a full condition the water level is toutching the bottom of the net pots. The pump runs 24/7 so in effect what we have is similar to deep water culture but the main difference is the fast flow rate and I never leave a gap under the net pots.

The small res you see in the pics is the only res there is, because the tubes are full of water this means I can get away with using a small res.

It holds 86 plants, and the feed is at an EC of 1.0 and as I have mentioned the pump is running constantly so there is no standing water


Heath

 

[winkdogg420]

awesome setup! cant wait to see it full! i was wondering why is the pipe that color?? we in the us have white , green , and black . i have never seen this color before is this common pipe work??

 

[twistedentities]

subscribed!...i excited already! nice set up!

 

[pillarize]

very cool subscribed

 

[FLoJo]

very interesting Heath, so do you never change the res? just add nutes and water to it?

forgot to also ask, how do you think this system will compare to your other vertical systems? do you think it will outperform the shelving style like i have and the tree grow?

 

[smartsoverambition]

i'm so suscribed to this thread if i was any more suscribed they would have to put me over to golf weekly.

definately sounds like a solid idea and cant wait to see the results, keep it up heath

may i inquire what strain you are growing?

 

[quazzy10]

Awesome looking setup, cant wait to see how it performs, subscribed