SmokeyMcChokey
Well-Known Member
That's dope. I'm going to do this next year.
Leakless RDWC
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- dwc hydoponics
fridayfishfry
Well-Known Member
roots clogged my RDWC pipes
. Lost 75 gallons fresh nutes due to spill over
. planning damage control to keep roots contained with paint strainer mesh bags. This was outside, i think i'd be more upset over such a spill if it was inside. 
. Lost 75 gallons fresh nutes due to spill over. planning damage control to keep roots contained with paint strainer mesh bags. This was outside, i think i'd be more upset over such a spill if it was inside. 
Sour Wreck
Well-Known Member
my return pipes are only 1.5" and i have had to pull roots back into each tote.
with growth as explosive as it has become, getting to the plants on the back row in damn near impossible.
does anyone know if these would work or would they end up preventing water flow with roots bunched up and growing through it?
with growth as explosive as it has become, getting to the plants on the back row in damn near impossible.
does anyone know if these would work or would they end up preventing water flow with roots bunched up and growing through it?
redi jedi
Well-Known Member
Those strainers just make the problem worse...been there done that. Big pipe and dont go overboard on the pump is the best solution IMO.my return pipes are only 1.5" and i have had to pull roots back into each tote.
with growth as explosive as it has become, getting to the plants on the back row in damn near impossible.
does anyone know if these would work or would they end up preventing water flow with roots bunched up and growing through it?
Sour Wreck
Well-Known Member
yup, i can see the roots all tangled in them.
i think just making access to each plant will be best. that way i can pull roots back into each tub.
redi jedi
Well-Known Member
Ya if you can easily lift the plant out...that works too
Just means you cant use a scrog net or cages.
Sour Wreck
Well-Known Member
i do use a trellis and my plants are in 2" net pots with no hydroton, so i have them tied off at 6" above the tubs. however, i can easily lift a tub lid enough to pull roots back....
graying.geek
Well-Known Member
My solution to the PITA associated with a bucket system:
No leaky fittings. No separate res. No root clogged lines. Insulated. Works great, and simple and quick to maintain.
No leaky fittings. No separate res. No root clogged lines. Insulated. Works great, and simple and quick to maintain.
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fridayfishfry
Well-Known Member
I'm trying this. The mesh bag is a 5gallon paint strainer
redi jedi
Well-Known Member
Roots will grow through it
fridayfishfry
Well-Known Member
you're right, it'll slow them down maybe
Michael Huntherz
Well-Known Member
Oooh we have a fancy lad! Nice setup.My solution to the PITA associated with a bucket system:
View attachment 4165756
No leaky fittings. No separate res. No root clogged lines. Insulated. Works great, and simple and quick to maintain.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
I used multiple 1" bulkhead fitting outlets to each 27 gallon tubsite. Eliminated floods due to clogging problems. Flexible tubing makes teardowns and reconfiguring quick and easy.
Waterfalls worked better for me than air pumps.
No chiller, temps stay in the 71-75 F range, plants grew like crazy.
pH in low to mid 6 range, EC 1.4-1.7.
With netpots, the plants were portable, making 'transplanting' from one system to another trivial.
Waterfalls worked better for me than air pumps.
No chiller, temps stay in the 71-75 F range, plants grew like crazy.
pH in low to mid 6 range, EC 1.4-1.7.
With netpots, the plants were portable, making 'transplanting' from one system to another trivial.
SuperiorBuds
Well-Known Member
I hated dealing with bulkhead fittings as well. I just never had good luck with them and being in the middle of nowhere means I have to drive 2 hours to get parts (or wait 2 days for Amazon).
The latest iteration of my system uses plastic laundry tubs (utility sinks). This gives me a huge area for roots, bottom is angled towards the drain to help w/ the siphon, and I can use standard drain fittings to eliminate leaks. It's usually a bit more expensive to get the sinks but I was able to find these for $15 ea so I snagged all they had.
Here's how they looked when we were starting construction. I had some left over Lizard Skin, so they are coated in ceramic insulation now, too. (Saved me from bubble-wrapping them and ensures I'm lightproof w/ no heat bleeding through -- even though I run a chiller I wanted to be 100% sure.)
The latest iteration of my system uses plastic laundry tubs (utility sinks). This gives me a huge area for roots, bottom is angled towards the drain to help w/ the siphon, and I can use standard drain fittings to eliminate leaks. It's usually a bit more expensive to get the sinks but I was able to find these for $15 ea so I snagged all they had.
Here's how they looked when we were starting construction. I had some left over Lizard Skin, so they are coated in ceramic insulation now, too. (Saved me from bubble-wrapping them and ensures I'm lightproof w/ no heat bleeding through -- even though I run a chiller I wanted to be 100% sure.)
fridayfishfry
Well-Known Member
My idea sucks
This is what I will try, the plastic is stronger on those totes
this happen to two buckets:
Lordhooha
Well-Known Member
I find they're better than my 13 gal square buckets I used to use.
SmokeyMcChokey
Well-Known Member
Yea right on. I've already got a half dozen 12 gal hdx totes with uniseals so they'll do fine I'm sure.
fridayfishfry
Well-Known Member
4 Weeks later Update
Although the plastic is ultimately inferior, no buckets have become broken after I put the system on wood instead of directly on grass. The plastic broke before due to stress from pressures of the uneven sunken soil in the yard.
The paint strainer mesh worked for its intended purpose. Roots grew through it but only 4 inches and there are no "pipe chasing" system cloggers.
Totally ready to rinse and repeat next season
Although the plastic is ultimately inferior, no buckets have become broken after I put the system on wood instead of directly on grass. The plastic broke before due to stress from pressures of the uneven sunken soil in the yard.
The paint strainer mesh worked for its intended purpose. Roots grew through it but only 4 inches and there are no "pipe chasing" system cloggers.
Totally ready to rinse and repeat next season
fridayfishfry
Well-Known Member
used 2"x10"x10ft lumber, ground contact pressure treated pine right down the length of the system. buckets were sinking into the dirt at an angle causing the pipe to snap the bucket plastic