Pyro's Vertical rdwc

iPurpleSticky

iPurpleSticky

Well-Known Member
At the ends of each loop, I bumped up the tube on a shim. I just used extra cuts of a 2x3. It sets the ends of the loops so the bottom of the high end is around the middle of the non shimmed end. I'm babbling, but I'm kind of stoned. If you look in my photos, you may be able to see one of the shims. To adjust, I'd have to get a smaller shim and tie my tubes down, but I'm unsure if I'll need it.
 
O

O*G*

Member
iPurpleSticky said:
Drolove, I'll grab some later today if I get a chance. It's all symmetrical. The frame is simply four 20'' diameter, side-to-side not corner-to-corner, octagons that have 2 legs on 4 of the sides. I used 2x3's for it. I did have a problem with the system leaning, but that's what the bungees in the photos are for.

Stonetech, I tried starting with 4'' pvc and bending it into a circle with heat, but it didn't work. Even with a heat blanket and plugs designed for PVC, it just kept caving in on itself. I haven't seen anybody use corrugated pipe either, so I was a bit skeptical. Although, this stuff is way more rigid than I thought it was. I was under the impression that the rigidity of the pipe wouldn't be enough to support the plants, but I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that it's strong enough. If you get a chance, hit up the big-box DIY store and feel some corrugated pipe. Plus, this pipe is designed to be underground, so it's designed to be fairly rigid.

Here's a video. Don't mind the music, it didn't even get to the good part. But that's your's truly on vocals :-P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmdDLOUYUaU[/

love to see that system get dialed in. I weld and bend pvc succesfully. I know bent pvc does nft with good results, if you feel like trying to fabricate pvc again message me for proper procedure... cheers
Click to expand...
 
Stonetech

Stonetech

Well-Known Member
Of course that makes perfect sense, (forehead slap). I think I could learn a thing or two from you Pyro, I tend to overcomplicate things and overlook the obvious. + rep.
 
iPurpleSticky

iPurpleSticky

Well-Known Member
O*G*, me and my dad used a heat blanket with 2 plugs made specifically for bending conduit and PVC. The problem we were having was the pipe kept collapsing on itself. I'm confident in the rigidity of this corrugated pipe though. The cost of corrugated pipe as compared to PVC is insane too. Figure a 10 foot section of 4'' PVC sch 40 is around 15-20 bucks, the thinwall stuff is 10-15 I think. The Corrugated pipe just seemed like a better idea. It's seamless, and easy to deal with. If I ever need to disassemble, I'll be able too without having to cut stuff apart.


Stonetech, my way to figure out things is incredibly simple. I get really baked, and think about it. When I'm baked I seem to make less 'educated' decisions that turn out to be more economical and functional. I thought of all these extravagant ways to put damns inside the pipe when I realized I didn't have to. It all came together pretty well, and it's incredibly simple. I guess the only thing that I maybe will add in the future is air stones, but it's not looking like I'll have to.

With the cost for one of these vertical setups, I could easily build one or two more and run them all. If a 400 watt light works out well, running 2 wouldn't be very difficult. That'd be a harvest every 4-6 weeks..... That'd be wonderful!
 
MYWhat?

MYWhat?

Active Member
Nice job on the set up iPurpleSticky. That style pipe comes in a wide array of sizes, which is a nice feature.

I had actually thought of using it for a patients system back a couple years ago. The only reason we didn't end up using it (after a smaller test run was done using it) was because of sediment build up. Just like gold running through a sluice box, sediment and even worse bacteria can build up in the corrugation. With that said I'm sure it would depend on what nutrients you run through it.
We had a heck of a time trying to get it cleaned out and ended up having to use a pressure washer.

By no means am I trying to discourage you, just sharing our experience.

I really do hope you have a bountiful harvest and better results then are test run did.
 
Saldaw

Saldaw

Well-Known Member
+ rep for the brilliant cost efficient setup and the brilliant answers and info!

happy growing!
 
iPurpleSticky

iPurpleSticky

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the support guys!

MYWhat, I never thought about that... I suppose if it gets too bad, I could probably use a shop vac through the holes when the tube is drained and dried. Did the sediment cause any problems with the plants?

I'll grab some pictures today, I suppose the clones will be larger since the last time anybody has seen them.
 
iPurpleSticky

iPurpleSticky

Well-Known Member















Bumped my EC to 1. I had some hungry plants! They are definitely starting to grow. Some are behind others. One of the strains in the vertical is a stretcher. I flowered a plant that was well under 12 inches in coco, and it's a 36" plant now. It was an 8 or 9 inch plant when it started 12/12....
 
MYWhat?

MYWhat?

Active Member
iPurple,*

Yes we ran into a couple lockout issues during the test run. *(only 6 plants) *Due mostly to excessive salt build up. We ended up running straight water through the system, if I remember correctly, 3 times. (if you do this you should pull out your 2 by3 shims at each level to ensure it flushes good) Using a separate bucket we pumped water (40 ppm) through the system for a couple hrs. And ended up having a ppm of 500-600. Then put the pump back into the nutrient tank, and continued as normal.*
The plants did fairly well, just had to stay on top of it. We kept the nutrient temps low of course. It seems the more chemical the nutrients are the more the issue will arise.*
To be honest even in my bucket system, I find myself having to flush a couple times per run or I'll lock up in that too. Using GH 3 part. Though now we've been running flora nova series and have found that there is way less salt build up. It does cost a little more but makes alot more nutrient solution per gallon, and haven't had anywhere near as much salty residue.

I hope this will aid you and your quest for a bountiful yield !*
 
iPurpleSticky

iPurpleSticky

Well-Known Member
Hm. If I see any problems, that's the first thing I'll do for sure! It wouldn't be very difficult to run RO water through every 2 weeks, I think that's what I may do.

I'm planning on getting away from these nutrients, and stepping up to a better nutrient line. I'd like to run a simple 2 part nutrient mix, or even a 1 part. I'll have to see what my budget looks like and what the hydroponics store carries. Botanicare is in my head for now. Chances are it won't take me long to get rid of these, this system holds quite a bit of water. It took 20-30 ml of Micro and I'm running Lucas formula just to get to 1 EC.

My nutrient temperatures stay relatively low. This weekend I'm going to do some ventilation work since I can finally switch the vertical to flower. Right now, my res temps are sitting in the low 70s, which is good enough for me. Hopefully in the winter the temps don't get too frigid down there.
 
MYWhat?

MYWhat?

Active Member
I'm sure you'll do just fine man. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

I'm sure you've seen that white residue on the walls of your resivour. I get it in my tank too, running GH 3 part. Their 3 part does give the plants everything they need to thrive and produces a good harvest. Just have to be a little vigalent is all.

Peace and Happy Growing !!
 
iPurpleSticky

iPurpleSticky

Well-Known Member
MYWhat?, I have noticed salt buildup on my hydroton already, but I wasn't sure what it was. I wonder why this stuff is so...salty.

Thanks Derple! I think I'm giving it an extra week or two, but I'm excited to get a dry and cure and start smoking it! This chemdog is my sleep medication, the high is intense but the come down is almost impossible to fall asleep unless you keep smoking.
 
NnthStTrls

NnthStTrls

Well-Known Member
I like the info on Jamaican Dream so I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out. Nice looking setup. :peace:
 
iPurpleSticky

iPurpleSticky

Well-Known Member
I'm kind of hoping the Jamaican Dream really has that short of a flowering period. It's roughly half of what my other strains are. I'd like to have something quick that I can roll joints out of so I don't feel guilty putting a 10 week flowering bud in there.

I'm personally a fan of gutting a Black and Mild and filling it with pot. They fit a gram perfectly, and they smoke fantastically. Plus if you please, you can mix in tobacco and it really kills the smell, but makes it taste like Black and Mild wine hahaha. I like smoking a gram in one sitting, it's usually pretty damned nice!

This weekend I'm going to do a flush for a few hours, I can't imagine the salty buildup inside.

My room mate's fiances car is having issues though, and she said she'd pay me to fix it. If that's the case, I hope it's not just the fuel filter and it's the pump hahaha. That way, I can get enough to go grab some different nutrients!
 
J

jaxl

Active Member
Hey I have a question for you.this will be my first vert grow, I made a setup kinda like yours but with just 2 rows gonna be running a 400 watt light how many plants would you suggest I put in it?
 
iPurpleSticky

iPurpleSticky

Well-Known Member
As many as you can! I put mine on 8'' centers. Since I do no topping, these plants will grow basically as single colas. I figure fan leaves need about 4 inches of room, and that makes it pretty roomy as you can see.

For the most part, go big or go home. The only real concern I would think, is the root masses ganging up and clogging your tube. Figure if your plants were only 2 inches on center, you'd have so many plants that the roots would probably slow down the flow and cause back ups. 8 inches is a comfortable medium for me as I'm going to flower clones that are about 6'' tall.
 
J

jaxl

Active Member
iPurpleSticky said:
As many as you can! I put mine on 8'' centers. Since I do no topping, these plants will grow basically as single colas. I figure fan leaves need about 4 inches of room, and that makes it pretty roomy as you can see.

For the most part, go big or go home. The only real concern I would think, is the root masses ganging up and clogging your tube. Figure if your plants were only 2 inches on center, you'd have so many plants that the roots would probably slow down the flow and cause back ups. 8 inches is a comfortable medium for me as I'm going to flower clones that are about 6'' tall.
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thanks for the help thats what i was kinda getting from some of the grows ive seen im going to be doing mine from seed dont really have room for a mother room right now, but its on the list to do
 
iPurpleSticky

iPurpleSticky

Well-Known Member
I think going from seed would be Difficult. Having mother plants makes getting large numbers of plants possible. I can't imagine germinating 50-60 seeds! You could germinate a seed, and grow a mother plant. Then, take all the clones you can from the mother for your system. Then you could flower what's left of your mother plant in the bottom of your vertical setup. That's how I would do it. It may take more time to grow a large enough plant for that many clones, but then you would save on seeds.

I find a lot of convenience when using mother plants. This setup proved to be a wonderful cloner. I didn't lose any clones.
 
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