Tent and soil runoff

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
What do people put at the bottom of the tent to catch the run off from the pots in a tent? S you use saucers? Im looking for ideas... Maybe even building something if needed
 

Keif Cheif

Member
saucers or a tray. There are two popular styles of saucers that are on the market, clear vinyl saucers and green/black hard plastic saucers. If you plan to use the saucers for more than 1 or 2 grow cycles, then you should get the hard plastic ones (they last indefinitely).

Trays are always a good option if you want to collect all of the run-off water into one drain bucket. The only thing is to check the dimensions of the tent so that you can get the correct tray (they make ones that are measured from the inside and the outside of the tray). I always recommend trays for ease of use, but it is more expensive up front. Hope this helps! -Cheif

http://monstergardens.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=135_141
 

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
saucers or a tray. There are two popular styles of saucers that are on the market, clear vinyl saucers and green/black hard plastic saucers. If you plan to use the saucers for more than 1 or 2 grow cycles, then you should get the hard plastic ones (they last indefinitely).

Trays are always a good option if you want to collect all of the run-off water into one drain bucket. The only thing is to check the dimensions of the tent so that you can get the correct tray (they make ones that are measured from the inside and the outside of the tray). I always recommend trays for ease of use, but it is more expensive up front. Hope this helps! -Cheif

http://monstergardens.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=135_141
I would rather have a tray then saucers...
 

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
Trays work great, they are so much easier to measure run off. What kind of tent do you have??
I didn't get it yet, I ordered a cheap one off eBay so I'm not growing in a open space. Is a 3x3 tent .im gonna put a 600w phantom in there. Not the ballast but that's what light I'm using lol
 

Turtwig

Member
I agree with trays being the best option. Put them on short tables to keep your plants off the ground, it makes it more difficult for pests to get to your plants and allows you to have a catch basin that you can easily empty every couple of days.
 

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
I agree with trays being the best option. Put them on short tables to keep your plants off the ground, it makes it more difficult for pests to get to your plants and allows you to have a catch basin that you can easily empty every couple of days.
Yeah put like a tube that drains it all into a bucket ... That's exactly what I want
 

Djm619

New Member
Check mine out. Built it out of some 48"x16" closet shelving and some red and cedar wood. The shelving is held to the wood on only one side with "U" hooks and the pieces of wood screw into eachother. The shelving lifts up so you can grab the trays out. Very sturdy and working great. Only negative I could see is a loss of 4" of height but that's not an issue for me.

Hopefully you can see it enough to get a good idea. These are two of them stuck together creating a perfect 4'x3' grow area inside my 4'x4' tent.
 

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fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
Check mine out. Built it out of some 48"x16" closet shelving and some red and cedar wood. The shelving is held to the wood on only one side with "U" hooks and the pieces of wood screw into eachother. The shelving lifts up so you can grab the trays out. Very sturdy and working great. Only negative I could see is a loss of 4" of height but that's not an issue for me.

Hopefully you can see it enough to get a good idea. These are two of them stuck together creating a perfect 4'x3' grow area inside my 4'x4' tent.
I like that but I would like a tray that drains into a bucket like I posted. It's got a spot for a tube in the middle. Ill look on ebay and see what I can find.
 

Bigby

Well-Known Member
I use big saucers - 20 litre pots, saucers bigger than dustbin lids. I like to move my plants to water them, so like to keep it like this. But if you're practically minded and want something more permanent you could build some sort of frame from wood for the pots to sit in, with a drainage plug at one corner - that way you could water the plants in the tent and then drain the run off. I hear people say good things about portable vacuum cleaners for just sucking up a little run off, not tried it myself though as my requirements don't necessitate it. Could work for you though. I'm sure someone experienced in the method will say something about the technique.
 

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
I use big saucers - 20 litre pots, saucers bigger than dustbin lids. I like to move my plants to water them, so like to keep it like this. But if you're practically minded and want something more permanent you could build some sort of frame from wood for the pots to sit in, with a drainage plug at one corner - that way you could water the plants in the tent and then drain the run off. I hear people say good things about portable vacuum cleaners for just sucking up a little run off, not tried it myself though as my requirements don't necessitate it. Could work for you though. I'm sure someone experienced in the method will say something about the technique.
If I can find a 3x3 tray ill be fine... But all I see are ones hundreds of dollars lol.an I don't think it's worth it if I can't find any ill just do what I normally do....
 

stvitusdance

Well-Known Member
Am I the only one that doesn't use anything? By the time I'm flowering in 5 gal buckets I try to not have any run off at all and if I do it's not much and I wipe it up with a towel. I suppose it depends on container size and your soil too. I used to use those clear cheap home depot 12" saucers and stack 3 or 4 together.
 

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
Am I the only one that doesn't use anything? By the time I'm flowering in 5 gal buckets I try to not have any run off at all and if I do it's not much and I wipe it up with a towel. I suppose it depends on container size and your soil too. I used to use those clear cheap home depot 12" saucers and stack 3 or 4 together.
I water mine until I have run off so I don't gt salt buildup
 
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