NEED YOUR INPUT ON RDWC

[Airwalker16]

So I'm thinking of remaking my miniature rdwc system currently using 1gal black buckets. first time ever today ran into an oerflow do to roots clogging the gravity fed return lines.

ANY ideas on what or where to get a PLASTIC container say roughly 1-2 gals thats TALL and SKINNY rather than short and wide like a 1Gal bucket??

 

[dstroy]

So I'm thinking of remaking my miniature rdwc system currently using 1gal black buckets. first time ever today ran into an oerflow do to roots clogging the gravity fed return lines.

ANY ideas on what or where to get a PLASTIC container say roughly 1-2 gals thats TALL and SKINNY rather than short and wide like a 1Gal bucket??

A water pitcher, or a piece of 4" pipe with caps

 

[rkymtnman]

miniature rdwc system

why?

 

[Airwalker16]

A water pitcher, or a piece of 4" pipe with caps

GENIUS MAN
I went to Home Depot today and got a 10'4" pvc pipe and some caps. there will be some fanagaling to get this to work such as epoxying some feet to the bottoms so they dont tip over with a decent size girl up top. I think this is gonna be pretty damned cool when it's done. I'll also epoxy a small round piece of window screen at the bottom about 2" up so the roots can't get sucked in the return lines no matter what. I debated amongst just adding screen to my current system, just buding a single 10 gal low profile rubbermaid dwc reservoir with net pots in the lids, or this pvc . I need to keep each rootzone isolated though. and using the 4" pvc will allow me to have an 18" long column of water for those babies to stretch down into. I expect very vigorous growth.

 

[ThaMagnificent]

GENIUS MAN
I went to Home Depot today and got a 10'4" pvc pipe and some caps. there will be some fanagaling to get this to work such as epoxying some feet to the bottoms so they dont tip over with a decent size girl up top. I think this is gonna be pretty damned cool when it's done. I'll also epoxy a small round piece of window screen at the bottom about 2" up so the roots can't get sucked in the return lines no matter what. I debated amongst just adding screen to my current system, just buding a single 10 gal low profile rubbermaid dwc reservoir with net pots in the lids, or this pvc . I need to keep each rootzone isolated though. and using the 4" pvc will allow me to have an 18" long column of water for those babies to stretch down into. I expect very vigorous growth.

I thought of screen too. The problem is roots can still grow through those small slots

 

[Airwalker16]

I thought of screen too. The problem is roots can still grow through those small slots

Well it's built. pics tomorrow. I ended up finding some cross stitching canvas made of soft plastic for the screen for a more sanitary and water friendly alternative . this is pretty fuckin legit. only thing I'm worried about is being top heavy. I bought epoxy to glue some legs on, but haven't Been able to figure out what to do. I thought of using some small plastic triangles glued on like rocket fins but can't find any small plastic triangles that will work. any ideas on some feet to glue on to keep em up? they're 18" tall.

 

[mjinc]

Fine mesh like you get on a tea strainer should work also

 

[Airwalker16]

HERE'S THE JIST OF IT!! Let me know what you think. Also if you have any idea on a way to add legs or something similar to help keep them up, I'd appreciate the post.
Once they're 3/4 full of water though and connected all together by hosing, I doubt they'll ever fall. These are for vegging mom's only, nothing else.

Base caps have been pvc glued. This has 1/2" & 5/16" fittings, grommets, and black vinyl hose. The screens I cut in an oval shape as you can see, so that it can be on an angle and it rests on the top of the grommet perfectly. Only thing left to do is put holes in the top RIGHT BELOW the cap for the air stone hoses.

 

[FennarioMike]

Instead of legs, how about a frame of some sort that they could mount into? Or pipe clamps/hangers that could wrap around the pipes and then be screwed into a frame?

Ideas...

Are you planning on keeping the roots trimmed back so they don't plug things up?

It's a pretty cool project

 

[Airwalker16]

Instead of legs, how about a frame of some sort that they could mount into? Or pipe clamps/hangers that could wrap around the pipes and then be screwed into a frame?

Ideas...

Are you planning on keeping the roots trimmed back so they don't plug things up?

It's a pretty cool project

They won't plug anything up, that's the beauty. it's nice and long. but a base won't work cause the tubes all connect at the bottoms.

 

[Jypsy Dog]

Just the sheer mass of the roots will plug it up.

 

[Jypsy Dog]

You need more volume for the roots.

 

[Airwalker16]

You need more volume for the roots.

Rofl. that was the entire reason I built this. I know what I'm doing . thanks though?


Those are ONE GALLON buckets in that pic. I've grown an auto all the way to harvest in that setup before. you can see it flowering in the back.

 

[Airwalker16]

I cut triangles out of an old used cement mix tub and epoxied them to the base of each tower. IT WORKS. I kinda wish I'd used 6" pvc but oh well.