Styrofoam Coolers?

[doublejj]

That set only go's up to 2-1/2", but they do have single 3" bi metal type ones at HF still.. Or also a 3, 4 & 4-1/2" three piece set, or something like that If I remember right.. Way cheaper than the other stores that's for sure.

You'll never get a perfect hole using regular hole saws with teeth into polystyrene foam btw.. Even in reverse, its still gonna chew it up a little bit, because its more like a bunch of small balls that will tear out, unlike rigid or other closed cell types of foam material that are more consistently mixed. Probably not a big deal though, and will be covered by the net cup lips anyway. You might even wanna cut with the next size down in case it does wanna tear out. Then heat it up inside the holes and push the netpot in for a good seal. Should be good enough even with the teeth if careful.. good luck!

Some guys grind the teeth off the hole saws if they have to cut a lot of clean holes in foam panels for net pots all the time, but I wouldn't waste a good hole saw for that. I would make a hot punch tool for sure, and heat it up red hot and punch through multiple lids/sheets at a time if I had a huge system to design..

Yeah the set I bought was a 3 piece set. I don't know the exact sizes it was a few years ago. But one of them makes the perfect size hole.

 

[Budzbuddha]

Interesting project except for the polystyrene component of styrofoam.

It leaches toxins such as styrene and benzene and plants will absorb it. Plants, including cannabis, have the potential to absorb certain pollutants like styrene and benzene through their root systems. However, the extent to which cannabis plants can absorb these specific chemicals and whether they can do so effectively enough to make a significant impact on environmental pollution may depend on various factors such as the concentration of pollutants in the environment, the specific strain of cannabis, and the growing conditions. It's important to note that using plants, including cannabis, for phytoremediation purposes should be approached with caution, as the harvested plant material could still contain the absorbed pollutants, posing health risks if consumed.

Maybe look for food safe containers ( white buckets ) ( HDPE )

 

[cindysid]

View attachment 5339712

Thanks so much for your hel

Interesting project except for the polystyrene component of styrofoam.

It leaches toxins such as styrene and benzene and plants will absorb it. Plants, including cannabis, have the potential to absorb certain pollutants like styrene and benzene through their root systems. However, the extent to which cannabis plants can absorb these specific chemicals and whether they can do so effectively enough to make a significant impact on environmental pollution may depend on various factors such as the concentration of pollutants in the environment, the specific strain of cannabis, and the growing conditions. It's important to note that using plants, including cannabis, for phytoremediation purposes should be approached with caution, as the harvested plant material could still contain the absorbed pollutants, posing health risks if consumed.

Maybe look for food safe containers ( white buckets ) ( HDPE )

Would lining them with plastic bags help?

 

[cindysid]

They will only be in these containers for 2 weeks tops. Waiting on all my supplies for DWC.

 

[Budzbuddha]

I used to source white food safe buckets from local donut shops - guess you could ask .

Firehouse subs have cool red ones - i think they held pickles.

 

[Budzbuddha]

 

[shnkrmn]

I raided the food service loading dock at a nearby college. They were constantly recycling 5 gal buckets. I ran hempy buckets. it was sweet

 

[TCH]

Walmart will sell their 4 gallon square buckets for a buck a piece with a lid. I believe they also have 2 gallon ones as well. Just ask at the bakery. They even rinse em out pretty well.

Those firehouse buckets smell like pickles forever. That said, it won't transfer to the taste, but you'll always smell pickles. Lol

 

[cindysid]

View attachment 5340024

Sounds great, but the nearest FHS is over an hour away. I’m going to line them with food safe bags. The plants will only be in there for 2 weeks, max.

 

[cindysid]

I raided the food service loading dock at a nearby college. They were constantly recycling 5 gal buckets. I ran hempy buckets. it was sweet

I will definitely check with Walmart for future endeavors. Thanks!

 

[Drop That Sound]

Wouldn't worry too much about lining them, since its a temporary thing anyway.. I say just pop the plants in and wait for your system. Buddha is right though, polystyrene foam kinda sucks. It does break down & leech to some extent, and is overall bad for the environment. The little balls and chunks from it crumbling apart is one of my pet peeves actually. One of my favorite chickens died from pecking at a styrofoam wall in my greenhouse . Kept filling its belly everyday for weeks, before I found out the wind knocked the plastic away & exposed it. The same bird would eat the paint flakes off rusty metal panels though, so I can't blame the foam, lol.

 

[doublejj]

Dont forget air that you put in the water is outside temp you will slowly heat it up.

Why not just heat up a wire and melt a perfect hole.

This is the main reason I use 15gls in my reservoir. The pumps will heat up the water & 15gls will dissipate the heat better. I keep a close eye on temps when cloning.

 

[cindysid]

Ok, I’ve got a few issues with my first Dwc attempt. Like an idiot, I didn’t ph my solution after adding nutrients. I used cal-mag, maxigro, and hydrogard, with a smidgeon of orca thrown in. This was on Friday. Reservoir temps are running around 64 degrees Fahrenheit.

Yesterday I woke up to a couple of wilted plants. These are shipped clones. They are in small rock wool cubes in 3 in net pots with collars, and the roots on most do not reach the water, so I pulled them out and sprayed with a very light orca solution. They quickly recovered.

Now this morning, I was shocked to see very light green, almost yellow new growth on the clones, as well as a couple of seedlings I tucked in there. I checked ph and it ranged from 3.5 to 3.9 in my reservoirs! Yikes! I added ph up and brought them all up to approximately 5.8. I checked tds and it’s saying anywhere from 1100 to 1800. I thought I had gone really light on nutrients 1/2 tsp maxigrow, 2 ml cal mag, 1 ml hydrogard, and a drop of orca per gallon. What did I do wrong? Like I said, my water is from a spring with 6.2 ph and 24 ppm.

 

[cindysid]

Looks like I posted a few extra pictures ha ha I was trying to post one with the light leaves.

 

[cindysid]

I also forgot to mention that I have FloraFlex coming tomorrow and I’m going to change out reservoirs then.

 

[TCH]

Maxigrow and maxibloom drop the pH like nobody's business. That's most likely what caused it to drop so low. As far as measuring it out, I use a digital food scale, especially for smaller amounts. Too much variation in the scoops at the smaller amounts. Now if you're mixing a 55 gallon drum of nutes, a little variation isn't horrible, but in 1 or 2 gallons of mixture, it'll make a good difference.

 

[Billy the Mountain]

Ok, I’ve got a few issues with my first Dwc attempt. Like an idiot, I didn’t ph my solution after adding nutrients. I used cal-mag, maxigro, and hydrogard, with a smidgeon of orca thrown in. This was on Friday. Reservoir temps are running around 64 degrees Fahrenheit.

Yesterday I woke up to a couple of wilted plants. These are shipped clones. They are in small rock wool cubes in 3 in net pots with collars, and the roots on most do not reach the water, so I pulled them out and sprayed with a very light orca solution. They quickly recovered.

Now this morning, I was shocked to see very light green, almost yellow new growth on the clones, as well as a couple of seedlings I tucked in there. I checked ph and it ranged from 3.5 to 3.9 in my reservoirs! Yikes! I added ph up and brought them all up to approximately 5.8. I checked tds and it’s saying anywhere from 1100 to 1800. I thought I had gone really light on nutrients 1/2 tsp maxigrow, 2 ml cal mag, 1 ml hydrogard, and a drop of orca per gallon. What did I do wrong? Like I said, my water is from a spring with 6.2 ph and 24 ppm.

What was the pH of the mix when first added to the reservoir?

TDS of 1100-1800 (EC of 2.2 - 3.6 assuming a 0.5 conversion meter) is ridiculously high.

A few grams of Maxi and 2ml CalMg per gallon will have and EC around 1.

Something is not right.

 

[cindysid]

What was the pH of the mix when first added to the reservoir?

TDS of 1100-1800 (EC of 2.2 - 3.6 assuming a 0.5 conversion meter) is ridiculously high.

A few grams of Maxi and 2ml CalMg per gallon will have and EC around 1.

Something is not right.

I’m doing a reservoir change tomorrow with the FloraFlex. Will this be ok until then, or should I go ahead and do the change now? I definitely don’t want to kill my plants

 

[cindysid]

What was the pH of the mix when first added to the reservoir?

TDS of 1100-1800 (EC of 2.2 - 3.6 assuming a 0.5 conversion meter) is ridiculously high.

A few grams of Maxi and 2ml CalMg per gallon will have and EC around 1.

Something is not right.

I ph’d the water before adding nutrients but not after

 

[cindysid]