a ppk for a 6 plant limit

[av8or]

I don't think I'de fit through that door... seriously nice build though. I'm super jealous right now.

Haha yeah, I have to turn sideways to get through the door. Suffice it to say that I didn't hang the door. Remarks complete. Haha!

Thanks for the kind words, SA. Building rooms and experimenting as much as I do wouldn't be possible without a benefactor and the help I get from all of you.

 

[RamCTD1027]

As a follow up to my previous posts, I did not find any root aphids (knock on wood). I removed all the roots hanging into the lower buckets and made sure all the plants were draining appropriately. I also changed out all the water in the system. The plants look okay, not perfect but not terrible and they are drinking approx 35 gal per day so I'm hoping for a decent harvest.

Aviator, awesome job! Love the new room! I, too, plan to expand in the next month and hope I can work all the kinks right now. I have to agree with you on the hose to pvc connection....I havent had ONE DROP from my hose to pvc connection. I did, however, have a bucket Crack where the hose goes into the muck bucket. That was a pain in the ass to change out with a 6' diameter plant in it. I'm exciting to see how you progress with you room(s)

I'm starting to detail plan the second room. What's the benefit to the 27 gal totes over the 17.5gal muck buckets?

Another IMPORTANT question....what is everyone doesn't for preventative maintenence starting early in veg? I need to establish a nice PM plan/schedule.

Keep up the good work everyone. This one thread is the absolute best thread on all of icmag.

 

[av8or]

As a follow up to my previous posts, I did not find any root aphids (knock on wood). I removed all the roots hanging into the lower buckets and made sure all the plants were draining appropriately. I also changed out all the water in the system. The plants look okay, not perfect but not terrible and they are drinking approx 35 gal per day so I'm hoping for a decent harvest.

Aviator, awesome job! Love the new room! I, too, plan to expand in the next month and hope I can work all the kinks right now. I have to agree with you on the hose to pvc connection....I havent had ONE DROP from my hose to pvc connection. I did, however, have a bucket Crack where the hose goes into the muck bucket. That was a pain in the ass to change out with a 6' diameter plant in it. I'm exciting to see how you progress with you room(s)

I'm starting to detail plan the second room. What's the benefit to the 27 gal totes over the 17.5gal muck buckets?

Another IMPORTANT question....what is everyone doesn't for preventative maintenence starting early in veg? I need to establish a nice PM plan/schedule.

Keep up the good work everyone. This one thread is the absolute best thread on all of icmag.

Changing buckets with that size of a tree must have been a complete chore. Well done, boss!

The benefit to the larger capacity bottom buckets is that you can remove your main res because there's enough solution in the system to buffer chemical fluctuations throughout. I also find them easier to work with, they're widely available and sitting the top bucket on top of the lid instead of recessing it in the muck tub makes the plant a lot easier to move and manipulate. The 27 gal platform is more stable in about every way.

Every four days I spray a rotation of Mega Wash, Green Cleaner and OG Biowar (foliar pack, not root pack). I know it's expensive, but getting bugs is more expensive so I spray anyway. Mites haven't shown up again and the root aphids are scared to show their face around here anymore.

I was made aware of a possible Cucumber Beetle issue, so I'm looking into that right now. More to follow on that.

 

[JamesFarmer]

Fitting the screen? BFH??

Fitting the screen? BFH??

Hey Everyone,

I am assembling a system using the tailpiece described in this thread and 3.5 gallon buckets over 5gallon buckets.

Assembly was going well until I tried to insert the clean out in the bottom of the tailpiece.

It appears to me, in the photos, that screen was formed over the clean out then the clean out was slipped into the bottom end of the tailpiece.

What I am running into is the screen over the plug wont fit inside the tailpiece. I have pushed, twisted & pounded. No go.

Either I have misunderstood the correct method of assembly or one of the pieces needs to be modified to clearance for the screen.

What do you recommend?

Thanks

 

[delta9nxs]

Hey Everyone,

I am assembling a system using the tailpiece described in this thread and 3.5 gallon buckets over 5gallon buckets.

Assembly was going well until I tried to insert the clean out in the bottom of the tailpiece.

It appears to me, in the photos, that screen was formed over the clean out then the clean out was slipped into the bottom end of the tailpiece.

What I am running into is the screen over the plug wont fit inside the tailpiece. I have pushed, twisted & pounded. No go.

Either I have misunderstood the correct method of assembly or one of the pieces needs to be modified to clearance for the screen.

What do you recommend?

Thanks

wrong screen. use this;

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?productId=3087579

is fiberglass and has a larger mesh size and is less likely to clog.

next time try 3" pvc as it cuts smoother than abs

 

[JamesFarmer]

wrong screen. use this;

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?productId=3087579

is fiberglass and has a larger mesh size and is less likely to clog.

next time try 3" pvc as it cuts smoother than abs

Thanks you!

Any suggestions as to how to get the clean out to fit with the screen?

The ABS cut nicely for me. I used a fine blade on my chop saw and a utility knife to clean up the "fuzzies". I have done this with ABS & PVC with good result.

 

[av8or]

Thanks you!

Any suggestions as to how to get the clean out to fit with the screen?

The ABS cut nicely for me. I used a fine blade on my chop saw and a utility knife to clean up the "fuzzies". I have done this with ABS & PVC with good result.

The vent screen is thinner than the aluminum screen. It'll jam right up in there, then use two set screws to hold it in place.

I put up some pictures on page 77 of this thread. You can see what I'm talking about there.

 

[JamesFarmer]

PPK Veg space taking shape:

PPK Veg space taking shape:

I am converting my RDWC setup to PPK. Pics below are my Veg space that will have 6 sites under 2 x 600watt MH. I will be removing the air pump, lines & stones. Also, I will plumb a manifold off of the existing recirc pump to handle watering.

6 sites in Veg and, next up, 8 sites in my flower room under 3x 1k HPS.

 

[JamesFarmer]

The vent screen is thinner than the aluminum screen. It'll jam right up in there, then use two set screws to hold it in place.

I put up some pictures on page 77 of this thread. You can see what I'm talking about there.

Thank you yet again

I will run for new screen in the morning.

 

[delta9nxs]

so far i have found it only at lowes. i cut it off in 6" lengths, shove it in with the drain and then trim off the excess with scissors.

the aluminum screen is the correct size for screening media to improve air filled porosity.

at this point i would advise everyone to screen whatever it is they are using for a medium, whether it be turface, napa 8822, or pumice.

 

[420ish]

if you are running short,do you think just filling the tail piece with screened turface and using a mix of screened and small in the main tub is ok?

 

[av8or]

if you are running short,do you think just filling the tail piece with screened turface and using a mix of screened and small in the main tub is ok?

Ideally, get yourself 6" of media depth. If you still need more, I'd just go get some but if that isn't an option, I think top dressing the screened turface with non-screened turface would likely be your best option. Can you get 6" of media in your tubs? You may consider growing in the 3.5 gallon top. You got options!

 

[420ish]

i had just enough screened but if i dont have a chance to get more before next round i was thinking of doing the tailpiece with screened and the tub with whats left.
i have just finished switching over almost my entire operation to ppk in the last month.as soon as my next 4 finish i will convert that over and be done.3 flower boxes running 4 plants in each tied to each wall and the door with 2 600 hps in the middle bare bulb.each box running 4 to 5 weeks apart.
my veg cabinet is set up with 8 ppk sites under vero 10 led light bars i made.
i use the rough neck 3 gallon containers since they stack and have a low height.my cabinets only have a 6 foot inside height.4 foot by 4 foot.
2 flower cabinets are already running the system and the 8 sites in veg are loaded up already with the next 2 batches.i only have 1 patient and myself so i can only have 24 plants

 

[delta9nxs]

i had just enough screened but if i dont have a chance to get more before next round i was thinking of doing the tailpiece with screened and the tub with whats left.
i have just finished switching over almost my entire operation to ppk in the last month.as soon as my next 4 finish i will convert that over and be done.3 flower boxes running 4 plants in each tied to each wall and the door with 2 600 hps in the middle bare bulb.each box running 4 to 5 weeks apart.
my veg cabinet is set up with 8 ppk sites under vero 10 led light bars i made.
i use the rough neck 3 gallon containers since they stack and have a low height.my cabinets only have a 6 foot inside height.4 foot by 4 foot.
2 flower cabinets are already running the system and the 8 sites in veg are loaded up already with the next 2 batches.i only have 1 patient and myself so i can only have 24 plants

it will work but is not ideal as it will lower the air filled porosity and therefore the o2 available to the plant. = smaller plant.

 

[delta9nxs]

I am converting my RDWC setup to PPK. Pics below are my Veg space that will have 6 sites under 2 x 600watt MH. I will be removing the air pump, lines & stones. Also, I will plumb a manifold off of the existing recirc pump to handle watering.

6 sites in Veg and, next up, 8 sites in my flower room under 3x 1k HPS.

just thought i'd let you know that i'm somewhat concerned that the 3" tailpiece is a little too large in diameter for a 3.5 gal bucket. try it and see if you want but i think a 2" or even the old 1.5" sink tailpiece is more appropiately sized.

this is about the volume of the perched water table after it is moved down into the tailpiece in relation to the volume of the media in the grow container. when the pwt is moved down into the tailpiece it is greatly reduced in volume.

the original containers shown in this thread are larger in diameter than a 3.5 gal bucket and therefore will have a larger pwt so the difference is less by ratio in the 3.5 gal bucket.

i'm not saying don't do it but be aware that there could be problems with too much water transported upwards into the top container between pulses and you might have to run a greater than usual air gap.

 

[JamesFarmer]

Ive ran 3" n 2.5" in those buckets n both seem to work well. I feel that the 3" obviously have less chance of clogging, but the wicking action might work a bit better with the 2.5". going for that large of a plant, id go with the 3".

I hope the 3" plays well..........


Perhaps I should start out with a 5"-6" air gap?

 

[Miraculous Meds]

I hope the 3" plays well..........


Perhaps I should start out with a 5"-6" air gap?

I trust d9's opinions here. id start out with the larger air gap, so u don't over water right away. if they seem like they can drink more u can always reduce it, or increase ur watering length or frequency.

d9's right about the relation between the pwt n the 3" drains vs the 3.5 gal buckets. but I run plenty of them with success. just pulled down a 350g plant with 300w of flower light, with the 3" drain in the 3.5's, so id say u can dial it in.

 

[JamesFarmer]

I trust d9's opinions here. id start out with the larger air gap, so u don't over water right away. if they seem like they can drink more u can always reduce it, or increase ur watering length or frequency.

d9's right about the relation between the pwt n the 3" drains vs the 3.5 gal buckets. but I run plenty of them with success. just pulled down a 350g plant with 300w of flower light, with the 3" drain in the 3.5's, so id say u can dial it in.

Glad to hear that.

I try to make sure that I have a good workable plan before I start spending $$ and building systems.

Would you recommend that I start with a 6" gap?

I will be veg'ing 6 plants under 1200 watts of MH and flowering 8 smaller plants under 3k of HPS.

I am hoping for a 7-10 day perpetual cycle yielding 300-400 grams per plant (I hope..).

 

[funnymath]

just pulled down a 350g plant with 300w of flower light

I want more details of this, I was disappointed you didn't have a grow thread

 

[delta9nxs]

Glad to hear that.

I try to make sure that I have a good workable plan before I start spending $$ and building systems.

Would you recommend that I start with a 6" gap?

I will be veg'ing 6 plants under 1200 watts of MH and flowering 8 smaller plants under 3k of HPS.

I am hoping for a 7-10 day perpetual cycle yielding 300-400 grams per plant (I hope..).

i would start with 5" and watch the plants. if you are doing a full flood you might go to 4 hours instead of 3. with the wave pulse go to a quart per hour instead of every 45 minutes.

if you are using intense lighting it may not be a problem at all. you can't run more than about a 5.5" gap as you don't want to lose the hydraulic connection between the 2 containers.