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Heaths latest tree grow

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organiclover

Member
can you expand on how you use the "thru-hull" aerator

im a soil grower but very interested in heaths system and all the input from DHF
thanks for all the great info people
 
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Wrams

Member
I built my own URDWC system and I found it very easy to build. I would recommend to anyone to try there hand at building there very own URDWC setup.
 
ItsGrowTime

ItsGrowTime

gets some
Veteran
I think you guys are spot on about DO being the issue. When I set up my tubs, the air diffusers were placed, stupidly, closer to the drains than to the plants. When the water flows out the top drains it takes most of the newly created DO with it. I think Im going to have to reroute my airstones. This first grow has been a big learning experience.
 
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Wrams

Member
ItsGrowTime said:
I think you guys are spot on about DO being the issue. When I set up my tubs, the air diffusers were placed, stupidly, closer to the drains than to the plants. When the water flows out the top drains it takes most of the newly created DO with it. I think Im going to have to reroute my airstones. This first grow has been a big learning experience.
Click to expand...


Billy will tell you that my first Tree grow was a complete disaster but since then I've learnt alot more and with the likes of Billy helping me in my grow diary I now feel confident that this time I'll suceed with my URDWC.
 
D

DHF

Thanks HM......I missed that question , but yeah......babyshit simple and the biggest baddest unit they make is cheap as shit.......

Takes an a/c adapter to plug it in the wall for "gozillions" of microscopic bubbles suspended in solution that STAY in solution instead of the diffusor type bubble that floats to the top of flood level and goes away............

I used mine with 5 gal ebb and flow buckets that really didn`t require air to roots , but results spoke for themselves.......with no heat to rootzones or rez`s.....

Heath and I`ve said this for many yrs , but it`s Lazyman`s sig , so I`ll give respect where it`s due and say " Overkill`s underrated"......Go the extra mile........it`s worth it......guaranteed.....

Not sure they`d hold up for a constantly recirculating setup runnin 24/7 , but as cheap as they are it`d be worth it ta have replacements in case of em takin a shit in mid stroke....definitely a top shelf product that several lasted me for lotta yrs without dying once.......

Ya`ll handle it.....DHF........:ying:.......
 
MyGreenToe

MyGreenToe

Member
Those could make for an interesting back up system with a few 12v SLA batteries, for when the power goes out and you need to maintain some kind of DO, or face the slime.
 
MyGreenToe

MyGreenToe

Member
DHF said:
Heath and I`ve said this for many yrs , but it`s Lazyman`s sig , so I`ll give respect where it`s due and say " Overkill`s underrated"......Go the extra mile........it`s worth it......guaranteed.....
Click to expand...

This seems to be the hardest thing for a lot of people to grasp about this style of RDWC, but its one of the most crucial things to it's success. You have to maintain that philosophy throughout, and it will come back in droves come harvey.

I must admit that even after all my studying, I think the pump I got for my system is a bit smaller than it should be. It's easy to think in terms of the max GPH, without seeing the curve of how resistance /head height play into quickly cutting the GPH down to way less than the max. No problems yet but its the first thing I'm changing for next round(before spring and warmer temps arrive)!

I have to say this remains my favorite thread on IC. It just gets better all the time. Now if Heath would just post more pictures of his current setups....!

Keep it Green
MGT
 
gr33nie

gr33nie

Member
Link to oxygen infusers in action: hxxp://www.keepalive.net/movies/

UK guys can buy them here: hxxp://www.tek-group.co.uk/acatalog/Fishing_Equipment.html

I still cant believe that these run from a 12v supply....I'm thinking that these might be a good buy for adding o2 to the main res......
 
D

DHF

Hey greenie...That`s where I used mine FTW....I ran 325 gal "low boy" pest control tanks that mounted in the back of pickup trucks , and they were 5' wide , but only 28" tall.......

Had the bait aerators on their own timers set to come on 1/2 hr before feed cycles on my ebb and flow buckets , but had a small powerhead in the rez`s for nutrient solutions to be stirred constantly......

It`s the little things guys.....DHF.....
 
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cracka magik

Member
Could it be possible to use these bait aerators to completely aerate a system? I recently built a diy undercurrent style system and have been contemplating a way to remove my two Active Air commercial pumps which run hot as hell and I think attributed to a brown algae problem that sprung up by creating hot spots under the roots as you pointed out DHF, even with my 1/2 hp chiller.

I've been looking into idea of using a venturi valve but I can't find any real useful info on utilizing them in a rdwc setup. I'm also concerned that if I was do away with airstones and only be aerating the res that my buckets at the end of my system would not receive enough DO. The system is at about 65 gals at full capacity and is circulated with a 950 gph pump... so theoretically it recirculates about every 4 mins... but that seems to be a bit faster than it actually runs.

Any thoughts on whether or not it would be possible to ditch the air pumps with type of system?
 
S

smallgreendog

New member
Plugging into the collective mind for a little advice on pumps, pipes, and flow restrictions. The set up is Heath-style rdwc. 10 x 27 gallon toughboxes connected 1.5 inch pvc return pipes. The pump is a 3200 Danner pump (overkill is a good thing, right?) The pump has a 1.5 inch output, which is reduced down to 1/2 inch. From reducers is a run of about 30 feet of1/2 inch irrigation line,through T-connectors, to the buckets. When you turn on the pump the 3200 gph has turned a collective 40 gph at the buckets.

To solve this issue would you:
A - scrap all the 1/2 inch line and run 1.5 inch to the buckets.
B - reduce down to 3/4 and run that to the the buckets
C - run fat line from the pump and reduce down to thin line at the bucket
D - some obvious option that I am missing.

PS bonus points to anyone who can point me in the direction of anyone running Heath style setup with 9 or more lights on flip flop. Looking to see if it its possible to save on the electric bill.
 
Billy Liar

Billy Liar

Member
hi smallgreendog, If your pump has a 1.5" outlet then it will prob need that to supply its full potential..
here's how I feed my 2 plant system with 1.5"..
DSCN2622.JPG

less restriction the better..
peace
BL
 
4

41hope

Member
HI Heath I can't find a place that carries the Wickes 4 gallon water cistern C4? Also what kind of resevoir are you using? I like to build an exact replica of this system, figure doing it your way and using your parts will save tons of headaches. Also a parts lists would be helpfull.
Truly appreciate your help!
Also will you come to the states? I like to set up a commercial grow once things legalize here
 
MyGreenToe

MyGreenToe

Member
If you aren't in the UK then just give up right now on exactly duplicating Heath's setup. I haven't been able to find those Wickes containers or the Aquafarms outside the UK at all. (you can order them from Wickes but it's a UK store so shipping anywhere else will be $$$$)They also seem to be the only ones using the o-ring based PVC fittings Heath uses. You'll save yourself a lot of hassle and hunting by finding things locally that will work as well. The MPB folks are using the rectangular lidded bins with some success. UC uses the 13 gallon rectangular buckets with a large netpot mounted inthe lid. Those buckets are easy to find online. Others are using 20 gallon Brute trashcans with 5 gallon buckets as the upper pot(thats what I plan to use for my tree setup). There are a lot of ways to get it done, so don't get yourself caught up trying to find parts that aren't available outside the UK.

Focus on duplicating the principles involved more than the exact setup. I think you will find it all comes together easier that way.
 
Aerohead

Aerohead

space gardener
Veteran
Special thanks to Heath for taking the time to share this info. Thanks to everyone else that contributed along the way...

This is the kind of thing that makes ICMAG a priceless asset to us all. Someday I will give these trees a try because of this... (as soon as I have the room) Even if I have to kick out my roomate J/K (or am I) lol... wheels are turnin.


Many thanks..
 
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