How far could I stretch a wick?

[Psyco G]

I have a lake near my gorilla grow and was wondering if I could run some sort of wick from the lake, about 40 meters up a hill. Is this even possible? I was going to stand my soil in bags on top of the wick so the roots could grow out of the holes in the bottom of the bag onto the wick, or maybe even a wet Matt. But I don't quite know if it is even possible? What type of fabric would be best?

Maybe every few meters I could have a sunk bucket in the ground full of water to act as a Rez to the next bucket, then the wick only has to go every few meters.

 

[gunnaknow]

It might be possible, if you you include stations every few meters. Nylon rope works well as a wick, and it doesn't rot. If you fit each bucket with a lid, with a small hole for the rope, and you then thread each section of rope through hosing, then none of the water will be lost through evaporation.

 

[Snook]

I have a lake near my gorilla grow and was wondering if I could run some sort of wick from the lake, about 40 meters up a hill. Is this even possible? I was going to stand my soil in bags on top of the wick so the roots could grow out of the holes in the bottom of the bag onto the wick, or maybe even a wet Matt. But I don't quite know if it is even possible? What type of fabric would be best?

Maybe every few meters I could have a sunk bucket in the ground full of water to act as a Rez to the next bucket, then the wick only has to go every few meters.

I do not think so.. wicking, uphill? 40 meters.

gunnaknow.. you mean like a pipe? uphill?

EDIT: making water run uphill? it would be hard with a pump.

 

[ghostmade]

No.why dont you burry tubeing and build a reservoir to feed drip lines to your plans. You can also use a manual pump.like a diy pvc pump.google that beast. (Or youtube).
Good luck

 

[gunnaknow]

gunnaknow.. you mean like a pipe? uphill?

EDIT: making water run uphill? it would be hard with a pump.

Yes, water can travel upwards through capillary action. However, I have my doubts that you could get it to travel 40 meters up through capillary action alone.

 

[Snook]

Yes, water can travel upwards through capillary action. However, I have my doubts that you could get it to travel 40 meters up through capillary action alone.

i stand corrected you are right but I thought that wicking is in fact capillary action.. so...

 

[gunnaknow]

Yes, wicking works through capillary action. It's one of the ways in which trees transport water up to their leaves.

 

[Psyco G]

It might be possible, if you you include stations every few meters. Nylon rope works well as a wick, and it doesn't rot. If you fit each bucket with a lid, with a small hole for the rope, and you then thread each section of rope through hosing, then none of the water will be lost through evaporation.

This is exactly what I was thinking, sunken buckets with lids on. Then it only has to travel a short distance. It is just an idea at the moment so please don't ridicule me.

 

[Snook]

aint happnin with capillary action.. 40 meters... UP HILL!
will not fill one bucket/tubs up hill, let alone a series of them.. I was tryin to be nice with the 'stand corrected' comment.. I grow PPKs, small ones and can not get 'water' to rise any more than 6"... maybe a foot if I change the transporting media and even then, it will only keep the media wet to a certain level.. not even to the top of a 10 inch high bucket of media..

 

[The English Cut]

Is 40 metres the height or the distance? A ram pump could work if you have a stream nearby. Apparently you can build your own quite cheaply. Just an idea. Google it.

 

[stoned-trout]

get a pump....electric ones are rather quiet compared to gas..but most electric shouldn't run more than 30 minutes approxametly..yeehaw..last setup I had to pump half way to where I had a reservoir made with pond liner and underlayer and then pump from reservoir to plant sites...worked great..i got my pumps from harbor freight and got the warranty..good thing as one died...