PVC set-ups?

[DeVenT]

Hey all....haven't been around much lately due to my pairanoia(sp?) since O.G. dissapeared....but I got a few issues with my set-up and I'm looking to do something a little different and I can't seem to find what I am looking for as here I am....again .

Currently I got a small recirculating DWC set up and I am constantly finding (too late of course) that my air stones are clogged. I usually wind up with 5' tall trees so trying to get to the buckets to constantly check them is a royal pain . I want to ultimatley get away from airstones

My current plan of attack, or thought process atleast is....a PVC setup with with 5' long 8" PVC set up. I dunno if this is considered ebb and flow, NTF or what. I'll use my current pump/timer and controller bucket. Spacing of plant sites I still haven't figured out yet but I don't think they shouls be over 3' max at the end of flower this time. I dunno what size net pots I should use either....Kinda need to get the pipe first so I can see what will fit best.

My question to everyone is......does anyone know of any setups like this? I dunno if they are common or not. Any threads or plans on the net? I know there used to be someone named Lothar on OG and I believe he had a setup similar to this.....I thought he was on here too but I can't seem to find him....dunno..

I was figuring on a 20' piece of 8" PVC pipe($95), cut it up in either 5 4' sections or 4 5' sections....(haven't decided what would be best yet for my space). Get 2 caps per tube....dunno if they should be glued or not...I would think that they would need to be so it doesn't leak, but, if they are glued, it might make it hella hard to clean...dunno Make a rack to hold the pipe, and then plumb it all in.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I still haven't bought anything expensive (parts wise) so everything can still be changed without too much worry. Its either something like this or an ebb and flow table set-up....which, I still need to do more research on first..... Thanx's in advance

 

[DeVenT]

Damn,....not one reply.....not one thought on this. I knew there was a reason I used to only use O.G.

 

[MTF-Sandman]

Lothar was running an aeroponics setup...basically there's tiny misters next to each planting spot so that the roots are sprayed with a fine mist...therefore providing highly oxygenated water to them.

If you top feed the plants, then it would be considered an NFT.

For the caps, look for some screw in plugs and the female couplers that accept them. It probably won't be a problem with just normal caps slid on since there's no pressure on them, but it won't hurt to be safe.

The main downfall of aero setups are that if you have a pump failure, the plants will die pretty quickly...which is why Lothar had 2 pumps and 2 resovoirs that were linked. I think each was set to run for 30 seconds every 10 minutes (someone correct me if I don't remember this part) with the pumps 5 minutes out of phase from each other. So if one pump ever failed, they were still getting sprayed every 10 minutes.

Check some construction sites in subdivisions for 8" pipe...alot of times there are large chunks of scrap when they do the plumbing that the builders don't want to mess with...just make sure to ask before taking and you'll have an unlimited supply for free.

Just found a link to Lothars FAQ contribution that might help ya...

http://www.drugs-forum.com/growfaq/1668.htm

 

[DeVenT]

kewl man, thanx's for the info I was just actually flipping thru all my old High Times, Heads, and C.Culture mags and came across the same setup that I'm looking to do. It was in Heads Vol.4 Issue 7..."The Hydro Issue". Difference is that they used 4" PVC and small 3.5 net pots. You would definatley have to tie them up once they start packin' it on. I think if I just scale it all up to the 8" pipe and 6" netpots I should be alot better off. They'd have to be alot more stable. Main thing that I didn't really like, is that they still use an airstone. I was really looking to get rid of them totally. They are my biggest problem. But I guess if I have the PVC far enough away from the rez, the falling water should create enough air in the water to provide them with waht they need without the stones...Can't remember if you needed 1 or 2 feet of drop...Dunno....
Thanx's though.....

 

[DeVenT]

Wow man, that thread as alot of detail in it....Thanx's again!!

 

[DeVenT]

I wonder how large a plant his 6" pipes would support? He's only using the 3.5 net pots too

 

[DeVenT]

Lothar was running an aeroponics setup...basically there's tiny misters next to each planting spot so that the roots are sprayed with a fine mist...therefore providing highly oxygenated water to them.

If you top feed the plants, then it would be considered an NFT.

I was actually planning on just running 1/2" PVC pipe as feeders to the bottom of the end caps and just having a steady flow thru the pipe. Just less parts...I just know that I'd wind up with sprayer problems if I got that route. Even if I did use a filter...just the way my dumb luck goes

Is Lothar not a member here? He always had some awesome wisdom to share

 

[sticky icky]

dude don't know what your looking for but checkout betterboys page. big time setup but pretty dam good. he has got diy going worth a look.
good luck

 

[Trev]

i remember lothar from og, helped me out alot. his setup was truely bangin. lots of bud from that.

 

[gregor_mendel]

You could put a set of ebb and flow fittings on each pipe and run it as an ebb and flow.

The the advantage no tiny lines or misters to maintain. I say maintain, because it all clogs. Not 1/2 inch lines, though. They never clog.

gregor mendel

 

[AppleFarmer]

My Setup

My Setup

My setup is similar to what you want to do. I 'm using a premade system from Nahydroponics.com cause i am to lazy to build my own system right now.
They use 6in pvc with each tube leading to a built in resivoir. Its a hybrid drip/nft setup and it seems to be kicking ass right now. I will have my forst harvest from it at the begining of sept.

The feeding mechanisim is completely built into the system and you control everything with these valves...you've got a feed valve a mixing valve to self mix the nutrient solution and filter at the same time. then you have a valve that allows you to use the pump to drain the old nute solution out of a hose. Its pretty sweet

peace
af

 

[RuralRoute420]

.

.

about that dwc problem, just run a mini T on the end of airline or no stone at all. there won't be difference. i once a new a philcuisine from OG, he was all about no airstones.......nice guy too.

 

[DeVenT]

about that dwc problem, just run a mini T on the end of airline or no stone at all. there won't be difference. i once a new a philcuisine from OG, he was all about no airstones.......nice guy too.

I've actually had them clog before too when using BC nutes....Dunno if it was cause I had a smaller pump then or what....I kept my PPM's between 800-1100 at the time that I used just the "T"s.
Yep, I remember philcuisine too

You could put a set of ebb and flow fittings on each pipe and run it as an ebb and flow.

The the advantage no tiny lines or misters to maintain. I say maintain, because it all clogs. Not 1/2 inch lines, though. They never clog.

gregor mendel

Thats what I was originally planning to do but I started reading up on the aero stuff and from what I read it's supposed to be the way to go...dunno
I do like the idea of not having to spend any more money than is really nessascary(sp?) for gains that might or might not be had.

AppleFarmer,
thanx's for stoppin in and puttin in your 2 cents. I actually seen your setup in high times I believe,well, not "yours" but that exact setup,LoL....Nice Yea, thats pretty similiar as to what I am trying to accomplish. I changed my mind from the 8" pipe to 6" pipe. I just dunno what size plant that will be able to support without alot of tying up to the ceiling. Most of the commercial units that I seen used 4" pipe....and a few "ghetto" set-ups that I seen used 4" as well. 6" has got to be alittle better....just need a bigger pump I guess for the added volume of nutrients.
What size are the netpots in your setup? I'll have to check back with ya later to see how well that thing works for ya....