Runoff, ideas?

[Hugh Midity]

I have to find a way to deal with my runoff. i'm doing coco dtw on a drip system, 16 sites, 5'x5' tent. right now i'm using saucers cause they're cheap and not much of a commitment lol. i'm trying to decide on the best way to go. i'd like to keep them as low as possible to the ground, a 4x4 tray won't allow me to get in there to reach what must be reached so that's no good. I've thought of rain gutters but that puts me up off of the ground too much and i'd like to be able to fit up to 2 gallon buckets in there if/when I need to. a friend was using the ebb & gro buckets with stellar results, that's about $600 US to deal with my runoff which isn't really cost effective but I may end up going that way just for the fact that it is an entire system that can be used for its intended purpose as well as what I need it for if I decide to go back to e&f. any ideas come to mind i'm missing or overlooking? i'm stumped. thanks

 

[PetFlora]

You did not mention tent height. Mine is only 5ft

Click on my thread to see how I do it

You can use a shorter, but longer rez, put a low pressure pump in it which will be used to empty the rez into a bucket which you can dump outdoors

 

[Hugh Midity]

7ft height. a rez underneath is no good because of height, but thanks.

 

[Hugh Midity]

very cool little setup with the halos & the magnets btw

 

[RonSmooth]

I think a flood tray is your best bet. You won't be able to get into a 5x5 tent with 16 flowering plants any way you do it. You shouldn't need to move much once you're set up. If you do,you'd just have to take some plants out.

If you pitch the tray slightly, you can suck up the runoff with a shop vac

 

[Hugh Midity]

you may be right ron, I didn't consider (idk why I didn't lol)using a tray that way, I was thinking up off the ground more with a drain. on the ground slightly tilted may be the ticket. thanks

 

[the gnome]

find a vinyl siding man and he can use his metal break to fabricate a gutter any depth or size and length.
its thin alum. so you have to put a 2x4 or 6 under it.
or use the roof pans they use on alum porch roofs.
2"tall X 12"w and you can get them up to 20ft lengths from suppliers.
lowes pans were around 12Ft I think.
cut it to length.
they run around $25

lowes carry them down here now .in the vinyl section.
or any aluminum room builder can get them for you
Ive been thinking about using these.
the alum is thicker than the coil for facia work but still needs support.

 

[Granger2]

This works great for 23 bucks.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-Head-Wet-Dry-Vac-BH0100/202017218#.UkM8DldNiZQ
Spend $6.95 for the extension, remove filter for liquids.
Good luck. -granger

 

[Hugh Midity]

ahh, the buckethead. I was already planning on scooping one up, my last one died not long ago. hell of a bargain and a good tip.

 

[Hugh Midity]

gnome, I used to install those roof panels, never occurred to me to use them as a bigger "gutter", just the type of ideas i'm looking for. thank you all

 

[the gnome]

ah right! a fellow florida aluminum builder!
Ive worked with em before too but prefer the structural insulated panels

actually I thought of using gutter initially too,
then thought of using coil and a metal break and fabricate a *bigger* gutter
but coil is pretty flimsy
finally hit on the pan idea.
I wanted to speed up watering and not worry too much about saucers overflowing.

haven't used it yet.... but its a viable option still on the table

 

[Hugh Midity]

right on bro, I've sure did my time with them, not hardly a house here without those or a pool awning or both lol. those pans are dirt cheap, easy to cut to size and sturdy enough to walk on if you're a little fella haha. great idea, could even work for a multi rez/table e&f setup for perpetual growers if you can find deep enough pans
oh yeah the insulated locking panels are the shizz compared to the old empty pans huh?

 

[ZZTops]

Couple of Ideas/Thoughts...

The Shop Vac's can harbor and spread mold, mildew, mites and the such if not kept VERY clean, so be careful in your garden...

Hook your 4x4 tray drain to a condensation pump, that will keep the tray low and you can pump into a 5 gal bucket to the side...

https://www.google.com/search?q=con...+pump&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=shop

 

[Granger2]

When I use my Bucket Head Vac, I dump it right away, leave the Head and bucket apart to dry. No problems. -granger