My vert RDWC design

[FLoJo]

So my friend has been intrigued by the new under current system, but I have been putting my nose to the grindstone with some new ideas which I wanted to put forth..

So would you go with a traditional undercurrent 12XL or would you do my design?

This is a vertical concept where the bulbs will be hanging bare between the plants where you see them..

Each site will be a 10 gallon Brute trashcan with 3 inch pvc running through them and utilizing uniseals just like the UC.. there will be 2 Dayton 100 pumps and a 40 for the main aeration tank. All will have 8 inch round airstones in the bottom.

The blue box in the picture is a 1000gph pump where all the water will drain into, and then pumped into the aeration bucket. a chiller will also be hooked up there..

the bulbs are 600w digis, there is also a CO2 system and monitor..

air pumps an chiller will be outside the room but are shown in drawing for comparing..

any ideas, comments or bashing is encouraged LOL

let me know what you guys think

 

[daemos]

Looks good to me but im sure the X perts will chime in and give thier views.

 

[Vegan]

its the square containers and the roots viewable lid that makes the uc totally diffrent//idk if i trust those uniseals on ROUND buckets
2 or 3 inch tube aint gonna matter much..
def go with bare bulbs,,vert

 

[daemos]

^^^ Why wouldnt you trust thos Uniseals?

 

[RMCG]

With the 3 rows, I am not sure you are going to get the 'violent' recirculation that you are expecting.

Notice on the UC and the homemade system below the pump is 'pulling' the water through the buckets, whereas yours will pretty much rely on gravity to equalize the water levels.

 

[daemos]

RMCG Nice did you build that?

Looks tight!

 

[brookstown]

Y aren't you running the 1000w? Heat issues? or electrical bills.

 

[RMCG]

RMCG Nice did you build that?

Looks tight!

Nope. Guy (ehole) on another site just finished it up. Paying attention closely though as I am in the same boat. Build it or buy it...

I'm in the budgeting phase of a build and wanted some customizations done to the UC. While they are amenable to the changes, the lead time is a bit out and could probably build it during that time frame.

 

[FLoJo]

Vegan- Good point on the uniseals and round buckets... some testing will be in order. as long as the curve is not too sharp i dont think there will be a problem.

im not too worried about being able to lift a lid to see the roots.. with the right concentrations and ph the roots will be fine.. not to mention inspecting wont be much of a hassle even without the peek a boo door.

RMCG- I think you are misunderstanding the schematic.. there are 12 sites for plants, in the middle row, the bucket with the blue box in it will be where the 1000gph pump is located.. it will not be connected by PVC to the aeration bucket to the right.. it will be pumping the water up an into the aeration bucket with a waterfall effect. this will cause water to be drawn through the PVC from all the other buckets an back through the pump..
This is the same design as the UC the only difference is that instead of just having a return tube down the milddle, there are added plant sites. The way it is configured each bucket will have the water circulated about 9 times per hour.

brookstown- 600s produce far less heat and are the most efficient lamps available. my friend has done SOG style and Vert growing where penetration is not as important, thus 1ks are not needed.

Loving the feedback, keep it comin

 

[RMCG]

.

RMCG- I think you are misunderstanding the schematic.. there are 12 sites for plants, in the middle row, the bucket with the blue box in it will be where the 1000gph pump is located.. it will not be connected by PVC to the aeration bucket to the right.. it will be pumping the water up an into the aeration bucket with a waterfall effect. this will cause water to be drawn through the PVC from all the other buckets an back through the pump..
This is the same design as the UC the only difference is that instead of just having a return tube down the milddle, there are added plant sites. The way it is configured each bucket will have the water circulated about 9 times per hour.


Loving the feedback, keep it comin

Ok, gotcha. I would up the pump to 1800+gph. Roots will impede the flow.

 

[daemos]

Nope. Guy (ehole) on another site just finished it up. Paying attention closely though as I am in the same boat. Build it or buy it...

I'm in the budgeting phase of a build and wanted some customizations done to the UC. While they are amenable to the changes, the lead time is a bit out and could probably build it during that time frame.

Would love to hear your ideas/plans on your current bulid if possible in the near future?

 

[FLoJo]

Ok, gotcha. I would up the pump to 1800+gph. Roots will impede the flow.

yea i feel that... i was trying to come up with a way to keep the roots from going all the way to the bottom... like a fine mesh screen or something that would allow the air to penetrate from the bottom, but keep the roots out of the pipes and away from the air stones

 

[RMCG]

yea i feel that... i was trying to come up with a way to keep the roots from going all the way to the bottom... like a fine mesh screen or something that would allow the air to penetrate from the bottom, but keep the roots out of the pipes and away from the air stones

People have tried with landscaping mesh, etc. just ends up getting in the way or impeding.

One thing that has come out of the DIY discussions of this system (specifically with square/rectangular buckets) is putting the inlets/outlets on the long ends, not the short 'sides' as it will allow more root growth before the clogging potential is reached.

I believe with 3" pipes you may be good.

Any other DIY builder used 2 inlets/outlets per due to some flooding, but he is also using smaller piping.

 

[RMCG]

Would love to hear your ideas/plans on your current bulid if possible in the near future?

I will definitely be sharing as soon as things are a bit more finalized. ETA 1st of the year.

 

[FLoJo]

sounds good... anyone else have any critiques or ideas? i love to hear the pitfalls of the UC from a current UC user!

 

[daemos]

Nope. Guy (ehole) on another site just finished it up. Paying attention closely though as I am in the same boat. Build it or buy it...

I'm in the budgeting phase of a build and wanted some customizations done to the UC. While they are amenable to the changes, the lead time is a bit out and could probably build it during that time frame.

Is there a way you coul post the specifics/design of this guy Eholes Home made UC system here at IC or if you could give me a link if thats allowed? I highly doubt it will be though.

Im pretty interested in these UC systems but i live in Australia you see and buying one of these Under Currents would seem impossible so going home made would be the go.

Very interesting to see whats systems and designs the clever do it your selfers have out there.

 

[Cranberry]

I have to say your build seams like it would work. how do you get inside of your middle area to do work. Trimming up, thinning.

The UC is well thought out and simple. The principles can be duplicated with a bucket system using the materials you could acquire from Oz.

google UC and you might find a few other sites with builds..

 

[RMCG]

Is there a way you coul post the specifics/design of this guy Eholes Home made UC system here at IC or if you could give me a link if thats allowed? I highly doubt it will be though.

Im pretty interested in these UC systems but i live in Australia you see and buying one of these Under Currents would seem impossible so going home made would be the go.

Very interesting to see whats systems and designs the clever do it your selfers have out there.

Google ehole Below Current

Very straight forward build for a DIY'er.

 

[FLoJo]

with the lights being vertical there would be a foot or so on either side to get in and trim stuff up.. after week 4 they would be little maint. required as far as trimming goes till the chop so im not too worried about that. im more concerned about the functionality and which one would yield more...

i think my design with greater air flow, root space, circulation and better light covereage would end up with a better outcome assuming the plants were vegged large enough to cover the space

 

[daemos]

Cranberry - Thanks, yeah your right since i have seen Mash Ups thread on the UC here at IC ive become very interested in a do it yourself bulid of the same thing and yeah all the stuff i require is right in my own back yard very simple to get.

RMCG - Thanks for the tip and yes exactly what i was after Big Ups to you my man!