runoff catching for individual pots

[theother]

I am learning to love coco, had a bit of a rough start but thanks to many helpful IC members life is looking up. I have a heard time imagining ditching coco now that it look like its working. However one thing that has consistently bugged me though is using 4x4 trays.

I would love to have some sort of individual runoff solution for each plant. I would be able to spread them out to my hearts content and still be able to get in there to work on everything.

I saw that dabsondabs created something with 5 gallon buckets bullheaded to a pvc drain line. Looked pretty brilliant to me. Has anyone tried this? Any advice on accomplishing an individual runoff solution would be amazing.

 

[RedBeardy5]

I have tried many ways to catch run off. The best thing I did was put those wire shelves around the room with a bucket under neath. I had a 5x5 room and used those brackets that are adjustable from Home Depot.

 

[RedBeardy5]

http://t.homedepot.com/p/ShelfTrack-84-in-Standard-2812/100194576/
http://t.homedepot.com/p/ClosetMaid-ShelfTrack-16-in-D-Bracket-52854/100047306/ http://t.homedepot.com/p/ClosetMaid-SuperSlide-72-in-x-12-in-Ventilated-Wire-Shelf-4717/100040570/

 

[theother]

http://t.homedepot.com/p/ShelfTrack-84-in-Standard-2812/100194576/
http://t.homedepot.com/p/ClosetMaid-ShelfTrack-16-in-D-Bracket-52854/100047306/ http://t.homedepot.com/p/ClosetMaid-SuperSlide-72-in-x-12-in-Ventilated-Wire-Shelf-4717/100040570/

Not quite sure how these would be set up? Maybe im missing something though.

 

[stoned40yrs]

I'll be plumbing my 14" trays that each pot sits in next week. The trays have 1/2" blocks siliconed to them to keep them off the floor and then each tray has a grommet and 3/8 tube running to T's and a main hose than goes into the floor drains. I'll be running blumats so I for sure want any runaway blumat to flood down the drain and not on the floor.

 

[theother]

I'll be plumbing my 14" trays that each pot sits in next week. The trays have 1/2" blocks siliconed to them to keep them off the floor and then each tray has a grommet and 3/8 tube running to T's and a main hose than goes into the floor drains. I'll be running blumats so I for sure want any runaway blumat to flood down the drain and not on the floor.

Are they 14" wide? How long are they. Are they like the dutch trays people put rockwool in?

 

[stoned40yrs]

Round 14" diameter with 2" high outward sloped walls. The kind they sell in hydro stores. I'll be able to move them and the plant around at the same time. Right now because I don't have the blumats and drain hoses hooked up, I siliconed 1/2" blocks to the bottom of the pots. This way the pots drain into the tray and don't sit in their runoff, I don't have to vacuum it up everytime I feed.

 

[stoned40yrs]

That had these trays in 10" 12" and 14". I only bought the 14"s because I'm using 3 gal pots. They were $2 each.

 

[ozzieAI]

i have to ask...what is the purpose of monitoring run off?

after 28 years of growing, using a wide range of techniques and variables, i have never checked my run off. i can't for the life of me understand what the run off will tell you that the plant wont?

 

[stoned40yrs]

i have to ask...what is the purpose of monitoring run off?

after 28 years of growing, using a wide range of techniques and variables, i have never checked my run off. i can't for the life of me understand what the run off will tell you that the plant wont?

We are talking about ways to get rid of the runoff, no monitoring. We just want it gone quick and easy

 

[ozzieAI]

oops sorry my bad...i have 3 gal pots in 5 gal buckets...now i have these plumbed together so that the runoff...err runs off...but this locks buckets in place...

so you can either not drill holes in the catch buckets and empty by removing smaller plant pot or drill a hole with an outlet, connect 90 degree piece and attach a hose to the outlet....turn 90 degrees with the hose up and now water runs out...want to dump twist around and drop the height of the hose....

 

[TrychomeMadness]

I only run 4 plants at a time so i biult a wood frame that sits about 4" off the ground for the pots to sit on so i can just slide the runoff trays in and out from underneath and just dump in a 5g bucket.

 

[stoned40yrs]

oops sorry my bad...i have 3 gal pots in 5 gal buckets...now i have these plumbed together so that the runoff...err runs off...but this locks buckets in place...

so you can either not drill holes in the catch buckets and empty by removing smaller plant pot or drill a hole with an outlet, connect 90 degree piece and attach a hose to the outlet....turn 90 degrees with the hose up and now water runs out...want to dump twist around and drop the height of the hose....

Good point. Instead of hooking my drain hoses together I'll run a separate hose to the drain from each tray so I can move the plants around however I like during growth. Easy to add a connector and extend length. No problem for me as my plant count is limited to 6 in flower and 6 in veg.

 

[Asslover]

I use the ebb/flo 2-1/2 gal buckets, a bucket in a bucket. Each one is plumb into the "dump" bucket. The dump bucket has a float switch set up and a pump. They get watered from the top via micro tubing and the run off flows into the dump bucket by way of 1/2 tubing. When the level reaches the float switch a pump kicks on and sucks the waste out and dumps it outside by way of a hose through the wall. It's a simple set up that allows me to move the buckets around at will...

 

[theother]

I use the ebb/flo 2-1/2 gal buckets, a bucket in a bucket. Each one is plumb into the "dump" bucket. The dump bucket has a float switch set up and a pump. They get watered from the top via micro tubing and the run off flows into the dump bucket by way of 1/2 tubing. When the level reaches the float switch a pump kicks on and sucks the waste out and dumps it outside by way of a hose through the wall. It's a simple set up that allows me to move the buckets around at will...

That really is a sweet setup man. I considered the ebb and grows back when I was doing flood and drain. Wish I would have made the switch just so i had them know for coco. I will have to look around I remember seeing some kind of cheaper knock offs. I believe the cheapest I can get the ebb and grows is like 390. I might start fucking around with 3's and 5's or something like that. The 4x4 is alright for now but the ability to spread would be sick.

 

[Asslover]

No no, you don't need the ebb/flo system. Just the buckets. Most shops have the "6 bucket add on set" for about $60. The dump bucket is just another ebb/flo bucket. Each bucket is plumbed to the one dump bucket. Theirs a float switch in the dump bucket, kicks on when the water is high, kicks off when the water gets low enough.
Here's a shot of a spare dump bucket, gives you a better idea and shows just how simple it really is...
Note the 2 float switches. The lower one turns the drain pump on/off. (The pump sits in the bottom of the dump bucket, not shown though) The upper float switch is a back up of sorts; it's wired to the feed pump in my rez. Should the drain pump not kick on or the buckets start filling with water for whatever reason, that switch will shut off the feed pump. Floods are no fun!