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GroTunnel v.2010

K

k33ftr33z

Member
Originally featured in CW/OG some years back.

Several key upgrades.

5'x8'

2x600 + 1x400

yield approx. 1600g=1gpw

co2 via rv furnace and 24' cooling exhaust pipe. timed to burn for 1 minute/20 minutes

Now using six buckets per unit, older units employed shallow field 80-100 plant SOG system.

Bucket system is far less work by the numbers with identical result.

3.5gl Buckets have one 1" bulkhead in the bottom and a 7' riser

NO MEDIA IN ANY STAGE. a small cup of clay rock for the 2" netpot is all. This saves huge costs, acquisition and disposal issues. If it's not needed, why use it.

all h2o culture from clone to finish vigorously aerated. continuous recirculation

GH nutes, ph=hi 5
 
K

k33ftr33z

Member
exterior view

exterior view

picture.php

 
Last edited:
K

k33ftr33z

Member
The tunnel was developed to accomplish several things.

1) Enhance the given amount of light by creating one large reflector, one big enough for the whole garden to be literally growing into the reflector.

2) Reduce the environmentally controllable airspace to just the essential space surrounding the grow zone. This allows co2 enrichment to be accomplished with a very minimal (1 minute) burn time on the furnace. Less heat.

3) The table height allows easy access.

4) The system had to be easy to restock on cycle.

5) Grow media was designed out in favor of the cheapest media available...water
 
K

k33ftr33z

Member
Sorry, don't know what's the issue with the images, I can see them. Did you click on them to get the Album view?

I resized them to spec then IC resized them upon posting.

Don't have much time for this. I'll try again.
 
K

k33ftr33z

Member
Having put together several "rooms" in the past, the issues of attaching/mounting vents, cables, reflectives, drainage height and other key parameters eventually necessitated the development of a framework for all the attendant equipment. This framework became a tunnel as all the elements were digested down to it's most functional position and efficient deployment. Hanging random reflectors revealed a need for one large reflector instead of all these toys. Add together that big reflector to a table that allows for positive drainage and you get a "Tunnel"

An infestation of gnats a few years ago when in a soil phase pushed the design back to water culture which handily eliminated all habitat for gnats. They breed on the leaves and their eggs fall to the ground to become larvae, then become gnat to breed again. In this design their eggs fall to bare plastic where they hatch and die without any soil to burrow. Problem solved. Haven't seen gnats since.
 
K

k33ftr33z

Member
Haven't carried a single sack of soil since either. Nice that water as media is delivered by pipe and hose to wherever you need it. I am surprised at the persistence of various media when something like water performs as well or better than any other option.
 
K

k33ftr33z

Member
Aeration

Aeration

Aeration is the key element when using just water. Each bucket has 2 airstones and 2 water supply lines for redundant reliability and added volume.
 
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