[BACKCOUNTRY]

wisco61- I'm not sure how big you dig your holes, but this system should fit right inside the normal sized holes I see most members dig here. The exception would be the hole for the rez, which could just be a extension of the main hole, rather than a separate side hole as I depicted.

Not too much more digging in my opinion, definitely no more digging than you would do for Silverbacks collar. I think it would be totally worth it, especially considering the benefits.

[wisco61]

ya, i'm thinking to literally of your scale. Res being a 5 gal bucket at 2 ft tall and a foot across makes it look like a 4'x4' hole. I'll dig a big hole, but I don't want to hop down in one with a shovel and start going at it.

I realize now it would not be nearly that bad.

[BACKCOUNTRY]

Yeah, I'm more trying to translate a new idea, like Silverbacks Guerrilla collar, this system could take on many different configurations and scales.

I changed the drawing to show the bucket as a part of the main hole, and also showed how water and Oxygen will infiltrate the soil from the device.

[Cascadia]

LOL! I got called away on a job in the Sierras south of Yosemite(I don't work that far south much), just got back in late last night, I've got some final touches to do on the 5 gallon planter and I'll get them up as soon as they are done.

[Cascadia]

Well, I got my planter all finished, looks good. But I'm having trouble getting a 5 gallon bucket airtight, specifically the outflow that connects the airtight 5 gallon bucket to the planter. I got everything hooked up, and the whole refill system worked, but as I was admiring it I could hear that low whine that indicated a air leak where the outflow connects to the bucket. Damn!!

I had simply drilled a hole in the bucket and put a piece of pipe through until it touched the the back of the bucket(so that I could push in on the pipe while connecting the hose going to the planter to it, I used some heavy duty industrial glue/sealant that has worked great for similar things in the past, but it didn't seem to bond well with the plastic the bucket is made from. DAMN!!

Like my hero Survivorman, I was trying to make this with things I find laying about my place, from simple parts that anyone could find, but now I can see its going to take more specialized parts to get the seal I need on that bucket. Maybe I'll need to head for the Hardware store tomorrow and see what they got.

Anyways, still working on it, I think my next project is a larger workshop, trying to get stuff done under a carport is ridiculous.

[BACKCOUNTRY]

I hear ya on the air-tight rez, I think with connections like this it is best to use fittings that seal themselves, glues and sealants just don't have the strength to hold that seal, especially when you are trying for a reliable air-tight seal.

See if you can find something called a "Bulkhead fitting", or a "Thru-hull" fitting, creating tight seals through the walls of containers is exactly what they are for. They are not always easy to find on the shelf however, it is possible to create one from plumbing parts however, but ready made ones are absolutely awesome.

Do a search online for Hydroponic Bulkhead adapter(or thru-hull addapter), the indoor boys use them for building ebb and flow, DWC, and other Hydroponic systems.

I have a few heavy-duty Bulkhead adapters on hand, never used, left over from years back when I was going to use them for building drip irrigation reservoirs.
While sitting and watching LOTR The two towers(for the 200th time) last night, I came up with what I think will be my final plan for this years GSWD(and air-tight rez) model. Those leftover Bulkhead adapters are going to be just the ticket.

Sorry about clogging your thread with GSWD talk.....

[BACKCOUNTRY]

I've got all my gear ready to do a build on my GSWD, and in the process make a air-tight reservoir. While rushing around I found this-





Back when I was younger I was very much into homebrewing beer, this bucket was my first fermenter, I long since switched to all glass fermenters, and when I did I used this bucket as a aerated tea brewer(my plants in the 2005 season were mostly fed with Guano teas from this bucket). After that season I switched back to Miracle grow mostly for convenience, and this bucket went into the shed, where it has been holding a gallon of old tea for the past 3 years.

The thing I realized is that the spigot provides a great seal through the wall of the fermenter, and the spigot itself is designed to slip on vinyl tubing. The spigots can be found online to install on your own buckets for around $3.00, or a grower wanting a ready made airtight rez could buy one of these fermenters, and a Latex cork to plug the hole normally used for a airlock, using that hole instead for refilling the rez. The lids come with high quality rubber seals, and the plastic is usually semi-see through, so you can check the water levels easily with out breaking the airtight seal. More expensive versions can also be had made from clear plastic carboys.

Anyways, just another option for a air-tight rez. I'm gonna go get that build done.......

Originally Posted by Cascadia

cway, were those indoors or out? Got any pics?

hamstring, survivorman is the man!

backcountry, I hope these do well for you, I have a feeling these will do the trick!

Sup homie...

It was a indoor grow with a 1k lights.. I have even used my own soiless mixes and had even better results.. Here are some pics of my Trainwreck in Earthboxes..

[BACKCOUNTRY]

Cway- Sweet plants! How long were they in there? Yields??

Cascadia- I didn't get the final plumbing done on my air-tight bucket rez cuz when I opened my PVC cement it was all jelled, went bad. I'll get it done soon as I can get to town and buy a new can. The build looks good though, just need to get some parts glued and I'm ready to put up a demo.

[Gantz]

i can't believe you discussed all of this and i missed it....damn it....now i have to read all of it...who knows what ideas i might be stumbling upon...


in any case if anyone wants a video how to...check my signature