[Dreamscape]

Whats up everyone, (edit -----> :::better diagram in additional posts:::

I've been working on the idea of a Vertical ,coliseum style, bio bucket design...

I've come to a couple small issues and I was wondering if some of you intelligent folks out there might take a look and maybe shoot me your educated opinion...

The biggest issue i've run into so far has to do with where to place the feed and drain hoses on a tilted bucket and here's why...

Seeing as with Big Tokes Bio Buckets the bottom portion of the lava rocks in the net pot is always submerged once you tilt the bucket you'll expose a portion of those lava rocks. So I thought what if I placed the feed hose so that it sprays onto that portion of the lava rocks constantly in an effort to keep that area soaked.

ASSUMING that would support the Beneficial Bacteria's growth - then comes the issue of the drain hose...

With Big Tokes beautiful design the feed hose is pointed down towards the bottom of the bucket when filling it up , thus moving all the water at the bottom of the bucket around so its not stagnant and is cycled correctly.

Then there's also the issue of roots clogging the drain hose ...

::: EDIT ::: Check Next Post for Diagram and More info :::

[Dreamscape]

bump

[BigToke]

………..yea the problem I see with this is; tilted in that position the roots would quickly clog the drain pip or seriously slow it down enough to were it would case the water level to rise to high and come out the top……bad idea.

Ok, and another thing is the net-pot should be sitting in the water and not above it and there is no way in this diagram that this could happen without it running over the top!!.............also tilted sideways like this leaves a huge gap almost half of the bucket is empty…….bad idea.

Another thing is that the sprayer is not going to give you the circulation that is needed in the bucket to insure that there is no dead-spots in the buckets, otherwise root rot will set in……bad idea.

Sorry bro, but without going into too much detail about this design I can already see it not worth it…….

[Dreamscape]

Thanks Toke -

In relation to the picture , the bucket is at about a 45 degree angle which is much much more than i planned on tilting the buckets. Therefore the water level wouldn't be nearly as low as it is in the pic.

I was planning on tilting the bucket so that the dead center was tilted at about 70 degree's so that the water level would reside just before opening on the lid ... So that instead of only the bottom portion of the Net Pot being totally submerged until the top section , you'd have a little more than half the bottom submerged and the lower corner fully submerged ... And considering you said that the bacteria spreads from rock to rock i'm thinking the only issue from there is the clogging issue which can be taken care of if the feeding tube is on the lowered portion and the drain is on the opposite end at the tip of the water level. So basically just a minor adjustment in placement of feed line and drain line compared to your original...


WARNING: Horrible Drawing Below:


Its not nearly as drastic as it appears in my other picture ...

Any new thoughts ?

~Dream

[Dreamscape]

bump : Post edited to include picture and explaination

[BigToke]

………………I still do not believe this is a good idea; unless you plan on using sealable lids on your buckets the water will drip out around the lids and switching the drain with the feed is not going to help the matter at all……………why not just build it the way I have laid it out?

[Dreamscape]

Vertical lighting my brotha - The effeciency of Vertical Lighting is the ONLY reason I want to modify your amazing system...

If I can somehow gain more effeciency out of anything I HAVE to do it - call it an obsession , call it O.C.D. haha , call it what you will. Its just the way I am with EVERYthing.

So initially I came across your original thread and nearly CRAPPED MY PANTS at how awesome it was ... A few days later I came across a thread talking about vertical lighting and how you can use something like over 50% less light and get the same results by going vertical since lighting isn't lost on the reflector and thats all it took for me to be Instantly hooked... I'm a FREAK for effeciency haha...

And Toke I just want you to know - in no way do I mean any disrespect to you or your great setup in the least bit - like i said the ONLY reason I want to modify it is to utilize vertical lighting and thus cut down on the cost of additional lights, reflectors, room heat and money. Isn't that Worth Working for ??

I believe it can work - call me a fool but i'm gonna try it regardless and IF i fail i'll be the first to say "Toke brotha, i'm a fool , I apologize" ...

The thing thats still giving me faith is when you explained how the BB will colonize one rock and spread over the others which the colonize rock is touching and so on...

essentially almost the same amount of lava rock will be submerged in the water , its just that a different portion of the net pot is submerged - so they would still colonize , right ?? What about even the possibility of using a slightly larger net pot ??

The only other issue's is sealing the lids issue , which i'm sure could be taken care of and then lastly the possibility of back pressure on the feed hose ...

For the "sealable lids" - do you think i'd have to hot glue them or could I buy some type of temporary sealant or even different lids ??

~Dream

PS. If you want me to STFU and stop posting in this forum as well I have no problem with that.

[aeric]

Dumb question maybe: Why do you think they have to be at an angle? You can utilize vertical lighting with single buckets around a central light, like in a Krusty style. Or do a stair level thing with the buckets...then gravity naturally does some of the work for you. If you already answered this sorry i missed it.

[BigToke]

…………….efficiency, man your really pulling on my hart strings know ~ ok dude I think I understand were ya coming from but still the slightest little mistake and man O man your going to have a mass to clean up!!

To be honest with yea I don’t know were to tell yea to start because I would not attempt it, but if it’s vertical lighting wanting imo it’s not worth it ~ your going to have an X amount of Bio-Buckets that are going to be exchanging it’s water/nutrients 10 to 18 times an hour!! One little mishap and OH BOY!!

I will help all I can but I’m just thanking about you my friend that’s all and wouldn’t want you to waste a good crop that you spent good money on for seeds and nutrients for.

essentially almost the same amount of lava rock will be submerged in the water , its just that a different portion of the net pot is submerged - so they would still colonize , right ??

well I’ll be dame, a grower that has actually done some reading Halahlah!! YES, that is right but as a rural of thumb at lest one-quarter of the net-pot needs to be under the water and that should do it, if your using the red lava rock and please don’t ask me way, ok.

The only other issue's is sealing the lids issue , which I’m sure could be taken care of and then lastly the possibility of back pressure on the feed hose ...

well I suppose I’m going to entertain this crazy notion all because you really did do some reading….lol ~ ok, if it were me I would stick with the first design and I would buy food grad lids they are sealable as they have to be for food, they have a soft rubber O-Ring that goes all the way around in the upper lid you have to push very hard to even get the lid to seal but when you do it’s almost impossible to get it off with your bare hands, I bought a special tool just for talking off the lids just incase I wanted to seal them but I never do and another thing is you will not be able to rotate your lids when there sealed thus not allowing your to rotate your plants ether ~ and then I would change the 1” ¼ drain to a 1” ½ drain hose and I would NOT put the supply line on the lower end of the bucket because you are right there would be so much back pressure from that it would drain most of the system and would flood everything in the grow/room if a power outage were to happen and they do quit often were I’m at.

[Dreamscape]

Originally Posted by aeric

Dumb question maybe: Why do you think they have to be at an angle? You can utilize vertical lighting with single buckets around a central light, like in a Krusty style. Or do a stair level thing with the buckets...then gravity naturally does some of the work for you. If you already answered this sorry i missed it.

Well the main reason for the tilt was simply so that the light had a much better chance of reaching the back of the plant, thus giving it a more well rounded grow. There is always the option of doing as toke said and just rotating the lids however then one side gets one day of light and the next day the other side gets a day of direct light...

I have been toying with the idea of setting up lights in a X pattern (one in the middle and four lights outside , one in each corner) but that would also then be using more light than I initially wanted. And I didn't think of the step idea at all so thats something to consider - non the less thanks for the input , cool spin on the name eric as well.

BigToke: Yeah I may be a bit but what do you think about somehow putting only the NETPOT at a slight angle thus avoiding the possibility of a spill due to the lids ?? Maybe lower the water level slightly so that there's still a good portion of the lava rock exposed to the Air so the BB don't drown ??

And also the tilting mixed with the vertical light would expose more of the back side of the plant to the light thus you wouldn't have to rotate the buckets as much and maybe not even at all ... Effeciency - EFFECIENCY !! HAHA !! You rock man - thanks a million toke.

~Dream