Blah's First Ppk

[SuperWeed]

Ya, issues....first hard water and starting to clog .75" return line with calcium build up like bacon fat going through a choked artery.
second nutes are starting to be more money especially compared to the new love of my life...PPK.
Noisy pumps, massive water consumption and all around too much power.....I can almost hear my wallet deflating.

Dude, I KNOW! Co2 leaked, new DE and the plants freak out like they have a cal/mag deficiency. Fucking never have that in coco.

 

[SuperWeed]

Perhaps some drip clean added to your feeds might help keep those lines free

Anyone know what the active ingredient in Drip Clean is?

 

[mugenbao]

Anyone know what the active ingredient in Drip Clean is?

PeKacid, apparently - https://www.icmag.com/ic/showpost.php?p=5305141&postcount=9

 

[Mr Blah]

Getting ready to incorporate the larger perlite into my growing...is this the stuff? http://www.spraysmarter.com/catalog...iAw7fj4vsib0mG2-uD7E2GpYJI9lTjSHrbhoCvPTw_wcB

Also trying to locate stuff for downstairs change over from UC to PPK. The Home Depot doesn't sell the Tom-Kap anymore at least where I live and online it says they are unavailable. I am trying to make the 3" ppk sites with the large pan.
I guess I am off rereading the PPK thread again.

anyone?

 

[delta9nxs]

anyone?

the homedepot site shows them available but if not you can use the sioux chief 3" snap in drain for the top by cutting out the grating with a hole saw.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RectorSe...ut-Adapter-97482/100141128?keyword=tom-kap+3"

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sioux-Chief-3-in-Snap-in-Drain-845-3PPK/202313209

 

[Mr Blah]

the homedepot site shows them available but if not you can use the sioux chief 3" snap in drain for the top by cutting out the grating with a hole saw.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RectorSeal-Tom-Kap-3-in-ABS-DWV-Inside-Fit-Cleanout-Adapter-97482/100141128?keyword=tom-kap+3%22

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sioux-Chief-3-in-Snap-in-Drain-845-3PPK/202313209

Thanks D9. The tom-cap is no longer available. But I talked to gmanwho that is using 3" couplers and cutting them 3/8". I will get the drain plugs.
Thank you.

 

[Mr Blah]

This post is going to consist of what will probably happen if you decide to build a PPK with random perlite that you think is big enough.
Packed bucket, packed tailpipe and very little drainage.


Lesson learned......we will see.



I got to repack some large plants tailpipes with roots coming out the bottom and probably packed all the way through the medium.

 

[delta9nxs]

Thanks D9. The tom-cap is no longer available. But I talked to gmanwho that is using 3" couplers and cutting them 3/8". I will get the drain plugs.
Thank you.

i just bought 12 yesterday at my local hd's.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RectorSe...ut-Adapter-97482/100141128?keyword=tom-kap+3"

they show them in stores and ship-able.

http://www.rectorseal.com/tom-kap/

 

[delta9nxs]

This post is going to consist of what will probably happen if you decide to build a PPK with random perlite that you think is big enough.
Packed bucket, packed tailpipe and very little drainage.
[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/attachment.php?attachmentid=391812&thumb=1]View Image[/URL] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/attachment.php?attachmentid=391813&thumb=1]View Image[/URL] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/attachment.php?attachmentid=391814&thumb=1]View Image[/URL]

Lesson learned......we will see.
[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/attachment.php?attachmentid=391815&thumb=1]View Image[/URL] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/attachment.php?attachmentid=391816&thumb=1]View Image[/URL]


I got to repack some large plants tailpipes with roots coming out the bottom and probably packed all the way through the medium.

http://www.perlite.com/Perlite Brochure.pdf

the top one is the size you want. coarse or "propagation" grade. if you float it in a tub and stir it a little bit the fines settle out and drop to the bottom. then net the good stuff off the top.

 

[Mr Blah]

Thanks D9 I think I got the right perlite now. The web page for the tom-cap is saying it is unavailable at my store but there is no way to change it or order. It also says unable to order. I give them a call.

 

[Mr Blah]

Like a heart surgeon i delicately lifted and turned out the bucket and slid out the roots that came with the trunk. Breaking up the bond of roots prior to setting into its new home of 50/50 CHUNKY perlite and Turface.
What a job....we'll see if they live.
In one of the pictures you can see the roots that came out the bottom.....I will keep doing this till I get it right.
They all got a well deserved hair cut and thinning.

 

[SuperWeed]

Like a heart surgeon i delicately lifted and turned out the bucket and slid out the roots that came with the trunk. Breaking up the bond of roots prior to setting into its new home of 50/50 CHUNKY perlite and Turface.
What a job....we'll see if they live.
In one of the pictures you can see the roots that came out the bottom.....I will keep doing this till I get it right.
They all got a well deserved hair cut and thinning.

Looking good Mr Blah!

 

[Mr Blah]

I must be doing something right cause there is a lot of new growth. That large perlite was the thing....everything is draining the right way, and fast.
I will update with pictures tomorrow.

 

[delta9nxs]

I must be doing something right cause there is a lot of new growth. That large perlite was the thing....everything is draining the right way, and fast.
I will update with pictures tomorrow.

cool!

 

[Mr Blah]

If you notice the pictures from just 7 days ago, to tonight. You will see..Well at least I notice a lot of new growth. I don't know if it has anything to do with the proper drainage or the right perlite.

Again....lesson learned....Anyone else just starting out Please! use the extra large cottage cheese style curds of perlite.

 

[McKush]

I can and have got roots in the bucket depending on gaps, cultivar, feed rates and feed incidents but my mcppk's dont clog or experience drain issues with only screened turface to 1/4"ish size. Trick is to oversize the classifier and reject more media. Dont know its AFP. Dont care. Then the other trick is my 3" toilet tech tailpipe wick, idk the 3" size works well for me. Then dont screw up and think your the one who can keep full flood working across the grow... all the best ppkrs do small volume feed styles from micro to quart pulses. Somewhere there is where it will operate best. Full flood was a lesson i fought over a couple of poor grows till i got it in my head. My current group went to shit only after i got aggressive on the feed schedule...

 

[delta9nxs]

my 50/50 uncreened turface and chunky perlite mix came to about 38% AFP so i found i had to step up the feed to 36 oz's every 15 minutes. keeps the medium visibly wet but drains freely.

 

[Mr Blah]

I have always done a 30 sec/quart pulse feed through drip rings every 90 mins.
I have never screened my Turface, only rinsed it very well. Some of my buckets are visible dry looking every place on top except where the ring is.
Should I be concerned?
I do poke my finger through the top layer about an 1" and it is moist.
Should I up my rate to 60 mins?

 

[Snook]

hello 9.. I hope all is well in your world...
I know I've asked this question before but not remembering a definitive answer (not particularly from you):
after harvest, are you cleaning the 50/50 mix of un-screened Turface/Perlite (chunky)

for future reuse or dumping it?


I did recently try some vermiculite and pearlite for another project. upon its completion, the mix, it too 50/50, it was put into plain tap water (about 3 gallons) and as expected the pearlite floated and the vermiculite sunk that was 4 months ago and there is still over a gallon of water still in that container... evaporation was diminished.... no statement just an observation... why am I saying this??? I have no idea but am intrigued with the fact.

 

[McKush]

I have always done a 30 sec/quart pulse feed through drip rings every 90 mins.
I have never screened my Turface, only rinsed it very well. Some of my buckets are visible dry looking every place on top except where the ring is.
Should I be concerned?
I do poke my finger through the top layer about an 1" and it is moist.
Should I up my rate to 60 mins?

Hey B

I would urge caution. In my experiences the only time a plant goes bad on me is when i overwater. Had some feed precip issues too but by and large overwet is the chief thing to guard against in ppk.