For several years I have been developing my top feed system draining to outboard rez.
The last 2 grows I used Hydro Halo Drip rings, which work great, but... are they an unnecessary expense?
Reveg plant has been in a bubbler. Now that it is filling out, water consumption > 1g per 24 hours, which is hard to monitor. Plant was drooping late yesterday due to heavy water consumption
Time to return to my roots
Mini-Me F & D
For several years I have been developing my top feed system. The last 2 grows I used Hydro Halo Drip rings, which are expensive, clog with algae, even though I drilled out the drip holes, I still had to clean them every ~ 2 weeks, but they work great.
They were necessary when I was using the inverted lid from a ~ 2’ x 3’ storage tote (the lip was ~ 1”) as a drain table inside my DIY 2 x 4 wood frame draped with windshield reflector and insulating foam board.
Feed cycle maxed at 30 seconds in order not have nutes spill over, but was sufficient for the plants.
When I first started growing indoors, back in 1980!, I used a simple F & D under a 1000w MH (street light)
The 2 tubs were filled with gravel rock.
Plants grew great, but my x wife killed them by not refilling the rez while I was on the road a week at a time
This time I will have 2 actual grow tents (3 x 3 & 4 x 4). Each will have one plant, and one led panel/system
I had to rethink how to feed 2 separate tents from a single rez
Time to return to my F & D roots, but incorporating lessons learned over the last 3 years...
Thanks to fast draining Air Pots (or Net Pots) it is not necessary to fill the tub with anything
Simply put the planter filled with rock (I use polished ornamental stones from The Dollar Store) in the tub
Set feed cycle to fill the tub ~ half way up
Currently top feeding using just a right angle 1/2” connector
As to tote size, a ~ 4g tub is all you need per plant
Parts Per Tote
~ 4 G storage tote (~ $5)
Net Pot lid for 5g bucket (~$4)
2-3 bags of ornamental stone (~@ $1/)
1” Bulkhead fitting ($4) *may need O ring to prevent drip
1 ~ 160 gph water pump (~ $10)
I plan to run 2 totes from one pump. which may require either a bigger pump or longer feed time
Half inch tubing + 2 elbows for a single F & D (< $10)
Outboard Rez
Any bucket that holds ~ 3-4 g of nutes with a lid will work... or cover with foil
Timer
Deep Cycle Timer (~ $60) to flood
Currently flooding 45 sec each 45 minutes
I hooked this up an hour ago
One minor leak to fix on the bulkhead'
View attachment 280759 View attachment 280760
View attachment 280761 View attachment 280762
View attachment 280763
The last 2 grows I used Hydro Halo Drip rings, which work great, but... are they an unnecessary expense?
Reveg plant has been in a bubbler. Now that it is filling out, water consumption > 1g per 24 hours, which is hard to monitor. Plant was drooping late yesterday due to heavy water consumption
Time to return to my roots
Mini-Me F & D
For several years I have been developing my top feed system. The last 2 grows I used Hydro Halo Drip rings, which are expensive, clog with algae, even though I drilled out the drip holes, I still had to clean them every ~ 2 weeks, but they work great.
They were necessary when I was using the inverted lid from a ~ 2’ x 3’ storage tote (the lip was ~ 1”) as a drain table inside my DIY 2 x 4 wood frame draped with windshield reflector and insulating foam board.
Feed cycle maxed at 30 seconds in order not have nutes spill over, but was sufficient for the plants.
When I first started growing indoors, back in 1980!, I used a simple F & D under a 1000w MH (street light)
The 2 tubs were filled with gravel rock.
Plants grew great, but my x wife killed them by not refilling the rez while I was on the road a week at a time
This time I will have 2 actual grow tents (3 x 3 & 4 x 4). Each will have one plant, and one led panel/system
I had to rethink how to feed 2 separate tents from a single rez
Time to return to my F & D roots, but incorporating lessons learned over the last 3 years...
Thanks to fast draining Air Pots (or Net Pots) it is not necessary to fill the tub with anything
Simply put the planter filled with rock (I use polished ornamental stones from The Dollar Store) in the tub
Set feed cycle to fill the tub ~ half way up
Currently top feeding using just a right angle 1/2” connector
As to tote size, a ~ 4g tub is all you need per plant
Parts Per Tote
~ 4 G storage tote (~ $5)
Net Pot lid for 5g bucket (~$4)
2-3 bags of ornamental stone (~@ $1/)
1” Bulkhead fitting ($4) *may need O ring to prevent drip
1 ~ 160 gph water pump (~ $10)
I plan to run 2 totes from one pump. which may require either a bigger pump or longer feed time
Half inch tubing + 2 elbows for a single F & D (< $10)
Outboard Rez
Any bucket that holds ~ 3-4 g of nutes with a lid will work... or cover with foil
Timer
Deep Cycle Timer (~ $60) to flood
Currently flooding 45 sec each 45 minutes
I hooked this up an hour ago
One minor leak to fix on the bulkhead'
View attachment 280759 View attachment 280760
View attachment 280761 View attachment 280762
View attachment 280763
