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DIY DWC

C

Conrad_Turbo

Made this last weekend to grow a Jalapeno plant in the living room.

Step 1. Remove green valve mechanism (the one that dispenses the beer).
Step 2. Remove the green plastic carry handle.
Step 3. Using a holesaw drill a 1" diameter hole into the top of the can. Center the pilot in the center of the can (where the valve was). IMPORTANT: Ensure the tank is empty and depressured before drilling.
Step 4. With tin snips cut out the top leaving a 1/2" lip around the edge of the can.
Step 5. Drill out a drain hole as well as a airline hole. You can use common fittings available at your local pet store. Install fittings.
Step 6. Cut out a circle piece 150mm in diameter out of 0.051" Aluminum sheet. Drill out the center with a 2.5" holesaw. I have dimple die tooling, so I could flare the hole (not really necessary).
Step 7. Drop in the new aluminum top, reinstall the green plastic carry handle.
Step 8. Hook up your airstone and air pump (the smallest you can find at your local pet store).
Step 9. Fill with nutrients, drop in net pot with hydroton (clay balls) and your favorite pepper.

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PS it's my first day!
 
Are there any concerns growing plants in aluminum and the interaction of the nuits? Last winter, I was considering using aluminum trays for germinating seeds and several people said it was NOT a wise idea.

Mike
 
No it's a 5L keg that you can get from Heineken. I am not a fan of drinking Heineken...but our friends brought it out to a recent camping trip and I couldn't bear to crush and recycle the can. Then I thought what's cooler than mixing booze with hot peppers. :D

As for aluminum and the nutes, no ill effects so far...but I guess we'll find out!
 
Conrad,

Good luck to you. I sort of care about staying healthy and growing plants in aluminum seems akin to playing Russian Roulette.

"We found aluminum inhibits calcium uptake almost immediately in aluminum-sensitive plants," Kochian notes. "But we saw a much smaller effect on calcium uptake in aluminum tolerant plants."

But, IMO, it's not just if the plant thrives or dies, but the effect eating the peppers will have on you. But then again, it's you, not me!

Mike
 
Nova,

Well, if it wasn't Heiny, I would, but then again, Bud doesn't tend to add N,P,K and other stuff in the keg.

It makes no difference to me what someone else wants to do, eat, smoke or drink. Just trying to add what I have read.

Everyone has the right to go their own way!

Mike
 
Ah I figured if we're exposing plastic tubs, latex/oil painted wood troughs, rubber hosing and brass fittings to NPK mixture that it normally wouldn't see, aluminum is just one other variable. :lol:
 
I think it's brilliant... Well done. I know those kegs all to well and have never known what to do with them besides targets for shooting ;-)

regarding the aluminium, they have a thick coating inside ( same for normal beer cans) which avoids any beer on metal contact, it'll be fine.

Looking forward to seeing the progress.

Kudos to you
 
The best idea i came up with for these before seeing this was a money box, this is wayyy cooler!
 
I went to submit this as an instructable before I made this post, it got rejected due to no build up photos. :lol: Figured it was fairly simple and the end result looks is fairly self explanitory. Ah well their loss!

Before putting the Jalapeno in this setup almost two weeks ago, the root ball/size was about 1" in diameter sphere...not very big. Now after being in this setup there are already a few white roots hanging out of the net pot! The roots are growing much quicker than it was in the garden.
 
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