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pics sp33d's DIY DWC/drip hydro system and DIY clone/seed germination/grow tent **lots of pics*

queequeg152 said:
look on ebay for a lab meter... for your own sake, dont spend like 200 bucks on a "quality" ph pen.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/pH-Meter-VWR-SympHony-SB20-/161374969569?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2592b29ee1
 
thats what im talking about.  you just need a 40-50 dollar ph electrode.
Click to expand...
Thanks man

I honestly wasn't going to spend $200, not even close..I was thinking no more then $70-$80 on a ph pen , either a Hanna or bluelab...I like the pen style , for whatever reason ...
 
sp33d said:
Thanks man

I honestly wasn't going to spend $200, not even close..I was thinking no more then $70-$80 on a ph pen , either a Hanna or bluelab...I like the pen style , for whatever reason ...
Click to expand...
 
ya i get the appeal of the pen form factor, but most of them are, imo not worth it because they ether charge like 80 bucks for a replacement electrode, or dont allow for electrode replacement at all.
 
where as you can get a used lab meter, that uses simple BNC electrodes that cost at most like 50 bucks. you also have the option to buy any electrode type you want... you could switch from one you dont like to one you do like.
 
the biggest issue with the lab bench type meters is that they either require an ATC electrode, or a seperate ATC probe + a reg ph electrode.
the accumet atc probes cost like 60 bucks...i passed on that cost b.c imo its exorbitant for a stupid simple thermistor.
all this means tho... is that you have to calibrate the meter at the same temp the sample is.
 
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004G8PSEU/ref=biss_dp_t_asn
 
^Sound advice. Reminds me I should read more on pH testing.
 
 
I just popped in to lay some more hate on pH pens, especially the Bluelab XD Check Amazon reviews.
 
I prefer drops/paper to fiddlefarting around with pens any day.
 
Thanks guys...

Hey queeqeg can you link me to a good ph setup as I have no clue and all the reviews have me confused even more..I'm kinda bummed about the pen not being good enough quality...


queequeg152 said:
ya i get the appeal of the pen form factor, but most of them are, imo not worth it because they ether charge like 80 bucks for a replacement electrode, or dont allow for electrode replacement at all.
 
where as you can get a used lab meter, that uses simple BNC electrodes that cost at most like 50 bucks. you also have the option to buy any electrode type you want... you could switch from one you dont like to one you do like.
 
the biggest issue with the lab bench type meters is that they either require an ATC electrode, or a seperate ATC probe + a reg ph electrode.
the accumet atc probes cost like 60 bucks...i passed on that cost b.c imo its exorbitant for a stupid simple thermistor.
all this means tho... is that you have to calibrate the meter at the same temp the sample is.
 
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004G8PSEU/ref=biss_dp_t_asn
Click to expand...
 
sp33d said:
Thanks guys...

Hey queeqeg can you link me to a good ph setup as I have no clue and all the reviews have me confused even more..I'm kinda bummed about the pen not being good enough quality...

 
Click to expand...
 
 
well, there are good pens out there no doubt, i just feel like, if one is going to spend good money on an instrument, it should be a at least serviceable... by that i mean, be able to replace the parts that fail, and indeed are expected to fail under normal operating conditions.
 
i see pens as...kinda like a car with brakes you can replace...
 
108719_B8R03179.jpg

 
this is a run of the mill PH meter setup.
 
what you see there, is a meter, the box with the readout.
an adjustable arm that holds the ph electrode.
the ph electrode itself.
and a beaker.
 
thats how my setup is... except that i use a lab stand, not a fancy arm with jive springs and joints etc.
 
this is one of those jive stands. note the 55 dollar price tag is for the gripper that holds the electrodes, not the stand itself.
ASK ME HOW I KNOW?
http://www.instrumart.com/products/30328/thermo-scientific-orion-star-series-lab-accessories
 
since that stand costs too much you just want a lab stand, with a three prong gripper. you dont need a 36" tall 3/8" stand or anything. a small one is fine.
 
http://www.amazon.com/American-Educational-Stamped-Support-Resistant/dp/B00657LFSS/ref=sr_1_7?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1406217228&sr=1-7&keywords=lab+stand
 
you also need a gripper to hold the electrode... plz dont buy this one, just the first one saw on amazon. they can be had for very little.
hell i may even have a gripper and bracket i could hook you up with.
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-3-Prong-Adjustable-Ultrajaws-Extension/dp/B006H8OYPG/ref=sr_1_3?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1406217443&sr=1-3&keywords=three+prong
 
so now you have a stand, and a gripper, and now you wont break electrodes every two weeks like myself.
now you need to find a meter.
 
go on ebay. go to the lab equipment category.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Lab-Equipment-/26231/i.html
 
search for meters from fischer, beckman, accumet, thermo scientific, HACH, Omega,Corning, welch,mettler toledo, etc etc etc. 
find one that is at a price you can afford, then google its model number, find its spec sheet, and ensure the following:
 
it had a BNC connector
it has auto calibration.
has manual ATC adjustment, or can operate without an ATC probe.
it MUST use regular ph calibration solutions.
if it does not come with a power supply, make sure the connector is a regular connector type, not a proprietary type.
you can buy power supplies( those wall wart boxes that plug into the wall) anywhere.
 
this sounds like alot of crap, but its really simple. in the process you will likely learn a bit about ph meters too.
you will run across alot of heinously expensive ph meters on ebay, i promise you tho, there are good deals, just keep looking.
 
 
examples:
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Beckman-Coulter-340-pH-Meter-Mettler-Toledo-Fisher-Accumet-Thermo-Corning-Orion-/221497016435?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3392404073
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fisher-Scientific-ACCUMET-AP61-Portable-pH-mV-Ion-Temperature-Meter-Probe-/171391499921?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27e7babe91
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Orion-pH-mV-Meter-model-250A-WITH-PROBE-/161371875325?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25928367fd
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thermo-Electron-Corp-Russell-RL060P-Portable-pH-Meter-7-18409-/301251731539?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item462400a053
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/pH-Meter-VWR-SympHony-SB20-/161374969569?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2592b29ee1
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Omega-Engineering-Waterproof-pH-Meter-PHH-315-rjm-/251595942061?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a944968ad
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/THERMO-Orion-PerpHecT-LogR-Model-310-pH-Meter-/221499629643?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item339268204b
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hach-sensION-pH-1-Meter-/121251286899?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c3b23cf73
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hach-sensION-PH31-pH-meter/121246587772?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D23928%26meid%3D8544050060079064876%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D10200%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D121251286899&rt=nc
 
Dude I would "like" that post you just made 50 times if I could...thanks for all the great info dude...very much appreciated. When I get home I will look into all this and hit you up if I need more help... :cheers:
 
queequeg152 said:
np. if you want me to look at a particular meter let me know.
Click to expand...
Absolutely will do, appreciate the assistance my man..
Ok, so I essentially have everything I need to piece this DIY DWC system together except time...I also am not gonna be able to get clones or seeds going yet but once I do I will put it together ...I built it in regards to a GH water farm, exactly like it so I know it will work....I am also using a GH controller/reservoir so again I will use the 4-gallon controller and 4-gallon reservoir I made for the 8 module DIY DWC system for 2 of the modules growing something else cause I only have room for 6 of the 8 modules I made in my grow tent...

Got the rest of the 1/2" tubing needed to make the GH controller capable of recirculating , just have to cut the holes needed on the side of the GH controller and add some grommets same as I did for all the modules ..also picked up sheeit ton of 1/2" elbows and 1/2" on/off valves so I can attach one to each side of the modules so I can isolate each one for cleaning , moving etc...also bought some goodies
-RO/DI 100 GPD portable system..gonna make a mounting system for it to be mounted next to my wash room in basement...will also run a line to the outdoor rain barrel to fill for the times it doesn't rain for long periods so I can water outdoor garden, landscaping etc...
-bluelab truncheon ..this thing kicks ass..thanks to everyone who advised me to get one now I just need a pH tester
-10lbs sea-90 trace minerals gonna start using for my AACT and foliar for peppers and garden
(Never mind the dirty putting green I am sitting on, it's in my man cave portion of the basement so I don't have to keep clean as the wife keeps the rest of house)
image.jpg



So here is a closer look at the cloner/seed starter I made using ideas/plans found on the internet and got the parts from local hydro store and Lowes, also used an old pot I had laying around as the reservoir for the cloner ..
Simple to make now I just need to master the art of cloning and seed starting...
-5 gallon pot I had laying around
-spray nozzles
-black PVC
-317 Gph pump
-laminate
-2" hole cutter
-2" net pots
image.jpg

image.jpg




And everyone has a closet that looks like this , right ...

image.jpg





Thanks for checking in and having patience , I will surely get this thing put together as soon as possible especially now that I have everything (except ph tester and growstones) and when I do get it together I will add more detail as well...sorry I'm still learning how to make good posts...

Have a great night or day......
 
Let me know how well that pump works with your sprayers / cloner. I couldn't get consistent spray a pump that small. I had to use a 600+ GPH pump due to the pressure required to get a consistent spray with those sprayers.

What pump will you use to circulate the nutrient solution through the buckets?

Thanks,
Stephen
 
Ignite said:
Let me know how well that pump works with your sprayers / cloner. I couldn't get consistent spray a pump that small. I had to use a 600+ GPH pump due to the pressure required to get a consistent spray with those sprayers.
What pump will you use to circulate the nutrient solution through the buckets?
Thanks,
Stephen
Click to expand...
Will do ..gonna be using it within a couple weeks...

I'm using an air pump to circulate the DWC system...using a dual diaphram 80L/min air pump...same concept as the GH water farm 8 model system...
 
So it's not a recirculating system?  The reservoir is just there to keep a constant level of fluid in the buckets?  The GH system uses an air pump to push water from the bottom of the bucket into the drip ring, so the fluid in the bottom isn't being drained or pushed back into the reservoir?  I understand the concept, I'm curious as to how well it work.  I'm assuming that you are running the drip 24/7.
 
Thanks
 
Ignite said:
So it's not a recirculating system?  The reservoir is just there to keep a constant level of fluid in the buckets?  The GH system uses an air pump to push water from the bottom of the bucket into the drip ring, so the fluid in the bottom isn't being drained or pushed back into the reservoir?  I understand the concept, I'm curious as to how well it work.  I'm assuming that you are running the drip 24/7.
 
Thanks
Click to expand...
Yes it's recirculating for controller into modules back into controller not reservoir , reservoir sits on top of controller and keeps controller topped off ....the air pump is hooked up to the outlet column in the controller and forces the water into module 1 , module 1 fills to a certain level then over flows into module 2 and so on to 3-4-5 then finally to module 6 and from module 6 it over flows back into the controller and starts all over ...the pump is also hooked up to the drip halos through the bottom of the column in each module and forces the nutrient rich water that is flowing into the module up the drip ring column finally through the halo and drains back down into bottom of module to be recirculated ...it will makes more sense once I get it put together and pics are posted or you can just look at the GH water farm 8 module system..same exact thing...GH water farm system manufactured before 2009 don't have the recirculating set up but you are able to purchase an upgrade kit to make it capable of recirculating , which all that kit does is give you 1/2" tubing, grommets and have to drill outlet holes in each module and an inlet in the controller....but the new GH water farm systems are already recirculating from the manufacture
..I basically stole the concept from GH and made my own an saved about $230 lol...

For reference
http://generalhydroponics.com/site/index.php/products/systems/waterfarm/waterfarm_8_pack/


http://generalhydroponics.com/site/index.php/products/systems/waterfarm/waterfarm_circulating_upgrade_kit/
 
Well I have absolutely everything I need to get this DIY DWC system put together and growing....I'm gonna either get some seeds or clones going in my homemade cloner/seed starter once I decide which one I wanna do, seeds or clones, hmmmm....

Once I have decide on seeds or clones I will put together the 7'x7'x7' grow tent ...then put together the DWC system in the tent and give more in depth details on how I built the DWC system etc....

Stay tuned ...
image.jpg
 
Hey Queequeq,
After a ton of reading and talking to guys at local hydro store and a few hydro growers I went ahead and got a Oakton ph eco2 tester
http://www.4oakton.com/proddetail.asp?parent=2&prod=354&seq=1&Totrec=21

I was told by more then a few that if I take care of it and properly store it and calibrate properly I should get many years use out of it...so I hope the $50 was well spent, we will find out..

Also got some atlas scientific ph4, ph7, ph10 buffer and storage solution...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/pH-Buffer-Calibration-Solution-Kit-4-7-10-and-Storage-125ml-4oz-/200779595060

I do appreciate the help though ....

So essentially I just need to decide if I want to go with clones or seeds to get this DIY DWC setup going ..oh yeah I also need to get off my lazy ass and set up the tent, hydro system and light....Boom!!!
 
Ok friends...I have everything and will be putting this together in detail with pics tomorrow night....Then after I have it together I will be starting a glog..please check out my post with a poll to vote on in "Hot Pepper Talk" on what strain to grow in this setup
 
thanks.. :high:
 
Slizarus said:
Oo growstone, thats what I want to use
Click to expand...
I have talked to some local hydro growers and they love it..the local hydro store also has a setup in the store with it and that pretty much sold me on it ....one person told me that they hold to much water, but I have only heard that from 1 out of the many people I have talked of that have used them...I'm gonna find out either way for myself...:)

My lazy ass has is piecing it together...drank to many beers and other activities tonight , ..:)
 
Ok I finally set everything out and made sure I had everything ...so I can put that check in the box ...I'm not going to actually hook lines up and add water etc until I have my grow tent put up and not going to put grow tent up until I'm ready to grow indoors which will be real soon...

Any questions don't hesitate to ask...

I also decided I will be growing Peter peppers in red, yellow and orange and will create a glog once I get it going....stay tuned...:)

So here is the setup that I made with 4 gallon and 2 gallon food grade buckets....I got the tubing, lines, air pump and drip halos from hydro store

7'x7'x7' Grow tent is behind the growstones, will be using Growstones as the medium, 100gpd RO/DI system, Oakton ph2 Eco tester, bluelab truncheon, atlas scientific ph4,7,10 buffer and storage solution, ph up/down, grow cubes for the clone bucket I made and lastly the clone bucket to propagate seeds or clones...


Here's the DWC setup I made by just looking at a GH waterfarm and replicating it...as a matter of fact I am using a GH controller 8 gallon and reservoir 13 gallon...this will be a recirculating system and will also be drip....recirculation and drip halos will be run using a 80L/min dual diaphragm air pump



Like I said not going to hook up any lines but you can see the blue tubing and air hose that will run between each module and to each drip halo...lines will be connected to each module using 1/2" on/off valves so I can isolate each bucket for cleaning or whatever is needed, etc...




 
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