DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
tinytoon,thanks for that valuable information. I will put it to good use :thumbsup: I'm going to keep a fwe in the crisper for staggered grows and/or potential replacements for failed experiments.
I mentioned earlier in my thread that I wanted to eventually drill a hole into the top of my 5 gallon reservoir lid which I would use to test the pH, top off, and drain/fill. That hole would be "corked" when not in use with rubber plugs I had found online. I bought a 1 inch drill bit and tested the design out on a sacrificial bucket lid. The 1 inch hole wasn't big enough to fit my pH tester into, and was just too small for practical use. Also,the rubber plugs wouldn't fit properly if not painfully careful and precise with the drill bit. Then it occurred to me: the foam pool toy that I used to create my cork/skirts for the bubble cloner. You can buy thee tings at the dollar store, they are the 8 foot pool noodles that you float on (or whack hornets with) in the pool. most commonly used to assault an unsuspecting sibling or "pool rival". Anyway, I can make a 1 1/2 inch hole or even 2 inch hole, then just cut out a slightly larger sized cork of this waterproof material. That should do the trick.
I wouldn't even have to drill a hole, I could simply cut cut a rectangle out of the lid using a knife, and then just cut a thick, slightly larger rectangular cork out of the pool noodle.
I thought I'd mention this to anyone who was interested in trying this design, especially on the cheap, and didn't want to buy corks or precision drill bits. As the corks I created for my 3/4 inch holes work just as described above, I see no reason why different shapes or sizes would be any different. This should save on some effort of testing pH (lifting those lids and shaking/shifting the plants sucks) and especially on draining/filling.
For those that still don't know what a pool noodle is, it's one of these things: http://www.islandrentalservices.net/...es/noodles.jpg
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
I see the noodle but where is the chicken soup??:D
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
A lot of crap has happened over the past two days: my pump broke, the new drill pump that I bought doesnâ??t work, and I yet again dropped my pH tester into the water and fried it. ARGH!!!!!! So, Iâ??m back to chemically testing my pH as I wait for yet another pH tester to arrive. As for pumping water out of the 5 gal. buckets tomorrow, could I use a wet/dry shop vac? Something like: Walmart.com: Shop-Vac 5-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum: Appliances
All I need for it to do is suck up most (if not all) of the water. Any ideas if this will work? If not, any suggestions on where I can purchase a pump that WILL work?
Other than those mishaps, the girls are freaking exploding. The BDâ??s are 26 â?? 27 inches now, and the GDP #2 is at 12 inches. I used some white twisty ties to help bunch some of the larger BD fan leaves (as you can see in some of the pics) so they wouldnâ??t prevent the light from hitting the smaller GDPâ??s. I was very gentle and the twisty tie acts as a very loose collar. Here are some pics:
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DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
Boy when it rains it pours eh? Pumps and such you could check the pond/fountain pumps they have at Walmart, Lowes and home dePOT. Also you can check your smaller hardware stores, like Ace, to see what they have for a small sump type pump. I bashed my head for awhile before that idea hit me for emptying my 55 gal drum. Purchased a 660gph sump pump which empties that rez in about 5 mins. By theory that wet/dry vac should work just be carefull not to latch on to any roots with it. Might I suggest a WATERPROOF ph tester :D
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
Cheapest pump for emergencies. One of those pumps for kerosene heater. They make them with batteries too.
What i used for years was a bildge pump from a boat shop. I still have it just in case. We use a Slowes pump now that is 120 power and hooks up a hose on both sides. Pumps out the rez and all buckets. Habour freight has one like it but for 12 volts. It worked real good till we got a hydroton ball sucked up in it. Make sure to have a pickup filter if that could happen.
Get a water proof ph pen or have a safety line like I do when I only have one left and low on funds. Safety line is a sting with a little stretch to it. When I go in the room the line is hooked above the door and is only long enough to barely get to the water. Mountain climber style. If you don't hold on good it pulls out of your hand. But don't use a rubber band cause it will cause more damage if it flies up and hits the ceiling. Really happen to a friend. I still can't stop laughing.
Oh there is a way to setup a ventura to pump it out. Maybe look at Aquaponicherbs stuff. I'm sure I saw it there.
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
First off, I want to say T H A N K Y O U to Loc nar and TinyToon for both of your excellent posts on the types of pumps you use. I wound up picking up a 12 gallon wet/dry shop vac as it was the most afforadble (and easiest to obtain today), but my partner and I are updating our re-design plans to include some of your suggestions. Again, THANKS!
Now, here's how my day went: First off, let me just say that the shopvac worked amazingly well.It sucked out 5 gallons of water in about 15 seconds!!!!! It took a little longer when I wrapped some cheesecloth around the end of it so i wouldn't damage any of the roots, but still.....light years faster than the little battery operated wand pump I had been using and, one of my favorites features, it's multi use. I can clean up my garage after I empty the reservoirs LOL.
the bad news is, I had no way of easily and cleanly pumping the new water solution into my 5 gal buckets. I t was a messy and wet procedure, and I may consider using a wand pump strictly for pumping water into the 5 gals in the future.
The UGLY news is that....ants have found the grow room. it's hot,so they are looking for water. They haven't started attacking the babies yet, but I see them crawling around in there.Im going to lightly spray around the building, and lay a salt barrier alongside the 4 walls (apparently, salt disrupts the antenna communication of the ants, so they don't cross it)
Finally, my babies are starting to tip over when their foliage is not supported by the other babies foillage. I'll have to add some supports to the main stems so as they get heavier they wont fall over.
THAT ALL SAID, I am extremely happy with the way things are going, and not at all perturbed by the bad and the ugly of things, because I'm having a blast just growing. I suppose I wouldn't be happy if I wasn't learning from the mistakes I've made, but every error or problem I run into is an opportunity to hone my skills and to do even better next time. None of this would be possible without the great posts by those kind enough to comment in this thread. Many thanks!!!!
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
UPDATE
I sprayed outside of my cab and lined the walls with salt. I also found the trail of ants coming in from the outside and zapped them good with pesticide. I think I killed all of the ants this way, and I haven't seen any for a few hours.
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
Friggin Ants!! :gunfighter2:
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
DAY 29
pH tester and 7.01/4.01 calibration solution arrived today! It came factory calibrated and I didnâ??t even need to adjust it! Anyway, I quickly went back to micro managing my babies pH and everything is sitting at 5.9 â?? 6.0. Iâ??m raising the pH just slightly during the flowering stage based upon tinyâ??s grow. This is day 2 of the flowering stage.
The ants are completely gone. Motherfuckers better not come back or Iâ??ll kill them with FIREâ?¦..or pesticideâ?¦.or perhaps both. My partner figured out why my drill pump wasnâ??t workingâ?¦.itâ??s RPMâ??s were too weak. I need a more powerful drill. Since I already have the shop vac for QUICK draining, I figure a powerful drillâ?¦yet another multi use toolâ?¦.will be a good investment and serve as a good pump for the water going back into the buckets.
Daily Update
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DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
