Horizontal aeroponic cabinet under construction!

Well ladies and gentleman, I'm finally doing it. I've been tossing around ideas for maximizing cabinet space for growing. I just-so-happened to have a cabinet that is 4'W x 6'H x 2'D. So, either I could have grown vertically, horizontally, or inverted. I chose to grow horizontally.
I'll try not to lose anyone as I explain the method behind the madness.

• First the hypothesis: Growing in a horizontal arrangement has the potential to grow an equal amount of bud weight with the same plants in a vertical arrangement while costing less money for set-up.
• Theory: I understand that I cannot simulate true scientific conditions because I simply do not have the facilities to have an identical control group. However, for the sake of simplicity, we'll use educated experience to judge whether yield suffered, stayed relatively the same, or if there was a marked increase.
• Explanation of method: By maximizing both the use of space and the use of light, it is reasonable to expect yield per cubic ft. to increase.

[align=left] Again, I really wish I could be more accurate in the comparison, so that a definitive, concrete result can be obtained. But realize I'm as poor as a church mouse right now, and am doing the best I can to add meaningful research to our cause.

With that said, lets get to it!

Here's the cabinet layout. The 45* elbows are where the net pots will reside.
The spray heads will be mounted to the sides of the pvc pipe. The jury is still out on their precise placement. I'll most likely start out with them being close to the bottom of the net pots, then add a second spray head to each pipe nearer the mid-point--vertically speaking. I will be drilling a hole into the pvc, then just inserting the tip of the spray head. Sealed with silicone, and securely fastened by some other undetermined means.

The reason the pvc pipes are at different heights, left side low; right side high, is because this is where "maximizing the use of light" comes into play. The idea is to have a canopy of plants growing horizontally from the set of pipes on the right forming a "ceiling" of sorts. Then have the pipes on the left growing another set of plants, creating a "floor" of sorts. The lights will be right in the middle.

Keeping the plants from touching the light, will be a pc of hardware cloth(wire mesh). The one on the top will provide a sort of trellis for the plants to run on. The hardware cloth below, just above the bottom set of plants, will provide a ceiling, so that those plants can't reach the light either.-----Basically I'm creating a "tube" of wire that will suround the lights, keeping all plant matter from getting too close.

The drainage back to the reservoir, from the pvc pipes was definitely an issue. As it is now, the "lower" pvc pipes on the left, are going to be draining into the reservoir below the waterline. I realize this could pose an issue. However, if the air pump is aggressive enough, I believe it will move fluid well enough to cause a fluid exchange of sorts at the drain tubing exits.

That's all I gots for now! Be patient. I'll update as I can afford the rest of the parts.

Alright, let the criticism begin! Seriously. This is an experiment for all of us, so give me some feedback.


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Aight, here's a lil update. The cabinet is no where near ready, but I had to put the clones in it anyway. I thought I had my timing figured out pretty well, but as you'll see when you scroll down, it got all f*cked up! Biggest problem is I have most of my lights and fans in another room finishing the flowering job on another four PPP girls......oh well, doin my best with what I got.

So now I have at least another 8hrs worth of work to go, another pump to add, a BUNCH of lights to add, paint, ventilation, etc... etc...

The clones HAD to go in though, because I was cloning in soil. They were getting too big for the containers they were in. Plus, the longer I was to wait, the more shocking the transplant would be. So I bit the bullet and moved them into their new home.
As you all can see, they're quite shocked as it is. They also seem to be suffering from a N def. We'll have to wait and see if they make it. They aren't being fed aeroponically yet. The roots are too short for spray head exposure, so for now I'm hand feeding them once an hour using a large syringe.

I'm strapped financially, so my nutrient solution is nothing fancy. I'm feeding Alaska fish emulsion 5-1-1 @ 1ml/gal. I may increase the dose this week, if the plants still tell me they need more N. Right now I think they're condition is mostly shock related. I don't want to go straight from shocked to nute burn, ya know?

We'll see if they make it?!

Here's my sickly girls:

I am very interested in seeing photos of this throughout the grow. Great idea with the sprayers. Did you come up with that yourself? Where do you get 1/4" brass fittings like that?

ProGro, you've totally lost your mind! :D

I can't wait to see if this is pure genius or complete insanity. My money is on the latter, but I wish you the best of luck anyway! :thumbsup:

PC :smokin:

Using the "Y" pvc pipe you will have better luck and more production for the same area.
Plus you will have maximized your light output.
There a picuture some place and it has 8 vertical tube in puts and as may place to put net pots in to. I have seen them with 12 vertical spaces with a 8 tubes for a total of 96 plants.
The system you have in different but a extreem waste of space , and time.
Have fun thinking , enjoy growing narcartics.
To stop thinking is a waste of time. :)

Opie..I got the sprayer idea from a guys personal website, so o it's not my idea. The brass compression fittings came from a little local plumbing supply store.

PC...the line between genius and insanity is a fine one...but I don't think I qualify for the former:jointsmile:.

Cannab!s...thanks for the info, I appreciate it!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by oldsanclem

extreem waste of space , and time.

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Did you not read the first posts I made outlining this whole thing? It's an experiment. The idea will be to veg long enough in the cabinet to nearly fill the space, then switch to 12/12. The biggest part of the experiment is to maximize the use of the light, not the space. More refinement would be necessary to maximize space, as well as light. I'm gonna take it "one step at a time".
Are there more space-efficient ways to grow, SURE. But the price of pre-made, highly efficient, self-contained grow environments is way more than some of us can afford at the moment. Anyone---Anyone can grow decent weed by throwing thousands of dollars into the latest greatest, fully automated, wipe your ass for ya, grow cabinet. But I'm gonna eventually get this thing lined out so those of us with "shallow pockets" can get some decent results without being nearly forced to grow in soil only.

Sorry if I come across harsh, but I DO get a little defensive when someone tells me that an experiment is "an extreme waste of my time".

Experiment is when you try something new, that newer way.
Not using al old system, that have a proven track record.
Like spending $3 bucks apiece for sprayers that are 30 cents each in bulk and come with fittings , to use common 1/4 in hose
Also using a inline filter to prevent cloging up.
Experiment is when you take thing that work, Like not using duck tape but use closed cell phome, to prevent problems with the xylome and plome of the plant. You can use a BBQ motor with a cam to move the light up and down. You can also use drainage fitting that are cheaper than pvc, and black to prevent mold. Also use caulking compound at the top of fittings so you can reuse them. But you all ready know that cause you mag drive pumps that do not leak, also it trips the GFI. No one is that stupid not to use gfi around dem volts. Of course you use black hose so mold does not build up and clog you sprayers.

1000 ft cat 5 cable 40.00
5 solid state relays 100.00
relay printer card 30.00
relay program 50.00
Junk computer 0.00
4 buss conectors 16.00
total automated 186.00 :thumbsup:

4 channel recorder 50.00
4 wall tranformers 8.00
2 Lm transistors 8.00
4 resistors 4.00
Total tele cost $68.00:thumbsup:


basic system $$254.00 :thumbsup:
Thats for a dumb ass system, with out a internet conection

Lighting normal cost
2 Ballast and 2 bulbs 100.00
Always have atleast 6 bulbs incase one of thems goesa bad
mag drive pumps 200.00
last only 12 years sofar, got one spare incase
average crop .468 GWH
But I aint got no brain cussin Ima to stupid It takes me almost a minute to program, them computer thingies
net/net/net cost per crop about 10 bucks.
aint got much smarts but I can read pictures.
Experimiting is fun , have fun.
I have fun pushing a mouse , and click , turning on 1000's of watts, 2500 miles away. I'm sure glad Al Gore came up with the internet. The old days of phone driven systems sucked. You had to wire a tone gen/:apachecopter::apachecopter:reciever.
Note you can buy a automatic ass washer and dryer from Japan.
But some people do not need it because there a perfect @$$
Save the ducks use less duck tape.
and have fun. Over grow the world with thick tricomes
The day you stop learning is the day your dead.
A man with one seed knows it all a man with a thousand plants wants to know more.
My first crop was over 4 pounds which aint that good.
:apachecopter:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by oldsanclem

I have fun pushing a mouse , and click , turning on 1000's of watts, 2500 miles away. I'm sure glad Al Gore came up with the internet. :

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Harf!!!

Thanks, man... that makes me smile...

oldsanclem...your set-up sounds first-rate:thumbsup:. Do you have a log with pics so others can learn from it? Seriously, I'm not being an asshole, I'm asking.

I would like to know though, why are you pressing me? WTF....you even try to explain to me the definition on the word experiment!?! B.t.w.--you defined the process of research and development, not an experiment. An experiment:

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
ex·per·i·ment [n. ik-sper-uh-muhnt; v. ek-sper-uh-ment] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
â??noun 1. a test, trial, or tentative procedure; an act or operation for the purpose of discovering something unknown or of testing a principle, supposition, etc.: a chemical experiment; a teaching experiment; an experiment in living.
2. the conducting of such operations; experimentation: a product that is the result of long experiment.
3. Obsolete. experience.

â??verb (used without object) 4. to try or test, esp. in order to discover or prove something: to experiment with a new procedure.

[Origin: 1325â??75; ME: proof < L experīmentum. See experience, -ment]

Thats exactly what I'm doing. I'm trying to do an informal test of lighting efficiency. Are there better ways, "such as yours" perhaps, sure there is. So friggin what. There's a large portion of smokers out there that simply can't afford to do it your way. So, they go a little ghetto, like me.

We can argue back and forth all day---but I'm not gonna. For me, it ends with your next response.

The end result is, we all grow using different means, styles, techniques etc... So, how one chooses to grow is totally up to the individual. Further, I don't care how anyone grows, I support them, cuz if we stay divided by bickering amongst ourselves, then growing will never become completely legal in the US.

The picture are someplace, and relayruner is on the internet, All the parts are real basic elec, jr high stuff. Radio shack has all the stuff except the control card.
Power all wall tranformers, and voltage dividers, solid state relay data is all over.
As far as the sensors it all basic data out is ppm, ph, ppm co2 to millivolts.
But you already know that, every one takes basic elect, even int the 8 th grade.
note vent times are to maximize effect or to cause effect.
One was not to vent when the cops came home, you need to change that once you figure out there breaks and on/off shift.
Any basic soldering and basic elec. books have it all.
OHMS Law never takes the 5 th amendment , cause it causes him to eat his short.:thumbsup:
Expermients only work , after you first check what failed,and why, over tha last few decades.
G/W/M =Power to the crop
Going fishing EXperment with the internet , The WHEEL still works. Unless you have air even then its round atoms. the electon beam proves that still works.
The square atom is comming with Led power, some day.
Run fast the photons are comming
OHMS OHMS I feel the power

Hey SanClem will you please with cherries look at my system design GANGA

http://boards.cannabis.com/closet-ca...ml#post1651232

It seems like you have experience with what I'm trying to do. Web-based full automation. THANK GOD FOR YOUR BBQ MOTOR TIP! I was going to build one from scratch!

Pro Grow Great setup, I am trying something similar, will post pics when its finished construction. Good Luck

Thanks Sarasota1! Like I mentioned earlier, there's A LOT of work that has to be done before I'll be happy with it. The plants got pulled out of there and went into coco. The cabinet WILL be completed, it's just on-hold for the time being.

When all is said and done, it will contain a 250 watt (or so) HPS inside a wire cage. That way the plants can grow 320 degrees or so around the light. Similar to how folks utilize a vertical lighting setup, when they place plants all the way around the light--except my plants will grow horizontally, of course.

Next chapter will come as soon as I can get to it---waaay too busy right now with work, family, and college.

update?