The "Madman goes Aero" building thread

[latewood]

I would like to request that you view, but, PLEASE DO NOT reply to this thread until I can finish Phaze1 tonight I would like to post all the build in real-time order before we start comments. Thanks, for all your cooperation ahead of time!

I have been threatening to build a system. Well, I started tonight. I am going to build the 1st Phaze of a 3-4 Phaze system; that will be powered by a 600 gph 1/2 hp clear water pump.. I am tired of lugging water and nute solution around twice a week and I need to become more automated, to make it easier to run my grow; just in case I have to leave for a couple of weeks.

Phaze1 will be an aero system consisting of 2-10 gallon totes w/drains and 2 pipe dreams aero sprinkler heads each. I will use 2-5 inch netpots each with hydroton or lava rock...I haven't decided yet. I am going to build this system with supplies that can be found at home depot or other large warehouse facilities.

I will post 5 pix at a time with brief details of each
Tonight the pictures consist of:
1. 10g sterlite tub marked to diameter of drain
2. use a good sharp (heavy) knife or jigsaw, and take your time in order to be accurate...you want the drain to fit snugly when you are done.
3. Hole cut and drain components laid out...
4. Make sure to pay attention and install friction ring correctly so as not to pinch rubber washer...
5. Timeout. I found a crack from cutting bottom. I will try a fix using aquarium sealant from Wally's and a piece of the plastic that I cut out for drain hole and fabricated this piece to fit around drain.

I will be posting question's that pop up in my head, while I post pix...
A Q...Will it be ok to use stainless steel drain, instead of plastic? No, don't answer...wait

latewood Reviewed by latewood on 10-08-2005. The "Madman goes Aero" building thread I would like to request that you view, but, PLEASE DO NOT reply to this thread until I can finish Phaze1 tonight :) I would like to post all the build in real-time order before we start comments. Thanks, for all your cooperation ahead of time! :cool: I have been threatening to build a system. Well, I started tonight. I am going to build the 1st Phaze of a 3-4 Phaze system; that will be powered by a 600 gph 1/2 hp clear water pump.. I am tired of lugging water and nute solution around Rating: 5

[latewood]

6. OK, patch in place drain tightened down...wait and see if it holds
I might look for plastic drains...
7. Drain installed and holes cut in top for 5 inch netpots...
8. I cut a piece of Panda Plastic to fit tub-top and added 1-2 inches excess to wrap around sides and tape...
9. Use 1/2 roll width tape and tape plastic snugly to underside of tub-top...
10. Cut small pie shaped sections to open up netpot holes, trim plastic back wrap inside and tape edge of hole with 1/4 width tape...

Looks like I need to make some coffee...despite downsizing pix, it is taking a while to upload each set of pix

I was going to start from scratch on this system, but decided to be frugle and use tubs and totes that I had laying around...

My list of parts to buy; include valves for feeding and draining, pvc and, hand tightening compression fittings, t's and 90's...

[latewood]

11. Holes taped pots fit nicely, now for the pot-lids...
12. Drain/side view of tub...
13. Wrapped pot-lid in plastic and although they are not installed, this is the location of the 2 sprinkler heads...They will be mounted pointing down...
14. I got these sprinkler heads at the hydro store...they are replacements for a pipe dreams 32v stadium type system...I never would have thought to use heads this size, but when I pulled out a netpot and looked at the spray this little sucker produces , I bought 6
15. This is the heart of my system...1/2 hp 600 gph clear water pump...

This pump raises another Q...Will it be alright to run acidic nutrient solutions through this pump? Wait! Don't answer! The box says that this pump is suitable for handling clean water not containing abrasive particles and fluids which are not chemically aggressive to the pump components. So, Q2 would be; Are acidic nutrient solutions chemically aggressive to this pump? Wait! Don't answer, Thanks

[latewood]

Me and the 'ol lady just got back from getting some supplies for the Mad Man
Here are some pictures of all the little playthings we brought home to assemble
1. This is all we got, this is all the hardware, I believe I need to supply a 6 site aero system...With a bit of overkill... NOTE; The shelving cost about $25 bucks...it is 4 foot by 2 foot and ,yes, Harddon, you could jump on it. roh'ware lmao...got it with the coated shelf for the units to sit on. So the AC floor register will not be blocked...
2. Once we got in the irrigation area of Hopot...I was found by a very helpful young disciple, who really got into helping us spend money...So, I bought this electronic manifold and this neat six system timer/controller...well, so much for building my manifold... that was tough...$80 bucks for both
3.you all know what this "schtuff is: lego's...Oh, the books I have accumulated for projects that I have going...bought sprinklers tonight...$20 bucks...I did find and buy 2 plastic drains
4. The drain system and "schtuff"

Well enough for now...Thanks all for allowing me to continue to Post this tutorial; without interruption...This is going to be a nice system

[Stormcooker]

looks like a lot of work. You could just have gotten the American Hydroponics "Baby Blomer" and been done with it. Yeah it's ebb n' flow but it's fast, effecient, and yields BIG when you know what you're doing. Cost way under $200


1st week flowering, 35 days from seed

[turtle420]

Latewood,

Keep on the FAQ/Guide quality posts. They are very intersting and plenty of usefull. When you're done with this thread/topic, ask one of the moderators to copy/paste the entire thread for you and give you editing capabilities/priviledges. That way, you can erase all the posts you don't want, even this one. Sorry I posted man, but maybe you don't continue if you don't read this inspirational tip... Dude, keep it up!

[HUGEBUDS]

KEEP THE THEAD GOING GREAT JOB

[latewood]

I will be adding/moving forward to/with this thread, for those of you interested...I have been notified by Zandor that I can move pertinent posts to faq without the replies! So let's have fun, but keep in mind I may not always reply to you until I can use a throwaway post...I'll be back...

[latewood]

I am go to build a simple system first, without the use of my 3x electronic manifold/timer...Don't worry I will be adding this later...So, I am going to do the first 2 tubs of a multiple tub system...these tubs are multi-funtional, i.e.
...we are building an aeroponic system, we could also use continual flow drip method, or by incorporating a cut-off valve; we convert system to dumpable DWC reservoirs :smokin:

After getting into the middle of putting this system together, I found the need for a few more parts. Converting this old bathroom into pumproom/water station, veg room, cloning station...That is another thread, but you will be seeing some things changing as we build system, the room awakens, and becomes functional...Enjoy :dance:

1. needed more parts, 2-3 valves, a drain conversion, and some gluable t's and endcaps...
2. Here, I threw it all in a box and "AWAY WE GO"...

3. Converting Old Bathroom...notice: drain system attached and tubs placed on wood frame support...
4. Drain system test...

5. Tubs hold water, drain seals work...

[latewood]

1. We decided to recycle this 10 gallon 4 site dwc tub for our res...

2. Mounted pump to angle iron brackets...

3. OK, Here is where we ran into a problem! ... Pump would not draw water efficiently if at all with pump mounted on res. support so...

4. We put the pump just above res. level and dry-fitted one nipple on pipe tall enough to 90 over top of reservoirs and ran a pump test...

5. Pump test worked, LOTS and LOTS of water pressure...You'll see :thumbsup:...So, I cut 4 almost even (fist width) pieces of pipe to build my manifold with...