Grow Mediums Damn buckets

[Jtrainor87]

I made 2 buckets and a rez and no matter what i do they keep leaking. Ive used aquarium silicone but its the tiniest leak that keeps poking through. They all have seals sigh would of heen cheaper to buy them. The whole t fitting at this point is covered in silicone

 

[OttoCBD]

A lot of people prefer to use cat litter pails since it's a lot easier to get a bulk head fitting to sit flush against the pail. The pail can be painted, wrapped in tape or covered in some kind of reflective material to keep light out of the res. Botanicare (and other companies) make bulk head fittings with a screen/filter attached. (search 'Botanicare Ebb & Flo Fitting Kit') ..Using one of these, you can attach a piece of hose to the barbed outlet and then attach it to your ball valve. No silicone needed as most of them come with at least one rubber bushing/grommet.

 

[OttoCBD]

Upon further inspection, I see that you've incorporated a clear view tube. I'm sure that you can figure out some way of using the fitting above using a short length of hose to the exit barb and then to a T adapter. Companies like General Hydroponics use a view/drain tube that's tinted blue to minimize algae but it's really not enough to prevent it. What I do is get a cheapo pool noodle from the $ store and cut it to be slightly shorter than the view tube. I then slide it over the tube to block the light and remove it to check the level and/or drain.

 

[ManWithWrench]

I have been a fan of using hot glue for more than arts and crafts. having a hair dryer is handy to smooth things out and fill in tight places.

 

[Hazyrook]

?? Could try taking your barbed fitting out and wrapping it in Teflon tape, plumbers tape and reinserting the tape should fill the gaps for you!

 

[TreyDogg]

I had that issue I just put on more silicon. It ain't gotta be pretty it's just gotta not leak. Silicon the inside of the bucket and the outside.

 

[Hazyrook]

Just a fair warning on the silicone, silicone will mold!! I'm a plumber and we don't use silicone around tubs and sinks or well anything really because of that reason.. so I would just watch that silicone bead on the inside of your bucket, not sure how much trouble that will give you?

 

[Jtrainor87]

Upon further inspection, I see that you've incorporated a clear view tube. I'm sure that you can figure out some way of using the fitting above using a short length of hose to the exit barb and then to a T adapter. Companies like General Hydroponics use a view/drain tube that's tinted blue to minimize algae but it's really not enough to prevent it. What I do is get a cheapo pool noodle from the $ store and cut it to be slightly shorter than the view tube. I then slide it over the tube to block the light and remove it to check the level and/or drain.

?? Could try taking your barbed fitting out and wrapping it in Teflon tape, plumbers tape and reinserting the tape should fill the gaps for you!

I had that issue I just put on more silicon. It ain't gotta be pretty it's just gotta not leak. Silicon the inside of the bucket and the outside.

Thanks for the replys, i decided to remake them

I purchased a bulkhead fitting for all three new buckets that will have a female barb fitting screwed on the outside. I will use a small bead of aquarium silicone on the bushing before its pressed against for added protection. ill also be movong the shutoffs firther away so they dont move the barb

I may look into the screen ones another time

 

[Smoking Frog]

When applying silicone.Put some,let it dry for 1 hour,go do something else,and then tighten your fittings.Otherwise when tighting,you displace all of the silicone out.