DIY DREAM 1 POT SETUP?

[Cookiemonster69]

Hi guys!

Hope everyone is well and enjoying this rather strange XMAS season.

This post is a 'survey'ish kinda thread.

But what would be your most perfect 1 pot grow system?

1. What style? E.g autopot, DTW, dripper etc
2. Sizes? E.g reservoir, pot size etc
3. What sort of aids would you want to have on this system? E.g built in reservoir PPM etc.
4. Any other problems that you might face with a 1 pot system that you want eradicated!

Thanks for your time!!

 

[Death The Cultivator]

Hi guys!

Hope everyone is well and enjoying this rather strange XMAS season.

This post is a 'survey'ish kinda thread.

But what would be your most perfect 1 pot grow system?

1. What style? E.g autopot, DTW, dripper etc
2. Sizes? E.g reservoir, pot size etc
3. What sort of aids would you want to have on this system? E.g built in reservoir PPM etc.
4. Any other problems that you might face with a 1 pot system that you want eradicated!

Thanks for your time!!

It would be flood and drain system with a covered low profile 10 gallon reservoir. 5 gallon square rain science like pot with LST grommets and a velcro closure. I'd like a 12" tall humidity dome with vents that sits inside the pot snugly.

The system would flood based on a moisture content sensor that reads moisture/ec/ph at the rhizosphere and floods at set parameters. Inside the reservoir would be an ec/temp/ph meter with an LCD display on the pot or something.

 

[Simplicio]

I have the same question, and have been experimenting.

I started off a few years ago with a General Hydroponics Ecogrower, which I really like, but I was having height issues, and needed shorter grow vessels. I especially liked the top feed feature, because it keeps the reservoir aerated and mixed, simultaneously, without air stones.

Next came a Current Culture DWC Pro with its 30 gallon reservoir and huge air pump. Changing out 30 gallons isn't fun, so I stopped using it. I was growing 4 plants in it, so each plant got about 7 gallons.

Then I ordered a 6 bucket RDWC system, but never set it up after seeing all the hoses and pumps.

I've also tried autopots, the 2-plant version Easy2Gro, but didn't like dealing with solid media between grows. Messing with hydroton is bad enough. I over-fed and over-radiated my plants, and the results were poor.

After failing to find a system that I really liked, I decided to build my own, based on the Ecogrower's top feed style, plus air stone.
I made some 2-plant grow vessels using 10 gallon totes filled about halfway.

I also decided to try an external storage reservoir, and bought the controller bucket system for the GH Waterfarm8 system.
It uses a 13 gallon bin that sits on top of a smaller 8 gallon bin equipped with a float valve. The smaller bin keeps the water levels in all the grow vessels the same, and it's fed by the top bin.

I didn't like having to check top bin, bottom bin, and grow vessels for each plant, so I next tried putting a float valve inside each grow vessel, and hooking grow vessels up to external reservoirs. This is the method I've finally settled on, after learning that suspected root interference with the float valve isn't a problem.

Getting the best grow vessels was the next issue.
I've tried 10 gallon, 2-plant vessels with top feed, but still worried that the vessels weren't getting well mixed.
So I've gone to 5 gallon, single plant reservoirs without top feed, some of which can be hooked up to the same storage tank. They are only 8.5 inches tall, so there's plenty of head room. Two air stones seems to keep things well mixed.

Here's one of the grow vessels I'm using. A 6" netpot goes in one hole.
The other hole is for float valve and add/fill access. I've tried liquid level indicator tubes, but couldn't see water levels very well, so now I stick a 6 inch wooden ruler to measure depth when needed. Adding and filling is easily done with a cheap fuel transfer pump. Anything opaque can be used to cover the hole. Each of these holds 3 gallons at 5 3/8 inch depth.

I'm also experimenting with number of plants. Here is a 2 x 4 tent with two of these connected to one external storage tank. The bottom tank is empty and for support only.

Any storage tote can be used as the external reservoir.
If anyone has interest, I can come up with a parts list.

 

[Cookiemonster69]

It would be flood and drain system with a covered low profile 10 gallon reservoir. 5 gallon square rain science like pot with LST grommets and a velcro closure. I'd like a 12" tall humidity dome with vents that sits inside the pot snugly.

The system would flood based on a moisture content sensor that reads moisture/ec/ph at the rhizosphere and floods at set parameters. Inside the reservoir would be an ec/temp/ph meter with an LCD display on the pot or something.

I really like the rhizosphere sensors concept. Each time the medium is flooded, it will do so when moisture levels are low, and you would know if the reservoir needs more or less nutrients?

How do you normally empty your reservoir?

 

[Cookiemonster69]

I have the same question, and have been experimenting.

I started off a few years ago with a General Hydroponics Ecogrower, which I really like, but I was having height issues, and needed shorter grow vessels. I especially liked the top feed feature, because it keeps the reservoir aerated and mixed, simultaneously, without air stones.

Next came a Current Culture DWC Pro with its 30 gallon reservoir and huge air pump. Changing out 30 gallons isn't fun, so I stopped using it. I was growing 4 plants in it, so each plant got about 7 gallons.

Then I ordered a 6 bucket RDWC system, but never set it up after seeing all the hoses and pumps.

I've also tried autopots, the 2-plant version Easy2Gro, but didn't like dealing with solid media between grows. Messing with hydroton is bad enough. I over-fed and over-radiated my plants, and the results were poor.

After failing to find a system that I really liked, I decided to build my own, based on the Ecogrower's top feed style, plus air stone.
I made some 2-plant grow vessels using 10 gallon totes filled about halfway.

I also decided to try an external storage reservoir, and bought the controller bucket system for the GH Waterfarm8 system.
It uses a 13 gallon bin that sits on top of a smaller 8 gallon bin equipped with a float valve. The smaller bin keeps the water levels in all the grow vessels the same, and it's fed by the top bin.

I didn't like having to check top bin, bottom bin, and grow vessels for each plant, so I next tried putting a float valve inside each grow vessel, and hooking grow vessels up to external reservoirs. This is the method I've finally settled on, after learning that suspected root interference with the float valve isn't a problem.

Getting the best grow vessels was the next issue.
I've tried 10 gallon, 2-plant vessels with top feed, but still worried that the vessels weren't getting well mixed.
So I've gone to 5 gallon, single plant reservoirs without top feed, some of which can be hooked up to the same storage tank. They are only 8.5 inches tall, so there's plenty of head room. Two air stones seems to keep things well mixed.

Here's one of the grow vessels I'm using. A 6" netpot goes in one hole.
The other hole is for float valve and add/fill access. I've tried liquid level indicator tubes, but couldn't see water levels very well, so now I stick a 6 inch wooden ruler to measure depth when needed. Adding and filling is easily done with a cheap fuel transfer pump. Anything opaque can be used to cover the hole. Each of these holds 3 gallons at 5 3/8 inch depth.View attachment 1269399

I'm also experimenting with number of plants. Here is a 2 x 4 tent with two of these connected to one external storage tank. The bottom tank is empty and for support only.View attachment 1269405

Any storage tote can be used as the external reservoir.
If anyone has interest, I can come up with a parts list.

I must give credit where it's due! I admire your determination to perfect your craft.

I have ALWAYS been a top drip feeder. I've been looking at autopots recently but something about the float valves failing and flooding setups had me staying away.

I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos, animations on how the system works... I still can't get a grasp of what I'm looking at LOL!

Okay the water comes from the reservoir and floods the tray. And when the plant soaks up the water the float valve comes down allowing more water in, cycle happens again and again. BUT! Doesn't that mean the medium will always be wet?? Will it ever have any dry cycles? Or is this defeated by an airstone in the main reservoir.

I am trying to make a perfect user friendly 1 pot grow system for beginners...like myself. One that doesn't require much mantainance and aids the user as much as it can.

 

[Death The Cultivator]

I really like the rhizosphere sensors concept. Each time the medium is flooded, it will do so when moisture levels are low, and you would know if the reservoir needs more or less nutrients?

How do you normally empty your reservoir?

The return water would give me an indication of nutritional changes as far as EC and ph changes. Monitoring the rhizosphere is for data to really be able to assess needs like flushing properly.

I don't empty my reservoirs unless I make a mistake