Two recurlating Igloo grows, aka Waterloos

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Mytwhyt

Mytwhyt

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I did this single igloo grow with an igloo as the reservoir.. Worked great, just a pia changing the frozen water bottles.. This will be the same, without, the frozen water bottles.. The screens will be 24x36" this time.. High yield, fast turn around is what I aim for. 4 months is the goal.. I wont be dicking around with rw or other seed starting media.. When the seeds have a 3/4-1" root they'll go straight into the hydroton.. This link will show what I intend..to do. with the igloos.. Here's some pics of the reservoir and cooling system I'll be using..Don't be telling me to buy a chiller.. I have one for use with my waterfarms..
 
Two recurlating igloo grows aka waterloos
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Two recurlating igloo grows aka waterloos 5
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Two recurlating igloo grows aka waterloos 7
Two recurlating igloo grows aka waterloos 8
Mytwhyt

Mytwhyt

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The black abs 1-3/4" washers you see on the outside of the reservoir serve two purposes.. First to spread the force on the rather thin skin found on most ice chests and the Igloos ... Second is as spacers to compensate for the not perfect length fit of the 3" and 6" cut off sprinkler risers I use..This works because there are no rubber washers on the outside of the ice chest.. I use Teflon tape where it's needed.
I'll post the allowed 5 pics and try and cover as many of the details as I can.. I bought the 13/16" deep hole drill off Amazon, 6-7$, It was needed to get a clean, straight hole through the ice chest insulation... It also works for the center hole in the washer/spacer.. [A 13/16 spade drill will work for buckets when drilling holes for 1/2" grommets.] The old 1-3/4" hole drill I had on hand.. I also had 1/4" and 1/8" abs sheet on hand from other projects. Plastic washers for the outside of an igloos, I cut from the sides of 5 gal buckets.. Almost all the parts I use, or adapt, are bought off the shelf from HD..
Please bear with me as I go through this again, The pvc standing water column connected to the reservoir is what makes this setup work.. The water in the grow igloo, and the reservoir, and the water column are all the same level.. The top of the water column is 6-7 inches higher than the water level..The drip ring will remove 5-6 gal an hour from the water column, which is then replaced from the reservoir... With the dripring adding 5-6 gal an hour to the grow Igloo, gravity will return the water, at the same rate, to the reservoir near the Ice Probe.. We'll call this my Waterloo..
When drilling the plastic washers/spacers, I drill the pilot with 13/16" drill, but not the hole itself.. That holes serves as the start hole for the 1-1/2 hole drill.. I drill out the 13/16 hole while holding the 1-1/2" plastic in a $2.99 clamp from HF.....
 
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oldskol4evr

oldskol4evr

12,306
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I did this single igloo grow with an igloo as the reservoir.. Worked great, just a pia changing the frozen water bottles.. This will be the same, without, the frozen water bottles.. The screens will be 24x36" this time.. High yield, fast turn around is what I aim for. 4 months is the goal.. I wont be dicking around with rw or other seed starting media.. When the seeds have a 3/4-1" root they'll go straight into the hydroton.. This link will show what I intend..to do. with the igloos.. Here's some pics of the reservoir and cooling system I'll be using..Don't be telling me to buy a chiller.. I have one for use with my waterfarms..
ok im confused,you have the fan on side near bottom,then 2 water lines on bottom,how are you keeping water from entering the fan and most important from electricuting yourself?
wish you had better pics ,this sounds something i would like to try but from what im seeing sure aint understanding
 
BloodShot

BloodShot

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ok im confused,you have the fan on side near bottom,then 2 water lines on bottom,how are you keeping water from entering the fan and most important from electricuting yourself?
wish you had better pics ,this sounds something i would like to try but from what im seeing sure aint understanding
I'm guessing that fan is his "ice probe" which protrudes through to the inside, some kinda chiller instead of using ice this time.
Pretty neat!
 
oldskol4evr

oldskol4evr

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I'm guessing that fan is his "ice probe" which protrudes through to the inside, some kinda chiller instead of using ice this time.
Pretty neat!
intersting to see it closer,i see a wreck unless there is a sealed probe on other side
 
Mytwhyt

Mytwhyt

117
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This is an ice probe.. The heat exchanger is on the outside with the fan to cool it... The cooling probe is on the inside..
No contact with the water on the inside and the fan on the outside..
https://www.amazon.com/IceProbe-The...words=ice+probe+chiller&qid=1578018775&sr=8-2
https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Temp...S2NZCA3P4E3&psc=1&refRID=AGKZAAWRNS2NZCA3P4E3
This is an ink bird temp. controller that regulates temp in the reservoir.. I bought it because it has a wider temp set range.. All lines will be insulated..
A single outlet on the reservoir feeds both Waterloos... It's each individual dripring that moves its own water from the reservoir.. Gravity will return water from both igloos to a single inlet at the same rate it was drawn from the reservoir....
I'll have pics of it set up soon .. I only started this thread yesterday.. Hang in there for a few more days..
 
oldskol4evr

oldskol4evr

12,306
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This is an ice probe.. The heat exchanger is on the outside with the fan to cool it... The cooling probe is on the inside..
No contact with the water on the inside and the fan on the outside..
https://www.amazon.com/IceProbe-The...words=ice+probe+chiller&qid=1578018775&sr=8-2
https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Temp...S2NZCA3P4E3&psc=1&refRID=AGKZAAWRNS2NZCA3P4E3
This is an ink bird temp. controller that regulates temp in the reservoir.. I bought it because it has a wider temp set range.. All lines will be insulated..
A single outlet on the reservoir feeds both Waterloos... It's each individual dripring that moves its own water from the reservoir.. Gravity will return water from both igloos to a single inlet at the same rate it was drawn from the reservoir....
I'll have pics of it set up soon .. I only started this thread yesterday.. Hang in there for a few more days..
are you running this outside
 
Mytwhyt

Mytwhyt

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No.. Can I safely assume you understand how it circulates the reservoir? The GH dripring is a cleaver adaption of an air lift water pump , first thought of in 1797.. Instead of moving water up and down as it does in a Waterfarm, its just been repurposed to move water from the reservoir... No air stones, or electric water pumps..
A constant feed of water over 9 liters of hydroton adds all the dissolved O2 the plants need.
Modified Waterfarms case in point. No electric water pumps, no air stones., 5 gal bucket reservoir, it was winter, no chiller was needed.. 26 oz total.. This was from seed, 5 weeks veg, 10weeks flowered.. Two different strains, the tall one was Blue Mystic, The shorter one, Blackberry.. They were both feed only Flora Nova Bloom, and a little silica.. That and each sat under a 315 watt cmh/lec light.. They have replaced my 600 watt hps lights..
 
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oldskol4evr

oldskol4evr

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ok ,im looking for a outdoor solution,what you speek of sounds like the kracky method,i did a 33 gal trash can with no pump or air,tried twice with cucumbers,no luck,went to air pump on can and got a watermelon plant to take hold and got about 15 pounds hanging on a trellis,then i had a run in of a week in hospital and lost the melon and plant,i like that cooler though an
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d trying to think of a way to use that outside,not doing 33 gal again ,to hard to manage and cant change water as often if you dig
 
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Mytwhyt

Mytwhyt

117
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I would love to be able to do an outside hydro grow, I do have a slight problem with the heat... This pic was taken July about 2p..
 
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Mytwhyt

Mytwhyt

117
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For an outside grow an evaporative cooling tower might work.. You would need a constant flow, and an auto feedback to replace the evaporated water to keep it from becoming concentrated.. A cooling tower will also add dissolved O2.. Evaporative cooling is what I use to cool my house.. Works well where I live.. I've seen the humidity as low as 2%.. I'm only 55 miles from Death Valley.. 4 inch of rain a year is average..
 
oldskol4evr

oldskol4evr

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I would love to be able to do an outside hydro grow, I do have a slight problem with the heat... This pic was taken July about 2p..
first of may to end of oct here,this year was 4 months of triples ,so i def feel ya
 
oldskol4evr

oldskol4evr

12,306
438
For an outside grow an evaporative cooling tower might work.. You would need a constant flow, and an auto feedback to replace the evaporated water to keep it from becoming concentrated.. A cooling tower will also add dissolved O2.. Evaporative cooling is what I use to cool my house.. Works well where I live.. I've seen the humidity as low as 2%.. I'm only 55 miles from Death Valley.. 4 inch of rain a year is average..
that were i come into a problem,i live in deep south texas,a cooler would bring mold here close to the gulf,so swamp coolers and such are out of question,i was thinking of a pvc manifold with that little cooler gadget hooked in the res some how and with the recirculation of it evey hour or so it might do alright.
this trash can did great once i figured out the whole problem from beginning was my water source,when i went and got ro water it was easy to maintain,the plant was eating 5 gal of water every 2 days hahah,that why we going smaller buckets,in that pic i threw up there is a 8ft wide by 40 ft long deck up there,i want to have all my melons growing there coming year,watermelon,honey dew melon,pumpkin,canaloupe,covering that deck,great for space and way to maintain right by the house,not only that but got rain this past year and it brought on the grubs and slugs,damn grubs ate right threw a 30 lb melon and 4 other melons
 
Mytwhyt

Mytwhyt

117
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These igloo scrog screens are 24"x36" .. The screen supports are 16" long.. That puts the screen about 12" from the dripring.. The light will effectively cover a 36"x36" screen, but I didn't have a screen that large.. I just make do with I have, or can change to work..... I gave up on the hole punch.. Didn't have the rotary files I needed, and didn't want to spend the $70 for a set..
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I used a 1/2" wood chisel to cut the hole.. I drew the right size hole on piece of peel and stick shipping label.. It was simple enough to cut, where needed around the label.. The cone was shortened 1-1/4" I used a small saw to remove all but the bottom grove.
The last pic is the 1/2" fittings needed for the screen.. All slip fittings, no glue needed.. The hangers are cut from the same 2"x4" wire used for the screen.. The 4 uprights are 24" long..
 
Mytwhyt

Mytwhyt

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1
Not allowed!




Just filled the system.. The insulation for the tubing will be added.. Wanted to check for leaks first.. The line from the center of the ice chest is the drain... I drilled a hole through the floor so it drains outside.. Will drop sprouted seeds into the hydroton in the morning..
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Mytwhyt

Mytwhyt

117
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Been a long time since flu came a calling and I let this thread go. Received my GG-1 seeds yesterday, soaked for a day, two already cracked. Will start with 8 seeds and grow until they show sex.. I'll start with clones this grow..
Until then I'll show you how to make a system using buckets, and parts from Home Depot. The main key part to the system is the 2.5" cut off riser.. The ability to change its length lets you use it it different ways.. Using a 3/4" water column in the grow bucket lets you draw water directly from the reservoir.. As the drip ring pumps water over the hydroton it adds O2.. .. No air stones needed.. The water level in the water column is the same as the entire system.. The pvc water column is several inches higher than the water level.. They don't mix until the drip ring pumps the water from the water column... Five -gal buckets will work as well.. The feedback reservoir can be as large as you like.. It just needs to be higher than the reservoir...
These pics are of 6&7 gallon buckets.. A float in the reservoir controls the water level for the system.., Also what comes in from the feedback reservoir..


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This is the 3/4" thin wall pvc water column, located in the grow bucket. The pass through for water column is the only thing that needs to be ordered, 4-5$.. It's intended use is in speakers to relive the air pressure as a speaker works.. The system can be used without it.. I put it there so my balls wouldn't fall out when the grow basket is lifted.. I like to lift my girls skirt from time to time to check her roots.. The full length 2.5 riser is used for the water column. If you'll notice, in between the sets of threads there's a solid ring. That needs to be trimmed down, just a little... Trimming is needed to fit inside the sch40 3/5" pvc spacer .. That spacer locates the position that the water column needs to be in for an 8-inch grow basket... The original grow was started in 10" basket.. Way too much hydroton needed..


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Sorry for the fuzzy picture. the 2.5 inch cut- off riser.. It's drilled so it can be wrapped with a filter..
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The filter was cut from a 5-gal paint bucket filter.. HD




This is used on the inside of the feedback reservoir.. You also need 2 thin washers for each side of the connector. As thin as you can find.. I cut a piec of innertube. The metal washer will make a better seal against the rubber.. Even better if you tweak the washer slightly, to better fit the curve of the bucket'.
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