WHAB: Still Forming Woodworking Shop & Future Grow Residence

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

This is looking pretty good!

A little more and I should be done, as far as I can go without having the nozzles.

I can bring the left and right ends in a little bit IF I find they need to come in to get the spray nozzles spraying where they need to spray!

,
WHAB

[Oldjoints]

I find it amazing how you over complicate a simple process.....
Have you thought about the fact that by adding all that pvc real estate if the pump you were using is strong enough to accommodate?
You are on the right track by placing the pvc runs between the rows and not directly beneath the sites. By placing them in that location and using 360 degree sprayers you can spray both rows at once.
The smaller the manifold the sturdier it will be, the lower the manifold the sturdier it will be.
When you are all done take it outside, leave the top off and see where and how well it sprays....

[Oldjoints]

Sorry repeated post

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

I find it amazing how you over complicate a simple process.....
Have you thought about the fact that by adding all that pvc real estate if the pump you were using is strong enough to accommodate?
You are on the right track by placing the pvc runs between the rows and not directly beneath the sites. By placing them in that location and using 360 degree sprayers you can spray both rows at once.
The smaller the manifold the sturdier it will be, the lower the manifold the sturdier it will be.
When you are all done take it outside, leave the top off and see where and how well it sprays....

Yes, I have considered the pump. I have even contacted VivoSun about this pump below as a replacement if necessary. The dimension from the feet to its threaded outlet is not denoted in the text of the description. I had to know that before I did anything.

VIVOSUN High Lift 2600 GPH Submersible Water Pump 120W Ultra Quiet.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FJWM52K

IF the pump I have right now won't push it I'll buy the above pump.

I was greatly disheartened to discover many of the sprayers in the previous setup were not spraying. Not spraying at all. Many. That's what caused this redesign and upgrade.

I do plan to take it outside to test it.

Happy Easter, my friend.

I'll be away for a bit.

,
WHAB

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

The Bluelab pH Pen arrived a little while ago...(the 180° & 360° spray nozzles and the bulb seal also arrived)

Reading the instructions, I'll have to wait until tomorrow to use it. The user is instructed to "Hydrate" the Bluelab pH Probe Tip in KCI Storage Solution for 24 hours. I put it in a little more than an hour ago (1:31pm CT).

I'll try and get some pictures of the plants just prior to Lights On. I'm a bit apprehensive of even unzipping the opening at what I might find.

I'll get started on the 180° & 360° spray nozzles and the bulb seal for Cloning Machine II as soon as I can. I didn't finish the new manifold yet...besides the Easter Feast and family taking me away, I noticed I got the spacing on one of the T's a little off. I'm deciding on whether to recut that one. It's not a big deal. I could leave it.

I also received the replacement of the Dewalt Magnetic Screw Lock driver tip. I contacted them about the one piece, the Magnetic Screw Lock driver tip that failed and they sent another whole kit

Make it a great week!

,
WHAB

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

I got this far on the Cloning Machine II upgrade...

Going to turn to drilling out for the spray nozzles.

Now, the ladies:

They're strong ladies! I did not expect them to be in as good a shape as they are. I thought the worst, to be honest! It looks like good color has returned to portions of some of them. Some of them look less droopy. And, they're growing (even the wee little ones ). The crapped-out pH meter was reading 5.5 but I really don't know what the pH is.

Photo Day - Veg Day 9:

pics prior to Lights On....extra Sleepy (poisoned sleepy!)

Make it a great week!

,
WHAB

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

This is with the old pump in place in the manifold in the Cloning Machine II, and I'll make sure it works with this setup. Otherwise I'm prepared to upgrade the pump.

Why the Cloning Machine II needs legs in each corner...It was not as bad as this example because I centered the pump in the manifold but it didn't balance as well as I had hoped.

Then simulating what it will look like with legs with the final length determined by what pump I go with.

Then, I'm not sure why XGarden suggests pre-drilling with a 11/64ths (0.171) drill (the twist drill on the right). In this Schedule 40 tubing it doesn't work, gently installing them by hand it easily strips out.

I had to scrounge to find smaller drill to pre-drill with (the twist drill on the left). Then scrounging through some taps I have on hand to find the correct thread.

Gonna be a lot of work but it's what I'm tackling next!

Good morning! ,
WHAB

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

You think this looks confusing to you?

Above was about the time that I realized I was marking in the wrong locations, where there wasn't any piping, and that I realized my marking tool had exploded!

Nozzles won't go where there is no piping!

The nozzles will go in between the sites where there is piping!

I switched to pencil and marked the tentative locations, including the 180° nozzles on the perimeter.

It looks like I'm going to have to relocate the feeder pipe. I tried it in those 2 locations with that same piping, just switching them one for the other. I'm not sure now where it will wind up. 'Maybe' in that end pipe once I move the end pipes in towards the middle, closer to the end sites.

Gonna let my Thought Process Machine rest on it!

Good morning!

,
WHAB

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

I was not expecting this. I thought the pH would be on the upper level of the scale.

It was definitely not!

First check...

pH check just before feeding...

Then when the nutrients returned to the reservoir.

I'm still surprised by that first number.

And, I have been monitoring the reservoir temperatures and it hit 72°F last night. I added nearly 2 cups of H020 to the reservoir.

When I change out the reservoir I'll not fill it up as full as I did this last time. I filled it to 50 gallons for absolutely no reason at all!

Here's to hoping to seeing some dramatic improvements!

,
WHAB

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

Well, that's done! Is it done right? I won't know until I fire it up, which I hope to do very soon!

It's a good thing PVC piping isn't expensive! IF I have to redo the manifold it will be inexpensive to do it!

,
WHAB

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

Veg Day 10 - BUT Correct pH Day 1:

Photo Day - Veg Day 10 (Correct pH Day 1):

pics just prior to Lights On....extra Sleepy (poisoned sleepy!)

They're looking pretty rough. I 'think' they can still be saved now that I know the real numbers.

It looks like both Raspberry Cough's are withstanding the abuse I have subjected to them pretty well, better than the others by comparison

I'll give the girls a couple of days to recuperate - IF they're going to recuperate, which I fully believe they will - and then I'll trim the ugly off them!

Here's to trying!

,
WHAB

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

Feeding time numbers:

Then, I made sure to number the long runs knowing for sure I could control the others...

WRONG!!!

Since I built the Cloning Machine II upside down I had to twist them 180°. I got the topside nozzles installed.

All was going well, I prepared myself with a rubberized glove (perfect for gaining a proper purchase on PVC pipes! ) *check out Alabama Aircraft Industries Inc (nee Pemco Aviation Group Inc). I did that . The Depot Level Maintenance part, not the failed business model part *.

That was until I discovered 'some' of the joints were looser others. Loose to the point of falling out away from their positions.

Then I had a bit of a jumbled mess

I don't think I got them back in position exactly. I did get the long runs back in order. I do think they're close enough (until they prove to me they're not, which I expect! ).

I did use the opportunity of the jumbled mess to completely clear the piping of debris from drilling and taping them with compressed air.

Gonna make some long temporary legs, then 'try to' take the Cloning Machine II outside, fill it up enough to cover the pump and see how she does. It's late and I didn't eat dinner yesterday. I think I 'may' eat some food instead! Not gonna lie, I'm HUNGRY!

This is the dimension of the potential replacement pump - VIVOSUN 2600 GPH Submersible Ultra Quiet Water Pump - that is not included in the description on Amazon or their website....

Approximately 13cm (5.1 inches). Whereas the pump that is in it now is 3 inches at the base of the threads.

This 'might' be a fail. Not the work I did but the fact that I don't have external lighting except for the hardwired porch light I put in that is motion only *WHAB outdoors waving hands vigorously while jumping up and down! *

,
WHAB

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

I had been gone most of the day. I had a pop-appointment. The Dr. found a few things of interest in my Fasting Labs the other day. More Non-Fasting Labs today and the results may cause a referral.

Anyway, here's what's going on. I haven't done anything with the Cloning Machine II today...

I've been trying to get these pictures from my phone to my PC since pre-feeding time (6:00pm)...

Photo Day - Veg Day 11 (Correct pH Day 2):

pics just prior to Lights On....extra Sleepy (abused sleepy!)

I'll try and get some Lights On pictures later on. I still have that box I've been eyeing for that purpose right next to me!

And, going to have to give the PPM's a little more attention now that pH is under control. They were at 750 at feeding time.

I feel like a nap!

,
WHAB

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

Like I needed more problems! (While I'm composing this I'm formulating a game plan)

Yes, pH was way out of whack! Yes, E.C. was considering higher than it probably should have been at this stage.

I have corrected both of those problems and was hoping for a strong comeback!...

Here's where we're at...

Photo Day - Veg Day 12 (Correct pH Day 3):

pics just prior to Lights On....extra Sleepy (abused sleepy!)

Continued...

WHAB

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

I only halfway expected this. I thought it was possible but I thought I might have prevented it when I changed the translucent hoses out.

I decided to lift one of the inner buckets out of the outer buckets just to get a look-see...

Those are 2 of the 12 buckets. The first is from the bucket that first plant is in. The second is from a empty bucket on the opposite side of the circle to the left of the tall plant (which I misidentified the other day, it's not a Raspberry Cough, it is a Blueberry (Dutch Passion).

*Apologies for the Metal Halide lighting. I tried to physically block it in the second picture. Fail! *

I'm going to pull all the inner buckets out and take them outside and flush them with a garden hose attached to the bathtub faucet with 'warm' water (not well water cold).

This is the reading from the tap water...

Then I'm going to drain the reservoir, flush the outer buckets into the empty reservoir, clean them both...then refill the reservoir, adjust for pH, add Mega Crop A&B.

I'll miss the 8pm feeding.

DAMN!

,
WHAB

[WhiteHotAfterburner]

I knew using those translucent buckets might be a problem. I've been keeping a close eye on things. I saw no evidence of algae. No floaters, no odor.

I took all the inner buckets outside and flushed them with a garden hose attached to the bathtub faucet with 'warm' water (not well water cold). I scrubbed the exterior of the buckets as well as I could. I flushed the plants multiple times. I floated and drained everyone one of the six pictured twice. As serious a flush as I could accomplish.

This is the tall Blueberry (Dutch Passion). I cut the exposed roots off.

I transplanted the 2 runts that 'might' do something into planters with a soil mix out of last years vegetable garden. I'll hand feed them and see what they do. IF they do anything but die I'll put them outdoors.

I moved the 6 remaining plants that were growing back into the grow space, out of the way of the work I needed to do.

I cleaned the outer buckets in the grow space as well as I could. I cleaned them with 140°F water.

I back-flushed the tubing with 140°F water. I cleaned the controller with that 140°F water. I cleaned the reservoir with that 140°F water.
*apologies for the Metal Halide pictures*

All the buckets in the grow space were completely clear water when I was done. The last picture above what before I was finished.

I filled the reservoir to approximately 30 gallons with 140°F water. I poured a whole bottle of H020 in that 30 gallons of 140°F water and ran that through the system. I was going to run bleach through it but to my surprise I don't have any bleach here.

It's emptying now. I am going to do that two more times. Approximately 30 gallons of 140°F water with a whole bottle of H020 in it each time (second fill now) and fill and drain the system.

Then I'll fix a batch of nutrients with 1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons of H020.

Then I'm going to make light shields to wrap around the buckets. I think I have enough of that reflective foam. IF not, I'll wrap them with that P&S (Poly Shield). I already made 6 light shields for the tops.

I'm shopping for a 5 gallon system with black buckets. The one I landed on doesn't have have the recess in the bottom to allow for better drainage but at least they're not translucent.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254919165178?mkevt
I'm trying to wrap my head around either buying a 5 gallon control bucket or repurpose this 2 gallon controller bucket's parts to serve that purpose.

IF I have to clean the system every 2 or so weeks I'll do that. I am hoping a H020 nutrient mix and full light blocks on the buckets will help!

:crossesfingers:

,
WHAB