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Tower systems
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=183		 Page 1 of 17
Author:  johnnie7au [ Jun 28th, '06, 23:39 ]
Post subject:  Tower systems
I like this idea .. tower and cages .. strawberries ... mmmmm...

I have an idea that I will sketch, photograph and post this weekend!

:wink:

U guys and gals never cease to inspire!

:)
Author:  earthbound [ Jun 29th, '06, 08:17 ]
Post subject: 
mmmmmmm, I'm thinking of a stop past the 'B' shop on the way home. :)
Author:  Live Beyond [ Jun 30th, '06, 10:57 ]
Post subject: 
Another way of going up..
http://www.vertigro.com/products/vg-1.php

Could be easily constructed with plastic square pots and a central pipe..
LB
Author:  Live Beyond [ Jun 30th, '06, 11:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tower systems
Another Picture

Attachments:
Vertical.jpg
Vertical.jpg [ 69.62 KiB | Viewed 15922 times ]
Author:  aquamad [ Jun 30th, '06, 11:01 ]
Post subject: 
That it could - given me an idea... I have 4 square pots which need a job - just found their job!
Author:  veggie boy [ Jun 30th, '06, 17:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tower systems
Those leetuce look pretty bloody cramped!
Author:  aquamad [ Jun 30th, '06, 22:14 ]
Post subject: 
guess somebody should eat them!
Author:  earthbound [ Jun 30th, '06, 23:31 ]
Post subject: 
I started to play with the 'Y' fittings that I got yesterday, they are going to be nowhere near as intensive as something like this.... :(
Author:  aquamad [ Jul 1st, '06, 18:26 ]
Post subject: 
Played around with some old pvc downpipes this arvo - here are the results 8)

Attachments:
File comment: THis will be the pump which feeds the tower(s)... I got it from lifeline for $5. I had to make a number of repairs and adjustments to it so that the pipes I intend to use will fit on it (the same type as in the photo...) - this shouyld be able to feed at
old filter pump.jpg
old filter pump.jpg [ 55.93 KiB | Viewed 15937 times ]
File comment: A front view of my first 'tower'... I found this piece of downpipe near the local stream, dumped in the bush - one man's trash is another man's treasure!
tower front.jpg
tower front.jpg [ 26.75 KiB | Viewed 15930 times ]
File comment: A side view of my first experiment ever with 'towers'...
tower side.jpg
tower side.jpg [ 29.95 KiB | Viewed 15930 times ]
Author:  nick [ Jul 1st, '06, 19:13 ]
Post subject: 
what did you use to soften the pvc, murray used a hot air gun, but don't have one of those in the stash of tools available to me. Heard you can do it with boiling water but that would take a lot of water. Also did you think about altering the location of the holes so that they are offset and closer together on the pipe. That way you could have more plants in there. but otherwise they are very excellent towers. will have a crack when I get time and money. also if you filled it with gravel and ran you water through it you would have increased theoretical grow bed volume, thus allowing people to get closer to the magic ratio while not consuming to much physical space.
Author:  aquamad [ Jul 1st, '06, 19:28 ]
Post subject: 
I used my wife's hot air gun (I bought it for her for her scrapbooking hobby, now I am making use of it too)... This tower will be strapped to a pole in the shadehouse so doing one like the example Murray made wont work for me - if it works well I will be making more of them to grow herbs.
Author:  veggie boy [ Jul 1st, '06, 19:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tower systems
Good one aqua - your holes look very well formed.

You might want to be a bit wary of downpipe you find lying around - particulary if you cannot tell that it is reasonably new. Before a certain year (can't remember it) these PVC pipes contained lead. You don't want lead in your plants or your fish.

Sorry to be negative.
Author:  aquamad [ Jul 1st, '06, 19:45 ]
Post subject: 
I know about that and checked out the pipe (there was some posts about this lead problem earlier somewhere) - I checked out the pipe and there was no evidence that it was old or overly well used - the level of weathering was not high at all... Anyway, if this works I will kake bigger ones out of new pipe which can hold more plants, and I will retire the "first born".
Author:  earthbound [ Jul 1st, '06, 20:07 ]
Post subject: 
Fantastic AM.... :D How did you seal the bottom end and get a fitting into it? Is it just heated and squashed with some sealant?
Author:  aquamad [ Jul 1st, '06, 20:16 ]
Post subject: 
Yep, heated it and popped the smaller pvc pipe in and then warmed it up again, folded it and clamped it tighlty with some G-clamps - Later I added a lillte sealent just to make sure it wont leak my precious water out!
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