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Vertical growpipes.
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=29191		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Vonapster [ Oct 18th, '17, 19:25 ]
Post subject:  Vertical growpipes.
Hello fellow Aqua’s

I’ve been reasoning in my mind about installing vertical growpipes to help chew up the excessive nitrates I have as well as me having limited space where I live currently.

I was envisioning using 80 - 100mm pvc pipe and placing tee pieces and elbows to act us “cups” for the media/plants. Using the constant flood method and somehow filling the cups similar to drippers in rect systems and then having the water returning down the main vertical pvc pipe to either main growbed or fish tank

I’m sure people have done this before and has worked quite well

Any thoughts or ideas on how to design, construct and install this idea are most welcome!

Here is a rough plan I draw of my idea what it my look like....see what ya think or am I crazy :think:
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Author:  Dangerous Dave [ Oct 18th, '17, 19:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: Vertical growpipes.
Could work OK. But looks like a lot of work and multiple small supply tubes to drippers mean risk of blockage (unless you have excellent filtration).

Also might end up as expensive (with all the fittings) as bought ones. I have zipgrow towers... there is (or was) an Australian distributor. They work very well. Easy to replant... whereas I can imagine it would be tricky with your clay ball setup .

If keen to make your own, suggest having a look at Joc's thread viewtopic.php?f=18&t=24355. First page includes some home made towers. And later in the thread you'll see how well things grew and how they looked when treated to some paint and creativity.

I also have very limited space and have had excess nitrates... vertical towers work well. But horizontal pipes do too... there are various ways of doing this. I use pipes about 1/3 full of water... deeper than NFT but shallower than DWC.

The other thing that's worked well for me is growing leafy greens and herbs under taller plants that don't shade the growbed too much - eg corn... or indeterminate tomatoes and eggplants strung up to a point on a wall high above and behind the growbed. Again, photos in my threads - eg bottom of first page of my first system thread.
Author:  Vonapster [ Oct 18th, '17, 20:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Vertical growpipes.
Good point about blockages in the smaller diameter pipes. I’ll check out the supplier you suggested and check out your thread!

Thanks Dave
Author:  Petesake [ Oct 19th, '17, 04:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Vertical growpipes.
Yeah I reckon you'd be better off putting a mesh in the reducer and filling the whole tube with balls then using a 15-20 mm tube to provide water to the main tube only. The water will drain through and wick out to the plants.
Author:  earthbound [ Oct 19th, '17, 09:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: Vertical growpipes.
Yep, ones like on Jocs page are by far the simplest and cheapest. I made some with dwv fittings (like attached pic) but it just ended up being expensive and not really any better in the long run..

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Author:  Vonapster [ Oct 19th, '17, 10:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Vertical growpipes.
The design from Joc is way better and simpler than my elaborate design. I’ll give that plan a go.

One issue that I foresee is the height the inlet pipe from pump would have to be. I guess you would have to check capacity of water pump to ensure it has the capacity to pump the water without effecting the sound practice of cycling the total water volume of your system in 1 hour. Would either get another secondary pump or upgrade the existing one!

Thanks everyone for your advice and comments.....this forum is great!!
Author:  dlf_perth [ Oct 19th, '17, 18:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Vertical growpipes.
head is an issue/consideration but that is where something like a pump assisted airlift can work.

airlifts work on the ratio of water depth to lift height, so having a container or tube that is deeper/taller that is pumped into and then airlift works within that can be pretty effective, particularly if you have a pump with a bit of spare capacity for your system pump.
Author:  Petesake [ Oct 20th, '17, 04:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Vertical growpipes.
Darren are you implying that the air pump is more efficient than an electric pump well within its head range?
Author:  dlf_perth [ Oct 20th, '17, 19:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Vertical growpipes.
no. But it does work when the lift is 1.5m-2m or so which tend to seriously diminish the delivery capacity range of cheap pumps.
Author:  Vonapster [ Oct 22nd, '17, 17:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Vertical growpipes.
Pete
I checked out the theory and watched some you tube clips on airlift pump mechanics and I’m impressed how they work!
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