DIY Hydroponics Vegetable Growing Tower [Part 3] - Under $200
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
- It's been a little while since I filmed an update on my Hydroponic/Aeroponic Tower Builds which brings me to part 3 of the series. This build revisits the single tower build, incorporating design improvements both learned and through feedback from all of you who are watching these videos.
Today I document and film the build process for an updated design of the single tower and some of the challenges I faced during the build process. There are some times during filming when my camera began to overheat due to the temperature outside which resulted in some blurry video so I apologize for that.
I'll also share with you a brief update on some of the other hydroponic activities that I'm currently working on.
Please keep those comments and recommendations coming.
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Chapter List:
Tower build: 8:03
Base Build: 26:50
Preparing Seeds: 1:00:06
Letpot Growing Update: 1:06:24
New Design and Build Update: 1:07:13
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Parts list:
2 - (Depending on Build Height) Charlotte Pipe PVC Pipe 4-in 10-ft - $21.76/ea [low.es/2QbcLHs]
1 - Charlotte Pipe 1/2-in x 10-ft - $5.82 [low.es/3CuZuDU]
2 - 4.25-in Drain Cover - $7.48/ea [low.es/3R3oab0]
3 - 4″ PVC Tee, White - $6.48/ea [low.es/3PFLOZK]
4 - 4-in Dia 90-Degree PVC Drain Elbow - $3.98/ea [low.es/3T0rIMV]
1 - 4-in Dia 45-Degree PVC Wye - $7.98 [low.es/3QzfPMd]
2 - 4 In. PVC Drain Cap - $3.28/ea [low.es/2XZsorZ]
1 - 2-in dia x 2-ft 280 Psi Schedule 40 White PVC Pipe - $13.15 [low.es/3dJ3qqs]
1 - GROWNEER 550GPH Submersible Pump 30W Ultra Quiet Fountain Water Pump - $17.77 [amzn.to/3Ag9sX1]
1 - xGarden - Lightweight Economy Net Pots Cups (50 pack) - $10.95 [amzn.to/3F5hiq6]
1 - Pure Coconut Coir Netted Pellets 42mm (100 pack) - $33.09 [amzn.to/3u1Cs2n]
1 - AeroGarden Liquid Nutrients (1 Liter) - $26.19 [amzn.to/3Vc6bS4]
1 - Fusion One 10-fl oz Clear PVC Cement and Primer - $14.28 [low.es/3pAZcnw]
Optional:
IRWIN Marples 6.5-in Fine Finish Cut Coping Saw - $9.98 [low.es/3cdxTN0]
Kobalt PVC Cable Saw - $7.48 [low.es/3AAFMpa]
Clay Pebbles Gardening Ceramsite (2.2lbs) - $13.99 [amzn.to/3GMfDqL]
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POD Cutting Template: bit.ly/3c8Hm8c
#hydroponics #aquaponics #diy #gardening #growing #plants #vegetables #fruit #harvest #inexpensive #garden
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I really respect your willingness to revisit, revamp and relaunch these designs so transparently.
I've watched 3 of your build videos and am inspired. However there is one thing that stands out. I haven't really seen any videos of the success of your system. Have you grown plants? What kind? What kind of harvests. We need to see those results, that's the whole purpose of it all.
I searched for same thing. Did anything ever grow?
He said there was too much rain one year and too much heat the next, so he is on year 3 now.
He said there was too much rain one year and too much heat the next, so he is on year 3 now.@@JoeAnshien
@@grahamcampbell9261 Not really sure how you can have too much rain with hydroponics and it is also movable to a less sunny spot. I hope with all the work he put in he can figure out how to get a crop of something;-)
@@JoeAnshien I think it was a tropical storm or something and he failed to move them. Lessons learned he said.
It's great to see the third generation of your designs. And thank you for the links for getting parts.
Absolutely. Let me know if there is anything you need. Appreciate the feedback!
💢just stumbled upon your video wanting to get into hydroponics after seeing a tower a friend bought and uses. Their tower cost upward of $600. But I find your design looks completely better and more efficient while being by far cheaper. I watched all your videos and the corrections you have made are important and more successful. Thank you for your videos. I will be making my own soon
Thanks for all the updates, Chris! Just a note: For the 3D Printed tower, you must use a food-grade resin in order to make it waterproof and safe from fungal growth. The space between the layers makes it very easy to leak through and especially for mold and bacteria to grow. I once 3d printed a sponge holder in the kitchen, and the space between the layers was quickly molded.
Great tip! I heard that as well. Any recommendations on brand of sealant or resin?
@@ChrisLoh tabletop resin is typically food safe
Did you ever end up needing stability supports? All the gardens I’ve seen like this are lacking that element
Looks like you answered my question! Just had to watch the video through 😂 Thank you ❤
This isnt not true, Ive use 3d printed parts for lot of stuff that needs to be water tight....also as long as you have water circulation you really shouldnt need to worry andthing fungal or mold and so forth.
Sorry if this was already said, you should primer/glue both sides before connecting. Meaning the outside of the pipe all arpund and inside the fittings all around for a better non leak seal. Keep up the great work!
Quick tip: if you wish to use the expanded clay pellets for everything, just pre-sprout your seeds and then transfer the sprouts into the pots with the clay pellets. It's a little bit of extra work, but you gain the advantage of not having to worry about nesting insects.
Thanks for the tip. I'll have to try it this coming Spring. Another viewer mentioned using Rockwool as well if starting from seed and then covering with the clay pellets. I'll try both methods! Thanks!
@@ChrisLoh This is what we have done. We use rockwool cubes (non-foil wrapped version) to sprout seeds then once roots emerge from bottom of rockwool, transfer to tower with expanded clay media.
Hi Chris. Thank you so much for your dedication to this project and to making it more easier for us to understand, and more affordable and accessible for people. You even added extra work on yourself by using hand saws instead of your circle saw to teach us who cannot afford the circle saw how to cut. May God bless you and your heart of teaching!
This is what UA-cam is good for. Creating and getting feedback. Great job Chris.
Thanks. Yes I love getting feedback to improve the design and build!
Would love to see follow up vids in the plant growth and challenges on these towers and trying different plants like tomatoes cabbage ext
Love your easy to understand videos. Also, your “next step” tower that breaks down will also be easier to clean! So important. Thank you!
Change two of the elbows at the base to Ts then get a female adapter and a plug. This will allow for even better clean out and inspection inside the base .
I did this on opposite corners so I could clean everything. The cleanouts are wider than the other fittings and cause the entire unit to balance on them. An extra 1/8" of material needs to be glued under the center and other two corners to adequately support the water weight and to prevent wobbling.
For my next tower, I'll build the base like the 4 tower version and cap the corners where they would normally connect to the towers. It'll be more accessible for cleaning, adding solution and wiring, less finicky in the build process, and allow for expansion into four towers, when I have the room.
Great idea! I was thinking of how to clean it, this is the perfect solution.
Thanks for the idea. I would suggest two crosses or 4-way connectors on opposite ends for 100% access.
Only problem with that is potential leaks. Clean outside are not meant to have any form of pressure on them and are usually above the main drain. Not sure even with wrapping the threads in Teflon would stop a potential seeping of water
This is a great idea, it also makes it more modular by adding two towers where the female adapter and plug are. But which type of PVC tube would you need to include to do both?
It won't leak if you put the cement on both male and female parts. It's all plumbing components, they're designed not to leak. It'll seal. Don't be shy with it. Great info and content.
Thanks. That was my thinking as well.
A little bit of clear silicone will go a long way as well.
Just a suggestion: if you use the miter saw as you did in the previous two videos, you can use a stop block to measure all your parts. Put a block of wood say 8in from the blade attach it to your miter saw base, push the PVC pipe to the block and cut. All pieces will be the same size, no need to measure each piece. Move the block to the next measurement and you will speed the execution and precision. You can use the same process to make the slits into the pipe at the right height.
I appreciate your careful instruction and the fact that you thought to show the project using simple tools. Thank you
Would for sure like to see how well the system work, a short video of what you grew would be awesome
Watch his part 2 video. He also has other videos than explains his plant growth. Good luck.
Excellent presentation skills. Just the right mix of talking and demonstration!!! Also, you create a down-to-earth rapport with your viewers as one who is exploring a common interest and sharing your discoveries. Your discoveries lead to design innovation and you save us from avoidable frustrations with your newfound knowledge. Well done! I look forward to seeing all that is to come! RG
Wow, thank you!
Which type of PVC are you using. Are you using Schedule 40?
@@tonyaslatten6524yes, it is schedule 40, the schedule 80 would be too thick to work with easily, and would add to the cost as well. Love this guys builds!!!
It is amazing to see the progress. The first one was amazing already. The second one was even cooler. Now there is a third. Love it. Much love.
No need to worry about bacteria in your tower! In running water in any pipe, there is a "biofilm" of bacteria anyway, plus, your bacteria are mostly aerobic, which generally aren't pathogenic. You might consider using a timer. If your water stops for 15 minutes after every half hour or hour, I don't think your plants will mind, (it might even improve oxygen transfer in some roots) and at night maybe running for 15 minutes every hour will keep the plants happy when they are not photosynthesizing. Also, on your smaller designs, an airlift pump might be enough to run the system.
I wonder if a solar powered pump that only runs during the day would work. What do you think?
@@mdforlife I think so. I used brushless air pumps run directly from solar panels to run airlift pumps about a decade ago, I think they ran for almost 2 years (but they were noisy). They came on when the sun got bright enough and then ran till night. It's in my air pump videos but I don't remember which videos.
Happy to see somebody trying to make a more affordable hydroponic tower.
Thanks. Unfortunately inflation is making the materials more expensive. Im working on another design that might be even cheaper. Update coming soon!
I followed your design and changed it slightly to fit my needs. I have a 32”x32”x64” grow tent, and I was able to fit two towers. Thanks for making these videos.
Nice work! How is your system working out for you?
It’s been just around one month and it’s been amazing! I just harvested some lettuce 🥬 and we have baby cucumbers 🥒 already. I’m growing indoors so, controlled environment.
I’m curious what the cost benefit is to doing this. I have a nice, unfinished basement. Was thinking of trying this for the winter, but I’m wondering if the lighting, pumps etc actually save money/energy or not
Our electric bill hasn’t noticeably changed since adding this tower garden. The led’s are on a 14 hour cycle and I run the pump for 5 minutes every 40 minutes.
@@TheJdecker11 very interesting to hear that your indoor build works! would you have any specific recommendations with regards to the grow light? tks.
Based on my experience with hydroponics in 5 gal buckets - one full grown plant will use up all of the water in a week or less! Plan for the future needs of your mature garden and think about options for adding capacity and frequent adding.
😂
What is the head height of the pump
Bless your heart. It was nice of you to do those cuts with a hand saw for demonstration. I would have only done one that way and then used the miter saw sitting next to you for the rest. Haha
Hi Chris and all reading , I love you design and seeing your thought process, a couple pointers from an old contractor that will definitely help, glue both peace’s of the PVC outside of the pipe as you did but also the inside of the flange and it will not leak , also the Saw you used is a coping saw for trim and the blade is a little wobbly, if you use a true hacksaw the blade will be much more stable when you make your cuts. Again I love your design I love watching you and I am Im building one myself. Keep up the good work.
What I love about your presentation is the clarity, directness and no nonsense. Also, it appears to me that you are moving along at a good clip in terms of refining your system. Thanks for your videos.
This design makes much more sense than the traditional 360 type of tower. Most of us dont have the luxury of placing these towers in the middle of a yard, most will have these against a house or fence and only recieves light on the front side.
Got the base built this morning. Had to order the PVC 4-inch 45 Degree Wey will be here in two days. I made the 4-inch rain cover from the lids from a lid from a plastic jar. When adding the rain holes and the center hold for the 1/2-inch center hole, place the plastic lid on a block of wood to prevent the plastic from cracking. Before I drilled the center 1/2-inch hole, I secured the plastic lid down with two screws to prevent the lid from spinning out of control. Great design and thanks for the helpful videos.
Excellent. Would love to hear how it turns out. As for the lids in the holes, In my recent builds I have found it so much easier to use Step Drill bits to make holes - effortless, clean, and no issue with the plastic cracking or breaking
Great work on this! I built one of these towers a couple of months ago and I've had some time with it to make some observations and provide some feedback to hopefully influence the next iteration.
1. I may have done something wrong during the manufacturing process, but there was no way I was getting a piece of PVC up the center of that 4-in PVC after molding the pot holder holes. At first I was able to snake a piece of 3/8 vinyl tubing up through there, but because of the bends it didn't deliver a whole lot of water. I ended up switching over to some 3/8 copper tubing and that has a smaller outside diameter and I was able to keep it pretty straight - worked a lot better. The water shoots about 2 ft in the air now rather than just about an inch or so
2. I ended up using a DC pump on mine so that I could use a solar panel to run it. I'm still experimenting with that part but so far it's working great. I currently have the pump hooked directly into the panel with no battery or anything. I'm not sure how well the plants will tolerate. No water at night but that's part of what I'm experimenting with
3. I haven't done this yet but I was thinking about teeing a vertical piece of PVC into the base to act as a water reservoir. Have you tried anything like that?
4. I was also thinking about teeing in some kind of a drain on the base to make changing the water a lot easier. Right now kind of cumbersome to disassemble and difficult to get all the water out of the base.
update please
I would love to hear how it turned out! Did things grow well for you?
The tower itself works great now but I can't seem to get anything to grow more than a couple inches tall.
I have also been having trouble finding a well made, reliable water pump. If the pump dies and you don't notice it right away, everything dies.
If you are looking for a set it and forget it, low maintenance type of thing, a vertical tower probably isn't for you.
@@JoesGarageProductionsLLC oh dang... You're using fertilizer for the water and proper full spectrum lights?
I wonder with this design if there can be an issue with a lack of dissolved O2 due to the fact of it being very airtight once the pods are all in place and starting to grow.
@Chris Loh The saw you held up and called a "hacksaw" is actually called a coping saw as it was designed to make fine cuts for special designs. If you have one side of the 4" PVC without holes, you could move the 1.5" watering PVC pipe back against that side of the 4" thereby allowing a larger area around the root ball for it to grow.
Wouldn't really matter. The root growth in these towers is so rampant that it doesn't matter how much space they have, they will fill it. I have had roots from the top of the tower reach all the way to the water tank below. I have had the plant rootballs get so large they destroyed the 3 inch netpots I use in my system. The growth in towers like this is incredible.
@@ermakers1297Does your pump run continuously? Would a timer impact negatively on plant growth?
@@charleshakata9222 I have run it both ways. Initially was running a timer that would have it on for 15 minutes then off for 15 minutes. Timer died so just ran it continuous after that. Zero difference between the two. Both produced plenty of growth. I think is may have caused issues with the strawberries later on tho as they needed the on-off cycle for better growth. The humidity in my greenhouse fried the timer though.
@@ermakers1297 Im focusing on strawberries .. thanks for the heads up. Im in Zimbabwe, and want to use timers, which I make myself. Will ensure I always have a spare timer!😃
The 3D printing option is by far the most interesting option as you can basically print anything you like and give wings to your imagination, not being limited by the PVC sizes that are commercially available.
True. and best of all they are food grade. It just takes a while to print. Hopefully the new 3D printer I ordered is faster.
Hi Chris, I just came across your Hydroponic built series, This is fantastic, Thanks for sharing. Think I just found my new hobby. Looking forward to more Videos.
I really liked the sprinkler head idea, even for the one tower system
me too. I thought it would work well at distributing the water, however, I havent gotten it to work well - I assume it might not be enough water pressure or im not using the right sprinkler head.
Absolutely fantastic set of videos, you had me riveted to the screen. Watching your design process evolve. Such an inspiration. Thank You.
I absolutely love this!! I’m going to try it myself. I have one suggestion ( from experience with aquarium and pond pump) - you might want to consider placing some aquarium filter sponge at the base of the tower around the inner water tube before it goes into the reservoir… I’m assuming there will be particulate matter from roots etc that might clog or shorten life of pump? Maybe this would help with maintaining- especially if placed where tower is easily separated from base? Just a thought. Thank you so much for this video
Wouldn't this impact the nutrient levels?
You are a good man, not afraid to admit that possibly someone has a better idea. Most men are so insecure and would never admit that. An intelligent man, such as yourself, knows that 1 person can't know everything so always keep an open ear. That says so much about your integrity. I love your designs, and if I were younger, I would build a couple. However at this age I just want to buy 1 of your 4 tower systems to start, then I will order a few more as summer approaches
I would like to see a video of them in full action. Its great seeing the empty towers - but I would like to see what they look like plants actually growing !
ditto
Interesting hydroponic designs. Try putting a 3D printed tower in the sun and see how long it lasts. I use PLA and though it's great for prototype design, it's not so durable in the weather for me.
Also, being very new to the subject, I would think you might want to drain the system and refill with fresh water and nutrients to avoid a chemical imbalance.
Subscribed for future videos
Just for interest, the saw you are using is a Coping saw, not a hacksaw. However whatever works for you. A Hacksaw, which is intended for metal cutting, has a wider blade and significantly more rigid, the blades come in various teeth per inch. Great series, looking forward to seeing the end results.
Great idea!! Have you considered adding copper wire to the system? Apparently, copper wire not only helps in the growth of plants, but it could also help in the bacteria level in the water (or other issues regarding insects etc). Just a thought!
You can easily re use everything that you used to build the 1 tower project and make it 3 towers or 5 tower, so doing a easy DIY and going to more complex, re-using what was already built
3D printed tower modules are an interesting idea, but the creation process is energy intensive, slow, and has an expensive barrier to entry. You will likely be better off having a PVC manufacturer build them unless you already have the means. Either that or build a jig that allows anyone to tap 4” schedule 40 (thicker) pipe at 45 degrees and thread in their own fittings. This would be ideal in that it would maintain the structural integrity of the solid pipe and work on PVC from any hardware store
Thanks for sharing your tower builds, Chris, they're great! Love that you're experimenting and modifying. Try rockwool for the seeds in the netty pots.
You still need to add a practical drain for doing water changes.
Yeah a clean out instead of an elbow
A spigot, or tap, based on the lower part of the reservoir or raise the reservoir on support, except for a small, exposed area, on the underside of the reservoir, placing the spigot there.
Your methods are simple and cost effective, thank you for taking the time to explain its production. Please share your finished vegetable products.
You got it! Will share an update in Spring after winter. Most of my vegetables are dormant right now.
Excellent update. I just watched all your tower builds. Just excellent and thank you.
Awesome, thank you!
You should look into Roto molding or Roto forming, I believe the 3d printed version could be done using 3 molds, which would allow you to produce this stuff much faster.
A 3d print is a good way to make molds, but not mass produce items as its too slow and too many defects, Where as with a mold you could spend alot of time perfecting the first peice and sanding it and finishing it and then make your mold from that.
Just an idea from someone who has created a lot of things.
Thanks for the suggestion. I was thinking I would use the 3D printed version as a design which I would take to some company to print. To date I havent found any that are affordable. Im not sure I have the tools to do roto molding or even where to start. Do you have resources or links that I can refer to?
I've wanted to do this for such a long time . Keep me updated . It may take me some time to do what I want.
Fantastic! Previous videos really captured my imagination. Can't wait to see those 3d printed products.
Working on them and will hopefully have an updated video soon!
I really like your designs and the way they have progressed. I’m thinking of stealing most of your ideas and integrating them into a box made of plywood and lined with fiberglass for the base. That way I can have a larger reservoir to draw from. I also want to run two pumps in case one goes out. It’s been my experience that as long as nutrients are in a tolerable range, the easiest ways to kill hydroponically grown plants is to run the system dry due to a leak or broken pump. A larger reservoir will give a little more insurance that the crops won’t go dry and redundant pumps have saved my crops in the past. That said, I’m very impressed with your designs and look forward to updates in the future. Very well done.
We use our tower in a greenhouse for year round growing. They work really well that way and they are totally protected from the elements.
Im working on a greenhouse as well. Easier then moving them into the garage during the colder months.
Hi Chris. I’m so glad I found your videos, I’m loving them. Your demonstrations and narration are very well done. I have a suggestion for the towers you are hand cutting the rings for. Place a box/crate/wastebasket under your cutting area to catch those rings. Work smarter, not harder 😉 From a fan with back and knee issues.
I'm thinking about a float of some sort that automatically turns a secondary pump reservoir on to feed the base when I'm out of town. All powered by a rooftop solar panel. Also.. I'll stop😉
You’re an absolutely brilliant young man; you blow my mind!
Excellent explanation and demo, with open-minded comments. Dint feel I watched an hour+ video
@5:03 if you're looking to upgrade it, you could base the tower on something like a lazy susan turntable, then connect in a small solar panel to a high torque low revs motor and gear it into the lazy susan so it slowly rotates the tower as the sun is shining. Could be a future future future upgrade but worth a thought.
Great Idea. I'll have to try that!
You are awesome and have helped feed thousands of people. Thank youuu
I built V1 and had the exact same problems that you did. I should have started with V3, but I feel like I've been on a journey! xD I should make a video and tag you, I'm happy that I have this resource! I have a small apartment and I've been trying to grow herbs and vegetables for a while, the first version worked until the weight was unbearable on the bucket. (Tried a larger bucket, tried weighing down, no avail). So excited to try this. Now the only last part is to find lights that are not distracting. Open to ideas!
Would love to see your build. I found a solution for the bucket version of the build, but I had to purchase and custom-cut a piece of thick plexiglass to reinforce the lid. I'm now playing with a 3D-printed version of the lid as well.
I found these grow lights to work well indoors if you have somewhere you can mount them - amzn.to/44TEC4j
The level and quality of guidance is pro !!!
Lovely!!! kind of expensive for south america, but still a great way to grow your own food, thank you for this!!!!
I will definitely buy when it’s ready for sale.
Love the base design on the 3D printed tower, much more aesthetically pleasing. I wonder if there is a way to make something similar without a 3D printer. Hoping to make a tower from your design soon and grow strawberries in the winter for my kids lunches! Thanks for sharing ❤
Hello Chris,
I enjoy your practical method to building towers.
Although I'm a year late in finding your build the tower plan is very good. Any gardener knows that he must adjust his planting and growth based on area, climate and other factors. I had a comnercial Tower and the priblem i encountered was the same so i placed my tower on a flat furniture dolly to move 5ge tower every other day to balance growth. I pkan on using your design including a dolly to rotate...
Good plan, thank you from a this gardener.
Thank you for all the great information!
Hi Chris, love your vids and ideas, we'll done, when using solvent weld and plastic piping, it's not a glue, the correct way to use is apply, then when u marry the two pieces, u put it together 1/4turn out, so when joining u give it a 1/4 turn, as the solvent weld, is acting with the quarter turn it forms a seal, hence water tight, its actually a solvent, so its actually melting abs plastic, I also wondered why you don't solvent weld the 2" cup holders in, instead of using a Hest gun and silicone. Also on 3d prints use an acetone wash to smooth imperfections, and micro holes. Hope this helps mate, keep up the vids, love watching. Speak soon, Scott....
Thanks for the info. I have made your number two system and I am waiting for other parts to try it out this summer
I like the small tower, perfect for my condo balcony!
Yes they are perfect for balconies. The new versions Im working on are customizable as well
Very cool concept. I want to learn more about 3D printing...
PVC tip: apply glue on both male & female sides & hold firmly together for 30 seconds and you shouldn't need silicone bc glue reaction tends to force the pieces apart until the glue sets.
Thanks for the tip. 3D printing is amazing. I'll have an update on my 3D builds in an upcoming video. Let me know if you have any questions.
Maybe drill a small hole at the end of the slots before you saw the slots. Then you'll have a radius to help eliminate the cracking
Im gonna do this indoors. Thanks for sharing Chris.
Thank you for the amazing videos. I sat and watched all 3 parts of this video and thought for those who already have 3d printer you could sell the printer program as well, I personally like the 4" PVS tower you made in part 3 even for potential indoor growing.
Thanks. I have actually switched to 3D printing the towers and will share that update in the next few videos
great vid series, thanks! I got some major brownie points with the Ms. by building her one of these. Your directions were great.
Have you considered putting in the rings while the plastic is still warm to get a better fit?
Was thinking the same thing, but perhaps in order to remove the 2" pipe it needs to cool first before removing so it doesn't rip.
I had a much more involved comment that was To the point …A carbon filter That maybe cut to size From a number of available products on amazon that are cheap to go on top of your Existing drains. This is to prevent Strands of root and coconut COIR From Wrapping around the pump impeller and cavitating the pump or overloading it and wearing it out sooner. I've used these filters for a number of applications but most effectively in In my HVAC vents. They allow water or any fluid to pass with almost no resistance and have almost perfect particulate capture while being simultaneously easy to flip out, rinse off And replace. The only thing I'm concerned about And unsure of Is weather It will lock up some nutrients Which I very much doubt.
Anyway, thank you for the post I found your design elegant And has certainly started My mind on an inventor's journey Maybe even becoming your retail competition LOL jk
Chris I am really considering taking your v3 and making 3 changes.
1) Incorporate one 10 gallon large water tank for indoor purposes.
2 add and LED light frame
3 add solar panels to store a battery charge for the the lights.
This hydroponics outdoors in difficult in harsher cold or hot climates.
That small tower would be perfect for me as a senior citizen.
The man is an artist.
As a suggestion, while you are 3D printing, I would try to print my own pots in a sort of fan shape that contours the tube. It would maximize the growing area and probably produce better yields. For people that live in apartments like me, it's difficult to have towers in the middle of the room. What I would do is to have them against a wall, either indoor or on the balcony. I'm incredibly forgetful, so watering the plants manually never works for me. This type of solution can sort that part out.
Every vegetable out there is costing an arm and a leg now. I would actually devote 1 tower to lettuce only, and probably another for herbs. Cherry tomatoes are also an interesting choice, something I have to think about. Those can go at the base of the tower.
Anyway, these are just a couple of thoughts, use them if you think they are of interest.
Thanks for the videos, they have been quite instructive.
Thanks for the multiple options and scenarios. A couple things. In the North due to freezing, replacing a 90 degree with a
Tee and then a 4 in drain will allow for easy cleaning as well. Replacing the 1/2 In PVC with 1/4 Drip Irrigation tubing will reduce the amount of space in the 4 in cavity. A question - why did you move away from the sprinkler head that you used on the 4 tower build?
Great point. I did have some irrigation tubing i was thinking of using, but I decided for this version to go with the 1.5".... Next build. I moved away from the sprinkler head because in the 4-tower build the water would occasionally stop flowing. I'm not sure if it was a lack of pressure because of the 4-way split or if there was some kind of adjustment that was needing to be made. I'm still experimenting with it though.
I’m interested buying when you finalize your build. Thank you for sharing
I will be opting for the 3d Printed tower. Build it like legos, attach pump and netty pots and voila.
Yep. Much easier to ship, customizable for your personal needs, and cheaper. Hopefully i'll have a perfected design soon
Hold up, pause people. Time for some education from a maintenance worker in a FDA inspected facility.
NSF is a label found on various products in the US. It's acronym for National Sanitary Foundation. The ONLY thing that can make a product "food grade" is that label.
Look closely at the writing on PVC pipe. Besides manufacturer, date, nominal size, type, and schedule there will be a big, bold NSF printed.
PVC is absolutely "food grade." You would amazed how much PVC the food you buy at store comes into contact with.
I would be WAY more concerned with the silicone used. Consumer marketed "100%" silicone caulk indeed starts with a 100% base, hence the label. But prior to packaging additives are mixed in with the silicone. Those additional chemicals are what add the antibacterial properties and improves workability. They do NOT need to be listed on the label. Caulk isn't food, they don't need to list ingredients.
You have to search long and hard to locate NSF labelled silicone caulk. I know, because that was an issue we needed to solve.
Home Depot can special order a 100% silicone meant for usage in commercial kitchens that is labeled NSF. It's not carried on the shelf, takes at least a week to show up for pickup.
If you're going to go down the whole "food grade" rabbit hole, just know it gets real deep, real quick. Food processors have multiple full time employees that focus solely on compliance with food safety regulations.
Oh, for a food grade sealant, look at table top epoxy. It's the stuff restaurants and bars use to put that thick clear surface on wooden tables and bar tops. It's not cheap, it's two parts that must be mixed before use, it's runny and messy to apply, but it is labeled NSF. We experimented with some, but wasn't a good solution for what we needed. We needed more a glue type epoxy versus a seal, coat, and protect epoxy. However, it might just be suitable for sealing a 3D printed part. At least worth a try, in my opinion.
Thanks for the education. Learned a couple of things from your post. Would be nice if there was a sealant, I could just dip the parts into. I'll take a look at the table epoxy and see if there is something I can use - hopefully it's not that costly.
Very interesting Mike. Although now I'm wondering what they use for Aquaponics reserviors. Some of the ones that seem to have large glass panels to view the fish must use some type of Aquarium Silicone. I've used it in the past for smaller freshwater tanks. While I'm willing to bet it's not 'FOOD GRADE' it doesn't seem to harm the fish. I have no doubt that that would indeed be a very deep rabbit hole.
I don't know for sure but I don't believe that the plastic pots we sometimes use to grow food items in are labeled as 'FOOD GRADE'. I've used plastic garbage bins and large totes to grow many vegetables over the years. And I also agree that if we knew half of the things that our food went through before we received it we certainly wouldn't be worried about the PVC.
Chris Loh has interesting videos. Good information. I like the instrumentals in the back ground.
I did a four tower system out here in CA, sun is too intense for my set up. I'm working with fans and drip timers to dial in the temp/humidity to find the sweet spot for things that stay alive in the 100 degree summers/high intense sun. I'll keep you posted.
Very cool man, I was just going to ask about a smaller setup. 3D printers are spectacular. Way down the road, finding a small shop that can do injection molding would be much faster process for the parts. The pieces aren't huge so a small PCM could perhaps do the trick. Maybe mold the piece with silicone and pour them with casting resin. There are different types of resins even food grade resins. A company called Smooth-on carries both the silicone molding meterial and the resins. Smooth-on has a partner company call Renalds Advanced Meterials, most every state has a distributor or two. They are easy to find with a Google search for within your state.
Just found your channel, really cool stuff. Thanks for sharing.
Brilliant initiative.
You are awesome!!!! God bless you!
Thanks!
Hi Chris, if you are planning to work with the pvc pipe I would get myself a jaw horse to hold the pipe while you cut it. The saw your using is a coping saw not a hack saw FYI . I would get your self a good cordless sawsall. Your a smart young man. Good luck to you!
did something similar only as a base i used a small very rigid 12x 14 tote with a toilet float switch to maintain water level for evaporation great work keep it up i think ill try a vertical wall grower next
Keep on Keepin On Brother! We don't learn from continued success, but we learn more from failure! New subscriber tonight!
You should try using a Rubbermaid 20 gallon tote as the reservoir base and 3d print connectors for the pipes to interface with. It would cut down on the cost and probably be good for two towers.
Great project, awesome detail! Regarding the rings that go into the holes, what if you can them in advance and put them in when the hole is initially shaped, then you only have to heat it once. Sorry, it's easy to back-seat drive when watching your finished product. Thanks for sharing.
Just A Note! You do need to use PVC primer before applying adhesive on a PVC surface. Primers start a chemical reaction that softens the outer layer of the surface and prepares it to bond properly. If you do not use a PVC primer, you might not achieve maximum bonding strength.
Thanks Clifford. The material I used mentioned it was a PVC Primer and Cement in one. Im not sure if that makes a difference, but It seems to be working well vs buying the two canisters of primer and cement.
@@ChrisLoh
I'd be interested in the results, say, next year, after one year's growth, moving into the second year.
I'm postulating that transfering it into the garage might created a crack in the seals, although not necessarily.
As I suggested in your first vid, a turntable, but I amended that in your four tower, 2nd vid, to maybe put the whole shebang on a trolley, allowing for easy transport and the ability to revolve the tower, maximising the growing area and potential.
With this new single tower I'd have staggered the pot holes differently, opening two holes at the bottom, giving it a lower centre of gravity, therefore more stability.
Thanks for uploading.
We're already at part 3 but where are the adult plants growing ? Can you show us ?
Do you watch the video or do you comment without watching it first ? He talked about the plants from previous build in the first 2 minutes…
@@karmaziil9370 calm dowm it’s a one plus hour vedio, most people fast forward
Ate em
Watch the video
@Karmaz iiL talking about plants and showing them are two different things. The harvest and grow rate is what makers of these systems advertise 1st. Designing a system that stands upright and pumps water is great but I'm interested in knowing how well does his system produce plants. That's the whole point
No need for silicone if you use the primer. The primer will soften both pieces before adding the cement. It will create a better bond because they will "melt" together.
Thanks for the heads up!
So I built it, love the concept but I made a few mistakes. I’ve got a couple of leaks so now I have to drain and reseal, but the biggest hassle for some reason is getting the pump to line up with the irrigation pole once I drop the pump in and put the top piece on. As a temporary fix I taped them together so I couldn’t miss when dropping the pump in.
Suggestion: Try to cut cost by having all 4 towers sitting firmly in one tank (big bucket, 55 gal tank cut in half etc..) secure all pipes with cross wood (or suitable material) planks lay flat for a base for the water pump to sit on. All that with one thing in mind: removability for maintenance. the top of the tank can be covered by a piece of plywood cut to the shape desired then line with sunshield reflective material. Cover the tank wall with reflective material too.
Just one tip. Noticed you struggled a bit getting the base together after gluing.after you dry fit everything and get the 90's and T's straight, mark with a pencil on the pipe how far it goes in to the fitting and mark a line on the pipe and fitting the orientation so when you glue you know exactly how far to push in and exactly the angle of the fittings. I'm soon going to build this but I think I'll make a couple modifications for indoor use and to get a little bigger reservoir. All and all nice explanation in the video! FYI! I think using a grinder with a cut wheel would be easier/faster cutting the notches in the pipe vs the coping saw or miter saw
Thanks for the advice. I like the idea of marking the distance with a pencil. I'd love to see your modifications when you do your build. Id agree on using a grinder - I'll use this as an excuse to get one :D
Humph. By not going all the way around with holes, it introduced a curve or warp into the pipe. Nice build. TY!
Suggest putting the cable exit at the top so water won't run down the cable to the ground while filling.
Don't know where you are at, but fall is a great time to garden. Less heat problems.
Texas. Heat is always an issue here haha. Im waiting for winter to pass so I can start a new crop of vegetables in the Spring with a lot of feedback from the viewers.