Killer cloner!

projectinfo

projectinfo

Well-Known Member
Canadain Closet Gardener said:
Is that a MasterCraft tote? I'm going to be switching my Rubbermaid worm bin to a few of those same bins
I place my rubbermaid cloner in the MC 210L or 170L totes lid as a safety feature.
It's has saved me a few floods
View attachment 4093010


The MC 170L bin lid pictured here just fits your bin. I think the 210L would fit better.View attachment 4093011
Hope this saves at least someone a flood.
I had heat issues at first then I placed my cloner on a cycle timer. I also started using an air pump with the sprayers.

Also with Air pumps keeps those above the water line or have a check valve. I had an aquarium drain as a child because of this.
Cheers
CCG
Click to expand...

Nice setup.

Don't need air pump if your spraying, they introduce contamination.
 
projectinfo

projectinfo

Well-Known Member
Canadain Closet Gardener said:
Is that a MasterCraft tote? I'm going to be switching my Rubbermaid worm bin to a few of those same bins
I place my rubbermaid cloner in the MC 210L or 170L totes lid as a safety feature.
It's has saved me a few floods
View attachment 4093010


The MC 170L bin lid pictured here just fits your bin. I think the 210L would fit better.View attachment 4093011
Hope this saves at least someone a flood.
I had heat issues at first then I placed my cloner on a cycle timer. I also started using an air pump with the sprayers.

Also with Air pumps keeps those above the water line or have a check valve. I had an aquarium drain as a child because of this.
Cheers
CCG
Click to expand...
Yes a Mastercraft tote. It came with those nice raised spots for the neoprene plugs haha love it
 
JSB99

JSB99

Well-Known Member
projectinfo said:
LOL you lazy mother fucker.

I do not get leaks. And the hand clamps were 5 dollars each. And their as easy to open as .... Squeezing.

But to each their own. Make a bubbler if you want a bubbler. You can't say mine doesn't work. And it's not difficult.

If your growing hydro, this aero cloner is the least of your worries or workload.
Click to expand...
LOL, that's the first time I've been called "lazy" on here. Now, "mother fucker" is a whole different story :lol:

$5/each clamp + weather stripping, and hoping it doesn't leak over time, seems like too much of a hassle. Like I said, I went through all these things years ago. I kept having to do things to prevent drips, when all the time, the simplest solution was to go the DWC route. Bubble cloners are SO simple, in comparison, and less expensive as well. Four clamps and weather stripping adds another $25 to the cost of his aerocloner. In comparison, he could build a bubble cloner, with no chance of leaking, for that price...or even less.

But hey, everyone's got their favorite. That's a battle more fierce than the Dems vs the Republicans! :razz:
 
Cold$moke

Cold$moke

Well-Known Member
Ill post a pic of my get up later it doesnt leak and im running a 400gph pump

It wont leak if you use SILICONE WEATHERSTRIPPING (not yelling)

And glue the joint

Alot of it has to do with your water level too
As ive had bubblers leak with powerful air and condesation build up can go around the rim :)
 
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Cold$moke

Cold$moke

Well-Known Member
Not saying 99 cent clamps dont help either ive used em before i found the perfect weatherstripping lol

As a guy in a specific feild of construction im in
Leaks are no bueno :) so i kept modding it till it worked

No cloners gona kick my ass lol but it may have whipped me a time or two lmao
 
Hydrowannabe

Hydrowannabe

Well-Known Member
JSB99 said:
This is my little cloner. I use the wood to keep the sides from bowing, which makes it a little difficult to get the lid on and off. I wanted to use the small, 12-gallon HDX tote, but the squares on the lid are too small for 2" pucks. This one is eight gallons, and I usually keep about six gallons in it. Its light enough to carry back and forth, to the bathroom, to drain and fill.



Click to expand...
Dude this is perfect, thanks a lot. Yea I too wanted to use the 12 gal hdx but also noticed the squares on top were to small for the net cups. I wasn’t sure if the Rubbermaid totes would hold up, but after seeing yours, and if you have successful runs, I’m sold. I don’t mind building a smaller one. Im Unemployed right now, so I have more than enough time. Again thanks for sharing your thoughts!
 
Hydrowannabe

Hydrowannabe

Well-Known Member
projectinfo said:
Hey Bud, I built the same cloner with the same tote except the lid is blue haha

I used a 396 gph eco plus water pump

And about half of the piping lol

You went pretty over kill but hey if it works.

Also for the leaks I put thick weather stripping on the top rim of the container

And if you goto a hardware store you can get those cheap hand squeeze clamps. If you look on your container there are 4 perfect spots for these on the top of the container.

You can kind of see the red hand squeeze clamps on the lid
Click to expand...
Nice, I like the clamp idea
 
Hydrowannabe

Hydrowannabe

Well-Known Member
Thanks for all info, stories, and pictures. Keep me coming if you’d like! I’m sure I’m not the only one benefiting from your guys’ responses. I think I’m going to keep the setup I have and just build a smaller separate bubble cloner. In the mean time, I will be sticking to the dip n grow method bc it rarely fails. I’ve just been hearing so much about these things and how everyone seems to have one, even if they don’t use it...so I gave a whack at it
 
JSB99

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Hydrowannabe said:
Dude this is perfect, thanks a lot. Yea I too wanted to use the 12 gal hdx but also noticed the squares on top were to small for the net cups. I wasn’t sure if the Rubbermaid totes would hold up, but after seeing yours, and if you have successful runs, I’m sold. I don’t mind building a smaller one. Im Unemployed right now, so I have more than enough time. Again thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Click to expand...
You bet!

You can get more sturdy totes that don't bow as much, and even mine wasn't all that much. With the lid on, it helps retain the tote's shape. But I used the wood because I wanted to be able to easily remove the lid, without shaking the hell out of the clones :)

Another option is to use a 5-gallon bucket. You can have multiple holes in the lid, for many clones. I've seen them up to 18, but I cant imagine there'd be much space between them.

And yes, I've always had great success with these simple bubble cloners. But I also always had great success with aerocloners as well. One of the things I always mention, when comparing bubble cloners against aero, is that I like to use RootTech cloning gel on my cuttings. If using an aerocloner, the sprayers quickly wash off the gel. With the bubbles, the gel stays on way longer, and has much more time to work.
 
Cold$moke

Cold$moke

Well-Known Member
Why dont you just fix yours with a 9$ roll of silicone weatherstripping?
Adjust your sprayer height properly and you wont have leaks its easy to test in a bathtub :)


Also if the mist is just kissing the plants clonex sticks for long enough to do what it does :)
 
projectinfo

projectinfo

Well-Known Member
Cold$moke said:
Why dont you just fix yours with a 9$ roll of silicone weatherstripping?
Adjust your sprayer height properly and you wont have leaks its easy to test in a bathtub :)


Also if the mist is just kissing the plants clonex sticks for long enough to do what it does :)
Click to expand...
Yes I think the problem with leaks might be too big of a pump?

I'm using a 396gph, whats everyone else got?
 
Canadain Closet Gardener

Canadain Closet Gardener

Well-Known Member
projectinfo said:
Yes I think the problem with leaks might be too big of a pump?

I'm using a 396gph, whats everyone else got?
Click to expand...
Not your pump as I have the same one in a 18 gal rubbermaid tub.
20180220_211336.jpg
I like these threads as I find new ideas for future builds. Every time I need clones I seem to redesign my cloner. ( I have way to much cloner parts lol my Home Depot switched PCV fitting suppliers and all the fitting were 10c each)

I cut the foam collars in half so I can expose more root. I also put the foam in cut off net pots. Easier to check for roots.
20171120_160222.jpg

I really believe your problem could be fixed with switching your nozzles to the 90°/180° sprayers. I found they work much better than the 360° unless they are in a centre row.
I checked my local hydro store and they wanted 99c each for them. I figured I needed 25 so I went on ebay and bout $15 worth of sprayers I have 4 different kinds and more than I can ever use lol.
These are the best ones imo the 90°/180° from this guy
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/100x-EZ-Clone-Sprayer-Nozzle-Jet-Mister-Cloning-Machine-Hydroponic-90-180-360-/141893185169?var=&hash=item66aec13bae

20171120_160025.jpg

Some pics of my previous versions
New one will have 360 sprayers in the center 180 on the sides and 90's in the corners
20171120_155106.jpg


The 2" hole saw bit I bought off of ebay was less than $3

20171120_155159.jpg
the top I had leaking problems too but I fixed it and put a tray under it.
20171129_065939.jpg
and now with roots
20171110_185511.jpg

Tips I found helpful for myself.
Water changes. I find it's easier it's easier to just swap in a clean bin. I just pick up lid, pump and air stones. place it on the new clean bin. Take the manifold and clean the nozzles put back together and fill. Empty and clean the old reservoir. It's ready for the next water change. I change my water ever 7-10 days.
I found my water temp was getting too high so I put my pump on an on/off timer 42 on /30 min off (Cheap Woods digital timer with only 20 settings). I also added a air pump and two 8" long air stones along the side walls.

So my advice to the OP @Hydrowannabe
Try some different sprayer nozzles, also as someone said maybe redesign your manifold. I might lower it too.
My next build is going to use your same size tub, I'm just waiting for some parts.
Cheers
CCG
My very first cloner
 
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