SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)

[Hollatchaboy]

I used lab in my rez, it gets funky after a while but I also used tap water so not sure if the chlorine killed off the good guys. It eventually got slimy. I had to wait till it was empty and do a clean out with vinegar. My sips are two containers though so it easy to separate the two to work on. Also the reason I went with 5 gal of soil, I have a hard time moving heavy objects.

You have an overflow? If so rinse with vinegar and flush.

I have an earthbox. If have to tip it over to get it out. I'm gonna use the em1 I ordered. I'll see if that helps at all, but thanks for the info.

 

[Hollatchaboy]

I'm in the same boat as @CrunchBerries and have been running em1 with tap water. Our county doesnt use chlorine they use the other one, chloramine I believe, which doesn't evaporate out the same way chlorine does if I remember correctly. I do typically let my tap water sit out for about a week before use just because realistically. No funky smell in my rez. Only issue I am seeing on my plant is wind burn from the fan.

Do you run yours no till?

 

[Hollatchaboy]

The problem I'm having with tap water and chlorine, is I'm running no till. I'm afraid of build up of calcium, in my soil, from the tap water, and I'm afraid of killing off beneficial soil microbes by adding chlorine. I don't believe the soil will get better over time, if I keep adding chlorine to the res. If I was recycling soil, then it probably wouldn't hurt, which is probably going to be the way I go from here on out. I feel like the em1 and labs, is just going to be like running hydroguard in hydro.

 

[CrunchBerries]

I'm in the same boat as @CrunchBerries and have been running em1 with tap water. Our county doesnt use chlorine they use the other one, chloramine I believe, which doesn't evaporate out the same way chlorine does if I remember correctly. I do typically let my tap water sit out for about a week before use just because realistically. No funky smell in my rez. Only issue I am seeing on my plant is wind burn from the fan.

I started adding a tsp of molasses before bubbling a 5 gal bucket. The molasses will help neutralize the chloramine. And you get the added benefit of food for your microbes.

 

[Hollatchaboy]

Well I just looked in on her again this morning. She still looks good, and the res is still stanky. Lol
Maybe I'm looking to deep into this, but this is my first time running no till, and I want it to go smooth.

 

[GrassBurner]

Don't be like the guy that called the hazmat company I worked for. Dude is hauling automotive paint, swears it's leaking. As soon as I walk into the trailer, I tell the guys it's not leaking, automotive paint is just strong. 8 hours and $15k later, we have every pallet unloaded, zero leaks

 

[Hollatchaboy]

Don't be like the guy that called the hazmat company I worked for. Dude is hauling automotive paint, swears it's leaking. As soon as I walk into the trailer, I tell the guys it's not leaking, automotive paint is just strong. 8 hours and $15k later, we have every pallet unloaded, zero leaks

Lol I don't think I would've worried until I seen the paint leaking.

 

[myke]

Can you flush it? Just put a tray under and slowly run new water through.

 

[GrassBurner]

I never even thought about the em1 in the reservoir. I've got a big bottle from Build A Soil just sitting around. Grabbed a 3 pack that had em1, Dr zymes, and some kind of mint cleaner. Maybe I'll give them a little dose.

 

[Hollatchaboy]

Can you flush it? Just put a tray under and slowly run new water through.

I don't know if I'm going to need to. Though it's smelling funky, I'm not seeing anything making me think that it needs to be flushed. Even if I did flush, I would imagine the bacteria is already present in large #s.

 

[myke]

I don't know if I'm going to need to. Though it's smelling funky, I'm not seeing anything making me think that it needs to be flushed. Even if I did flush, I would imagine the bacteria is already present in large #s.

Give you some peace of mind anyway if you flushed it.

 

[Hollatchaboy]

Give you some peace of mind anyway if you flushed it.

Yea, that it would. Eb might be difficult to flush with a scrogged plant though. I might try tonight just for the hell of it.

 

[raggyb]

I don't know if I'm going to need to. Though it's smelling funky, I'm not seeing anything making me think that it needs to be flushed. Even if I did flush, I would imagine the bacteria is already present in large #s.

do you have bubblers? if it smells sewery, that could be dead worms or it could be anaerobic I think. If adding Labs or EM1, I'm not sure but I thought someone said it works in an anaerobic way. So I would think having bubblers with those would be counterproductive. But without EM1 or Labs, maybe bubblers would help reduce the funk?

 

[Hollatchaboy]

do you have bubblers? if it smells sewery, that could be dead worms or it could be anaerobic I think. If adding Labs or EM1, I'm not sure but I thought someone said it works in an anaerobic way. So I would think having bubblers with those would be counterproductive. But without EM1 or Labs, maybe bubblers would help reduce the funk?

I haven't tried bubbles, but I might if nothing else works.

 

[weedstoner420]

Yea, that it would. Eb might be difficult to flush with a scrogged plant though. I might try tonight just for the hell of it.

Would a wet vac hose fit down the filler tube? I've vacuumed out the res of my growboxes like that before, it's a little easier to get to tho because the overflow and fill holes are the same hole...

 

[Xsan]

I never even thought about the em1 in the reservoir. I've got a big bottle from Build A Soil just sitting around. Grabbed a 3 pack that had em1, Dr zymes, and some kind of mint cleaner. Maybe I'll give them a little dose.

I believe it has a short shelf life so depending on how long you had it, the effectiveness may have degraded

 

[GrassBurner]

I think I've had it about a month

 

[Xsan]

I think I've had it about a month

Should be good

 

[CrunchBerries]

I think I've had it about a month

There should be an expiration date on the bottle somewhere.

 

[weedstoner420]

Ah, a fresh page, upon which to SIP...

New generation starting up in the growboxes: chopped the back left plant the other day, top dressed that area with some dry ferts and worm castings, and planted a lil seedling in that spot. The tent is on 12/12 so hopefully it grows enough side branches to clone...these are all bagseeds so no strain names, sorry.

I also stuck a tiny Crnklz clone in there recently. Week 2 b/w week 14: