Setting up dtw coco 2.5x5 tent

I also was trying to stay in the realm of dtw coco and not flood and drain. I feel like with the tray Id still need to put same amount of effort figuring out how to set it up unless Im missing something.

Im willing to consider it I just want something figured out asap and thought if only I knew how that I could just rig it up with pvc.

Im looking into it right now, I couldnt figure out that linked website flood table I dont see where you drill the holes but I see another brand that has a spot for the drain but you raise the table some how.

Im willing to do it especially if it gets the job done. Just put a condensate pump in bucket at the drain port thats raised on cinderblocks. That dont sound bad,

You would put a fitting in the bottom,(they usually have holes or spots to cut holes) to drain it.

You would still be doing dtw coco, because you would be top feeding with your emmitters, and the tray is just to catch and drain all your run off. Thats why you could get a low profile tray like the one I posted. If youwere doing flood and drain you would want a deeper tray then that.

Thundercat said:

You would put a fitting in the bottom,(they usually have holes or spots to cut holes) to drain it.

You would still be doing dtw coco, because you would be top feeding with your emmitters, and the tray is just to catch and drain all your run off. Thats why you could get a low profile tray like the one I posted. If youwere doing flood and drain you would want a deeper tray then that.

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Thing is, I would need two 2.5’ trays because noone makes 2.5x5’ so how would I rig them both to drain to one condensate pump to save money?

Do you just raise the trays on blocks? What exactly do you use to connect that to a bucket with condensate pump?

Other thing is I have like no space for any more stuff. Roomates and I argued but agreed I dont have much stuff but it did add up quickly and now I dont have space for anymore stuff.

So this would help descreetly add more stuff without causing arguements. Even though the trays would go to the tent and stay there long as possible.

I would just use a 2x4 tray like the one I linked. That would leave you a little space in the tent still for other things, and the canopy can be larger then the tray so you wouldn't loose space.

You can set the tray on anything as long as the drain fitting has space, and run the hose from the drain right to your pump bucket set up.

The tray would cut down on clutter, and fittings, and pipes, so maybe it would seem like less stuff to your room mates.

Ok I did think that about the 2x4 but wasnt sure if Id regret it because it just shorted the canopy and rather have one fit just right.

Ok that makes sense I already have a bunch of hoses 3/4” and 3/4” drill bit.

Is this what you mean? I thought you meant something else. Im not a handyman so I dont know all the parts to things and how to construct them though its fun when successful.

So this would hang upside down and you meant that I connect a half inch hose to it? When its upside down it sits shallow enough to let the water drain good enough in the tray?

That leads me to my last question (I think) .. Will it get salty and dirty fast from being so shallow? Will it need frequent cleanings?

Will it raise humidity significantly from having such large surface area of water evaporating amd leaving salt deposits?

I can put it on cinder blocks and buy the 2.5x2.5 when I can afford it, maybe do half at a time like I was anyway.

The roommate thing I guess wont be a problem I can explain it will be fine. I just have my set space and if it fits, it fits, and this will be in the existing flower tent so should be fine.

I want to figure out asap as tent is empty and need to figure out a solid long lasting system and if you think it will work them great. Il do that. I would hate to find more problems with my initial idea.

A bonus is I can run whatever I want in there, not necissarily 8 plants.

medidedicated said:

I can put it on cinder blocks and buy the 2.5x2.5 when I can afford it, maybe do half at a time like I was anyway.

The roommate thing I guess wont be a problem I can explain it will be fine. I just have my set space and if it fits, it fits, and this will be in the existing flower tent so should be fine.

I want to figure out asap as tent is empty and need to figure out a solid long lasting system and if you think it will work them great. Il do that. I would hate to find more problems with my initial idea.

A bonus is I can run whatever I want in there, not necissarily 8 plants.

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Figure out what tray will fit in your space.
Buy the tray that will fit in your space and will do the job you want it to do.
Buy once, cry once. If you continue down the path of trying to save nickels and dimes, you will spend much more money in the long run than if you were to buy the purpose made part to begin with. Trust me. I have tried saving a few bucks here and there. When it comes to the tray, get the right one. If you have a local shop, stop by and talk to them. Ask if they stock one. If not, they should order one for you. The freight charges to ship trays are ridiculous. If the shop orders it, you can save a pretty penny. Believe me when I say, the tray is worth the dumb price tag for the convenience it brings. I am running a 3x3 in my 4x4 tent and it is working beautifully for my purposes. You can run a condensate pump to empty it or you can elevate the tray, drill a hole, install a bulkhead and plumb it to drain to a drain if you'd prefer. Either way will work just fine.

Lots of people continue to give you solid advice on here and you seem to dance around the answers and talk yourself into finding a way out of the suggestions made. Look at some of the other people's grow journals and check out their setups, study the setups, ask specific questions about their setups. Don't try to reinvent the wheel.

That is the fitting you would need to drain the tray. Most of the trays have a low spot for that drain fitting so the water flows to the drain as long as you have a slight angle to the tray. I cleaned my tray about once every 3-4 months. It didn't get much build up in it and I was doing flood and drain. I would think with top-feeding DTW that it will get very little build-up. It won't raise the humidity significantly and If you feed at the right rates you really shouldn't have that much for nutrient deposits.

I don't see a point in buying 2 trays and doing half at a time. Then you need twice as many fittings and hoses again.

yall think 8 plants will sit fine on the 2x4’ tray in the 2.5x5’? On cinderblocks with one side having thin sheet of wood or something to make it drain?

Then Id just worry about having 1200gph pumps two of them one to feed veg tent one to feed flower tent. 8 or two 8 port manifold per tent.

I dont mean to waste anyones time, I usually follow suggestions this is just out of my league and dont understand half of the answers in this topic.

I thought it was easy until I down sized pots and upped the quantity of plants causing plumbing issues..

I will go back to read what was suggested to me in case I should be applying some of the suggestions right now. I didnt think I could, I was going to see if my manifolds work with stronger pump.

Cant wait till its figured out. My other plant almost done so I would have the whole tent empty that I can setup.

You can easily fit 8 plats in a 2x4 tray, remember the goal is less veg time to control the plant size. You don't want big crazy bushs, you want 8 plants with a handful of branches that are covered in buds.

The cinderblocks with a piece of wood at the end will work just fine(make sure it's supported in the middle so it doesn't sag). That will lift it enough for the drain hose. Then just set up your manifolds and hoses to feed.

I can't tell you much about the manifolds though, I decided to skip that all. That was a major reason I used flood and drain, very few parts and pieces.

If you have extra ceiling height above the tent, you could raise the whole tent instead of the tray. Last time I checked, 2-2.5 x 4 ft coffee tables were free on craigslist\marketplace all day long. Just cut the legs down so its whatever height, and set the tent right back on top. A little black spray primer and spray paint will have it looking like some factory tent riser table that perfectly matches, and give room underneath to store more stuff.. Then cut a single small hole or flap for the drain fitting/s to goright down through the tents floor and the table, instead of through the side somewhere. Retain the full height of the tent to grow in, instead of losing a foot or by raising the tray from inside of it. Raise the tent if you can, not the tray.. Just an idea for ya!

Thundercat said:

I said pages ago that you should just put a single large tray in there and stop messing with individual ones. You've got so much tubing and piping. All you need is a single drain from a single tray. They make trays exactly the size to fit in your tent. If you are trying to save money then you can repurpose a rubber maid tote.

Something like this is is pretty cheap and would drain all your pots at one time. https://groindoor.com/products/active-aqua-aalr24b-low-rise-flood-tables-outside-dimensions-black?gclid=Cj0KCQiAtOmsBhCnARIsAGPa5yZxNygwHsZV8P_2r6HJHaH6-UOxnR0EPCqwOgmjnE_3watoNyVAkNwaAmYnEALw_wcB

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That one requires I buy two of them but 24$ shipping aint bad I just dont want two trays. Any suggestions on that? Any alternatives? I want to pick the right tray that yall would use for this, that it drains as good as yall say it will.

I will do the 2x4 tray idea I just wasnt so sure about it, especially 2x4 in the 2.5x5’ setting but I am so ready to be done setting up for a while.

If its not a big deal to lose 50$ and try purpose the second one at some point I can just get that one considering these arent that easy to find and Id be calling a few places and driving to get it.. Ill try a shop or two but if they say no I ought to jump on that one.

I'm not sure what you mean that it requires you buy 2 of them, I'm not seeing that. It looks like a single tray for $49. It really shouldn't matter what brand it is, I just googled 2x4 flood and drain tray and got lots of options. Just make sure the dimensions on the one you order are right.

I only posted that link because it had a good price and was exactly what you would need. I would definitely call around to some shops, usually the drive is worth saving the shipping. I would be astonished if one of the shops didn't have a 2x4 flood tray.

As soon as you check out without entering all the info in it says must buy two. I just checked a minute ago to see what seems like many options but they have a 200$ freight charge or it dont ship to me. I would save it and buy it asap if I found one.

So I just remembered the stores and before I knew it I went through all immediate results google brings. I suppose I can wait since Im broke which is good makes me second think things.

70$ and 2-3 weeks and have to place order in person so thats twice or I can go with that suggested site and get two of them for 130$ and delivered right away.

Im almost done setting up the rest is change so I dont mind either option but need this setup asap so the latter sounds good too.

Also, if you have a 2.5 month strain and this 2.5x5, would you and could you perpetuate each side so you chop every 1.5 months? It would help with humidity unless it overlaps and the younger side grows old enough to through more humidity from buds..

I have a hard time imagining it not overlap but notnsure if it will make a difference. Would you just run the whole tent at once? I was having hard time not chopping when seeing rh reach 50-55.

One said that is ok but its just something im gonna have to try myself and see now that I trimmed a lot of clean bud should stand out to me if it molds.