SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)
- Thread starter Humanrob
- Start date
ilovereggae
Well-Known Member
from plastics industry
www.acplasticsinc.com
.
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
LDPE is similar to HDPE, but tends to be less rigid, making it perfect for squeeze bottles or plastic film like cling wrap, six-pack rings and more. It is chemically resistant, repels microorganisms and doesn't leach harmful toxins when used to store food at a variety of temperatures. However, it is not deemed safe for food contact in a recycled state.
also from checking some less biased eco blog articles, ldpe seems to be a preferred choice, as it does not contain BPA!
"LDPE is used for dry cleaning bags, bread bags, newspaper bags, produce bags, and garbage bags, as well as “paper" milk cartons and hot/cold beverage cups. LDPE does not contain BPA, but as with most plastics, it can leach estrogenic chemicals."
I think its game time. Will report back w photos and progress.
FDA Approved Plastics for Food Contact — Which Plastics Make the Cut? | A&C Plastics
Not just any material can make the FDA approved materials list for food contact, plastic included. But several types of plastic in our own refrigerators and pantries do make the cut. Find out more at A&C Plastics.
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
LDPE is similar to HDPE, but tends to be less rigid, making it perfect for squeeze bottles or plastic film like cling wrap, six-pack rings and more. It is chemically resistant, repels microorganisms and doesn't leach harmful toxins when used to store food at a variety of temperatures. However, it is not deemed safe for food contact in a recycled state.
also from checking some less biased eco blog articles, ldpe seems to be a preferred choice, as it does not contain BPA!
"LDPE is used for dry cleaning bags, bread bags, newspaper bags, produce bags, and garbage bags, as well as “paper" milk cartons and hot/cold beverage cups. LDPE does not contain BPA, but as with most plastics, it can leach estrogenic chemicals."
I think its game time. Will report back w photos and progress.
Robar
Well-Known Member
Love me some redneck ingenuity! Was thinking something real similar.
myke
Well-Known Member
I believe I put some sort of pilot bit in the middle. With out a drill press to hold it straight it would be impossible to get it to work if done free hand.
Robar
Well-Known Member
Agreed. I have a drill press but it seems like somewhere around here I have a antique adjustable hole saw that was like that. (drill bit with an adjustable blade on an outrigger if you will.
myke
Well-Known Member
I used mine for net pots in 5 g pails,needed some crazy size like 4 13/16 as 5" was too big.Worked well for a quick fix.
ilovereggae
Well-Known Member
Prototype complete. Patent pending. Now taking pre-orders, DM me lol. JK. for real though each one cost me just @ $20 so I save a few $ vs using Earthboxes and I have both intake and outflow valves that connect to 1/2 tubing.
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ilovereggae
Well-Known Member
here's the parts prior to assembly an part #s if anyone is interested. not sure how many gals the pots are they say they are 5 gal but looks closer to 3.5 to 4 to me. good enough.
the res can hold 1.5 gal of water. the intake valve sits 1" higher than the outtake
the res can hold 1.5 gal of water. the intake valve sits 1" higher than the outtake
ilovereggae
Well-Known Member
the netpot is the wick.
the bottom square pot is just acting as a "foot" to hold it up out of the res. I didn't want it to go all the way to the bottom of the res. this way I can also lift the top pot off the lid as needed more easily.
I could have skipped the netpot I guess, or used pvc pieces as feet for each corner of the larger pot to act as feet. but had a bunch of those smaller pots sitting around and they are the right hight so just used those.
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ilovereggae
Well-Known Member
intake hose will allow me to fill them one at a time like i do now, and once i see runoff i stop. Going to get a funnel that I can attach to the end of the hoses for now.
eventually i will take a 20 gal Sterilite tote, and attach 9 more of those valves in a row along one side. fill with water, should be relatively even runoff between all 9 sites. as long as I get runoff from all 9 I figure I am good.
easy enough to lift the lid and peek in the corner of one of the totes to check res levels. each tent runs clones of the same strain so everything should feed the same (in theory).
i have 2 4x4 tents that sit next to each other with an 18" gap between them. ideally the same 'feeding' tote will have 9 valves on each side so i can feed both tents at the same time. (there would be shutoff valves on each one so i could feed just one side or the other as needed). planning to build a little cart that has the feed res, and the 'dirty' res sitting below it to catch the runoff.
once they get going i can judge for most part that they need say a gallon each per day to keep them topped off. this would also allow me to run a pump to feed the feeding res in a more automated fashion. i need to figure out a way to either recycle the drain water or wait until I am in a different spot and have access to floor drains before I could pull this off.
myke
Well-Known Member
Neat. I was going to link all my totes together but I just changed from Rdwc hydro so didn’t want hoses/bulkheads. Would sure make it easier linked to a res. All the totes would be the same level. But then there’s a res hoses etc. I now just stick a straw in my overflow hole. Waters low ,straw is up lol.
Alter Jean
Well-Known Member
Badass... Would love to follow this.
I made something for sippin' but not nearly as cool as yours.. Maybe we can combine ideas
Jah vibe
Rocket Soul
Well-Known Member
A few SIP experts (@hyroot ) from way back recommend not using the res until the pot is full of roots, using top watering until established. The square pot foot can be help full in these cases protecting the wick. But it would need some stabilization without the bottom res.
ILR: have you ever looked into PPK system? Similar to the sips but you top water instead and the wick is used more for sucking the water out of the pot, into the res, with multiple watering assuring that you refresh air in the media. Your system is extremely close to be able to PPK, maybe needs a bit longer/thinner wick. The whole point of the ppk system is removing the perched water table;the bit in the bottom of the pot which is a bit extra wet, and pushing it down to the res. There is plenty of threads on icmag forum, look for delta9 posts. It's a very nice rabbit hole...
Alter Jean
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that post. Learn something new everyday
myke
Well-Known Member
Interesting about top watering to get more roots before using the wick,Ive never started a small plant in a sip.