HydroRed's DIY Budget Flood and Drain (approx $40 total)

[Hydro]

hA!...just got back from lowes and they had both the tote and the tray. Got two sets , about $35 out the door. Now to assemble the rest and figure how to get it into the routine. I checked and the tray would work on the HDX tote from h_depot as well.

Ive tried both, and though the tray fits into the HDX tote decent, its not a perfect fit like the ones I suggest from Low's. The HDX make the tray sit up above the lip line like 1.5+" while the same tray sits flush in the Commander XXL. Its literally a "perfect fit" with no gaps or light leaks into res etc. Once plants are in it, that 1/8" gap pictured disappears and its lip on lip.
This is the "ODJOB" tray fit inside of the Commander 27 gal tote I suggest:


You'll often find the newer trays with the ruler on the top edge instead of the ODJOB trays. Those will work too, but are juuuust a smidge too large in diameter for any of the totes which creates a gap.

 

[TerpyTyrone]

Imagine if you made a RWDC out of THOSE totes. I think we need a bigger garden!

One step at a time. Let me get my feet wet. Hahahaha pun. But I have the 5 gallon bucket lids 2 from years ago. I was gonna axe em and use em for net pots but I got
6 6" net pots for 8.50$ at the hydro shop.
Got the tote 9$
Mortar tray 6$
Harbor,freight fountain pump 12$
Bulkhead set off Amazon 7$
Growit clay 10L for 24$
I had the pump but everything else was just purchased. Those should,be pretty accurate # for cost in !!
I just rinsed the clay and realized I dont have an 1 1/4" holesaw and I probably wouldnt wanna use a spade bit and ruin a perfectly good tray.

 

[TerpyTyrone]

Ive tried both, and though the tray fits into the HDX tote decent, its not a perfect fit like the ones I suggest from Low's. The HDX make the tray sit up above the lip line like 1.5+" while the same tray sits flush in the Commander XXL. Its literally a "perfect fit" with no gaps or light leaks into res etc. Once plants are in it, that 1/8" gap pictured disappears and its lip on lip.
This is the "ODJOB" tray fit inside of the Commander 27 gal tote I suggest:
View attachment 17986

You'll often find the newer trays with the ruler on the top edge instead of the ODJOB trays. Those will work too, but are juuuust a smidge too large in diameter for any of the totes which creates a gap.

That's the one!! 9.98$ here

 

[spyralout]

One step at a time. Let me get my feet wet. Hahahaha pun. But I have the 5 gallon bucket lids 2 from years ago. I was gonna axe em and use em for net pots but I got
6 6" net pots for 8.50$ at the hydro shop.
Got the tote 9$
Mortar tray 6$
Harbor,freight fountain pump 12$
Bulkhead set off Amazon 7$
Growit clay 10L for 24$
I had the pump but everything else was just purchased. Those should,be pretty accurate # for cost in !!
I just rinsed the clay and realized I dont have an 1 1/4" holesaw and I probably wouldnt wanna use a spade bit and ruin a perfectly good tray.

Hope you have good luck with Grow!t brand pebbles. They float and were an issue in veg for me. Shapes are irregular too. They also aren't very heavy so they don't anchor the plant down very well. I am trying original hydroton brand for the next run coming up shortly. Keep in mind this was all in RDWC so IDK if this applies in F&D as much. Also, I found that my local hydro shops have hydroton (and soil/coco) much cheaper than Amazon. Might be the size/weight is more costly to ship so it's reflected in the price.

 

[TerpyTyrone]

Hope you have good luck with Grow!t brand pebbles. They float and were an issue in veg for me. Shapes are irregular too. They also aren't very heavy so they don't anchor the plant down very well. I am trying original hydroton brand for the next run coming up shortly. Keep in mind this was all in RDWC so IDK if this applies in F&D as much. Also, I found that my local hydro shops have hydroton (and soil/coco) much cheaper than Amazon. Might be the size/weight is more costly to ship so it's reflected in the price.

Ya I could see how,in this system the plants me become top heavy and fall over.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to keep em upright?

 

[TerpyTyrone]

Watchout motherfuckers!!!
This dude just found an 1 1/4" holesaw in my old electrician pouch. Yeehawww!! I'm building a hydro system after work todayyyy!!

Now how am I gonna keep these net pots from floating all around and tipping over.
I figured i could install a piece of metal, stainless or aluminum, on the backside and screw through the net pot, mortar tray, and metal with self drilling screws.
Maybe even sandwich some good ole silicone in between the layer to keep her watertight. Maybe on the bulkhead fitting themselves too.
I wanna be able to seperate the tray from tote without experiencing any water loss. This could be beneficial if I have to raise the height of the tray to get it closer to,light

 

[Hydro]

Buy this brand of pebbles and no worries of floating or plants tipping.

 

[Hydro]

Watchout motherfuckers!!!
This dude just found an 1 1/4" holesaw in my old electrician pouch. Yeehawww!! I'm building a hydro system after work todayyyy!!

Now how am I gonna keep these net pots from floating all around and tipping over.
I figured i could install a piece of metal, stainless or aluminum, on the backside and screw through the net pot, mortar tray, and metal with self drilling screws.
Maybe even sandwich some good ole silicone in between the layer to keep her watertight. Maybe on the bulkhead fitting themselves too.
I wanna be able to seperate the tray from tote without experiencing any water loss. This could be beneficial if I have to raise the height of the tray to get it closer to,light

Just an FYI, I have zero silicone on anything I use. This is all designed to be taken apart, broken down and cleaned in between runs. It would get messy to do that with siliconed parts and likely to leak if you dont get every bit of silicone off of the sealing surfaces. Those bulkheads seal up very nice right out of the package if the holes are drilled clean and to the appropriate size. Never a drop leaked on this system.

 

[TerpyTyrone]

Screwed through using self rappers and a brass latch I had in the scrap heap

 

[TerpyTyrone]

Thanks @gwheels and @HydroRed FOR YOUR HELP!!

 

[Boybelue]

A good 24 hr presoak on the hydroton prior to use will help with floating right off the bat. In ph adjusted solution.

 

[PrayerMantis]

Hey @HydroRed I have a small area 2x2x5 and I’m wanting to get into hydro (soil guy)!Would this setup work in that area? And if not is there pieces you’d recommend for that area in place of the bigger pieces? Sorry just completely new to this hydro stuff.

 

[PrayerMantis]

How would this be compared to DWC which I am highly considering?

 

[TerpyTyrone]

A good 24 hr presoak on the hydroton prior to use will help with floating right off the bat. In ph adjusted solution.

All good brother!
Fully functional!!

 

[Gweedo]

Ive already recommended this setup to a friend or 2 soo dam simple

 

[Hydro]

Screwed through using self rappers and a brass latch I had in the scrap heapView attachment 18136View attachment 18137View attachment 18138

Someone forgot to rinse their expanded clay pebbles first
Hope you got them electrical cords and plugs up off the wet ground too.

Hey @HydroRed I have a small area 2x2x5 and I’m wanting to get into hydro (soil guy)!Would this setup work in that area? And if not is there pieces you’d recommend for that area in place of the bigger pieces? Sorry just completely new to this hydro stuff.

In a 5' tent, any kind of hydroponics will likely require relatively small plants. The tote setup is a lower profile than a 5 gal bucket with a netpot so you can figure having that, plus the space the light/filter etc take up. Subtract all that from 5' and thats how tall of plants you can grow. But to answer yor question, yes this will work great in there if height restrictions are taken into consideration. The dimensions of the "tray in tote" are approx:
20" W x 30" L x 20" H all set up with pots ready to grow.

 

[Boybelue]

Hey @HydroRed I have a small area 2x2x5 and I’m wanting to get into hydro (soil guy)!Would this setup work in that area? And if not is there pieces you’d recommend for that area in place of the bigger pieces? Sorry just completely new to this hydro stuff.

Totes going to be a little to wide for a 2ft space.

 

[Hydro]

Totes going to be a little to wide for a 2ft space.

shit your right, I was thinking it was 2x4. my bad @PrayerMantis

 

[Boybelue]

Might could use the hefty totes, mine measures 23-5/8" so it would be really tight.
Refer back to post #104

 

[PrayerMantis]

Someone forgot to rinse their expanded clay pebbles first
Hope you got them electrical cords and plugs up off the wet ground too.


In a 5' tent, any kind of hydroponics will likely require relatively small plants. The tote setup is a lower profile than a 5 gal bucket with a netpot so you can figure having that, plus the space the light/filter etc take up. Subtract all that from 5' and thats how tall of plants you can grow. But to answer yor question, yes this will work great in there if height restrictions are taken into consideration. The dimensions of the "tray in tote" are approx:
20" W x 30" L x 20" H all set up with pots ready to grow.

Thanks man. I think I’m gonna use your general principles stated here just tailored to fit my dimensions. Looking forward to seeing what hydro has to offer me