Tomato cages for dwc?

Hey all. I'm running 5-5 gallon buckets I'm flipping this evening I wanted to use tomato cages putting the stakes through the hydroton and threw the holes in the netpot...works well btw nice and sturdy. My question is will the galvanized steel effect the water and plants? Thx for any info

While I haven't done this myself I was actually given this advice for my DWC by a trusted grow friend of mine who has been growing various ways for probably a good 20 years. Can't say for how it affects plants and water but given that he says he has done and never mentioned any issues I don't think you will run into any problems. I say go for it but if you want to be sure take a 5 gallon bucket filled with RO water and an air-stone and let it go with the tomato stake sitting in the water for a week and check your PPMs to see if you get any increase.

buster1977 said:

Hey all. I'm running 5-5 gallon buckets I'm flipping this evening I wanted to use tomato cages putting the stakes through the hydroton and threw the holes in the netpot...works well btw nice and sturdy. My question is will the galvanized steel effect the water and plants? Thx for any info

Click to expand...

I'd be weary about having any kind of metal in the soup.

What I would do, is bend the four legs of the cage, outwards, to create a flat surface. Then, duct tape the four extended legs to the lid.

What might work even better is to drill little holes to the sides of each bent leg, and then ziptie the legs to the lid.

Also, I should t say "any metal", as titanium and stainless steel would be fine. Aluminum wouldn't rust, but it would corrode, which would drip into the water. Might be fine though.

Lose the legs.. The Ferts react with the Galvi..

Works on the 6 inch full lids too.

I have metal poles that go through drilled holes with rubber grommets in my netpot with no ill-affects that I've noticed...not 100% sure on the material, but I was thinking that it was plastic coated steel. I'll double check when I get the chance. Here is what my setup looks like....allows me to still pick each netpot up and move the plant to an empty bucket for res changes, although it does constrict movement in regards to vertical space when I do res changes. Still totally do-able though.

Logan Burke said:

I have metal poles that go through drilled holes with rubber grommets in my netpot with no ill-affects that I've noticed...not 100% sure on the material, but I was thinking that it was plastic coated steel. I'll double check when I get the chance. Here is what my setup looks like....allows me to still pick each netpot up and move the plant to an empty bucket for res changes, although it does constrict movement in regards to vertical space when I do res changes. Still totally do-able though.

Click to expand...

I get salt build up on the wire on top of the lid still with the wire ties... Looks like an Anode by the end of the grow. I lift the whole lid by the cage and set it in a stand by bucket.

This was my attempt using a tomato cage with a 5 gal bucket..
https://www.rollitup.org/p/13954484/

mytwhyt said:

This was my attempt using a tomato cage with a 5 gal bucket..
https://www.rollitup.org/p/13954484/

Click to expand...

I borrowed from this..
https://www.420magazine.com/community/threads/mobile-scrog-attachment-for-buckets.254659/