The Official Dwc Cooler Club - Any Kind of Cooler Res

BoomerBloomer57

BoomerBloomer57

Well-Known Member
Fer fuck sakes, did I hurt yer wittle feelings? I'm not the one that ruined a perfectly good cooler.

You failed in the planning stage. You got turned around with yer project. Then you hang yer ass out on the line in an internet forum. In a thread that was started because another grower was having problems and he found the solution to his dilemma by using the Igloos as I showed him how. And start looking for help.

Might be time for some more homework as you are still confused about the root situation. That tells me a lot.

And yer young, give it time. I'm sure you'll run into more self righteous jerks like me. Me? I'm retired so I have lot's of time to practice.

Luck to ya skippy!
 
BluBerry

BluBerry

Well-Known Member
Not trying to detour you. Just merely trying to help ya. I don't think one person in this thread has their coolers linked together.
I understand the benefits behind doing this, but IMO it's unecessary to do so and are only gonna add another headache to the situation.
That being said. You have some good help in here with people willing to help you out and help you produce a great yield with healthy plants.
If you listen to them instead of being set on what Heath says.
Not even sure who Heath is, but I know everyone has their own ideas and ways of doing things. We know what has worked for us and is still working.
I have heard that Plumbers PVC produces bad chemicals so don't use that.
I know you say it's ridiculous to do so, but what I would do. Is throw the coolers away and get two more and run them separately without holes. Just my opinion.
Good luck to ya. I'm sure you will do just fine, but may have issues from time to time.
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
Hey ppl !?
Been busy, so sorry I haven't been around.

iFree, you can make it work I'm sure.
I understand BB57's point, but there are more ways to skin a cat too.
If there turns out to be a headache, perhaps you'll end up ahead in the end.
Don't be afraid to post what you do and learn along the way, even if you do get your ass handed to you.
Take it on the chin and post all info, good and bad, so others can learn from it and maybe even improve it.
It's just that we choose DWC bcuz it IS the simplest of ALL hydroponics style of growing.
A bucket/cooler, air pump and air stones.
After that, it gets more and more complicated as ppl add to it and/or turn it into RDWC or even Aeroponics.
More moving parts = more probs to be had !

For the record:

I only endorse a cooler, an air pump and air stones.
Simple and pure Deep Water Coolers.
Anything above and beyond is at the individual growers discretion.

But we also need to maintain Cooler Club harmony and not be so harsh to clown/critique.
We won't grow if ppl are afraid to fuck up !
Playas fuck up ! lmao
 
rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
iFreeSki420 said:
What's the difference between sealing the cooler and sealing the big ass resevoirs you see in Heath and DoubleD grows? Why can they seal without toxic chemicals? Sorry, like I said before, plumbing is my weak point.
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You can use 100% silicone as a sealant. It's not toxic after it cures. It's used for aquariums which is a highly sensitive environment for toxins. I've drilled holes in coolers. The marine hull fittings are probably the best way to go since they are designed to go through a thick wall. However in my experience the gaskets they used in the ones I got where ineffective in creating a waterproof joint.

Personally, when I've done the silicone thing, I had leaks develop during the grow. My problem was that the hole was too close to the fitting size. in retrospect that contributed to the leaks. Having a hole that has at least a 1/8" gap all around would have been better. Having a 1/4" gap and using the expanding urethane foam would be the best. After that foam is used, cured and trimmed, then the silicone would go on as a top coat.

The leaks developed after the introduction of airstones and high volume of air caused vibrations to loosen the seals.
 
iFreeSki420

iFreeSki420

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the ideas. It does look like it will be tougher than I thought. I originally didn't think about the thickness of the cooler wall which is making it hard to find long enough pieces. I'll give your idea a shot and see how it goes. I will run this system side by side with a regular DWCooler and see if it is even worth the extra hassle.

As far as having a one reservoir system, would it be worth it to put in a water pump and maybe an extra ice pack to recirculate top feed and create extra dissolved oxygen in addition to the air stones? Is this creating an unnecessary heat source? Maybe I'll run all three systems and see which I like best.
 
iFreeSki420

iFreeSki420

Well-Known Member
BoomerBloomer57 said:
I will now go and take a time out in a corner,,,,,,


But you know I'll be hanging round and peeping.

bb57
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No one wants you to sit out. Your knowledge is valuable and I appreciate your input. I learned a lot from this and it may not be worth the hassle after all. I just didn't like the way you handled yourself
 
iFreeSki420

iFreeSki420

Well-Known Member
So since my holes are 1.5" I should get 1.25" marine hull fittings and surround it with expanding urethane foam? After I trim it I should coat it over with silicone? Would I be able to connect a flexible rubber hose between the two on the hull fittings? Is PVC still my best bet? Thanks!
 
BoomerBloomer57

BoomerBloomer57

Well-Known Member
iFreeSki420 said:
No one wants you to sit out. Your knowledge is valuable and I appreciate your input. I learned a lot from this and it may not be worth the hassle after all. I just didn't like the way you handled yourself
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That's exactly what the Commandant told me after Beruit. And Bosnia. Heard it again after Desert Storm. Shit, he threw his hands over his head and gave up after ghanistan ,,,,,,,

well anyhow, I've heard it before.

And yeah, i'm a prickly ol' bastid,,,,,,,
 
growmomma

growmomma

Active Member
Yay! The prickly Ol bastid came outta the corner!! Why do I have a feelin he never went to the corner??? Anyhow, he's right u r valuable. But shit u already know that too!
 
BoomerBloomer57

BoomerBloomer57

Well-Known Member
Honestly?

And I'll put it nicely,,,,,,

You are attempting a rdwc. No one in here is doing that method. Our coolers are our reservoirs and we do not connect them.

We don't drill holes in coolers to complicate things and have a possible FAILURE waiting to happen.

We give our roots about 4 fingers of space between the net pot and the water level.

You are doing things opposite of what we do. It works for the majority of us and I see no need to further confuse you on the different
approach you are taking.

Maybe Heath's thread is where you need to ask the question you have.

I still say throw out the cooler and start fresh. You'll end up spending more than the $50 I did on my coolers.

Was that soft enough?
 
BoomerBloomer57

BoomerBloomer57

Well-Known Member
growmomma said:
Yay! The prickly Ol bastid came outta the corner!! Why do I have a feelin he never went to the corner??? Anyhow, he's right u r valuable. But shit u already know that too!
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Hi ya Growmamma!

Yeah, I went to the corner, collected rent and came back in. It's only a temp thingy when I time myself out.

The things I have done in 40 years of growing. The different methods. Outdoor. Indoor. Up. Down. Sidefuckinways............

My labs didn't pop up over night. I've failed more times than I care to remember (documented though) while learning how to do this.
The Labs are the culmination of the ways I have found to work. For me.

Damn right I can be hard on peeps. Specially when the homework ain't been done or the plan gets pooched. Due to improper planning.

There is so much good info here on how to grow the plant. All it takes is research, trial and error to become a consistently top notch grower.

Some want short cuts. I see it all the time. But it takes time. Lot's of time.

Ahhhh, who the hell listens to an old jar-jar anyways?


Growmomma don't mind me, this is probably only the the 3rd time I've jumped on a case.


bb57
 
growmomma

growmomma

Active Member
Ah well he should be thankful you jumped on the case, hard on him or not. Sometimes the simple realization that the "old jar-jars" may just know a thing or three is valuable in itself lol.
 
rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
iFreeSki420 said:
Thanks for the ideas. It does look like it will be tougher than I thought. I originally didn't think about the thickness of the cooler wall which is making it hard to find long enough pieces. I'll give your idea a shot and see how it goes. I will run this system side by side with a regular DWCooler and see if it is even worth the extra hassle.

As far as having a one reservoir system, would it be worth it to put in a water pump and maybe an extra ice pack to recirculate top feed and create extra dissolved oxygen in addition to the air stones? Is this creating an unnecessary heat source? Maybe I'll run all three systems and see which I like best.
Click to expand...
Yes, it is worth it. The hassle of rez changes with plants atop is something one can live with for so long. Having a single rez makes it difficult to maximize your yield's with Vscrog. As for the DO, add a venturi to that water pump and you'll have lots of DO. DIY is pretty easy, yet $50 gets you one made to keep live bait,...well, alive.


iFreeSki420 said:
So since my holes are 1.5" I should get 1.25" marine hull fittings and surround it with expanding urethane foam? After I trim it I should coat it over with silicone? Would I be able to connect a flexible rubber hose between the two on the hull fittings? Is PVC still my best bet? Thanks!
Click to expand...
You could, but what's best is either:

1) a marine fitting that is sized 1.5". (It's the flange and gasket that makes the seal. You'll also need teflon tape on the threads)

or

2) Using the foam to 'glue' in a fitting or the hose itself. This is where you would use a 1.25" fitting or hose.

Note: This isn't something that you want to move around after you have your plants in it.

In my journal you can see the multiple cooler setup I used for a time.

And yes, trim it and cover with silicone and yes you can use a flexible rubber hose. 100% silicone, get it in chalk tubes, great stuff !! As a side note, I once drove an artcar across the states that had mirror tiles 'glued' into the wheel rims. After 15k none came off (maybe one or two)

Silicone is da bom!
 
Neumann

Neumann

Active Member
If needed you can buy bulkhead fittings here. http://www.jehmco.com/html/bulkhead_fittings.html They also sell air pumps and other things.

I use a cooler as something I call a folded RDWC system, the 5 gallon grow bucket sits inside the cooler with water pumping into it and draining out holes drilled at a specific height for water level control around my roots. I call it the Franken-Cooler, it's somewhere in this thread. Coolers work well in a lot of different applications, not just simple DWC. I have no problem cutting holes in coolers and doing "crazy" plumbing because I think things through, plan for eventualities, use PVC glue, teflon tape and common sense. Props to the original idea but it's going to spin in a lot of directions, so saying one is right or wrong just doesn't cut it.
 
BoomerBloomer57

BoomerBloomer57

Well-Known Member
Simplicity.

Spin it anyway you want. Complicate it all you like. Mechanical failures happen. The more moving parts, heat sources and gizmos you add to the coolers create problems you will have to deal with that I do not. KISSS. Keep It Simple Silly Stoner. Not a whole lot of fancy whizbangs in my Labs. Good equipment. Light Hoods, Ballasts, Air pumps, and Fans. Not a whole lot to worry about. Easy to keep CLEAN. Easy to identify a problem in a cooler and correct it.

But the more you fool around with the basic the more trouble you will have.
 
X

xyzxyz

Member
iFreeSki420 said:
Hey everyone! Almost done with my new cooler setup, so stoked to try it out! I am very new when it comes to plumbing so I was wondering if anyone could help me with some parts I will need. I need to plumb from the top of one cooler to the bottom of another cooler. The overflow on the main res controls the water level and returns to the other res using gravity where it will top feed with a water pump back to the main res. I have drilled 1.5" holes in each cooler and was wondering what parts I need to connect the pvc and have them be secure? Thanks!
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Your cooler setup looks great. It will work perfectly fine. Hook up the PVC with uniseals, they will ensure that there are no leaks.

Those saying you have wrecked a perfectly good cooler may have no idea of your concept. Cause if they did, they would be aplauding you.

Basically what you are trying to achieve is an Undercurrent set up (which is similar to DD's bucket system) but using coolers. As long as you insulate the pvc it should work out great.

Keep us updated, not everyone is negative towards somebody who thinks outside the square.

Try here for uniseals
http://www.aussieglobe.com/uniseal3.htm
 
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