2k Heath Robinson style for cheap

Hello every one and thanks for stopin by. I originaly had begun this thread on another forum, however due to low traffic and feedback I am coming back to RIU to post it here as well. I hope to get some feed back so I can use it to improve this system.....This will be updated as I go and is in the beginning stages .... So with that said,
On w/ the show

I have done extensive research, and have found 0 reference to what it is I would like to try. So in an attempt to experiment on my very first vertical., I will be doing this journal, and updating it throughout the grow. Hopefully this may help someone else in the future, and since this will be an experiment perhaps someone can take information and expand it tweaking the diy system to improve proficiency and end results, I know there are a lot of geniuses out there who love to design this shit...Hint, hint………….
So on with the show…..

This is my very first vertical grow attempt, so it will be more of an experiment for me. I will be using two 1k HPS vertically hung in cool tubes, 650 cfm vortex exhausting the lights. 300 cfm can fan combo carbon filter to exchange the internal air of the grow tent which measures 8x8x8. This will be grown hydroponically.

I would like to point out that I have been getting good harvest every 4 weeks using an aero setup designed by Stink Bud perpetually grown. So I am really excited to c how the yield of the vert measure up against my aero. Here r a few pics of the area that will be used in this experiment these r old pics and the equipment will be removed to be set up 4 a vertical grow as soon as I harvest this round. I am currently growing using Stink Buds system design An I must admit it rocks, however I am just looking to increase yields and want to experiment a lil. I have been told vert is the way to go about this so I will try, worse case I can always go back to what works.……

I could not find cheap materials to work with. I love Heath Robinson’s flood tubes (don’t we all) and if you haven’t seen it I suggest u check him out the dude know his shit (mucho respect, Heath).
Now with that said the cost of all the pvc elbows is crazy high around here, and the pipe he used isn’t available so, I decided to use 4” corrugated flex pvc sometimes referred to as Spa Flex. I could not find anyone who has used this shit for growing other than one old timer who grew his tomato plants in it outdoors, and if they have used it for this type of grow they sure as hell aren’t sharing. There may be a good reason, but I will find out

Now the problem I found when using flex is it won’t hold shape.....

So I built a ¾” pvc frame to attach it to. Once attached the flex pipe stays in place and can now support the weight of the plants and nutes. Here is a picture of the frame and the pvc I used when I built the frame, It was not 100% complete when I took these had to get more supplies....... keep in mind this is my first run so I am winging this....
more to come.....

The frame is surprisingly real sturdy, I even thought of perhaps putting wheels on it so I can roll it out of the grow tent for mait, and cleaning.But for now I am just gonna roll w/ it and get this going, there will be time to tweek the setup once I have my first grow in it under my belt...

attach the flex 2 the frame….. This will be all in thermal reflective wrap once I am done....

I will be taking my time w/ this build, because my flower area is in use atm and has a few weeks left still, so be patient, I will keep yas updated.......

The thermal wrap I will b using for my tubes is called "Reflectix Insulation" and can be bought at the hardware store. I got mine at Lowels. I really like this stuff it gives the tubes the insulation they need because the tubes r black, and will absorb any of the heat from the room and just cook the roots, thus keeping the nute temps low and not only that but help reflect the light back up to the plants. Gives a nice clean finished look as well.

To make it easier for cleaning and mait. I have decided instead of just wrapping the flex around, I would make joints at each level, this may come in handy when I try to do this perpetually, that way I can remove one row @ a time instead of the entire system.

I am using a 4" coupler that has a rubber boot w/ ridges that fit perfectly in the ridges on the flex pipe inside and stainless clamps on the outside, makes a great seal on the flex .... here is a pic of it

I will be running the rez outside of the grow area to control temps better, and it gives me more grow space, gonna use a 55 gallon black trash can for the rez. I intend to set it up w/ an auto top off valve (but I am in the process of installing a new water line first) so all I’ll have to do is measure ph and balance the nutrients as necessary. I will really enjoy not having to tote water around ne more, and this will be an invaluable addition to the grow area. (giddy, gigidy) The plumbing will start at the top rack and have sprayers in the top of each tube between sites,(altho not 100% sure if I will be ading the sprayers for the first run) flowing all the way around to the bottom tube continuously and back into the rez…….

Ok so I have been able to clear half of my flowering area, and start to finish up the Vert build. Hopefully by the time the rest of my current grow is done all my babies will be ready to go into this system. Here are a few current pics to get yas started.

Here ull c the tubes mounted to the stand and wrapped in thermal insulation. Looking good thus far. Those girlz in the lower left are in areo, Super Lemon haze wats left of it ne how.
What yas think about the new system tho? I think it is coming together nicely.

looking good man. i'll subscribe, curious to see how this turns out.

I have ran into a snag w/ a leak when I did a test run, so I will fix this and do another test run of the system b4 loading it all up. the room still has a few weeks till the curent girlz come out ne how...will keep ya's posted

interesting, looks like a lot of work, def resembles heaths setup already..anyway I will be following around and I look forward

This looks interesting, def will sub...

Ok e1, sry for the delay, but this is the busy time of the year for me, plus i ran into a few leaks had to fix.....but enough of the crap heres wat u wanna c!.

Time 4 an update eh?
here it is up n running wk 1....

When I started this project I wanted to experiment and c wat I could use to cheaply replicate Heath's flood tubes. I must admit, thjis has surprised me thus far and seems to be working perfectly. I wannted this system to be versatile so I could incorporate a perpetual grow in it, However due to having to have a diff rez for each growth stage it would simply take up 2 much room and use too much plumbing, and would no longer be cheap w all those pumps n such. So I did some research on nute strengths and came to the conclusion I could run 1 rez w/ a perp grow and run my nute soup @ bout half strength. I am not the only one who has done this their r several otheres one this forum who Ive spoke with about this.

here is a shot of the rez, simple and effective, sets outside the room to (1) give more grow space and (2) keep rez temps cool. I am using organic nute so there is a filter on both the pump and the return tube to catch ne solids that tend to build up. After this batch is gone I will be switching nutes, I dont like all this messy shit!