Aeroponic Rubbermaid tub leaks, bad

Hey all,

I have all the sprayers and pumps and what not to make an aeroponic system, so i thought id give it a try.

The only problem ive had is with my tub leaking around the lid.

I've been using a 37 gal. rubbermaid roughneck XL tub that i got from home depot. This seems to be what everybody else is using, but mine is just being an asshole.


My question is, what is the best tub to use? Am I using the right one?

Thanks, Joe

try buying some foam weather stripping its sticky on one side so stick it to the tub and clip the lid on

i have exactly the same problem. i use thin plastic sheeting in a big rectangle over my entier res with holes cut in it for the plants. it drapes over all the sides and is then tucked under the lid and hangs in the res a couple inches. It makes lifting the lid kind of irritating but it stops almost all the leak really easily. I have a towel arround the base just in case, but the few drops that fall on it just increase the humidit a bit as they evaporate.

even easier use a couple layers of duct tape.

Demosthenese said:

i have exactly the same problem. i use thin plastic sheeting in a big rectangle over my entier res with holes cut in it for the plants. it drapes over all the sides and is then tucked under the lid and hangs in the res a couple inches. It makes lifting the lid kind of irritating but it stops almost all the leak really easily. I have a towel arround the base just in case, but the few drops that fall on it just increase the humidit a bit as they evaporate.

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Thats a great idea dude, im gonna try that.

i've also heard of using industrial sized garbage bags to actually line the inside of the res, just like a garbage can stretch it over all the edges and fill it with the water. Then lid on and just tape the sides up in a couple places to the lid. This way you don't have to scrub the res when you're changing the water. Just empty, remove bag, install new one and fill. My res is too big for regular garbage bags, and i've never tried it just read about it in Stinkbud's thread. He endorses it. I wouldn't use duct tape because if my res leaked it could leak on the electrical and that would be a really bad scene, but you're right, duct tape would probably work for the two weeks between res changes. I like to be able to lift my lid without getting behind it to remove duct tape.

mrduke said:

try buying some foam weather stripping its sticky on one side so stick it to the tub and clip the lid on

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I agree with this guy, home depot lowes or walmart will have a good selection of different sizes, just run it along the rim and your set, its cheap stuff too.

this is what i came up with it keeps your lid in a solid piece and goes on and off the way it did before i started to cut it and stops all the leaks,i'm sure if someone knew more about seals this could be modified further to simplify...

rubbermaid roughneck r the only tub that doesent leal ......trust me........

AESOP ROCK said:

rubbermaid roughneck r the only tub that doesent leal ......trust me........

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actually i use roughneck tubs and they do leak if not tended to.
atleast the way my sprinklers are set up..

HOHO said:

actually i use roughneck tubs and they do leak if not tended to.
atleast the way my sprinklers are set up..

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Wow dude, that looks really good. What did you use to make that? I have the exact same tub too.

Jobo said:

Wow dude, that looks really good. What did you use to make that? I have the exact same tub too.

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i use 54 gallon tubs 32 3" pots but you could do it to a 20 gallon if u wanted to..
you need:garage door seal $9.00 at lowes
4 tubes GE 100% silicone not that cheap stuff, the one that says 7 in the chart on the tube and not 5..$25.00..and a caulk gun
a lil box of 5/8" screws $5.00...again get the good ones for weather with a flat head and a screw gun if interested i'll tell u more

HOHO said:

i use 54 gallon tubs 32 3" pots but you could do it to a 20 gallon if u wanted to..
you need:garage door seal $9.00 at lowes
4 tubes GE 100% silicone not that cheap stuff, the one that says 7 in the chart on the tube and not 5..$25.00..and a caulk gun
a lil box of 5/8" screws $5.00...again get the good ones for weather with a flat head and a screw gun if interested i'll tell u more

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yea man hit me up with a pm man. Your idea seems to look real well.

this will be my second attempt at typing this cuz i got booted by that login glitch.

flip the lid upside down and put a bead where the lid meets the tub then start in the middle of the long side so corners are one piece and make sure that the rubber is positioned to tread water and not catch it when on the tub put the small side of the rubber in the silicone and stick a screw in it then go all the way around putting a screw every 6 inches then go back through and push the rubber down to make sure there are no high spots between screws run another small bead over the screws. this should take less than a tube.then i put a bead on the other end of the rubber so the angle is smaller for water to get out when the lid is on, i have notested that most of the leaks have come from the sprinklers that are right next to the edge shooting strait up so i put another bead on the tub about an inch and a half down the side of the tub as a block..

i then take a dremel with a grinding disk and score the bottom of the clips that lock the lid on so they don't slip off this works much better..use the rest of the silicone for handles and make sure that u use some to seal all the way around the rubber where it meets the lid and i think u will be happy with the results..

seems messy... cracks and small imperfections are places for shit to grow. Two sheets of plastic over the top of the res tucked in under the lid and i have no leaks at all. I don't know, if it works it works, just saying.

i know i thought about that to but i use h2o2 so that has kept things clean so far anyways..
i used the plastic to but not the way u do i'm sure that works fine and cheaper..just more of a pain to get in the tub when u need to.
this is my first time using this tub so i wont now exactly what i'm dealing with till their done..