Drainage Solutions for Coco DTW Setups?

I've noticed a lot of growers are using coco with a drain to waste setup, and I’m curious about how everyone is handling drainage. Especially since coco needs to be fertigated multiple times a day during flower until a good amount of runoff. I tried the Floraflex drainage system but personally didn’t have the best experience with it, so now I’m exploring some DIY options.

One idea I’ve considered is modifying saucers by adding feet and installing bulkheads with hoses running to a condensate pump. Another option I’m thinking about is placing a tray in my tent with fabric pots elevated on risers, and using an automatic sump pump to remove excess runoff from the tray on the floor. I’d really appreciate hearing what’s worked for others. Photos would be even better if you're willing to share.

If you're just growing a plant or two, then Drain Away trays are a good option. They can be interconnected so that the waste comes out the same PVC line for all. Even though some people connect lots of Drain Away trays, I think the best option for any more than a couple of plants would be a flood table.

If you make one, it just needs to be strong like ABS or similar. My first table I just bought a $5 concrete mixing tub and drilled a drainage hole in it. If you have the height to raise the table, then you can just use gravity to drain the table.

MickFoster said:

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That’s a great idea. I was actually considering doing something similar instead of modifying each individual planter like i said in the OP. I was thinking of running the drain to a condensate pump and connecting it to the drain line that runs across the lung room. The only issue I ran into was finding flood trays at a reasonable price. There’s just one hydro store near me, and it’s not even very close, but they’ve been out of 4x4 trays for a while now. Most of the ones I’ve found online are pretty expensive, and shipping costs are often over $100 due to the LTL freight. If you don’t mind me asking, where did you get your flood tray and how much did it run you?

I remember seeing a passive wicking system on here before. It seemed to work well.

7CardBud said:

I remember seeing a passive wicking system on here before. It seemed to work well.

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Are you talking about wicking the waste water?

I bought a condensate pump, but haven't hooked it up to run with these Bucket Company trays.

Do you have a drain close?

ec121 said:

If you're just growing a plant or two, then Drain Away trays are a good option. They can be interconnected so that the waste comes out the same PVC line for all. Even though some people connect lots of Drain Away trays, I think the best option for any more than a couple of plants would be a flood table.

If you make one, it just needs to be strong like ABS or similar. My first table I just bought a $5 concrete mixing tub and drilled a drainage hole in it. If you have the height to raise the table, then you can just use gravity to drain the table.

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Concrete mixing tubs with a metal shelf sitting on top - i just use a shop vac to suck up the waste every couple of days- dump it in a 5 gallon bucket and toss

FmSwayze said:

I bought a condensate pump, but haven't hooked it up to run with these Bucket Company trays.

Do you have a drain close?

15.5" Ez- Pz Runoff (Drain) Tray | The Bucket Company

The 15.5" Ez-Pz Runoff Tray works with standard containers and fabric pots up to 7 Gallons (26.50 Liters). Raised on 1-1/4" PVC Pipe (6" height), these trays help drain plant runoff away to a grower's preferred location. Works indoors and outdoors. Adjustable height & UV Protected.

www.thebucketcompany.com

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I do actually have a drain nearby, I ran a PVC drain line along the length of my lung room so each tent can tie into it. I’ve already been using a condensate pump for my dehumidifier, and I had another one set up for a Floraflex drainage system. That setup didn’t work too well for me. I wasn’t a fan of how much surface contact there was between the fabric pots and the trays, and the drainage just wasn’t efficient. I’m sure I could have adjusted things by raising or staggering the trays to improve flow toward the pump, but even then, the contact issue would still remain.

For me, it’s important to minimize contact as much as possible while maintaining uniform spacing around the entire pot, something more like the setup shown in the pic below. I’ve been thinking about modifying that design by adding a bulkhead drain and running vinyl tubing to a condensate pump. Since I’m growing four plants per 4x4 tent, I may even try using a single fill and drain tray that spans the whole tent to keep things simple and efficient.

Little Giant condensate pumps. Used to do flood tray just laid on cinderblocks. Conderblocks just provide the perfect height to work out drainage. I switched to all drain away trays so I can wrap bags around them and panty hose on the pvc part that dumps the runoff.

That way its bug proofed against any bugs. Catch master bug jell applied to where the bags tie shut. Just a band tie to tie bag around pvc so it can be undone to check root zone.

So you know how to work with pvc? I was awful at first but quickly fogured it out after a few setups. The little giant in business for over 50yrs very reliable pump. Recommended by dr coco for cannabis.

GrindMind said:

That’s a great idea. I was actually considering doing something similar instead of modifying each individual planter like i said in the OP. I was thinking of running the drain to a condensate pump and connecting it to the drain line that runs across the lung room. The only issue I ran into was finding flood trays at a reasonable price. There’s just one hydro store near me, and it’s not even very close, but they’ve been out of 4x4 trays for a while now. Most of the ones I’ve found online are pretty expensive, and shipping costs are often over $100 due to the LTL freight. If you don’t mind me asking, where did you get your flood tray and how much did it run you?

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Actual size is a 3x3........works perfect in my 4x4 tent.
It's made by Botanicare.
I bought it at a local hydro shop many years ago........I don't remember the cost........sorry.

GrindMind said:

Are you talking about wicking the waste water?

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Yup

medidedicated said:

Little Giant condensate pumps. Used to do flood tray just laid on cinderblocks. Conderblocks just provide the perfect height to work out drainage. I switched to all drain away trays so I can wrap bags around them and panty hose on the pvc part that dumps the runoff.

That way its bug proofed against any bugs. Catch master bug jell applied to where the bags tie shut. Just a band tie to tie bag around pvc so it can be undone to check root zone.

So you know how to work with pvc? I was awful at first but quickly fogured it out after a few setups. The little giant in business for over 50yrs very reliable pump. Recommended by dr coco for cannabis.

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I’m comfortable connecting some piping when needed, though I wouldn’t consider myself a pro by any means. I’ve come across those drain trays before, it’s a solid idea. The only thing that held me back was the amount of surface contact between the fabric pots and the tray. It seemed like that could potentially slow down the drainage. I actually had a similar setup in mind to yours, but I was thinking of using the tray below instead.

MickFoster said:

Actual size is a 3x3........works perfect in my 4x4 tent.
It's made by Botanicare.
I bought it at a local hydro shop many years ago........I don't remember the cost........sorry.

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Those were the trays I was talking about in the OP. I find the 4x4 Bontanicare for $100, kinda high but I'd do it. Them Bam, $225 to ship, $325 total cost, yea no I'm good.

GrindMind said:

I’m comfortable connecting some piping when needed, though I wouldn’t consider myself a pro by any means. I’ve come across those drain trays before, it’s a solid idea. The only thing that held me back was the amount of surface contact between the fabric pots and the tray. It seemed like that could potentially slow down the drainage. I actually had a similar setup in mind to yours, but I was thinking of using the tray below instead.

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I dont have any issues with that, I use fabric pots but more tall and narrow for better coverage. The wide shallow pots the edges up top tend to dry out and salt up.

I use half a gallon worth coco in a one gallon pot stapled shut up top and bug jelled on seams. Just so I can look away for a sec or wait a few days to put the bags over them before the roots start poking out.

Ive harvested plants without bags and saw no bugs but I go that extra mile so I can sleep at night. Seeing gnats lay eggs under a microscope I dont doubt they can somehow get in. I find the best IPM is to be on your A game before disaster strikes. Layers of redundancy.

Anyway, I used to use floraflex pots but they rootbound so quick that even if filled half way the roots push up. Push up so far that the drip system overflows. Poor drainage too despite being intended to be. Id get funky water trapped in the root ball causing issues.

The fabric flows just fine and I check ph and ec numbers in runoff which always indicate a healthy rootzone. Since I got rid of bugs and poor drainage.

GrindMind said:

Those were the trays I was talking about in the OP. I find the 4x4 Bontanicare for $100, kinda high but I'd do it. Them Bam, $225 to ship, $325 total cost, yea no I'm good.

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Theyre usually costly but worth it, Im glad I kept mine because I actually need more. You can run pheno hunts of 4 plants or more in a confined space.

medidedicated said:

Theyre usually costly but worth it, Im glad I kept mine because I actually need more. You can run pheno hunts of 4 plants or more in a confined space.

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I'm going to grab a couple if I ever see them in the hydro store for a good price. Until then, I've been looking at these HVAC drain trays for almost half the price. I could possibly modify these for drainage and just put the plants on risers.

Most drains in homes dont go to land but back to municipal city water. The bonds from these salt ferts are too strong to break once in the water. I go through the pain of dumping outside. My veg rez is 25 gal with a 1150gph vivosun pump that pumps up to the ground floor outside.

Most importantly dont be stupid clown like me and dump water next to home foundation. Move it six feet away with extra tubing. Must say it to help prevent catastrophic home damage to people out there that may not realize it.

My fam saw me and corrected me but already did it for a while.

Anyway people recommend getting flood trays from the store anyway because they can break in shipping. Theyre frail. Id make sure that tray you posted isnt brittle. These flood trays are made for what we are doing.

The pattern in bottom can be a pain to set plants on with ridid plastic bottoms. The hvac tray, is that the bottom? It looks awfly thin and might have petterns that obstruct plant placement.

Idk If Il be honest the way youre heading seems make shift vs what people commonly do. To make the same thing but with more work. I started out doing that but then just started making more normal setups very simplistic.

I guess theres nothing wrong with that but sometimes there are times to be innovative. When other times just buying things already made for your purpose might suit better idk.

Ive never seen anyway have issues with drainage from contact surface. Maybe youre frequency needs dialing in and more runoff per feed?

MickFoster said:

Actual size is a 3x3........works perfect in my 4x4 tent.

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This is key for a 4x4. You want a 36” tray, not a 48”.

Elevated tray with a drain hole is really the way to go.

GrindMind said:

I'm going to grab a couple if I ever see them in the hydro store for a good price. Until then, I've been looking at these HVAC drain trays for almost half the price. I could possibly modify these for drainage and just put the plants on risers.

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I looked at these kinds of things when building my first table. They are usually pretty flimsy, so don't order it online and go into a big box store and check them out first.

If you go with something like this, you would need to glue it to a plank of wood for stability so the plants don't cave in the plastic, which is why I used a tub for mixing cement.