Get that last drop of run off

I think it's a tip worth sharing, a piece of capillary matt and a syringe.




I find your better with a 50/100ml any bigger you have really pull and it feels like hard work.
Draw slow and steady and it won't miss a drop, draw too quickly and it'll pull air.

Star Dog said:

I think it's a tip worth sharing, a piece of capillary matt and a syringe.
View attachment 4818159

View attachment 4818160

I find your better with a 50/100ml any bigger you have really pull and it feels like hard work.
Draw slow and steady and it won't miss a drop, draw too quickly and it'll pull air.

Click to expand...

nice idea. My grow area is raised up around 10” with 2 drip trays that are angled slightly down to create a catch area.

in each of the trays is a drilled hole and I just leave a 2L jug under the hole while I water and drain. Then remove when the runoff stops and put a catch tray in the same place the jug was for any further runoff drips.

you can see it in this pic.

Why not a small vacuum with a sponge instead?
That seems tedious compared to this.

DCcan said:

Why not a small vacuum with a sponge instead?
That seems tedious compared to this.

Click to expand...

not for me.

i mix nutes, feed one tray of plants and while it’s catching runoff I inspect the plants that aren’t being watered then repeat with the other tray.

my jug cost me £1/$1.37. how much is the vac? Lol.

plus I only have a small grow.

DCcan said:

Why not a small vacuum with a sponge instead?
That seems tedious compared to this.

Click to expand...

My neighbors would wondering why I keep hovering the coal cellar lol.

The syringe/matt is only for getting they last few mm that the syringe alone won't get.

jondamon said:

nice idea. My grow area is raised up around 10” with 2 drip trays that are angled slightly down to create a catch area.

in each of the trays is a drilled hole and I just leave a 2L jug under the hole while I water and drain. Then remove when the runoff stops and put a catch tray in the same place the jug was for any further runoff drips.

you can see it in this pic.View attachment 4818772

Click to expand...

Ive got a similar set up with elevated trays raised but I use a piece of capillary matt... Same end job.

I like the idea of sticking something underneath one end of the trays or saucers or whatever so the last bit of runoff pools on one side...I hate running across such a simple idea that I didn't think of LOL. I like the battery fuel transfer pumps for a small indoor grow + the 500 ml butt syringes-a big grow I'd plumb everything.

One thing I like about using capillary for run off is that it can't flood if you have an appropriate jug, in a sense capillary is like syphoning in that it can't raise above its own level, if my jug fills the excess stays in the tray, it's afforded me a couple of mistakes that wouldn't have got away with.
It's not the quickest but it's ready every morning... lol

I'd like to have it all going to a big tank/sump and pump it out once a week or so, but I can't think of a simple way to it.
A trough like a window box type thing would work for me without any work, as always with any set up it would need to be a certain size height and volume.
A 4ft window box shaped vessel without holes in it... Any ideas anyone, I've had my open for ages but haven't seen anything I've thought perfect?

Any gutter company can make something in minutes, just tell them the dimensions and pick it up.
Height might be a limitation.
Maybe a round pvc pipe cut in half or 3/4, then heat the bottom and flatten it. You can cut it then form it with hot angle iron, but its a project