Im dabbling in the idea of setting up a drain to waste grow with coco. I already have a few things bought but have the slightest idea about how to set it up. i plan on buy a 4x4 flood tray, putting a drain in it, and draining all my waste into a 27 gallon tote which will be below my table. i want to catch the waste so my wife can use it on here flowering plants and house plants. Ive been thinking about ordering the flora flex matrix system but ive not heard enuff good or bad about flora flex. i will be growing in coco/perlite 70/30 mix and using Advanced Nutrients sensi coco. Anyone with any advice, i would greatly appreciate it. what i have to start with is pictured bellow. the barrel is a 30 gallon.
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I have a similar set up
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I had talked to you earlier this year about it, just been trying to piece things along. I’m getting close to having what I need. Do you think the pump I bought is to big? It’s a 1000 gph pump. What timer is the best for seconds? What nutrients are you running now? I’m fixing to get serious about it so I hope you dont mind me bugging you with questions. Thank you in advance.
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I’m running same nutrients you will be . The gph on your pump will be fine just will need to throttle back the the flow with the in-line shut offs . Use fabric pots 
This is the timer I use . Times to the second
iPower 7 Day Programmable Digital… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FX6Q8D4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
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Ok Watt-Sun, can you give me some advice? I’ve got the timer you recommended, the 30 gallon reservoir, the pump, the air pump and stones. Can I get an idea of what size water lines you use? I really need something forsure leak free. I’m growing in a 10×10 closet. What about your halos? Are you happy with the brand? Thought about flora flex but I see alot of guys piecing thier Ian together. Just kind of lost on which way to head. Thanks in advance.
I use standard 1/2 tubing that you can get a any hydro store . I use the hydro halos on amazon . The barbed 1/2 fittings does a great job at locking the hoses onto them without the need for clamps. I’m a belt and suspenders kinda guy so I put a few zip ties where the tubing meets the halo.
Bloom Brothers GGWR09 Hydro Halo Water Ring 9-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055F55O6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_B2ovFb5C8DAT6
I appreciate that info. Getting there slowly. I have a couple sticks of 1/2 inch pex pipe. And a few shark bite fittings. Might see what I cant fo with them. How big is your reservoir? Do you have alot of troubles with PH drift using AN.
I have a 32 gallon trash can I use when I’m going to be away for a bit . When I’m around I use a 5 gallon bucket . I’ve never test the ph. I used to check it religiously and it was always spot on . The nice thing with AN is even if it drifts, the nutrients are chelated in a way that makes them available at a wide PH range.
I’ve not quite grasp that yet but I know it works. I’ve seen to many growers that dont bother with PH. I know in my 30 gallon res, I mix at half strength because autos seem to be light feeders, so at 3 weeks old I’m trying to keep ppm’s at 350-400. I’ll get everything dialed in on the nutes and check the PH and it will be around 7.0. I’ll let the air pump run over night and the ph drifts up to 7.5. My understanding is not to worry about it with AN, just having a hard time getting passed that. Hope that makes sense.
Yeah it was tough to trust it at first but after a few grows you get used to it . I’m going to try Jacks321 my next grow so I’ll have to break out the PH pen again. I believe the ph correcting ability of AN works best when you mix it at the recommended amounts.
That’s what im thinking Watt, following thier dosing reccomendation is a must for the PH to work correctly. I will call them sometime this week and do some research. I know AN works because I grew some beutiful autos last winter at half strength watering by hand. The ph never was correct, I just PH a 27 gallon tote, and drawwd water from it to mix my nutes with. I was mixing my nutes in a 5 gallon bucket then checking my ph and it would be still close to 7 so I would ph down to 5.8. Never got serious last winter but 5 autos put off almost 14 oz, so I’m a believer in AN. I would just like to automate the system, last winter it was a full time job just mixing everyday. I’m new to growing so this is all new stuff to me. One thing I do believe after growing autos in natures living soil, the coco will definitely put grow soil. For me anyways. Thank you for your input, I will be keeping in touch with the Jack’s 321.
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Watt-Sun, any thoughts on how to keep water temps down in my reservior?
My rez is inside my grow room and I use an AC to keep everything in range. Right now I only mix 10 gallons at a time so it’s not hanging around for more than 2 days. You can also remotely place your rez outside the grow area into a cooler space or there’s always chillers.
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Some will use frozen bottles and some use a chiller. I chose to go with the chiller simply because I didn’t want to have that issue at all. For some it’s a problem and some it’s not. I just didn’t want to chance it. That’s one less obstacle I would have to face. 
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Watt-Sun have you started your Jack’s grow yet? And are you going to be using it in coco? Been reading up on it, seems like simplicity and cheap. I like that.
Haven’t started jacks yet. It’ll be here next wed . I’m going to finish this grow with the AN I have and switch my clones over to jacks and do my next run with it. Yes always in coco 
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I’m seriously considering Jack’s. Do you have any youtube videos worth mentioning on jacks?
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This guy has a lot of good material
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@Watt-Sun
I’m piecing my drain to waste together, can you see any problems with this thus far? I would like to keep my resivour in the basement so that the water temp stays stable and it’s close to my water source plus less mess up stairs in my closet. Is that something attainable as far pumping water up 8 feet and over to grow room 30 feet?
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That would all depend on your pump . I’d say give it a go and see what happens, you can always upgrade to a larger pump . Everything looks good to me .