DIY PVC Hydroponics Build Question

F

flow

Active Member
Real simple question here, but I haven't been able to find the answer online. I am planning on building a hydro system for spinach, herbs, and other salad greens using regular 3" SCHD40 Cellular Core PVC. My question is, does this need to be painted to protect from UV rays?

I can't seem to find the answer anywhere, but commercial NFT gullies made from PVC claim to be UV resistant, and look shinier than regular PVC. Is this a slightly different material, do they paint it, or is this something I should not worry about?

Any input is greatly appreciated :)
 
normal pvc pipe does get brittle over time from exposure to light
i was doing some plumbing last weak and had a piece of old 3/4 inch pcv and when i went to cut it with pvc shears it broke
 
PVC will get brittle over time. But it's move of movement that brakes it. Use it and just watch it. After a long time it will start to yellow that means it's getting old so its time to think about replacing it. I've had PVC in my room with 2600w of light and after 1 year no yellowing yet.
 
Warlock1369 said:
PVC will get brittle over time. But it's move of movement that brakes it. Use it and just watch it. After a long time it will start to yellow that means it's getting old so its time to think about replacing it. I've had PVC in my room with 2600w of light and after 1 year no yellowing yet.
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great mind think alike lol
guess he could wrap it with a bunch of black electrical tape
 
Thanks for the input guys. That's pretty much the answer I expected. I'm mainly asking because commercial NFT gullies are like $2.50 a foot (not including ridiculous shipping costs), while 3" PVC is like $0.79 per ft (or cheaper if bought in bulk), and I'm trying to figure out whether or not it would be cost effective to build them myself. I'm looking at many different design options, and I think using 3" PVC in a sort of DWC/NFT hybrid is the best way to go, but if I have to paint it in addition to drilling holes, it may not be worth it. Any idea how long it takes for PVC to go brittle or what kind of paint I would have to use? It's crazy the costs you have to think of when you are not looking to get $500+ per plant lol. I'm thinking of trying to hit up this guy: http://hydro-tubes.com/ for info cuz I'm guessing he just paints regular PVC.
 
flow said:
Thanks for the input guys. That's pretty much the answer I expected. I'm mainly asking because commercial NFT gullies are like $2.50 a foot (not including ridiculous shipping costs), while 3" PVC is like $0.79 per ft (or cheaper if bought in bulk), and I'm trying to figure out whether or not it would be cost effective to build them myself. I'm looking at many different design options, and I think using 3" PVC in a sort of DWC/NFT hybrid is the best way to go, but if I have to paint it in addition to drilling holes, it may not be worth it. Any idea how long it takes for PVC to go brittle or what kind of paint I would have to use? It's crazy the costs you have to think of when you are not looking to get $500+ per plant lol. I'm thinking of trying to hit up this guy: http://hydro-tubes.com/ for info cuz I'm guessing he just paints regular PVC.
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tell me about cost i just did all plumbing at my new house and you would swear shit had gold in it way it cost

google abs black pipe to see if it is uv resistant
stuff is cheap

as for paint any cheap paint walmart .99 cent cans but u got to scuff up pipe first in place of primer made for plastics. As for how long to get brittle 5-10 years in normal light since 3'' is so thick but under hid who knows i would image little less
 
I'm using 5" square post PVC from home depot $25 for 8 feet. With my pumps and everything cost me 90 bucks to make a system that cost 450 if I was to buy it from the store
 
I let it do it's thing. Just moved it to it's own room and switched to t5s over it but did fine under MH. Now it's just used as a transition table.
96c2ca0d.jpg
 
Fence posts are a good choice, they will get a little "chalky" after a while but no worries.
I have pvc piping for water in my room and it hasn't notably degraded after 2 years.
 
Maybe I will when I show off my whole room. It's still in build and a mess with harvest drying prop room still in the works and flower room going to expand to 15 sites this weekend after I cut down the last of the plants.
 
Warlock1369 said:
Maybe I will when I show off my whole room. It's still in build and a mess with harvest drying prop room still in the works and flower room going to expand to 15 sites this weekend after I cut down the last of the plants.
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im about to change things up with mine too
big changes
 
Warlock1369 said:
I'm using 5" square post PVC from home depot $25 for 8 feet. With my pumps and everything cost me 90 bucks to make a system that cost 450 if I was to buy it from the store
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I was looking at those. Great choice for herb, but that is too expensive to grow vegetables in. Also, I don't need nearly as much space for root growth as these plants will mostly only live 35ish days. I'm looking for something that would be commercially viable for vegetable production, and that is gonna require a cost of $2/ft max with labor for modifications included and it must last 5 years minimum and be NSF food safe... which is a problem I am trying very hard to resolve. If Illinois passes the medical mj bill this winter and I can get a license, I would seriously consider those posts. No worries about overhead then lol.
 
Also, I do think those posts have been painted, treated, or are a slightly different material in order to be UV resistant because they are supposed to last 20 years outside in direct sunlight.
 
flow said:
Also, I do think those posts have been painted, treated, or are a slightly different material in order to be UV resistant because they are supposed to last 20 years outside in direct sunlight.
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well if thats what it say 20 yrs im sure they have 20 yr warranty
if it dont live up to it ask for replacement and cost of installing fence post:wink:
 
flow said:
Also, I do think those posts have been painted, treated, or are a slightly different material in order to be UV resistant because they are supposed to last 20 years outside in direct sunlight.
Click to expand...

That must. But I used mine as an example. But I also have PVC sch40 running water to my rooms. Not changing color or leaking for 2 years of MH and HPS
 
flow said:
I was looking at those. Great choice for herb, but that is too expensive to grow vegetables in. Also, I don't need nearly as much space for root growth as these plants will mostly only live 35ish days. I'm looking for something that would be commercially viable for vegetable production, and that is gonna require a cost of $2/ft max with labor for modifications included and it must last 5 years minimum and be NSF food safe... which is a problem I am trying very hard to resolve. If Illinois passes the medical mj bill this winter and I can get a license, I would seriously consider those posts. No worries about overhead then lol.
Click to expand...

I know there no listed as NSF but could be. And I got 90 bucks into 12 feet of system. 15 5" sites. That's 1/5 of the systems online of this style after tax and shipping. Even using 6inch round, theres money to be made and be a bargen deal for the buyer.
 
just run with it man fuck the uv's it will be years before it happens lots of other stuff can happen till then
and by then or before then im sure u will upgrade and go bigger
 
The fence post (typically) has 2 layers, inside a virgin vinyl and a vinyl with titanium oxide on the outside. That is why they hold up to the elements. I install a fair amount of it and quality fence will come will a lifetime warranty.
 
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