MEGA Self-standing Free-range build 3'x3'x8' with build-log

@brooklyn: yes, yes it is :) for $30 there was no way I could pass that up! but over the past weeks that i've been building this project the plants have been outgrowing those planters....


I now have a new problem in finding an appropriate sized larger planter that can handle my future plant growth, but also never need to be changed later....not sure what size planters to use :\

any advice on that is appreciated!



I know the updates are coming really slow....I have finished 2 of the 3 back wall pieces so far (the left one is simple and plain, but the back corner has a water feature and that bastard took me awhile...had to redo it twice).

New pics coming soon!
 
sdheli420 said:
it could be done hydroponically..using grodan rockwool blocks..or the hydroballs?? thats possibly and idea..
Click to expand...

I'm still learning alot about gardening, can't say I'm familiar with how hydroponics works (theoretically I get it, but I have no real world experience with it)

what do you mean ?
 
I think we are all quiet because we want to see it all finished and put together. Looks neat and like you put a ton of time and money into it.
 
@Sticktongue: it is expandable foam (commonly used in dart frog setups). I'm building my "false wall" units separate from the wood frame itself so that I can later disassemble the entire thing without destorying it.


Currently, the dimensions are larger than any doorway in my house, so I *have* to disassemble it at some point (Im' renting :)
 
Cant wait to see it finished! You used a LOOOOOTTT of great stuff holy crap lol what are you covering the foam in, silicone coco fiber?
 
haha i've used something between 30-40 cans of foam now (the large ones!)


i'm covering egg-crate it allows me to run tubing while strengthening the structure (in the future i will add a layer of mesh screen over it i think)

I've been really slow....into my last year of law school and the flurry of bar exam stuff is starting to hit....


I will try to add some new pics tomorrow or so, I have mounted the back pieces onto the wall and it is really starting to take shape :)
 
So far the total final estimate is $1500 for the entire project.....triple what I had hoped to spend :(

but my techniques are improving and i can def cut my costs on future builds



I know its going slow I'm getting near the end of law school and the bar is coming up so I've been slacking...but my gf is prodding me to keep working :)
 
With finals over I have been working non-stop on the project the past few days....will throw up some pics tomorrow after I mount the back wall panels (am putting the finishing touches on them now).


All that is left is to make the false bottom, wire up the lighting, and then to plant!
 
I think you have a beauty going for that cham. I am still hung up on the waterfall feature. If the water falls into a plant & off leaves what keep your cham from pooping in the water? i would not want water recirculated to my cham that may have poop in it. That is the only design flaw except your plants will outgrow a 3x3 space in nothing flat.
 
@laurie: i gave up on the leaf-bounce idea, with plant growth and whatnot it was just too impractical...

i do still have a water feature, but I am not concerned about their poop in the water. I am planning to have a sump of sorts underneath my false bottom so I will be circulating out 5g bucket everyday, plus my misting system is on a separate, filtered reservoir.


My gf had some surprise friends stay iwth us last night....which meant I had to put eeeeeverything away *ugh*. They just left so I'm dragging it all back out now, pics real soon I promise :)


as for the outgrowing, yes I'm hoping for that....but I am actually beginning to worry bout my lighting. my original plan was 4x2' T8s, but i think I'm going to add an additional 2x3' in the midle as well.....I've also been toying with putting lights in the wall at other places (hidden) purely for growth. I'm very concerned about penetration,
 
few updates....sorry i suck with takin pics, i SWEAR i will update some real soon


I have put the wall units up (after much reshaping....with foam and depth they ended up using way more space than I had predicted...but thats ok :)


my basic plumbing is up for now and the next step is to begin testing my water feature.


As I said I gave up on the leaf-bounce idea, but instead of I have water feature going through cork tube "steps" along the wall, we'll see how it works out...


I also ordered LED lighting (my first try) and will be building my first LED unit from scratch...never soldered before so this might be tricky :p

I also would NOT recommend LEDs (YET!!); from my research 1) they lack the red spectrum that promotes photosynthesis and 2) they are COSTLY upfront. however, the long running energy costs are great, and the new CREE XMLs put out a fair amount of lumens / watt. ...anyway i've learned way more than i expected about light spectrum and photosynthesis and whatnot in doing this research

My LED lighting unit cost $400 to generate (predicted) 4-5x 54W T5s. However the LEDs are focused with lenses rather than use reflectors, so my light waste is waaaaaaaay lower...we'll see anyway. I could obviously generate MUCH more light, including FULLSPECTRUM (more red wavelengths) by using a MH bulb or even T5s for cheaper....I do believe LEDs are the wave of the future though and I'm curious about tinkering with some light designs...




lastly I need to get started on my false bottom but I've decided to redo my inital plant arrangements since my space usage is different so i'm leaving that until everything else is at least mostly done.
 
Last edited:
I'm actually almost done and I've been focusing all my spare into the build, I have taken photos but I figure at this point I'm just going to wait until I am done and do a log of some sort


I now have the misting system in place, the DIY-LED lighting is wired up and will be mounted soon as my next amazon package arrives...Power strip is wired in and all drain/access/etc have been setup as well. The palms I originally planned to use have actually grown way more than I expected and won't even fit in the enclosure now (one of the leaves is over 7' tall). The dracaena has been split to 2 pots and planted as well. I have also setup the wood/branches and cut/sized them, but I am waiting to mount the LEDs before I mount the final branches.


I am currently in the process of making my first foam-rock waterfall. I have never messed with this technique before so I am a little worried about the outcome but from what I have seen it seems moderately doable. Can't seem to find an affordable USABLE hotknife/foam cutter >.< Using my soldering iron with a "knife" tip for the moment but cutting 1.5" foam with a 0.5" hotknife doesn't work too well...also waiting on my epoxy shipment as I don't intend to wait 6 weeks for my concrete to ph stabilize



I still need to plant and to create my front 2 panels / access door, but I am leaving that for the very last thing. I've also run into a little trouble with my overflow design...that is my design is fine but I can't seem to actually find the product I need; trying to come up with a way to build my own "float valve"
 
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