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Post by Apoplast on Oct 30, 2015 20:12:35 GMT -5
Hi all - I've been using the standard fluorescent lighting egg crate, a la the photo below, to hold up my plants to a shallower depth in the trays. I'm wondering if there is a sturdier product out there. You see, I am also using this to hold pots up out of the water in a tank with space below. It's supported by PVC pylons that I've notched to fit the crate into. But as I add more plants the grid is seriously sagging. I know this type of plastic is pretty brittle and I fear many more plants will cause it to break - and I just don't have the restraint to prevent myself from getting any more plants ever. Does anyone have any suggestions for an alternative and more durable material? Thanks!
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Post by lloyd on Oct 30, 2015 20:38:26 GMT -5
For support why not just use more than 1 layer of the grate, it's cheap.
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Post by Apoplast on Oct 31, 2015 15:43:15 GMT -5
Hi Lloyd - Could do. Once I get into that range I may as well cut down plastic potting bench tops. One sheet of the egg crate runs about $13. For slightly more area, I can get a plastic potting bench top for about $19. That may end up being my solution if I can't find a better, cheaper option.
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Post by hal on Oct 31, 2015 17:34:09 GMT -5
A cedar fence board? About $5 for a 6' piece.
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Post by Apoplast on Oct 31, 2015 20:02:16 GMT -5
Hi Hal - Not a bad idea, but wouldn't that be rot prone?
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Post by paulkoop on Oct 31, 2015 21:04:10 GMT -5
Hi Hal - Not a bad idea, but wouldn't that be rot prone? Yah i was thinking it would rot and mould bad sitting in water
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Post by hal on Oct 31, 2015 22:16:00 GMT -5
Cedar has natural oils that preserve it. It would definitely rot after a couple of years if submerged or wet for a long while, but I thought you wanted it for a higher, shelf, out of water.
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Post by Apoplast on Nov 1, 2015 8:56:11 GMT -5
Hi Hal,
I do. And it's by no means a bad idea. It is just that I keep air bubblers below to prevent the water from getting stagnant. They throw lots of water up, and would keep the wood saturated in places.
Plus to be honest, the idea of wood and what it may or may not have been treated with freaks me out a bit in an enclosure with plants that can be sensitive to a range of chemicals. That's partly my own hang up.
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Post by deanm on Nov 1, 2015 10:14:11 GMT -5
I used to use micropipette tip trays - made of polypropylene plastic and if you are around any university biology labs they generally have a bunch of them that they have to recycle. The blue part below
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Post by Apoplast on Nov 1, 2015 11:35:13 GMT -5
Hi Deanm - That's an interesting solution as a stand along for some of my more aquatic Utricularia section Orchidioides. I'll have to ask the lab down the hall. Thanks!
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Post by bcmosaic on Nov 1, 2015 12:20:36 GMT -5
I'm in the process of setting up a terrarium (18"x18"x24"H) and my modus opporendi is to visualize each step all the way to the finish and any problems along the way allows me to make appropriate modifications to my oh so brilliant plan Your question/problem was not one that I thought of. Thank you for that and here's my solution: I sure that I can stand on the grate now although I haven't tried it - I'm 240lbs - but your pots should now not create an issue. You can also add more piping if needed. I also made sure that the connections on the zap straps were on the bottom of the grate and not directly under so that way there's sure to be no wobble. You could also cut notches on the bottom of the piping for more water flow but for me I didn't think that it was necessary. Good Luck with your project. Keep us posted. Cheers
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Post by H2O on Nov 1, 2015 14:20:52 GMT -5
Zap straps, pvc, and eggcrate are a terrarium builders best friends, right up there with expanding foam and silicone.
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Post by Apoplast on Nov 1, 2015 15:19:40 GMT -5
Hi Bcmosaic - And problem solved - turn the pvc sideways for added support, and add T connectors to get the height I require. Perfect. Thanks!
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Post by deanm on Nov 1, 2015 21:07:31 GMT -5
Hi Deanm - That's an interesting solution as a stand along for some of my more aquatic Utricularia section Orchidioides. I'll have to ask the lab down the hall. Thanks! Glad to help. Microbiology labs always have a lot of plastic left overs that I reused. The 1ml tip boxes and their covers made great planters (drill a hole in the bottom or side depending on what you are growing. The other advantage was that they are rectangular so they can be laid out in a space efficient manner. Cheers!
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Post by kiwipete on Nov 2, 2015 3:39:50 GMT -5
Fluro egg crate is not available here in NZ so I use an number of upside down office inwards trays in my tanks.
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