JT's GH AP System Thread

Jensilaedi

Hmmm, jealousy is not something I'm feeling at the moment... in my case it's a more of the ideas side... what I've learned from YOUR experiences... kinda makes me think about what I CAN do... thanks for that show n tell... :geek:

Looking forward to further developments!

countryboy

JT!

Lookin' good! Can't wait to see the finished product!!

CB

DecalsbyJT · blocking and GB base 4-24-10 001.jpg [ 434.08 KiB | Viewed 1439 times ]

got a little more work done today... most of the day was spent taking apart the old GB bases so I can recycle them into the new ones....

Im recycling approx. 80% of the old GH and AP system....

we are getting ready to have a major rain event.... lots of tornadoes west of us in other states, so hopefully the mountains will calm this storm down a little....

have put up some temp plastic, just to keep some of the water out ... hope to put up the good stuff next weekend....

DecalsbyJT

we had a bad storm a couple days ago.... the temp plastic I had over the GH frame took flight and launched the 2 x 4's holding it down about 10 feet..... glad the rain had already stopped......

today was a great day to work on the new GH and AP systems.... got the remainder of the roof rafters in... but still have some blocking to do....

finished the ST liner and added more water..... its starting to look like something now...Im trying to get the first GB up and running by the weekend...so I can get the temp bio-filter off the FT....

the FT water is clear, but green.... even though I have it covered.... will take some water quality tests tomorrow......

started building the first GB base structure... All of the base is recycled from the old system which is a great way to save a little money..

JT

Dank Fish

OMG

it is looking so nice!!!

:notworthy:

DecalsbyJT · GB Base 4 x 4s 4-28-10 001.jpg [ 450.49 KiB | Viewed 1269 times ]

more progress today.....

got the blocking in the GB base....

the pic of the GB base legs is to show that the legs are not attached to the 4 x 4 frame...

this is so I can jack up the GB and shim it if necessary....

worked on the ST bridge.... will have that done tomorrow....

so many little things to do..... more blocking in the roof rafters, some 2 x 2's between
the roof rafters to support the GH plastic, build the GB side walls, re-plumb the deep sump pump pipe, build the end walls, put in gravel and the list goes on and on LOL

wouldnt want it any other way..

JT

countryboy

Looking good! Nice workmanship as always.

CB

DecalsbyJT · ST bridge 4-28-10 001.jpg [ 447.01 KiB | Viewed 1183 times ]

there are so many little things to do... I had forgotten how much work it really is....

got my bridge built to cover the open part of the ST.... where I will walk around the GB to get to the other sections of the GH...

cut all the pcs. then sanded all surfaces and put 2 coats of poly on them....

I then counter sunk the screws and screwed them all together to make one plank....

I then put 2 more coats of poly on them just for good measure....

I can pick this up to get to the sump tank.... if ever needed

jT

DecalsbyJT · GB sides 4-29-10 001.jpg [ 460.24 KiB | Viewed 1173 times ]

finally things are starting to look like something....

got the end panels built, and one side pre-fabed....

will soon have this GB up and running..... yeah!!!

jT

orcy2010

did you consider running the sides with opposite overlaps to the base? not that they carry any weight, but if the ends sat inside the sides, the sides would carry across to the end beam.

looking good though, I'm a little jealous of such a great system.

DecalsbyJT

hey....

thanks....

the side rails will be placed on top of 2 layers of plywood and bolted to the 4 x 4's....

keep an eye on this thread and in the next couple days I will be finishing up the sides and installing the liner....

jT

DecalsbyJT · GB build 4-30-10 001.jpg [ 426.68 KiB | Viewed 1090 times ]

more progress today....

got the plywood down, both layers.... I probably could have used only one layer, but when I took my old system apart, the ply showed no sigh of bowing ...so will do the same here...

got the side walls built and in place, have to finish putting the inside skins on and bolt everything into place... and then its time for the liner Yeah!!!

the GB is a little high, so I'm going to shorten the legs a couple inches.....

jT

countryboy

That is one big growbed!!! You've probably posted, but what are the dimensions on that thing??

Looking good! Got help coming this weekend for another class/build-it session?

CB

DecalsbyJT

Hey CB

the outside dimentions are... 52" (134,6 cm)wide, 12" (300 mm)deep and
15' (4.57m)long...

and have 3 more beds to build.....

yes have a few coming tomorrow.. so hope to get this one bed up and running...

jT

DecalsbyJT · first GB build 5-01-10 013.jpg [ 338.22 KiB | Viewed 994 times ]

Saturdays workshop was a good day..... the participants were thrilled to start learning the basics with hands on experience....

got all the GB walls in and starting to put in the Liner......

got them figuring out how to fold the corners.... piles of old system rock in the background

I cut an over sized hole in the two layers of plywood, used a 1/4" (6.35mm) plastic sheet and cut the correct size hole, this is what the uniseal will actually be put in.....

Uniseal in place and ready for the stand pipe, bell and gravel ring...

One of my favorite jobs, shoveling lava rock... old system rock going into new system... did get a surprise....found 2 brown snakes in the lava rock and one in the GB after first flood....

started a bucket brigade to transfer media into GB.. when old media from old sytem was removed, some of the lava rock and river rock got combined..... wont make any difference

Adjusting the liner as we go.... making sure no wrinkles leveling out the lava rock

starting the river rock layer..... I was still working on the siphon so held back the media until I got it finished

siphon in place and backfilling in around it

bell siphon in place... used the old bells from the old sytem, new standpipe and 8" heavy wall PVC rock guard (thanks to chance for the pipe....) with the 8" pipe, I have no problem removing the bell and reaching down to the bottom and removing roots... the old system had 6" rock guard.. couldnt really get the roots out

plenty of room to reach roots.. this bell floats on the tabs.. and doesnt sit on the bottm of the GB .. camera lens cap almost ruined the shot

first test of the flood cycle (all the rock is not in the GB yet) the stand pipe needs to be adjusted down some to get flood height right

right now 8 minutes to fill and 13 minutes to drain... all that will change as I get the rest of the rock in and plant roots fill the bed

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