DWC/Kratky Tote Float and Bits

prusaprinters

This project provides hole supports to make your DWC or Kratky tote lids a little less hacky looking and even provides a water level indicator without grommets and a see-through pipe. If you're running “Outdoors”, it can also reduce the amount of water ingress from rain etc.Use a 76mm hole saw to cut your main holes then you can use 3-inch net cups directly (there is no pretifier for this though), or 2-inch ones with the adapter. If you're not using a hole that has been cut, then there is a cover so your nutrients don't get light.Use a 51mm hole saw and you have a water filling hole and a hole for the water level gauge.General printingEverything is aligned for printing without support. Only the float needs any special attention to remain water tight but otherwise do your favourite profile. Hibert curve on the bottom layer for prettiness? :)Water GaugeThe water gauge needs a 40mm PVC pipe cut to length to be just above the lid (you attach a base on so the pressure equalises). Once the base is on, the float goes in, and you use any 5mm diameter stick (I use a balloon stick) and then the straw support holds it centrally it as it moves. You'll need to check if your 40mm pipe is the pressure rated stuff or not. If it is, you'll need to use the “thick wall - tw” versions of the pipe base and float straw support. The inner diameter of the thick wall pipe I got from Screwfix is 36.75mm the diameter of the non-pressure pipe from Amazon is 37.75mm.Float printingPrint it with 3 perimeters and no more than 5% infill for good buoyancy. Ideally, you'd do 2 perimeters and zero infill, but it needs to be watertight so water doesn't get in and ruin it, and you need to hold the roof up with some infill.Water CalibrationOnce assembled and inserted into the tote lid:Add some water (mine is in 5l increments).Mark this level on the stick. Repeat.Optionally, add some colour to your stick.Extra bitsYou need a tote with a lid. The size of the tote is really up to you as well, and what you are growing. I use a "Really Useful" 35l container. It will consistently grow:4 lettuce/Kale/Swiss Chard in a Kratky style and still have nutrients left over. 2 tomato or cucumber plants, but they needed topping up a fair bit.In combination with the vertical tower, a load of herbsThe 40mm pipe I used is this one on Amazon. It's nothing special and is just the regular thin wall stuff. Parts for the float base and straw support are supplied (labelled “tw”) if you have the pressure rated stuff.The water gauge sticks I use are the leftovers from a bag of these balloon sticks.Anything else is down to your needs, Air pumps and stones for aerating the roots in a DWC setup, or a water pump and plumbing for a tower setup.