How to Build a Bubble Cloner:

Agent86 · 06-28-2003, 10:23 PM

Since a few people have asked for directions about how to make a bubble cloner, here's how I made mine.

All the parts for the cloner were purchased at WalMart.
Here's a list of what I used.
1: Rubbermaid Shoebox Storage Tote.
2: Sterlite 9" x 14" Storage Tote.
3: 3/4" Stainless Steel Nuts.
4: 1/4" Soaker Hose.
5: 1/4" Drip Irrigation Hose Connectors.
6: Dual Outlet Air Pump.
7: 1/4" Airline.
8: Air Adjuster Valve w/Quick Disconnect Fitting.
9: Reflectix Tape. (Home Depot, stove pipe section.)
10: Rapid Rooter or Rock Wool.
11: Silicone Sealant.

Here's a pic of the Shoebox Storage Tote.
As you'll see in the pic, I've completely covered it in the Reflectix tape.
You'll also see how I curled 3' of soaker hose around in the bottom of the tote.
The stainless steel nuts hold the soaker hose at the bottom of the tote.

Agent86 · 06-28-2003, 10:28 PM

I drilled 2 holes in the side of the tote for the airlines to come through. The holes are smaller than the 1/4" connector. It took a pretty good shove to get the connector through the hole. It made a tight enough fit that it probably wouldn't have leaked even with out the sealant.
I drilled the holes at the top of the tote.
If I were to make another one, I would drill the holes towards the bottom of the tote.
I did this with my 14 gallon bubbler & have never had a leak.
If you look at the beginning of my current journal, you'll find pictures of the airlines going in at the bottom of my bubbler.

I put the sealant around the hole & on the connector before I shoved it through the hole.

Agent86 · 06-28-2003, 10:29 PM

Here's a close up of the connector I used.
It's kind of hard to see in the last pic, but the flat side of the connector goes on the indide of the tote.
That way the pressure from the water will help seal it against the inside of the tote.

Agent86 · 06-28-2003, 10:31 PM

After the sealant dried, I attatched each end of the soaker hose to each of the connectors installed on the sides of the tote.

Then I attatched a 3" piece of the airline to the other side of the connector. You can see it in the 2nd pic (Bubble-2).
To make it easier to change the water in the cloner, I put quick disconnect air adjusters at the end of the 3" piece of airline.
Then I put airline from the airpump to the adjuster.

Here's a pic of the quick disconnect fitting.

Agent86 · 06-28-2003, 10:51 PM

Here's how it comes apart.

Agent86 · 06-28-2003, 11:00 PM

Here's a pic of the box my air pump came in.
It's very important to use a dual outlet pump.
To hook it up, you run an airline from each outlet to the adjusters.
That way you have both outlets pumping air into each end of a single soaker hose.
This creates a massive amount of air bubbles which give your cuttings lots of o2 & creates lots of humidity.
All the bubbles, is why you won't need to mist your cuttings.
All you need to do is change the water every 3 days & you'll have roots within 2 weeks.

Agent86 · 06-28-2003, 11:02 PM

Here's what it says on the back of the box.
These pumps are only $9.95 at WalMart.

Agent86 · 06-28-2003, 11:04 PM

The next thing I did, was cut 11, 1 1/2" holes into the lid of the tote.
You can cut the holes to fit whatever you put your cuttings in.
I use Rapid Rooter Plugs, but rockwool will work just fine as long as you presoak it in ph 5.5 water. Rockwool has a very high ph that needs to be lowered before using it.
After the holes were drilled, I covered the lid with Reflectix tape.

Agent86 · 06-28-2003, 11:07 PM

BTW: Here's a pic of the Reflectix tape I get at Home Depot.
This is the coolest stuff to have around a grow room. Better even than Duct Tape.

Agent86 · 06-28-2003, 11:12 PM

That's pretty much all there is to it.

Once you get the water in the tote & your cuttings into the holes, take the bottom of the Sterlite tote & place it onto the top of the shoebox tote.
If you bought the right stuff, it should fit almost perfectly.
There should be a very small gap around the edges.
This is good, as it allows air to circulate, but doesn't allow very much of the humidity to escape.

Here's a pic of the Sterlite tote.
I put my lighter on it to give a size reference.

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