EzClone sells a product called Clear Rez which is pretty much an internal cleaner for the machine.
After a run you dump the cloning solution then fill the machine with plain water and add in the clear rez. Run it for a day or two and it will clean the inside of the manifold and sprayers.
After, dump the water and turn everything upside down to drain and dry then it's ready to stow away.
EZ-CLONE® Clear Rez
ezclone.com
Here's what I'm talking about with the vent on an EzClone.
In the upper left corner is that dugout where the cord runs thru to the inside but it's way larger than just a hole for a cord and you can see the shelf and lip design and how the lid sits on top but there's no seal. It would take a lot of work to make this thing air tight....
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I am curious about what machine you're using now.
I sent G$ my Ezclone because I needed a larger machine and for it to also be a low rider.
I went with a TurboClone and it's still in the box for now but I cannot tell if it's sealed or not. The hole for the cord looks to be sized just for the cord so no extra venting there. Doesn't look like there's a gasket or anything that locks the lid down but weight of the lid may be all that's needed to create a seal. If this is the case I'll likely fall back to the idea of putting hard plastic or stainless steel drinking straws in a few collars to let it vent.
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But yeah I'm curious if yours is a TurboKlone, another brand, or DIY?
I've built a lot of bucket and tote cloners over the years and when it comes to water capacity even for a small machine, more is better.
However when going with a small bucket it is possible but there's some tricks to it.
You would cut holes to fit a 2" net cup rather than a neoprene collar. Remove some of the ribs of the netcup and instead of going bare root, you would use a 2" rockwool plug.
This will allow you to put the pump on a timer, 15 on, 30-60 off, and it will not overheat the water but still keep the stem moist.
The result would look something like this
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On that machine I cut out every rib on the netcup except for about six. Just enough to support the rockwool plug but wide open enough so the roots would not get tangled in the ribs.
Using 2" netcups this type of cloner can comfortably fit 6 sites but it's possible to pack up to 8 in there.
I'm curious though...What's your budget for this project and how many sites will you need on your machine?
Going the DIY route with a bucket and needing a pump, manifold, collars, and sprayers it's probably gonna be around a $30-$50 build.
Viagrow makes a decent machine priced slightly above that. I've used this machine in the past and it's good machine that gets results however the top plastic is on the thin side of life and not as sturdy as a bucket lid or what EzClone and TurboKlone offers
The other option which is where I bought G$'s machine originally is buying used off Ebay.
Used is a good option because really you're wanting the plastic and manifold so used or new doesn't really matter much there as long as there's no cracks and it's cleaned up well before using.
The pump can always be swapped out for a new and less expensive one which is also what I did with G$'s machine.
If this machine is within your budget, I'd highly consider making this guy an offer of $100 and see where it goes from there just for the quality upgrade over a bucket cloner, Viagrow, or knockoff machine.
Another tip I recommend with aerocloners is to have a spare pump on hand. I've had my fair share of pumps fail, even the original EZclone pump went tits up on me so having a spare at the ready can prevent losing a whole batch of clones if a pump fails
EZ Clone 32 Site Low Pro System - Black aeroponic cloner machine hydroponics. Condition is Used. Shipped with UPS Ground.
www.ebay.com
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I’ve got most of everything laying around. Pump, 2 inch net pots, PVC and 360 sprayers. I really only need a larger bin and the neoprene collars and to build the manifold. Was wanting to do 12-14 sites. With only needing 20 dollars or less of materials, I’m gonna give it a go. Then if that fails I’ll go the manufactured route.
