Subjects

Date:
16 May 1999
Time:
00:37:48
Comments
hello, I am new to this page but for the last several nights I have digested alot of information,thanks very much, I have one questions can shallots and elephants garlic be grown in a hydroponic garden thanks keevil

Hi keevil
I have discovered that plants be it vegetable, herbs & spices, ornamentals, or whatever will do well in hydroponic systems if they grow well in dirt in the climate where you live. Don't expect to grow bananas in hydro if you can't grow bananas in dirt where you live. That is unless you have a climate controlled greenhouse then you can grow almost anything.
Ron

Date:
16 May 1999
Time:
20:45:26
Comments
For those of you looking for pumps, try using your search engine and insert "maxi-jet". I have found the maxi-jet 500 to be a great pump for home hydroponics use. By the way, the price range for these pumps go from about $13 to $54. Mitch in Hilo

Date:
16 May 1999
Time:
20:50:45
Comments
Hi Ron, great site, great trike. I have't tried either one yet, but the Kmart KGRO GRO BEST plant food seems to be exactly the same as Miracle Gro. I think the box is even the same green and it is half the price. Thanks again for the site. Carl

Thanks Carl
I will give it a try the next time I need some. I know it's the name you are paying for with Miracle Gro.
Ron

20 May 1999
Time:
16:31:14
Comments
Where can you get Perlite? I am experimenting with it and grow rocks. Thanks Cameron Burnett

Hi Cameron
Perlite is readily available at nursery stores or anywhere they sell bags of dirt you will see bags of Perlite next to them.
Ron

Date:
23 May 1999
Time:
05:28:58
Comments
Hi Ron, How many grow rocks are needed to do the eleven bottle system, and where is the cheapest place I can buy them.
Thanks, Sorbo

Hey Sorbo
I think the smallest amount you can buy is one cubic foot. That is plenty for the 11 plant garden. I would order it from the closest grow store near you to cut down on shipping. 
Ron

Date:
23 May 1999
Time:
20:29:55
Comments
Hey I am going to be making a 11 plant hydro but instead of 2liter bottles i want to use 3liter what will i have to change to the system???
I noticed that 3 liter bottles had a bigger mouth and bigger cap and I could not find just the right size of PVC pipe for that size cap to work.

The best thing to do is take the bottle cap with you to the pluming store and see what size PVC fitting or PCV pipe will fit snug without having to do any drilling.
Ron

Date:
23 May 1999
Time:
20:31:29
Comments
Hi ron Whats a good medium to use for the 11 plant hydro garden??

It is designed to be use with grow rocks.
Ron

Date:
25 May 1999
Time:
15:25:01
Comments
RON NEED T0 KNOW WHAT TYPE OF GLUE/ADHEASIVE TO USE ON THE LIDS TRIED PVC &CPVC NEITHER WORK
RON JUST FOUND MY ANSWER ON PAGE 11 PC-11A PC-11B TWO PART EPOXY ONCE MORE THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP IN THE PAST & THE FUTURE
RAD

Rad On

Date:
28 May 1999
Time:
08:07:00
Comments
Concerning Ebb & Flow systems. How long should the grow medium and root system of the plants be submerged in the nutrient solution before allowing the solution to drain?
Wort_Hawg@yahoo.com

They should be submerge in nutrient solution and then drain immediately until the next watering in 30 minutes or so all day long as long as their is day light.
That is if your timer will let you do that. If not then water less often if the roots have to sit in solution for any length of time because of the minimum time on the timer.
It also helps if you add an air stone to come on when the pump does to add oxygen to prevent root root if the pump has to run for a longer time than need be.
Ron

Date:
30 May 1999
Time:
19:27:24
Comments
Hi Ron, I have a General Hydroponics Aeroflo#40 and I have Beefsteak tomato plants that were put in on March 8 and I cannot believe how fast these things are taking off and I had been using Dyna-Grow and Earth Juice Catalyst for about 5 weeks and then I read where you using Miracle Grow for tomatoes and Epsom salt so I changed over and the plants really liked the change. They are over 6'tall as of today and they are real healthy with one exception the lower tomato sets have brown on the bottoms,but not on all of the sets even on the same group. I keep my PH at an even 6.2 and measure it every other day. I keep fans running all the time to move the air and to keep the humidity down. The plants are using or moving about 7 to 10 gallons of water per day. Any suggestions? Thanks Again
Mike from Mo

Hi Mike
Brown on the bottom sounds like end root which can be caused by a calcium deficiency, water stress due to insufficient irrigation frequency, or poor root aeration.
I don't no what that means because I copied it out of a book.
Ron

Date:
31 May 1999
Time:
04:50:03
Comments
Do you think it would be alright to use 1 litter bottles instead of 2 litters for the 11 bottle system,also would it be a good idea to shorten the pipe length and place plants closer together by adding more than 11 bottles

Yes The close together part but not the 1 liter part.
Ron

Date:
01 Jun 1999
Time:
02:48:18
Comments
Hi Ron, To start off, Great site! A recent news broadcast sparked my interest and I've been looking for info ever since. I'm currently in the process of building 2 different types of systems. (the 11 plant type and an aquafarm type) I think my biggest problem is the nutrient solution. I have NO idea where to start! How do I mix it, how much, what do I use, how do I track Ph and PPM, AAARRRGGGHHHH! The "mechanics" are easy. It's the thinking type stuff that's giving me fits. I noticed another member in Honolulu (Carol Uyeda), could you pass me email on to her? (I didn't see it) I'd like to be able to see nutrient mixing type stuff up close and personal if she doesn't mind too much. Also, how about a collective effort from all willing members to create a FAQ? I'm sure that email traffic would slow a little bit for you if everybody had a "central location" to refer to for common questions. I too would be interested in your old design for the "lawn garden" mini greenhouse thingamabobber. Thanks a bunch and keep up the good work. Eric Montgomery "Monty the Mooch"

OK

Date:
01 Jun 1999
Time:
16:52:02
Comments
Can you explain the dark brown spots I am seeing on the tops of the leaves of my banana tree? I have the plant in a two bucket (aquafarm) hydroponic system. The media is grorox and the light is supplied by a 1000W MH. The leaves are at least 4 feet away from the bulb. I just changed the nutrient solution in hopes that this would solve my problem, but so far I see no changes. The plant seems to be doing fine, but these spots and blotches make me a bit uneasy.
Thanks,
Gerrit

My guess is fungus and it can be caused by poor circulation. Add a fan to simulate the wind blowing on your plant.
LOGICAL PROGRESSION OF FUNGUS CONTROL
1. Prevention
       a. cleanliness
       b. low humidity
       c. ventilation
2. Remove infected foliage and plants
3. Use copper, lime, sulfur or potassium based sprays for bad infestation.

Date:
02 Jun 1999
Time:
06:38:36
Comments
Hi Ron I live in the virgin Island Temp. all year 70-85 degs plan to put my garden outdoors,do you think the sun will be to hot for the plants. The next problem will be the rain would a top be in order we don't dulit the nft. You have a nice website. Charles

I use shade cloth that helps cut down on the heat and also protects the plants from hard rain. If you get a lot of hard rain then you might need some kind of cover to keep the rain out of your system.
Ron

Date:
02 Jun 1999
Time:
20:13:49
Comments
Got this message from the Scotts Company. (The makers of Miracle-Gro.) Thought everybody might like the info.
If you are growing vegetables, we have found that Miracle-Gro for Tomatoes (one teaspoon per gallon of water) and add ¼ tsp each calcium chloride and magnesium sulfate if available, works great for hydroponic culture.
Monty the Mooch

Date:
02 Jun 1999
Time:
20:39:22
Comments
Hi
I've built a 15 plant garden based on your design and mechanically, it's working well. I use X10 controllers and computer interfaces to operate the pump. My schedule starts at sunrise, ends at sunset; the duration of pump operation is 8 minutes on and between 15 minutes and 40 minutes off, depending on the time of day (shorter off off intervals during warmer parts of the day.)
So, all this stuff is working great. I started plants in my house under fluorescent grow tubes in 1 inch rockwool cubes, and watered them with a half-strength nutrient solution. Then our last theoretical frost free day arrived (May 15-20!!) and I transplanted the plants to the cups and moved the whole works outdoors to the garden. And then, presto! All the leaves fell off! The leaves turned a white/yellow colour, and the few leaves that survived have brown tips on them. According to the books I have, the sudden increase in light and/or heat may have caused the leaves to discolour and begin falling off.
Just noticed I haven't said what I (attempt to) grow -- tomatoes, bush beans, peas and basil. The peas and basil seem to be doing better than the tomatoes and beans.
I'd appreciate any guidance and help you folks can offer...
Regards,
John Hoogerdijk Calgary, Alberta, Canada

When you transplanted the cubes to the system you should have left the plants under the artificial light for several days so the plants can adapt to the new system and medium before you put them out side and cooked the poor things.
Ron

Date:
03 Jun 1999
Time:
02:17:19
Comments
I mentioned in a previous message about getting the plans for the "Lawn Gardens". I was looking at the pictures of them and realized that they are basically a variation of the 11-plant system sitting on a PVC frame. The frame doesn't do anything but sit there. It would be easy to make a pvc frame with 2 shelves. 1 for the nutrient tank and 1 for the 11 plant system...instant lawn garden. :-) Now to convince my wife to let me buy more PVC!
Date:

04 Jun 1999
Time:
11:09:41
Comments
Ron,
I am growing bell peppers and tomatoes in a 2 gallon bucket system under a 1000W MH light. My growing media is made up of grorox and cocopeat (1:1 ratio). I am running the light for about 14 hours a day and I water about three times a day for a couple of minutes. I actually have a couple of questions:
1. The leaves on my tomato plants seem a bit greyish. Any any idea as to why this is happening?

I have seen a lot of colors but never grayish unless it's gray mold which can appear as a fuzzy, hair-like appearance. If that's the case then click here.

2. One day I noticed that the top half (6") of my largest tomato plant just died out of nowhere. Ideas?

Sounds like damping off, another fungus that rots newly sprouted seedlings. Over-watering is one cause of damping off.

3. My peppers have started to show but the tomatoes haven't bloomed. Should I switch my solution to the "bloom" stage? Will this harm the growth of the less mature tomatoes?

I would stick with the grow for awhile. You don't need Bloom until your plants are at least half of their expected life. That's 2 months for tomatoes.

4. How close to the top's of the plants should I have my light?

24 inches for an unvented hood without glass.

5. How much space do zucchini and squash need (roots and leaves)?

2 quart to 1 gallon is plenty.

6. What growth should I prune on the tomato plants?

Trim all the new shoots that spout except the very top one. Trim the old fan leaves as they turn yellow.

Sorry about the number of questions, but the stores around here just beat around the bush instead of just answering my (probably simple) questions.
- Gerrit

Date:
05 Jun 1999
Time:
15:54:57
Comments
I just finished the 11 plant system. It cost me around $9.00 for the pipe and fittings. We already had the glue. It came out really nice, but I was supprised at how FAST the pvc glue dries. Also, I dry fitted the insert into the system and dry fitted the soda bottle cap into the insert, and drilled it that way rather than trying to find something to hold down the cap/insert while drilling. I GENTLY drilled each cap without pushing down on the drill and GENTLY took out the insert and cap with either my fingers or pliers, whichever was needed. I turned the system upside down after each hole I drilled. It took me 3 hours to build the 11 plant system, but I'm sure it will go faster next time. I also found it was easier to cut the pvc pipe with a mitre box and saw, rather than using a pvc pipe cutter. I switched to the mitre box and saw, after two big blisters appreared on my right hand, from using the pvc pipe cutter.
Tammie

I cut the top off of a 2 liter bottle that I use to hold the cap when I drill holes in them
Ron

Date:
06 Jun 1999
Time:
01:25:43
Comments
This is a real stupid question, but I'll ask it anyway. Do you HAVE to glue it together? Granted, it won't "migrate" shapes while glued, but does it leak if it's not glued? It already seems pretty tight. It seems that the glue just stiffens the shape. Plus, if it's not glued, then you can take it apart if the roots begin growing down into the piping!
Monty the Mooch

I don't glue sections together in my larger gardens. I never glue the over flow pipe. But if you don't glue the tees with the bottles, the weight of the plants will eventually make the bottle and plant fall over and if you have a few of these falling left and right then you got a mess on your hands. If you built a cradle to hold them up then it might work.
Ron

Date:
07 Jun 1999
Time:
05:43:51
Comments
Hi, I built a 11 plant system. I have one 1 pepper plant, 1 patio tomatoe, 1 standard tomatoe, 4 red robin (patio type), 4 lettuce plants. The patio is showing signs of blossom-end rot. I would like to correct this before the other tomatoe plants get it. I read somewhere that it can be caused by a calcium deficiency, however it is ususally brought on by improper irrigation. My timer only allows 7 settings per day. I water about nine am, at noon, and then about and hour and half for the rest of the day untill I run out of settings. . Anyone else had this problem? Anyone know where you can buy a cheap 30 or 60 minute cycle timer?
thanks. Also, my timer only runs for 10 minutes at a time and it takes about 3 minutes to drain.

Date:
10 Jun 1999
Time:
15:55:53
Comments
Ron - Great website. I am very NEW to hydroponics, and will start my first attempt within the next month to build a system and a small greenhouse. I have yet to find any information floating around on exactly what to use for minerals and nutrients in the water - can you give me any direction here?

I have been buying ready mix concentrated hydroponic solution at an indoor hydroponic store for years but lately I have been using  1 teaspoon. per gallon of water of Miricle -Gro for Tomatoes with 1/4 tsp. of  Magnesium Sulfate. I will also add ¼ tsp of calcium chloride  when I get to the nursery as descibed by Monty the Mooch
Ron

Date:
13 Jun 1999
Time:
19:42:57
Comments
Does anyone have a plan for a vertical system ?
Jerry

In my head I do. I will have to build it to see if it works. It will be a drip system and not an ebb and flow. It will hang from the ceiling. Here it is.
Ron

Date:
14 Jun 1999
Time:
08:19:27
Comments
Jerry,
I'm not sure how well a vertical system would work. Depending on how high you want it to be, you'd need a pretty strong pump. Plus you have to figure out the problem of handling overflow at each level without having each level flow over while trying to fill each consecutive level. I think the closest you might get is stacking 2 separate systems.
Monty the Mooch

Date:
14 Jun 1999
Time:
21:10:30
Comments
Does anybody have a way to cut 2 liter bottles that is safe and makes a nice even clean cut? I saw a post about a "hot wire cutter", but no explanation as to what it is, where to find one or how to build one.
Monty the Mooch

I think they sell them at large Arts & Crafts Stores. They use them for cutting styrofoam.
Ron

Date:
16 Jun 1999
Time:
14:38:37
Comments
Ron, Thanks for your time and effort in maintaining a useful webpage. In reading your past logs you mentioned that in a Ebb&Fllow system you should fill then drain, wait 30 minutes and start again. Currently, I am flooding for half hour (best the timer will do) and draining/ sitting for 5 ½ hours. So far, the plants look pretty good. Should I up the watering ? If so, should it be done in small increments so as not to shock the plants?
Air stone into the water tank or the growing bed ?
Jam@techblvd.com

5 1/2 hours might be to long of a time. One of the reasons why plants grow faster in hydroponics is that you are force feeding them every hour or so with nutrients and with dirt the roots have to go looking for nutrients in the dirt. The plants will only use as much nutrients as they can absorb so you have to make sure you give them plenty.
The air stone goes in the tank and only needs to come on when the pump does.
Ron

Date:
16 Jun 1999
Time:
15:09:04
Comments
Hi Ron I have built your 11 plant garden. Its really neat and works well. Do you know any other free hydroponic plans or sites that have plans that I may try? Thanks Ron
Cameron Burnett cameronburnett@hotmail.com

Date:
17 Jun 1999
Time:
09:04:42
Comments
Re: Additional Plans for Hydroponic Systems
http://www.ns.net/~bennu
This website is where I got the details on how to build the "Aquafarm." I also built a system comparable to the "Dutch Garden." This is a 6 bucket system (expandable) that sits above a reservoir. The nutrients get pumped up to the buckets and gravity brings what's left back down to the reservoir. Aside from the pump, this is a pretty easy system to build and rather inexpensive. If people are interested, I can post some plans and pictures. The results have greatly exceeded my expectations.
Good Luck,
Gerrit
gerritn@aol.com

Date:
23 Jun 1999
Time:
10:42:08
Comments
About cutting 2 liter bottles safe/even: I didn't try this, but, someone told me to fill them up with water, freeze them, and then use a hack saw to cut the bottoms off. Let me know if it works... mark

Date:
23 Jun 1999
Time:
23:35:34
Comments
I looking at getting into commercial hydorponic tomatoe farming. I have 15,000sqf of gh and would like information on yeilds and revenues. If you have any information or links please notify me. tevans@nwol.net

Date:
24 Jun 1999
Time:
14:25:22
Comments
Hi Ron, Thanks for this site.
I have just begun an 11 plant garden per your design and have a couple of questions: 1. I don't find the grorox in local stores. Can I successfully use lava rock, river rock or pea gravel as the growing medium. 2. It appears in the picture of the model that the system has been painted. Should the bottles be painted on the outside?

Yes and Yes

Date:
26 Jun 1999
Time:
08:16:52
Comments
Had trouble getting small leaks in the 11 plant systems to stop, so I used some of aquarium silicone, that I use on my commercial hydroponic systems. It worked and I got the small leaks stopped. Also, tomatoes look pretty bad. Going to try the dash of epsom salt today. Using gro-rocks and maxi-jet 500 pump. The maxi-jet 1000 was too much for the system. I wanted to know if I can use my ph up/down I use in my commercial systems, in the 11 plant system?

Yes

Date:
27 Jun 1999
Time:
06:04:04
Comments
Would a 300gph pump work well in the 11 plant garden?

You probably could fill ten 11 plant gardens with a 300 GPH pump. All you have to do is put at shut off valve between the garden and the pump to slow the flow then it won't   matter what size pump you use. As you expand your garden you open up the valve to supply more water to your system.
Ron

Date:
28 Jun 1999
Time:
06:46:06
Comments
About Miracle Gro Someone posted: Got this message from the Scotts Company. (The makers of Miracle-Gro.) Thought everybody might like the info. If you are growing vegetables, we have found that Miracle-Gro for Tomatoes (one teaspoon per gallon of water) and add ¼ tsp each calcium chloride and magnesium sulfate if available, works great for hydroponic culture. Monty the Mooch
Elsewhere: Someone posted they are using 1 tbs Miracle-Gro per gallon of water, 1/4 tbs of Magnesium Sulfate, and 1/4 tsp of calcium chloride. Based on the above info.
Question: Which is it, tbs or tsp?
Also, about calcium chloride. No one seems to sell this stuff anymore. Everyone says it turns to liquid if not used in a few months. Does it matter, i.e. can you still use it in liquid form? It looks like I may be buying a 50 pound bag of the stuff.

I have been using  teaspoon and I too am having a hard time finding Calcium Chloride.
Ron

Date:
28 Jun 1999
Time:
13:37:15
Comments
How long does the pump need to stay on for a drip system implementation of the gardens? Also what type of pump (GPH) should I be utilized in a drip system?

I am letting it drip about 10 minutes on, 15 minutes off  and so on. But because my tomato plants are 10 feet tall and it's 90 + degrees I my have to water almost continuously.
Ron

Date:
29 Jun 1999
Time:
04:50:33
Comments
Hello Ron, can rockwool cubes be use with success in bottle garden?

To tell you the truth I have never tried it. I tried to use old cubes that I broke up and put in the solo cups but it didn't work. I think if I used new powdered Rockwell it might have work. The reason I use grow rocks is because I am a recycling freak and used Rockwell is a big problem, especially in Europe where it is used a lot.
Grow rocks you wash with a ten percent bleach solution and use over and over again.
Ron

Date:
29 Jun 1999
Time:
05:38:04
Comments
Hi all; Regarding calcium chloride, does anybody know if you coud use calcium hypochlorite as a substitute for calcium chloride in the Miracle-gro formula? It is readily available and cheap (pool chlorinator) Maybe someone could try this out and let us know if it works :-) matita@coqui.net

Yea right. Try it on your plants and let us know if it works.

Date:
29 Jun 1999
Time:
13:11:18
Comments
I have just switched to a "bloom" nutrient solution and my tomatoe plants have begun to wilt a bit and the flowers/blooms look dry and weak. I water 3X a day for 1/2 hr and they are receiving 12 hours of light (artificial). What can these symptoms be attributed to?
Thanks, Gerrit

Your growing  area may be to hot and 3 times a day may not be enough watering .

Date:
30 Jun 1999
Time:
12:53:35
Comments
Anyone have a used growlight for sale? CameronBurnett cameronburnett@hotmail.com

Date:
30 Jun 1999
Time:
22:22:32
Comments
Ron,
I have been using Miracle-Gro for several years. I make a 50/50 mix of Miracle-Gro for house plants and Miracle-Gro for Tomatoes. One tablespoon of each in a gallon of water. I then add this to my 25 gallon tank of water. I use a PPM meter and add the solution until it reads between 1000 and 1200 PPM.
I top off the tank to this reading once a week. This way you know how must nutrient the plants are getting and nothing has to be added to the Miracle-Gro.
This has worked so well, I can start the seeds in my hydroponic system. They sprout in 1/2 the time listed on the seed package. They also grow twice as fast. I grew long 8 cucumbers in a little over a month that were 18 inches long and 2 inches in diameter.
My system is a NTF and Airoponic combined system of my own design, that is 4 feet wide and 20 feet long. Can grow 196 plants. Combining both technologies will produce the fastest and largest crop growth. The has been confirmed by scientific research in Israel. There is a paper about it on the Internet.
Robert Gates
Here is the web address for the article about Airoponics from Israel. http://www.generalhydroponics.com/faq-aeromof.html
Robert Gates

Date:
01 Jul 1999
Time:
07:39:43
Comments
On CaCl source try http://aquatic-eco.com/index2.html and search their catalog. They have several types of Calcium Chloride available. Wouldn't Calcium Sulphate work just as well.

Date:
02 Jul 1999
Time:
11:52:30
Comments
Ron- Do you know how to make a areo system? I am wanting to make one thanks Cameron Burnett cameronburnett@hotmail.com

Coming soon.

Date:
03 Jul 1999
Time:
07:40:47
Comments
Ron my question is for you or Robert Gates. On June 30, Robert mentions using a ppm meter to check and adjust his nutrient solution. What exactly is this meter? Thanks for all the help. jtwoods@pdq.net

It's a TDS (total dissolved solids) meter used to measure PPM (parts per million) a measurement of conductivity through one cubic centimeter of solution.
They cost from $50.00 to $500.00. Any Hydroponic Store will have them. A pH meter is also handy
Ron

Date:
04 Jul 1999
Time:
10:03:25
Comments
Ron I'm growing tomatoes with the nutrient film technique and the tomatoes are showing signs of blossom end rot and blossom drop. Mike from Mo-a previous caller-described blossom end rot. Is this a common problem. Has anyone got an answer. (I don't think its calcium deficiency as I'm lucky enough to have a nutrient that contains this. Martin Jo from po

Date:
05 Jul 1999
Time:
08:12:12
Comments
5july1999 i have not seen anyone mention blossom end rot in tomatoes. that seems to be a big problem with me. i need help before the fall season. thank you bill in st. pete

It can also be caused by water stress due to insufficient irrigation frequency, or poor root aeration.
Ron

Date:
07 Jul 1999
Time:
22:43:38
Comments
Hi Ron, A lot of the readers are having a problem finding Calcium Chloride but tractor or tire supply stores carry it all year they use it in tires for ballast. Also I had a problem with blossom end rot and I think once the plants suffer from this it is very hard to save them. I am still trying but I feel it is time to reseed. I have beautiful tall bushy non producing plants. I will keep trying though it is a quest worth pursuing. Thanks-Mike from Mo

Date:
10 Jul 1999
Time:
15:16:16
Comments
I am looking for a source for low cost pumps?
Gus Wesen

This is the best place [http://aquatic-eco.com/index2.html] for all your hydroponic building needs that I have ever seen. Thanks to the club member that turned me on to them.
They have a very good shopping cart system web site but you have to get their catalog, it's an inch thick.
You will start to see me build more kinds of hydro gardens now that I have a source for everything I need.
And yes they have every kind and size of pump that you could possibly need.
Ron

Date:
10 Jul 1999
Time:
19:43:39
Comments
Hi Ron,
I need to know how often I need to change the miracle grow solution in my 11 plant system? What do you recommend?

Every two weeks. Let the solution get as low as possible by not adding any new solution   and then you won't be tossing that much out.
Ron

Date:
12 Jul 1999
Time:
17:34:32
Comments
I am looking for a non-circulating hydroponics kit. Can/Will anybody help me?

Date:
13 Jul 1999
Time:
12:23:31
Comments
Re: Source for low cost pumps
Maybe not the cheapest source, but Home Depot (hardware store) has a variety of pond pumps which start at ~$18 for 60 gph.

And the 60 gph is perfect for the 11 plant garden.
Ron

Date:
18 Jul 1999
Time:
07:14:42

Comments
Cameron Burnett asked how to make a Aeroponic system. Most of the Aeroponic systems advertised on the Internet are very expensive. They put the entire plant and nutrient in a sterile closed chamber. It is very difficult to maintain this growing environment. I have found a much easier way.
By using 10 foot sections of rain gutter a growing chamber can be made inexpensively. I have found only one brand of PVC rain gutter that will allow the sections to be interlocked on top of each other, making a light-tight glowing chamber. It is called "C" gutter and is manufactured by Rain Master. You can cut the rain gutter into sections and make a shorter 5 foot or smaller growing chamber if desired.
Holes are cut into the top section that is inverted onto the bottom section. Hydroponic growing cups are then placed into these holes. No growing media is used in the system. I use polyester fiber, the type used to make quilts and pillows, in each growing cup to start the seeds.
Inside the top rain gutter section are two 1/2 inch plastic irrigation water lines that run the full length of the rain gutter growing chamber, one line on each side of the rain gutter. At each hydroponic growing cup location is installed a PVC fogging spray nozzle. Each nozzle puts out 2 gallons per hour (GPH). To determine the pump size you need, just add up the number of nozzles and multiply by the GPH of the nozzles. Get a pump that is 10% to 20% larger than the needed capacity. I use a CP-290 X-10 control unit to turn the pump on and off. There are other X-10 control units available, but this is the least expensive that meets the need.
I purchased a 35 gallon fertilizer tank from a tractor supply company. I painted the tank to block out sunlight which keeps algae from growing in the tank. I have a float inside the tank that keeps the water level at 25 gallons. It automatically refills as the water level drops. I was able to purchase all other parts at local home building supply stores, except for the spray nozzles and the hydroponic growing cups. I was able to locate these parts over the Internet and purchased them by phone. They were shipped to my door by UPS. Purchasing them this way was far less expensive than acquiring them from my local hydroponic dealer. The dealer was charging me 50 cents a cup. I can now get 25 for $2.00. The spray nozzles are 35 cents each in lots of 100.
The pump is timed to come on a few minutes each hour. The bottom 1 inch of the roots are in the flowing nutrient that runs down the rain gutter and out a drain hole at the end of the gutter. The top 2/3 of the plant roots are in air at all times and are being sprayed with the nutrient. The nutrient flows down the roots to the bottom of the rain gutter growing chamber. It then flows back to the tank by gravity. Plastic sump drain line, that is very inexpensive, is used from the gutter to the tank and is also from the tank to the input of the pump. You could also use a submergible water pump in the tank. PVC water line and connections are used from the pump to the plastic irrigation water lines. It is very important that everything that the nutrient solution is in contact with, is made out of plastic. No metal of any kind should be used in the plumbing of the system. This will keep the nutrient pH more stable and will not allow for chemical reactions that could contaminate the nutrient. This system is a combination of NTF and Aeroponics. It is very efficient and the plants love it!
Robert Gates

Date:
18 Jul 1999
Time:
13:15:27
Comments
Hello Robert Gates -- Any thoughts about posting pics of your system?? I am sure you are getting all of us curious about it. Where did you get your nozzles?? By the way, is it necessary to use nozzles when you could simply make a series of tiny holes along the 1/2" plastic irrigation pipe just like what General Hydroponics does with the spraylines for the Aeroflo systems?? Thanks for sharing info on your homemade system!! Wayne

Date:
19 Jul 1999
Time:
14:54:57
Comments
Help! I started my Ebb&Flow garden up a week ago today. I have the timer set at 30 mins on and 60 mins off. My solution is 1 tbs of Miracle-Gro and 1/4 tsp on Epsom salts per gallon of water. My plants are alive but there has been no noticable growth and I see some wilting of the plants. What am I doing wrong? Jtwoods@pdq.net

It usually takes about 10 days to take to the system. And it is 1 teaspoon of Miracle-Gro not tablespoon so you might be overdosing them.
Ron

Date:
19 Jul 1999
Time:
19:39:15
Comments
Has sweetcorn ever been grown hydroponically? If not, what are some of the reasons why?

My guess would be cost. When corn sells for 5 ears for a dollar compared to tomatoes that can sell for $2.00 a pound it's just not economical to grow bulky plants.
Ron

Date:
19 Jul 1999
Time:
23:41:24
Comments
what is the cost per month for a 1000 w/metal halogen wise 400 w/meta halide running it 10 hr 14 hr. bob

don't no

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