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Question and Answer Page 50

Subjects

aeroponic growing chamber start a unit without electric? making my 11 pot setup bigger?
cheap Co2 small spray heads should i use a shade cloth
plants developed white fly information on the aeroponic unit about Mary Jane,
3-liter system top fed drip system if you're into tomatoes.
regarding aeroponics systems using sweater storage boxes setup over a fish tank

Date:

26 Jul 2000
Time:
07:38:52

Comments

Tailwheel, Bill S.

i built eight aeroponic growing chamber early part of this year. each aeroponic growing chamber houses around 397 heads of lettuce at 15cm distance between each other.

it can be done commercially ... it does not have to be expensive.

btw, for the eight chamber, i spent close to USD 3000, however, the pump i used ... well, i can still re-design it to supply another 16 growing chambers of equal size.

Date:
26 Jul 2000
Time:
08:11:31

Comments

How can i get free or cheap Co2

Do a lot of heavy breathing on your plants or try the yeast and sugar fermentation in the bottle trick.   

Date:
26 Jul 2000
Time:
10:06:34

Comments

Breath a lot.

Date:
26 Jul 2000
Time:
14:38:54

Comments

Wilting Medical Cannibis.....

I'm a legal, card carrying, medical user, trying to grow in my closet. I have 8 plants in two tubs using the gurgle method under MH. In the beginning, when I purchased the plants from our local Cannibis Club, I was told that if the plants developed white fly to simply take a hand held vacuum cleaner and suck them off. Well, they have appeared and have so far only attacked a couple of my plants but seem to be spreading. These plants they have infected wilt during the day and seem to recover during the night but eventually succumb. Is it the white fly that is doing this? How do I handle this? Should I simply break down the sys and clean and restart or is there another way to handle this? At $20 for each plant I buy from the club and all the money I have invested in nutrients and lighting, I can't afford to loose many more plants. Suggestions?

I wonder how hot it gets in that closet. I can't imagine growing anything in a closet. 
One of my early inventions was a funnel with a yellow light that you attach to your shop-vac to suck up white flies without using pesticides. Another one of my invention that someone will get rich off of.
White fly infestation would have to get awfully bad to make a plant wilt. You might be over watering them if you are running the garden continually.   Water less often. 

Date:
26 Jul 2000
Time:
19:03:37

Comments

Tailwheel:

You asked about the brand drink I was using for my 3-liter system - I am using Canada Dry ginger ale bottles as that is what I did the test fit with, but all 3-liter soda bottles should work.

I've also made a modification to the system by using a 3/4" threaded 1" T instead if a plain 1" T for the overflow. I'll put a 3/4" barb to 3/4" threaded adapter in it - then I can put 3/4" black tubing on it and I can adjust it to the correct height.

Tailwheel - if you still have the measurements for the 49 bottle grid that you made (as shown in the pictures) please email me the dimensions for the pieces. jmorton3@aol.com 

Thanks!

Jim Morton III

Date:
27 Jul 2000
Time:
04:05:06

Comments

Attn: Bill S.

Re: Aeroponic setup

I need to know what the capacity of your pump was. I attempted two different aeroponic systems and failed at both. How many gallons/liters per hour was your pump?

Tailwheel

Date:
27 Jul 2000
Time:
04:17:53

Comments

Attn: Jim Morton III

No problem. I'll whip up a sketch for you, but give me a few days. It's been so hot here in So. California with more heat coming that I'm trying to come up with some means to shade my plants more. I'm also having pump problems and starting to lose plants cause of failures.

FYI, I'm using a 20 gallon solution in a 25 gallon tank and 160 gal/hr pump for this system. At the moment, I have 33 corn plants, 12 strawberrys, and 4 bush beans using 1 liter water bottles and 16 oz. Dixie cups. I have a hell of a problem finding 2 liter bottles. I've never seen 3 liter soft drink bottles around here, but that's probably cause I've never looked for them.

Tailwheel

Date:
27 Jul 2000
Time:
06:27:50

Comments

Tailwheel

regarding aeroponics ... check this out http://go.to/freshfields

or

http://www.philonline.com/~klique88

Date:
27 Jul 2000
Time:
06:45:51

Comments

Great Pics. Not that I don't appreciate them, but do you think you can repost them right side up?

Brett

Date:
27 Jul 2000
Time:
09:45:49

Comments

RE: Ordering outside the U.S

I live in Toronto(T.O.), Ontario, Canada.

so i'm guessing it is ok to go ahead with my order.

Thanks.

Yes

Date:
27 Jul 2000
Time:
12:12:44

Comments

hi all, im trying to set up a garden on an island in mexico where its hot and has a lot of salt in the air.is there anything i should know? thanks steve sjanosko@aol.com

Date:
27 Jul 2000
Time:
12:29:01

Comments

Yo, Ron; This is an update on the soil grown plant that I originally over-fed using Formula-One. After cutting back the amount of nutrient like you said (and as it says on the bottle)(duh), it's no longer root-bound, and it's growing like a weed :) Now I need to trim the tops off, because I'm out of room in my chamber. This plant is in full flower, and probably need another couple of weeks before its ready to harvest. Will I hurt (shock) the plant by topping at this point? I need to top about five of the stalks....Maybe if I only cut one or two every couple of days? What do you think?

It would be better if you bent the tops over until finished but if you have to cut them then they will go threw a slight shock but should be ok to do.

Date:
27 Jul 2000
Time:
13:39:45

Comments

is there a way to start a unit without electric? we have land, sun, water but no juice.

A system with a 12 volt pump that runs off a car battery, while the battery is charge with one of those solar battery chargers you can get at any large auto parts store or magazine. 
www.aquaticeco.com
has a number of 12 volt pumps. 

Date:
27 Jul 2000
Time:
16:53:20

Comments

Tailwheel,

I used a 170GPH pump to run a small unit similar to the one described in the "HowToHydroponics" booklet. I used small spray heads that overlapped by 50%. These heads produce a spray not a mist, which I suppose would be better. It seems to me that the small droplets in a mist would just collect into larger drops when they touch the plant roots. In any case the sprayers worked great.

Bill S.

Date:
27 Jul 2000
Time:
16:56:45

Comments

How about some more information on the aeroponic unit that holds 397 heads of lettuce.

Bill S.

Date:
27 Jul 2000
Time:
17:11:15

Comments

Bill, Brett,

you see the picture that looks like a long rectangular chamber ?

well, a 40ft x 4ft chamber holds 397 lettuce ... give and take.

its made of styro for insulation. you put mist nozzle which produces .4mm or even smaller drops of water.

you need a power spray for that. a normal pump, including jet pump won't do. tried that, just waste my money on that.

power spray adds water and air when it pump out the water. the air that it produces produces the mist required in aeroponics.

oh, about the distance of the mist nozzle. well, it depends on the mist nozzle you can get.

in Epcot and singapore, they put the nozzle close to each other ....

well, i hope i did answer some of your questions.

if you need more info, just email me at

freshfields@guest.sendit.se

Date:
27 Jul 2000
Time:
17:12:55

Comments

brett,

about the pictures that appears up side down ...

well, sorry about that

i was in a hurry when i scan those pictures.

Date:
28 Jul 2000
Time:
05:58:26

Comments

Attn: Freshfields

Speaking of tables, you may have interest in a system at: http://www.hydrofarm.com/content/articles/hydroart.html

Not aeroponics, but a top fed drip system with a return to the tank. I would guess that you could plant just about anything here. It uses perlite as a grow medium.

Incidentally, I turned my monitor upside down to view the pictures. It was easier to do that than to download them than use a photo program to rotate them. Thanks.

Tailwheel

Date:
28 Jul 2000
Time:
06:13:26

Comments

Attn: Bill S.

Thanks for your reply.

I built 2 systems using sweater storage boxes 24X36X10 inches. Used a 170/gal/hr. pump with 2 sprinkler heads. Planted strawberries, and let her rip. The sprinklers wet the grorocks and everything seemed to work fine, but after two days, a white powder formed throughout the system, in the pump and all over the pipes and inside the pump motor. My first thought was that I had calcium nitrate coming out of the solution. I took pictures to send to Ron, but was so disappointed that I just trashed the whole project and moved the strawberries over to a ebb and flow system.

I had used bathtub caulk and adhesive to glue baffles to the lid of the tank. The baffles came loose and I didn't have leaks around the edge of the top, but just the white mess inside the tank. I may try again later, but will seek a different type seal around the top of the tank where I don't have to glue anything. Now I believe the white powder was remnants of the glue when it dissolved.

Tailwheel

Date:
28 Jul 2000
Time:
09:23:56

Comments

great job everybody, you got me hooked and almost ready to make a move. steve

Date:
29 Jul 2000
Time:
07:25:33

Comments

can i just keep making my 11 pot setup bigger? maybe 4 times. can i use the same pump and the mix. great page i couldn't believe it when i found it. keep it up. steve

I use a 170 GPH for 100 plant unit. 120 GPH would work for an 50 plant unit.

Date:
29 Jul 2000
Time:
10:18:34

Comments

ron many thanks for the information on the solar pump. its real hot in mexico should i use a shade cloth instead of clear on the green house? again many thanks keep up the great work and all your help. steve

I can't grow here in Florida without using shade cloth so yes.

Date:
29 Jul 2000
Time:
12:17:34

Comments

Tailwheel,

Last year I had a powdery residue in my aeroponic unit. I assumed it was something precipitating out of the nutrient solution. However, this year I am running a drip system and I am using the same nutrient, the same reservoir and the same city water and there is no residue. I don't have a clue.

Bill S.

Date:
29 Jul 2000
Time:
13:28:59

Comments

is there a home remedy for getting rid of bees

Date:
29 Jul 2000
Time:
18:48:25

Comments

Bill S.

the residue you are talking about ...

could it be the result of calcium precipitation that comes in contact with sulfate ?

do you mix your own nutrient solution ? if so, do you make stock solution ?

i do have same problem last year with my aero system. changed the chemicals and the mixing habit and now, its all gone.

freshfields

Date:
29 Jul 2000
Time:
23:48:06

Comments

Hi, and thank you for the help I have already received reading through the previous messages. Although the prior posts were helpful I still have a few questions. First off I use Dyna gro/bloom hydro solution with mag pro as a trace element additive in the bloom stage. If I have the intentions of flowering at 6" and growing sea of green style, should I be mixing(together) the gro/bloom/mag pro solution? If so at what rates? (re:100ppm gro/100bloom/50ppm mag pro+water ppm =total ppm.) What is the recommended ppm for seedlings as well as middle and finishing ppm? Should I only be using the gro at this stage or am I missing some part of the nutrient spectrum? ie;problems ahead. Currently I am running them at approx 300ppm at 6.9-7.0ph (gro) Alot of the leaves(mainly new growth) are twisted and burnt on the ends. The older sets(of four total sets) are yellowing as a whole a little lighter all over each day. I run a 600w light that puts off the lumens of a 1000w and keep the light approx. 12" from the tallest plant top. I also wonder wether it is ok to add nutrient and or ph up/down solution straight to the reservoir while the plants are in it ( the roots hang down in the solution) because I know that ph down is acid that could burn the roots before the solution is diluted enough not to cause burning, and maybe this is causing the yellowing? Also, are there symptoms that are strictly related to new growth old growth areas? I should also mention that I can not find the EXACT METHOD for sea of green type pruning methods. It seems to be a well guarded secret.(hehe) Should h2o from the tap "sit" for awhile before being used? Does the ph stay (at my peril)the same throughout the gro/bloom stages? start to finish? I saw a prior post that mentioned 50-65 cuttings were ok to take before the strain would be too weak to produce viable bud. Does that mean from one mother or take a cutting grow it take a cutting grow it etc? (65 times) sorry if that one is a stupid question. thanks, herbprophet Peace+love+bud=happiness

who do you think I am Ed Rosenthal. 

Date:
30 Jul 2000
Time:
00:58:48

Comments

some one help im growing about 20 plant in a closet. i have 1 150 hps lamp...and no funds to buy anymore. how can i supplement the light? also i recently purchased "general hydroponics" flora series, grom bloom micro in what concentrations do i use these's? i want some good smoke this fall thanks please respond soon:)

please read answer above.

Date:
30 Jul 2000
Time:
04:55:58

Comments

All you ever wanted to know about Mary Jane, and then some.

I'm not into this kind of growing, but I ran into this page that gives good information on a bubble system. S**t growers will love it.

http://www.stonernet.org/spongebud/growroom_mechanics.htm

Hit all the pages, there's plenty on nutrients and building instructions for a reliable bubble system.

Tailwheel

Date:
30 Jul 2000
Time:
08:46:47

Comments

hi, how much water do you put in for the 11setup garden? also i couldn't find marical grow that say for hydroponics, only for veggs. steve

10 gallons and I refuse to answer the second question.

Date:
30 Jul 2000
Time:
11:16:56

Comments

Here's an interesting site if you're into tomatoes.

http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/hydroponics.tomatoes/expert/decision.htm

This algorithm is set up for greenhouses, but gives useful nutrient and growing information anyway. Just slide the scale until you get 100% in the right side window, then read what you have to do to get optimal growing conditions.

Tailwheel

Date:
30 Jul 2000
Time:
11:26:44
 

Comments

Sorry, I just checked out the link and it does'nt work. When you get to 404 error, click on oardc home, then click on links, then on tomatoes. when you get there, click on the interactive expert decision page. This will bring you to the algorithm program.

Tailwheel

Date:
30 Jul 2000
Time:
14:20:45

Comments

Hi Ron,

First off let me say, great site !!! I couldn't find a site on the web that has as much info as your message board alone!!

A reply that you made to someone about a setup over a fish tanks using the fish waste. Here's the article : http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/qapage27.htm# biological aspect of bacteria. I was just curious if you had any more info on that type of thing. I have a big saltwater tank and am in the process of setting up a smaller freshwater tank. It would be a great way to utilize lights and natural filtration of ammonia from the tank. Any links or setup info would be greatly appreciated. Is it possible to do it with saltwater or would I have to grow some type of saltwater plant like mangroves??

You could try Aqua Gardens, Inc (407) 886-9508 larry@magicnet.net 

One more thing. I've constructed the 11 plant setup and am almost ready to go except for medium and am having a hard time finding clay pellets. Can I use vermiculite or perlite?? Will I need to flood the system less often because of the amount of water perlite will hold ?? The pump I am using is a powerhead with an air inlet will this be good for oxygenation or is it a bad thing ??

Yes on all three and oxygenation good.

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