Hydroponics Forums Discussions

Hydroponics Forums Discussions http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/ Hydroponics Online discussion forums en Fri, 24 May 2013 06:50:27 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg Hydroponics Forums Discussions http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/ New fodder system for less then $10 http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/your-hydroponics-setup/2825-new-fodder-system-less-then-10-a.html Fri, 24 May 2013 01:29:36 GMT So I have been playing around with sprouting for my chickens and turkeys. I have watched hours of Youtube videos and spent hours researching. I... So I have been playing around with sprouting for my chickens and turkeys. I have watched hours of Youtube videos and spent hours researching. I finally came up with a cheap easy method to raise fodder biscuits just the right size for my flock. I have not yet added a timer and pump but that is in the works but for now I just add water 3 times a day. I purchased 8 baskets at the dollar store and a tin pan to catch the water. I drilled holes on only one end of the baskets. I added cups to the tin pan and added two more stacked on top of one end to create a slope. Next I poked skewer sticks thru the holds to create a alternating slope down each level. I tested the system and it works perfect. I put in the seeds I already had soaking and started another batch tonight. Hopefully in 7 days they will be eating it!
The last picture is how I have been sprouting the pasture mix, just in odd shaped containers I could find. The chicks and turks eat all of it and come running when I go out with it. The data says it takes 1 pound of 30% digestable grain and turns it into 6 to 8 pounds of 80 to 90% digestable fodder with is enriched with more nutrients then unsprouted grain. So my 50 pound bag of grain should turn into at minumin 300 pounds of fodder. I will post more photos as the system fills up and when I feed it.....

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]]> Your Hydroponics Setup fintuckyfarms http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/your-hydroponics-setup/2825-new-fodder-system-less-then-10-a.html Summer 2013 update http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2824-summer-2013-update.html Tue, 21 May 2013 08:04:06 GMT Getting ready to set up the hydro for this summer. Starting a little late cuz I had to build my chicken run and believe it or not this hydro girl... Getting ready to set up the hydro for this summer. Starting a little late cuz I had to build my chicken run and believe it or not this hydro girl actually planted in soil. I have a salsa container garden and started a 10'ish by 20'ish garden plot in my pasture. I also am going to try the potato towers. I've started the seeds for the hydro so it must go up this weekend. Trying to balance my needs with the fair display is always hard plus the "Plant a row for the hungry" is also taking up some of my time. Going to still do the two towers, one in herbs and one in flowers. Will also do the double verticle system with strawberries and other veggies. Thinking about trying corn again maybe in a kiddie pool, IDK... It is just too hot at fair for most salad type vegies but I will be starting my barrel system since it's my favorite! Looking hard at GPS Frontier verticle pipe system, have seen a couple arround and I am interested. I finally settled on the greenhouse I want to build. Will be a double layer hoophouse with the two layers inflated and two solid ends with windows and sliding glass doors. I want to try the geothermal cooling system that GPS Frontier built and I am looking at a sawdust stove to heat it in the winter. My youngest is wanting to try his hand at aquaponics so temp control will be a must.
I am also growing fodder for my chickens and turkeys. Just learning as I go but so far sucess and they love it. The hardest part is finding the seeds because most grains in my area are treated to not sprout. Right now I am just sprouting a pasture grass mix and some black beans from the grocery store. They eat the whole thing and ask for more.

So what is everybody else growing??? ]]> Hydroponics fintuckyfarms http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2824-summer-2013-update.html My Tomatoes And Peppers Are Growing! http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2823-my-tomatoes-peppers-growing.html Sun, 19 May 2013 02:40:21 GMT Not sure if this is the right section, but I'm pretty excited about it! I got the system working, everything seems stable so far. The water is due for a change sometime next week.

I included a picture of the valve I was talking about in the other thread that I use to control the water level.

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]]> Hydroponics FalseFlash http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2823-my-tomatoes-peppers-growing.html New to Hydroponics - Want to Build a System With a Budget of $650 http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2822-new-hydroponics-want-build-system-budget-650-a.html Wed, 01 May 2013 04:18:42 GMT I joined this forum to ask for some help on building a system. I have a budget of $650, I can go somewhat over but prefer not to. I been searching... I joined this forum to ask for some help on building a system. I have a budget of $650, I can go somewhat over but prefer not to. I been searching all over Google for days but have not really found anything useful for me. I don't want one of them 5-gallon bucket systems.

I'm hoping to use PVC on this system, just because I think it looks better.

This system will always be outside until winter.

I plan on growing tomatoes and peppers as a first start. Also, I live out in the open so this will have nothing from blocking the sun.

I already have some stuff towards building one;

Hydrofarm 1000-GPH Active Aqua Submersible Pump
General Hydroponics Flora Series QT - FloraGro, FloraBloom, and FloraMicro
General Hydroponics Ph Control Kit
Hydroton Leca Clay (6 pounds)
60 3" Net Pots

So if maybe anyone could link me to a step-by-step guide that would be great. :p ]]> Hydroponics FalseFlash http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2822-new-hydroponics-want-build-system-budget-650-a.html Problems with pests/fungus ??? Help http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2813-problems-pests-fungus-help.html Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:52:08 GMT Hello Everyone, I just started my first aeroponic experiment a few weeks ago. Its outside (I know not exactly ideal) but so far its been going... Hello Everyone,

I just started my first aeroponic experiment a few weeks ago. Its outside (I know not exactly ideal) but so far its been going pretty good. I have my vegetable plants in 3" net baskets in 5 gallon buckets with sprayers spraying the nutrient solution into the root system that drains down into the main reservoir and recirculates. I've been using water soluble hydroponic fertilizer from JR Peters. For the past few weeks, everything was going pretty smoothly.

I began to notice some damage to some of the lower stems on a few of the plants (see pictures below). It looks like something is eating up parts of the lower stems of the plants and on one of them it actually looks like something cut the stem open and exposed part of the inside of the stem (#3). The sprayers are under the root system, no water should be hitting that part of the plant. The buckets are at least 3 feet of the ground and I haven't seen any insects on them. I'm not sure what else it could be. I live in Jacksonville Florida.

Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!

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]]> Hydroponics mrledee http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2813-problems-pests-fungus-help.html Moisure (hymidity) of substrat http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2806-moisure-hymidity-substrat.html Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:10:09 GMT Dear collegues , i ask you because i can not found right answer. How calculate moisture of substat ? For the example - for the green onion... Dear collegues , i ask you because i can not found right answer.

How calculate moisture of substat ?
For the example - for the green onion (scallion) necessary hymididy of substat 60%

This is mean 60% vater of volume substrat, or 60% vater of mass substrat ?:confused:

Vladimir (not Putin) ]]> Hydroponics Vladimir http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2806-moisure-hymidity-substrat.html Working a concept: feedback appreciated http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2803-working-concept-feedback-appreciated.html Sat, 13 Apr 2013 23:21:31 GMT Basic Info: We have access to a 300,000 sq ft warehouse with it's own hydro electric plant ( super cheap electricity) as well as it's own well.The warehouse ( an old mill building ) is in a suburban/almost rural area of Massachusetts( town population 10K) within a short drive to major urban population basis. I can probably get gross rents ( includes heat/electric/taxes ) at $3/ft/yr with the ability to provide "micro" spaces of 500-100,2000 sq ft. or large spaces at 50,000 sq ft or more ( the mill is empty )
Concept that I'm "toying with": Basically creating an indoor community garden, year round.

On an initial basis, I would like to keep things cheap and simple ( let things develop and let the group decide it's future...ie: coops, more advanced systems, etc

So: couple initial questions: if the systems were BASIC (ie: lighting/water/beds) how much space would an average family of 4 use? 500 sq ft? 1,000 sq ft?

If the cost is $3/ft/year...can there be a return to the family on production VS buying at the market?

What are your thoughts on this concept?

Next: eventually, we have access to fairly large wholesale contracts to purchase the produce...pretty much whatever can be produced can be sold locally at wholesale prices.....our base cost is $3/ft..plus..shipping/manpower/etc....what are the economics?

Thoughts? feedback? Again, this is just an initial thought process. Wondering if it has legs! ]]> Hydroponics popeyedoyle http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2803-working-concept-feedback-appreciated.html Advice on building a hydroponics room. http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/your-hydroponics-setup/2802-advice-building-hydroponics-room.html Sat, 06 Apr 2013 15:18:07 GMT Greetings, first time posting here. Looking forward to it all. I have the opportunity to build a small addition to the side of my garage, and I... Greetings, first time posting here. Looking forward to it all.

I have the opportunity to build a small addition to the side of my garage, and I want to divide 2/3 of it for growing but I have some questions. I live in south TX, and in our neighborhood we've had too much trouble with critters getting into the beds. We're organic food snobs, so to speak, and this seems to be the next logical step. :)

1. will i require sky lights or artificial lighting?
2. climate control issues? Would a wall AC unit suffice?
3. how much space would be required to provide vegetables for, say, a family of five? Or rather, how much could i produce in a space of 8' x 12'?

I'm fine with building tables, piping, etc.

Any help to springboard this will be great, and I'll post pictures and updates to pass along to the next guy.

thanks in advance. ]]> Your Hydroponics Setup Dornier http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/your-hydroponics-setup/2802-advice-building-hydroponics-room.html nuts to soon?(aero) http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponic-nutrients-mediums/2795-nuts-soon-aero.html Sun, 17 Mar 2013 17:27:46 GMT so i need some advise on if i given these plants nuts to soon (spinach,kale,beans) pH: 6.1 ppm of nutes: 80 ratio: 5,9,4 Light cycle :... so i need some advise on if i given these plants nuts to soon (spinach,kale,beans)

pH: 6.1
ppm of nutes: 80
ratio: 5,9,4
Light cycle : 12hr(on)/12hr(off)
so i know that the ratio of nutes for this specific type of plants are incorrect. But im waiting on some different nutes so i can mix up a 2,1,1 ratio to favor the greens (spinach,kale). Is it possible that the Incorrect ratio at such a early stage would cause the roots to start to burn up like this, or is it just to early. For the first 2.5 weeks i ran 0ppm water with pH:6.0 an my roots were looking nice and fussy and white . Then i add a little bit of nutes and they turn brown and loose almost all there fussiness

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]]> Hydroponic Nutrients and Mediums growyourown http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponic-nutrients-mediums/2795-nuts-soon-aero.html buying a Smart-valve? http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2794-buying-smart-valve.html Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:34:21 GMT i am considering buying a 'Smart Valve' a product of smart-tech ltd. and i was wondering if anyone has 1 and if so would they reccomend it as i am going on holiday for 1 month and this valve seems to ideal for me plus from what i have found it seems to b a great watering tool to have , any ideas would be much appreciated ? ]]> Hydroponics plantpotpeter http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2794-buying-smart-valve.html Plant grouping/needs http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2793-plant-grouping-needs.html Sun, 03 Mar 2013 20:12:20 GMT Hello, and good day.

I'm an architecture student and I'm about to graduate. Currently I'm developing my thesis and part of it includes a hidroponics tower for urban production. I've taken courses involving hidroponics, and have a pretty good idea of how it operates, but I have never done it and so have no experience on the practical side of hydroponics.

What I would like to ask from people in the forum is a little help on it: As the tower we've been designing gets slimer as it goes up by floors, the bottom floors are the ones which are most exposed to the sun. I know different plants have different needs, and I would like to propose a distribution of plants throughout the towers' floors taking those needs in consideration. So any table or chart with that kind of information (plant groupings and/or needs) would be very helpfull. Thanks ]]> Hydroponics mauporte http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2793-plant-grouping-needs.html Organic pH problem http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2792-organic-ph-problem.html Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:57:22 GMT Hi everyone as I am new to this Forum Having been a successful Hydroponic grower since 2004. I am now investigating going organic, For... Hi everyone as I am new to this Forum

Having been a successful Hydroponic grower since 2004.

I am now investigating going organic, For nutrients I experiment with Comfrey, Seaweed, Nettles, etc. Success is limited due to not being able to control pH levels well enough ( 5.5to 6.5).

I am aware that growing in a buffer solution is the answer but don't know how to organically create and maintain an effective buffer solution.

Experiments with citric acid and potash obtain the right pH level but it is very unstable and becomes pH 8.0 in a matter of hours, requiring more acid to correct it again.

Are there any chemists out there that can help me resolve this problem please.

Hydrogrower. ]]> Hydroponics Hydrogrower http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/forums/hydroponics/2792-organic-ph-problem.html