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Control of algae
Hi guys I have a Verti-Gro Recirculating setup about 12 pots.
And my tank is a water tank that I got from Tractor Supply I am having algae growth in the tank about 10 days after I clean it out. The tank & setup is in the green house but it dose get sun on the tank hmm 12 to 13 hrs a day here in florida Is there a reason to worry about it or just keep cleaning it out every 10 -14 days it gets real stuck to the sides of the tank & pump. Also we use well water here not city water & there's no chlorine in the water just a sand filter off the pump & we test the water about every year for contaminants. Ron. |
#2
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Also the tank itself looks like it would be hard to reach inside and scrub all over to get it out. If you don't get it all out it will just seed your fresh nutrients, making it return faster. Small amounts of algae Should be OK it is just when it begins to get out of control that it can be a problem. If you light proof the tank and keep the nutrient solution below 72 or 70 degrees you probably wont have a problem with algae growth in the reservoir. Chlorine is not good for plants anyway. What I would be concerned with are Microorganisms and pathogens that might be in the water. I am not sure what they test the water for when you have it tested, also what the filter actually takes out. I use mostly RO water 90% and 10% of the hard water from outside hose water. I boil the outside water and let it cool before I use it to be sure it is free of these things. I haven't looked into it and I'm not positive, but I think the RO filter is sufficient to take these things out. P.S. Also if you use a air bubblier/stone in the reservoir it would help keep algae growth down. As the air bubbles rise in the reservoir it keeps the water moving, and algae cant grow very well in continuously moving water (like in a river or stream). The more bubbles the better. The air bubbles also help oxygenate the water. Last edited by GpsFrontier; 02-14-2010 at 06:39 PM. |
#3
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Thanks for the info.
Light proofing the tank could be done. Just need to know how? Maybe paint the outside of it? As far as keeping the solution below 72 would be the hard part for me. Cleaning the tank is a pain it has built in legs that get the algae in it. The water is tested for human consumption so that its safe to use & drink. Ill try to post a few pics mon of my setup. Thanks again for the info. Ron. |
#4
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#5
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P.S. I would probably build the box so it has a removable lid. This way the reservoir can be changed or used for something else later, even just general maintenance. I would line the lid with weather stripping for the air tight seal. Also make notches just big enough to run the lines in and out with. Then cover the lines with pipe insulation so it fits snugly into the notches to keep the box air tight. Just make sure there is enough support at the bottom to support the weight of the water.
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#6
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Thanks again for the info.
On my outside setup I have a 44 gal gray trash can that I use but it dose not recycle the nutrients. Just on a timer and a full tank will last hmm 4-5 days. And I have been running it for about 3 yrs with no algae growth. So I may in the green house try and use a small 10 gal can that's inside of a 25 gal can so that way I can put insulation around the small can that's in the big can LOL that make any sense. I know this year we are building a shade house to shade the plants last year was hard on them the ones in the ground do fine but the Verti-Gro was just ok. I try to post some pics today I have a meeting at noon here. Ron. |
#7
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Though you may find that bubble wrap will do the job and be not that expensive. I would recommend it be at least 2 to 3 inches thick on both the side and bottom. And the top be sealed off to keep warm air from getting down in between the layers. Quote:
P.S. Wow, 44 gallons of nutrient solution every 4 to five days. That's about 10 gallons a day, isn't that expensive? It costs me about $0.21 a gallon to mix mine, that would run me over $2 a day to do. Last edited by GpsFrontier; 02-15-2010 at 03:58 PM. |
#8
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I was thinking also how about a water cooler? It all ready has the insulation built in we use them for work here and they keep the water cold even in the hot sun.
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then we mix in Calcium Nitrate, 15-0-0 25lbs cost $35.00 The mix I do is 2lbs of 5-10-25 to 1 gal of water and out of the gal I add 22oz to the 44 gal of water. The 15-0-0 mix is 2lbs to 1 gal of water and out of the gal I add 11 oz to the 44 gal of water. If my math is right should be about 93 cents every fill up so about hmmm about $5.50 per month. Quote:
Hope the shade cover I install well help out with that. Ron. |
#9
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Do you have a link to the products/manufactures that you use? What type of results are you getting with them? I'm using the General Hydroponics flora series right now. I started using them because I was sure they would work well, and I wanted to eliminate as many problems as I could. They are working fine, although with all the plants that I have going and have planed, cost of the nutrients is quickly becoming a major factor in what I can do. I just kind of gave up on my broccoli plants because of it. I still have them in the system, but I'm not using the nutrients for them anymore. I just mixed up some Miracle-Gro and added it to the reservoir, and whatever happens happens. Quote:
I just finished building a geothermal (underground) reservoir for my tomato's to address this problem myself in this thread http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/for....html#post4201, that would probably be perfect for you with that system. The large trash can was $10 The small trash can was $12 The Styrofoam sheet was $6 Digging the hole, Priceless |
#10
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Nice setup you have there. Good looking pics.
I will get a submersible thermometer and post back my temps. Quote:
Next time I go over I could get you some or I have a ton here LOL I could ship you a little for a test befor you have to pay for it. I have good luck with it on my plants I grow Broccoli - Lettuce - tomatoes and peppers. They all do good for me but I have never used anything diff. My wife's strawberry's we use this mix from here works great Strawberry Formula 8-12-32 From that same site I was thinking about trying the southern Vegetable Formula 7-14-36 Souther Vegetable Formula 7-14-36 Just to see if it's better then what I have now. Once again thanks for the info. I know now that I need to keep the temp's down on the nutrient solution. let me know on the nutrient I do have a good stock of it lol it's the lest I owe you for the good info. I my dig a hole for my tank but we are in florida you know lol hit water about 2' or good day 3' Ron. Last edited by Tileman; 02-15-2010 at 07:40 PM. |
#11
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It will have 4 times the plants (128) but only use about the same amount of nutrient solution to flood as my old design. Each tube will hold 16 plants, and 4 tubes in the system for 64 plants. I plan on building two of these for a total of 128 plants. This design can be laid out many different ways, but the key aspect is the use of the square tubing to double the amount of plants in each tube by turning the square tubing on it's edge. I will be building a geothermal reservoir like I did for my tomato's (only larger), as well as warping each tube with blue foam insulation (again like with my tomato's). I will also use pipe insulation on all the above ground pipe and tubing. I may also build a geothermal trench design (heat exchanging system), for additional protection from excessive nutrient temperatures if needed. |
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