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Question and Answer Page 87
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If you are using 1/2 inch pvc fittings and 2-liter bottles here is a tip. Take the cap from a bottle of water with one of those spray caps. With pliers remove the spray tip and gasket around the top. The cap has the same thread as a 2-liter bottle and fits snuggly inside a 1/2 inch tee. Not only does this eliminate drilling, but there is a nifty filter where the spray cap was. ---T
Could we use a tank made of steel plate for hydroponic?
Line it with a plastic bag or you will have one rusty mess.
Today what is the most common hydroponic crop in the U.S
tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce
Hey Ron nice site. You do some very impressive things but I must say that banana tree is absolutely disgusting. That is sickening to see a tree being grown in such a ridiculously small container. I`m certain it will end in the trees demise!!
Do these trees look unhappy to you. I bet you'll get even more disgusted when I let them go with absolutely no care at all. I don't even add nutrients anymore. They are living on their dead parents carcasses. How's that for disgusting.
WHAT TYPE OF PAINT SHOULD BE USED?
Vinyl paint found at your local auto store.
Thanks for your effort here, Ron. I love my 11-plant garden! Forgive me if it's already been brought up, but I had a moment of enlightenment this morning. I had to throttle down my powerful pump on 15-minut timer. As a result the drain time was just waaaay too long, I thought to myself - lotsa wasted breathing time for the roots. The solution was an anti-backflow valve from Home Depot. I could only find a $5 metal one - perhaps it can't me made cheaply? It is hooked up in parallel with the throttle valve. Pump on: flow only up through throttle. Pump off: drain through fully open backflow valve. Works like a champ!
how the ohmeter work?i want khnow the analoge ohmeter how work? please help me thank you
Ron, What nutrients if any should be added to the hydro solution for the flowering phase?
Ether start using a hydroponic fertilizer that says bloom or if you use only one fertilizer then you just increase the amount of fertilizer for blooming thus increasing the ppm.
If your wondering what type of paint to use, like I was; I found the answer finally. Vinyl spray paint. Check out your local auto parts store. Sorry to spam your board Ron. Prophet
That backflow valve idea was genius! My drain time bothered me, too. I have a tip as well - McDonalds and Burger King (sometimes) have a 42 oz plastic cup that fits perfectly into a bottomless 2-liter bottle. No melting is required, and you get more medium volume if you need/want it.
Thanks for the site, Ron!
I'd like to know if anyone has tried to grow PALM seedlings using the hydroponic method? Palm seedlings are notoriously slow growers, so I'm looking for a way to speed up that stage of growth. Also, the seedlings would require transplanting into a soil medium at some point - would the "shock factor" be too much?
I've always had a problem growing woody type plants like trees and shrubs with hydroponics. As for the shock value. From hydro to dirt is easier than the other way.
ok a couple of questions: i have a box that is about 8 feet long and 4 foot wide and 4 foot high. what level should i use for co2 to accomplish 15 ppm. I come up with .25. seems low. and also, how long does it normally take to power up a 1000 watt hps for the first time?
The light question, about 5 minutes. The ppm question, don't know.
Meters
pH and conductivity meters seem to run from $80 to over $1,000. Is the DipStick still the most popular and best value? What other meters are folks running? Did you all buy them from hydroponics stores or from scientific supply companies such as Fisher?
Peace, Glen
The DipStick has lasted me the longest but at $110.00 it's pricey. I will be selling a Hanna pH meter for $30.00 if their is a market for it.
Glen: I had 2 previous pens. Both were Agritest EC pens. Both of these pens lasted about 1year. I recently bought a DipStick pen and it is much easier to use and does not have to be calibrated. I have found it to be of higher quality and very accurate. I wish I had spent the money to start with on the DipStick pen. I feel it is a better pen and well worth the money. Nurse Duckett
Same here.
This is all very new to me and I have a couple of questions. just wondering does the nutrient solution have to be specifically for hydro or can i go to a regular garden supply store and get some basic fertilizer? If so how do you mix it up? Just follow the directions or is there a special formula? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Dirt fertilizer is not recommended for hydro beginners because it is missing some ingredients like calcium nitrate which I do sell for the die hards that are dead set on using Miracle Gro. Stick to real hydro food and that's one less thing you will have to worry about.
Out of all of the hydro systems, which one performs the best? I am thinking of making one similar to the aero tube system on http://www.overgrow.com/faq/browse.php?qa=885 Would this system work well for most types of plants
Ron, I love the Aeroponic 10 Plant garden. I have a vanilla plant, 2 basil cuttings, and some seeds in there. It is very cool! I am thinking about trying to root some tomato cuttings in it. If that works, what can I grow the tomatoes in that you sell? Do you have anything like the 11 plant garden, yet with large pots, like 3 liter or gallon sizes?
Peace, Glen
Not yet. To big to ship at a reasonable price.
Is the DipStick pen a trade name or a generic term for that type of meter? What is the name of the company that manufactures it? I am getting ready to put my unit together. The only thing left is to buy meters. Any help is welcome.
Cliff
Brand name. Made in New Zealand by N. Z. Hydroponics Ltd. Distributed by: AMERICAN AGRICULTURE Portland Oregon.
Our class is having a radish growing contest, how do i grow the biggest radish?
what number of cf would i put in a mini hydroponics set if i was growing 1 radish we are having a competition at school who can grow the biggest radish
The above links refer to the Dipstick I think Hydro77 has it for the lowest price, $98.95
<http://www.77hydro.com/cgi-bin/acatalog/77_Hydro_pH___TDS_Meters_and_Testers_25.html>
Books?
Would anyone recommend one or both of these books?
Hydroponics Tomato Production by Jack Ross
or
Hydroponics Tomatoes for the Home Gardener by Howard M. Resh
Date:
As far as books go. I would get my hands on anything I can find on a subject. I am new to hydro but not new to making many different projects. I find that every book has at least one thing different than the next. That one thing may save your butt one day. Books are cheap and you don't have to plug them in. And if you need info you can take it with you to the greenhouse. Kinda tough to dop with a puter. (just my two cents) Cliff
can anyone help i am currently trying to build 20 plant system based on the 11 plant system in uk but i am having great difficulty finding anyone who can supply all pvc pipes and fittings to standard of 11 plant system, I would be very grateful if anyone who can point me to any websites who may be able to deliver all pvc pipes,bends,tees andhose fitting.
thanks in advance mark.
TO: Mark in the UK Mark I have never been to the UK so I don't know what You are able to get as far as PVC, CPVC or whatever. Most hydro systems along with a multitude of other contraptions have been made by using whatever you can get your hands on. If you have made it this far, you probably have the intelligence to create something new and different or make another version of Ron's great system. If your dead set on using PVC. Send me an E-mail and let me know what you need. I will help you as much as I can. Good Luck!
pendragon1_us@yahoo.com
To Mark in UK, I built the 11 plant system using 19mm waste pipe (the 19mm pipe fits snugly inside the 2l bottles,but do need glueing) I got all the parts from my local hardware store email me on gsxrwr@yahoo.co.uk if you require further info
what is the best, reliable PH and PPm meters?
I like the Dip Stick from New Zealand. .
can u tell me where i can get areo spray nozzles local or on the net??? la. melfor@bellsouth.net cade, la
thank you mel
Hey Ron,
I build my own rainforest cloning chamber using a 5 gal. bucket. But instead of using baskets to hold the cuttings I drilled small 3/4 inch holes in the lid and in planning to use pieces of holes and poly fill to hold the cuttings in place. What you think? Do you put more than one cutting it in each basket and a the bottom of the cuttings in the expanded clay pellets or below the basket? Do the clay pellets promote rooting? Longtime reader of your site.
Ps what you mean modified spray head? How did you modify it? I just bought a 400 gal. per hour pump thank you APT
The gro rocks just hold the clones up. I put one clone per basket and I don't let the clone fall below the basket. It's a fountain head not a spray head and only modified to fit on the pump you are using.
I have designed a programable control around your 11 plant system, it uses an inexpensive logic controller to control the lighting cycle, pump operation, temp, CO2, and ventilation. Instead of using simple timers the system monitors the CO2, and Temp, and maintains the setpoint for these variables. This way you are not wasting CO2 and can control the growing atmosphere very accurately. The control system is relatively inexpensive and very safe. My background is in electronics. I was wondering if there is interest in the hydroponics circles for such a control system. If you are interested email me at thesteeds@telus.net
Ron, I just would like to say thank you for creating the bottle with insert with solo cup. Not that I care about the solo cup, but I was getting tired of melting 2-liters on my stove and painting them white. $2 is a good deal.
To good of a deal. They are $3 now.
Hi On May 7th. Someone asked about the book: Hydroponics Tomatoes for the Home Gardener by Howard M. Resh
Well I have it and it is a good book for the price and for your first book on tomatoes. The book is done well and easy to read. It touches on a little on everything on Hydroponice Tomatoes.
i am chasing a diagram picture of a turbo tank setup that is basic and shows all of the stuff I need to get started,like pumps and stuff.can u help me
what is one of the best all round nutrient mix? also is their an all round testing meter or kits i can use,i am on va benefits so i am on a low budget right now. hydroponicly grown tomatoes
I have noticed by some of the pictures that some growers have hydro units outside uncovered. Is this a problem when it rains? Do you have any problems with the nutrient getting diluted?
Yes you have to keep adding nutrient mix.
can i put fish in my hydroponics system to provide nutrients to the plant
yes but don't put hydro fertilizer in their with them.
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