@qin02. Not float, although it was too full of water. Check out my later updates, I converted it into a flood and drain system that's been pretty successful.
next time - rinse your Hydroton off prior to going live. will save you a lot of time and effort in the long term. will also be easier on your water pump.
@kgmetcalfe Oh, I rinsed the heck out of it before starting, yet it still clouded the water for a while. It's been running clear for nearly two years now.
You may want to use a larger container. I used one of those earlier this year to grow dandelions and there wasn't enough room for roots & they died quickly. There is also too much water in the container. The top inch or two should be above the water line.
You may want to use a larger container. I used one of those earlier this year to grow dandelions and there wasn't enough room for roots & they died quickly.
Pretty system you have there.... You need more Hydroton... need at least 1" dry zone and blackout the sides or play hell with the algae growth. Also I'd add air stone to fish tank. With that type of system there is no such thing as to much air providing your not blow the fishes out of the water..... Once you get your lighting issues fixed the algae will come with out those to fixes.
@MrMadmax478 Thanks for the input. I should post another update as I've already done most of those things and it's been running pretty smoothly for the past year. I added black tape to the sides which has kept algae at bay, added a brighter light, and recently switched to an ebb and flow schedule for the pump which lets the top couple of inches dry out for a few hours between soakings. Still going strong after over a year!
Algae does not convert ammonia to nitrates, certain bacteria do that. Algae will feed on the nitrates that are in the water and take nutrition away from your plants. With fluorescent grow lights you want to have them about 3 inches from the tops of your plants and use either t5 or compact fluorescent in the highest wattage you can get, you also want to make sure the lights are either 6500k for green plant growth and 2700k for fruiting and flowering.
That makes sense. I'll try to find some sort of black material I can wrap around the grow bed in to reduce the algae growth.
The lamp I've ordered has 3 T5 bulbs and is height adjustable so I should be able to put it just above the plants as you suggest, and move it up as they grow. I'll probably keep the existing bulb there too to add warm light since the fluorescents will likely be a lot cooler.
Nice videos, btw. They gave me ideas for a few more tweaks to my design.
@AquaponicsNewYork Algae will take out a lot of the toxins from tap water. It will also remove a lot of the heavy metals. This is a very small trade off that the algae consume and well worth the extra nutrients consumed. Also most fish will munch on the algae a good sauce of vitamin C. and Iron.
Your going to get a lot of algae growth in the grow bed because its clear and that grow light isn't going to help your plants at all, its not strong enough. Get those things fixed and it should work pretty good.
Thanks for the advice. I've ordered an additional lamp that should more than double the artificial light they get, so hopefully that'll be sufficient!
As for algae growth, is that bad? Ugly perhaps, but isn't it the algae that convert the ammonia to nitrogen for the plants? Or will they compete with the herbs for nutrients?
so its like a little pond ordeal?
thawdani 1 day ago
@qin02. Not float, although it was too full of water. Check out my later updates, I converted it into a flood and drain system that's been pretty successful.
gamercubed 2 weeks ago
isnt this a float set up but with a load of clay balls in there?
qin02 2 weeks ago
next time - rinse your Hydroton off prior to going live. will save you a lot of time and effort in the long term. will also be easier on your water pump.
kgmetcalfe 3 weeks ago
@kgmetcalfe Oh, I rinsed the heck out of it before starting, yet it still clouded the water for a while. It's been running clear for nearly two years now.
gamercubed 3 weeks ago
I thought I'd heard about everything and this is the strangest! I just manufactured a unit for AEROponics and saw your video. How fu#@ing cool!
DaBigKoasta 1 month ago
How much hydroton did you use?
wtf0804 2 months ago
Comment removed
wtf0804 2 months ago
how did you drill a hole in the plastic container? Wouldn't it break it?
Tuxedo748 4 months ago
You may want to use a larger container. I used one of those earlier this year to grow dandelions and there wasn't enough room for roots & they died quickly. There is also too much water in the container. The top inch or two should be above the water line.
DontFriendInviteMe 5 months ago
You may want to use a larger container. I used one of those earlier this year to grow dandelions and there wasn't enough room for roots & they died quickly.
DontFriendInviteMe 5 months ago
the flooding problem may be overcome by use of auto siphon.
matahari2929 6 months ago
Pretty system you have there.... You need more Hydroton... need at least 1" dry zone and blackout the sides or play hell with the algae growth. Also I'd add air stone to fish tank. With that type of system there is no such thing as to much air providing your not blow the fishes out of the water..... Once you get your lighting issues fixed the algae will come with out those to fixes.
MrMadmax478 6 months ago 4
@MrMadmax478 Thanks for the input. I should post another update as I've already done most of those things and it's been running pretty smoothly for the past year. I added black tape to the sides which has kept algae at bay, added a brighter light, and recently switched to an ebb and flow schedule for the pump which lets the top couple of inches dry out for a few hours between soakings. Still going strong after over a year!
gamercubed 6 months ago
you should also put your aerator in the fish tank instead of the grow beds.
blankdeluxe 9 months ago
I like it! Similarly to you I tried to make it look pretty as well as make it functional. Check out my videos :)
nvanwieren 1 year ago
Algae does not convert ammonia to nitrates, certain bacteria do that. Algae will feed on the nitrates that are in the water and take nutrition away from your plants. With fluorescent grow lights you want to have them about 3 inches from the tops of your plants and use either t5 or compact fluorescent in the highest wattage you can get, you also want to make sure the lights are either 6500k for green plant growth and 2700k for fruiting and flowering.
AquaponicsNewYork 2 years ago
That makes sense. I'll try to find some sort of black material I can wrap around the grow bed in to reduce the algae growth.
The lamp I've ordered has 3 T5 bulbs and is height adjustable so I should be able to put it just above the plants as you suggest, and move it up as they grow. I'll probably keep the existing bulb there too to add warm light since the fluorescents will likely be a lot cooler.
Nice videos, btw. They gave me ideas for a few more tweaks to my design.
gamercubed 2 years ago
Sounds good hope it works out for you.
AquaponicsNewYork 2 years ago
@AquaponicsNewYork Algae will take out a lot of the toxins from tap water. It will also remove a lot of the heavy metals. This is a very small trade off that the algae consume and well worth the extra nutrients consumed. Also most fish will munch on the algae a good sauce of vitamin C. and Iron.
spraycanart 4 months ago
Your going to get a lot of algae growth in the grow bed because its clear and that grow light isn't going to help your plants at all, its not strong enough. Get those things fixed and it should work pretty good.
AquaponicsNewYork 2 years ago
Thanks for the advice. I've ordered an additional lamp that should more than double the artificial light they get, so hopefully that'll be sufficient!
As for algae growth, is that bad? Ugly perhaps, but isn't it the algae that convert the ammonia to nitrogen for the plants? Or will they compete with the herbs for nutrients?
gamercubed 2 years ago