|
|
Post by spuds on Apr 20, 2010 14:10:20 GMT -6
First to install a Barb for either the combo drain,water feed line or drain line only,depends if I can find the pump that drains back when done pumping.Cut hole in pool bottom with knife  Push Barb thru with gasket inside pool  Tighten it down by hand is all thats needed  Barb fits thru hole in table for umbrella  This will be our growing bed.  |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Apr 20, 2010 14:11:22 GMT -6
This system will be far simpler than the proof of system we did last year with 4 window boxes and many hose connections. The pool will only require 1 or 2 hoses.And have a LOT more space.  |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Apr 20, 2010 15:27:14 GMT -6
Bought for 10 bucks each at Wally World.Will have about 8-9 sq feet surface and about 4 cubic feet of grow medium for 6 inches deep.  Got a 'new' used pump for 50 cents at a garage sale.It rattles a bit but pumps great! Next step pick up a kids pool for the bed. click to enlarge thumbnails....    So far costs.... Pump-50 cents pool-10 dollars.... Got the PH meter,60 bux,total dissolved solids meter for 20 something,some hose and fittings,2 big bags perlite,ph adjusting solution,spent about 200 bux. Then got a bunch of maters,best ones were at Target,cucumbers,eggplant,many bell peppers,zuchini,crooked neck squash,patty pan squash,broccoli,basil,sweet peas,blue lake beans.Lots and lots of maters. Now if I could just locate that pump as this system is planned around it and dont want to use a different pump |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Apr 21, 2010 12:41:40 GMT -6
These are the meters.The Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is measured in parts per million (PPM),this is how you adjust nutrient solution levels. Ph is just that. You can see my TDS is 133,and ph 6.6 in my tap water. Tds cost 31.00 dollars,Ph cost 63 dollars,both meters are made by Hanna.   |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on May 7, 2010 12:09:08 GMT -6
Up and running,just needs plants.    Blue hose left-bottom drain.It has a adjustable valve to let water drain at about 10% of pump fill speed.So as it pumps fluid in,a small amt. drains.When pump turns off fluid will slowly drain back into tub. Green hose-overflow.its in the side about 1.5 inches from top.As pump fills bed when it reaches overflow excess just flows back into tub,keeps tub from running dry and overflowing bed. Blue hose right-that goes to submersible aquarium pump.It has enough flow to fill bed in about 10 minutes.Pump will go on a timer and probably run 15 minutes 3 times a day. Black hose-ignore,thats just garden hose filling tank. ----------------------------------------------------- This is 12 peas and 6 bean plants....
 This is 16 lettuce.May have to move them about as they grow,will trim constantly all season.  What we have so far,going to add tomato,bell pepper and cabbage yet.  ------------------------------------------------------- I started out with vermiculite as a medium.It floated and it turned into powder,clogging return valve.Then thought pea gravel but waaaaay too heavy,so got cedar mulch at the local garden ACE.That seems to be working.The plastic is to keep evaporation down,we will see how that works. |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on May 7, 2010 21:00:49 GMT -6
This shows the plumbing better,left to right,bottom drain,overflow and pump line.  Left and right side of bed...Can see the cabbage and bell peppers and tomatoes (Roma,yellow pear and sweet 100)   Close up of the bell peppers and tomato and next pic the lettuces and spinach   So I added today 2 lettuce,5 cabbage,8 spinach,4 bell peppers,3 tomatoes.Thats a LOT of stuff planted in just 5 Cubic Feet of 'soil' ! I will have to move em around as they grow to keep em from getting too cramped but you can move em like checkers on a board,they never know the difference when they are moved,no shock or anything. BTW,the plants for hydro were 1.69 for 4 packs,2.29 for 6 packs (Only a couple of those),the lettuce 4 packs were 1.69 with 20 % off because they were small and a little ragged looking,just perfect for hydro! The smaller they are the faster they adapt and take off growing. |
|
|
|
Post by Rita on May 8, 2010 4:07:44 GMT -6
I really LOVE this idea spuds and everything is within reach as well ... when ever we move I want to make a set up in the basement or something so I can have fresh tomato's year round ...
|
|
|
|
Post by Pharmer Phil on May 8, 2010 5:14:42 GMT -6
I like this setup Spuds, what do you use for grow medium
|
|
|
|
Post by spuds on May 8, 2010 12:03:26 GMT -6
Im using cedar bark as best available option in a pinch. Just got 2 bags of this at Thrift store for 10 bucks,beats 60 at amazon,day late for using them though. www.amazon.com/Hydroton-50L/dp/B000VFWA9IIm flushing with clear water right now,in a couple days will mix the commercial powder and start feeding em.Water still knd of dirty with the bark.But getting clearer.It may affect my ability to use the total dissolved solids meter for nutrient strength,if so I will replace every 10 days. Going to do 6 weeks growth mix with 20-10-20 fertilizer,then 6 weeks of a bloom mix I think. Work in progress so will play it as it comes. Sure has real potential this year. |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on May 8, 2010 14:53:33 GMT -6
20-10-20 powder.Mix is 1 teaspoon per gallon.I want 15 gallons at 1/3 strength,so I mixed 5 teaspoons in a half gallon to pour into tank...  These are my first measurements after water through bed 1 time...  I want ph around 6.5,so using these I adjust and got these numbers,they are now my baseline...   Now I added the mixed nutrient and got this...  So...ph 6.7,close enough,and nutrient is 669-410 (the base level) = 259 ppm for nutrient. Full strength is around 600 so Im about 40% or so? First feeding,very happy plants...Lettuce,tomato and spinach    |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on May 9, 2010 12:15:47 GMT -6
Ph 7.2 this AM,added a little ph down to water.Reading cedar bark is about 6.8,so mine is a little high or meter is a smidgen off?Anywho the plants prefer 6.0 to 6.5 mostly so Im doing ok.Overcast today,plants look great.
|
|
|
|
Post by spuds on May 17, 2010 16:28:23 GMT -6
Week number 2.... Changed the nutrient.Up to 350PPM,or about 60% or so,PH at 6.2. On timer to water once per day at 12 Noon,timed for 15 minutes is just right to fill bed.Drains over about 90 minutes Im guessing. Since Im using bark it stays moist all day.  The pea's are really thriving....  Tomatoes and Bell peppers growing slower....   Cabbage is getting bigger....  Big lettuce growing well,middle lettuce is bolting (Plant problem,not hydro problem I think) and spinach is starting to get bigger with great color.   All in all very pleased so far,peas are amazing! ...........  |
|
|
|
Post by Rita on May 18, 2010 4:14:28 GMT -6
Spuds get some lettuce seed and start it over .. Or if its a type you like let it go to seed and replant them  in your area you should have plenty of time |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on May 18, 2010 4:43:51 GMT -6
Spuds get some lettuce seed and start it over .. Or if its a type you like let it go to seed and replant them in your area you should have plenty of time OK,I will replant those. |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Jun 7, 2010 11:06:07 GMT -6
I went ahead this week and kicked the nutrient strength up to 100% and its made a fine recovery,the plants look good and had a huge growth spurt just this weekend,very cool!
I decided to let the lettuce seed and save the seeds,may as well get something from em.
The blackened tomatoes have grown 1/3 and look green and healthy.
The peas are just awesome,have flowers growing everywhere.
|
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Jun 9, 2010 20:24:17 GMT -6
6-9-2010....Week 5. Been through some problems,including some snow! So was looking REALLY ragged,set plants back but they have all survived.However pics arent so hot.  BUT this last week has seen another growth spurt.Nutrient is now up to 100% strength,and today I went from one watering cycle to 3 a day,each 15 minutes.Im learning here too,the biggie this year is nutrient strength and PH control,and then see what grows well. The standout is the peas.The bottom leaves have browned,but the tops look great and have peas! Wow,this is good!   Cabbage has a great growth spurt...   Spinach,also a grow spurt but some is a little ragged yet,the lettuce around it being kept for seeds...  Lettuce wasn't growing but again,its picked back up,tomatoes were hit HARD in snow,but came back strong and growing and even some flowers...   So thats it,some bad,some good,and the learning continues.I can see this under lights this winter!  |
|
|
|
Post by Rita on Jun 10, 2010 8:33:41 GMT -6
Everything looks great Spuds!! that lettuce looks yummy too ... what type do ya have?
|
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Jun 10, 2010 10:33:04 GMT -6
Everything looks great Spuds!! that lettuce looks yummy too ... what type do ya have? Ummm....leaf?  Go ahead,ask those tuff questions!  ...... |
|
|
|
Post by Rita on Jun 10, 2010 10:36:54 GMT -6
Everything looks great Spuds!! that lettuce looks yummy too ... what type do ya have? Ummm....leaf? Go ahead,ask those tuff questions! ...... |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Jun 14, 2010 12:03:42 GMT -6
Pulled out those durn lettuce that flowered from the getgo. Sprinkled in some beans,peas,variety pack lettuce seeds,carrots and radish seeds,some celery too. The root seeds probably wont work because too much nutrition means a lot of green growth at root expense,but what the hey,I'll try it. Also very late in season here,but hydro does grow faster. Fun to play around with,my learning curve is really getting tons of experience this season,very very nice! ...... |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Jun 14, 2010 17:22:31 GMT -6
6-14-10..Week 6 Changed the bark to the clay ball medium.Had tp transplant everything. Moved everything around. The Bark medium kept returning my nutrient at ph 7.0 or greater after feeding,I really want it about 6. I think that may be why the peas have wilted leaves at bottom,the ph too high to utilize the nutrient fully. Heres the peas,crummy pic but need for reference  Tomatoes,still doing well...  Lettuce doing well...  Cabbage...  Spinach really perking up...  The garden being fed...  This may set me back but long term its the right thing to do,Im tired of adjusting ph every day and the bark is the cause,the clay balls are inert and wont affect ph,saving costs on buying ph down solution,and time daily,and harming the plants with a constantly wrong ph. EDIT-Went out at 8pm and plants looked really good.Amazing how well things transplant in hydro,its like they werent even touched! |
|
|
|
Post by Pharmer Phil on Jun 15, 2010 5:58:11 GMT -6
everything looks great spuds |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Jun 16, 2010 12:59:30 GMT -6
Changing over to the clay balls as a medium is a BIG improvement.This morning my PH was 6.3,was 7.0-7.2 previously after a feeding.
Keeping that PH in the proper range is real important they say.
Also lowered the overflow drain as the medium level dropped about one inch when I changed over,dont need the fluid going over the top of the medium.
|
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Aug 7, 2010 14:49:19 GMT -6
8-7-10..... What is left... Little tomatoes blooming  Awesome bell pepper plants  Is this a spinach with these seed pods?  Lettuce thats still producing,and the cabbages still growing  |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Aug 7, 2010 14:49:56 GMT -6
Im switching over from this fertilizer...  To this...    Next year will set up a second garden for lettuce and spinach and herbs in the shadier spot,cant believe lettuce could survive this late into season. Also learned about proper chemical strength and ph and medium and watering times.Dont transplant large plants from 'soil',root structure is all wrong,start with small plants,younger the better so it develops the proper style hydroponic root.Im just thrilled at the knowledge base from this years garden. We also hope to move garden indoors and try plants during the winter in a window with artificial lighting,hope that plan comes off. |
|
|
|
Post by halfway on Nov 6, 2010 20:13:41 GMT -6
Great setup CB. I have really enjoyed reading this thread and it has sparked a few ideas as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by Garden Happy on Apr 3, 2012 6:20:38 GMT -6
Wow spuds this is great!!Have you tried basil??
Where did you get the clay balls? Is the fertilizer organic?
|
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Apr 3, 2012 15:19:43 GMT -6
Wow spuds this is great!!Have you tried basil?? Where did you get the clay balls? Is the fertilizer organic? Seen your posts,busy days at the immediate moment,will reply asap when I get some time......the float with fish fertilizer sounds like a great plan.its very trial and error to make work but when you hit the combo you are really good to go. |
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Apr 3, 2012 15:44:41 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by Garden Happy on Apr 3, 2012 19:50:35 GMT -6
:)thank you so much spuds!! i did go and watch the video.I think we may start off with 6 designs and see from there which work out the best.This will be a wonderful science project for my boys and if all goes well the community gardens this fall. Yes, that is the foam just like i seen floating on the kiddie pools. |
|
