Just a quick tip, it's a good idea to keep your air pump above the water level in the reservoir. If the pump fails and it's below the water level, a siphon can start and empty the reservoir via the air pump. Non return valves can fail.
I recently built my own system using your method. Cutting and sanding the hole saw cuts on the pvc pipe took a little bit of time, but thank you for the inspiration!
I found using a drill press with a 2" hole cutter makes cutting the holes in the drain spouts a breeze, takes literally seconds for each hole. You need to have space on each side of the press for the 10 foot drain spout but if you have that then it is the answer. Did two 10 foot drain spouts with 19 holes in each in about 10 minutes. Drilling by hand takes a while and can drain my drill motor's battery. Now I can contemplate adding a drain spout or two if I want to without the dread of cutting all those holes!
hi! actually u can remove air compressor from ur system. U can use black pipes for aeraion - just make around 30grad angle. water flowing inside pipes make microturbulency that absorb oxygen froma air. but use not flat pipes.
airpump is not the best way to oxigen water, you can use a water pump for that, stick a little acuarium tube at the inlet of the pump and submerge. It will take water & air, smash the bubbles and throw them out into the water
This type of setup worked great for me, except that some sort of pathogen (maybe fungal) spread and has rendered the area useless for growing most herbs, sadly, because they’re get afflicted right away. Somehow kale seems immune to it, though.
What are the different types of lettuce you're growing? You named a couple but not all that were in your grow space. I love your channel can't wait to do this in my spare room!
Yes I run this fan on the same timer as the light so around 14 hrs per day. This is not necessary, but helps with reducing heat build up over the plants and increasing CO2.
Do you ever have problems with seedlings getting spindly? I know it’s a pretty easy fix but having to put a lower light in for the babies seems sad with this nice setup. I’m planning on building a setup with your tutorial in the next month!
Sometimes they get a little spindly if the plants in the nearby row get too big, but usually once I move the seedlings along they grow out of it. I haven't found it necessary to lower the light just for the seedlings.
I found that air stones directly under the plant over waters the lettuce causing “damping off” the popping bubbles keep the peat plug wet. However I do use a stone to keep the seedlings wet at the entry to the first rail. Have had a lot of luck with just kraky for lettuce too.
The reservoir adds a lot more nutrient solution to the overall system which stabilizes it. Evaporation and plant nutrient usage have a much smaller effect on the overall system.
Just a quick tip, it's a good idea to keep your air pump above the water level in the reservoir. If the pump fails and it's below the water level, a siphon can start and empty the reservoir via the air pump. Non return valves can fail.
I recently built my own system using your method. Cutting and sanding the hole saw cuts on the pvc pipe took a little bit of time, but thank you for the inspiration!
I found using a drill press with a 2" hole cutter makes cutting the holes in the drain spouts a breeze, takes literally seconds for each hole. You need to have space on each side of the press for the 10 foot drain spout but if you have that then it is the answer. Did two 10 foot drain spouts with 19 holes in each in about 10 minutes. Drilling by hand takes a while and can drain my drill motor's battery. Now I can contemplate adding a drain spout or two if I want to without the dread of cutting all those holes!
hi! actually u can remove air compressor from ur system. U can use black pipes for aeraion - just make around 30grad angle. water flowing inside pipes make microturbulency that absorb oxygen froma air. but use not flat pipes.
airpump is not the best way to oxigen water, you can use a water pump for that, stick a little acuarium tube at the inlet of the pump and submerge. It will take water & air, smash the bubbles and throw them out into the water
hes got more space beneat his stairs then i have in my bedroom.
This type of setup worked great for me, except that some sort of pathogen (maybe fungal) spread and has rendered the area useless for growing most herbs, sadly, because they’re get afflicted right away. Somehow kale seems immune to it, though.
Dude I need to see a video of your wire shelf pepper/tomato system! I have the same exact wire shelving and been wanting to try that.
czcams.com/video/OJa8Dp7nk2I/video.html
JUST WHAT I NEEDED, SIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What are the different types of lettuce you're growing? You named a couple but not all that were in your grow space. I love your channel can't wait to do this in my spare room!
Here I have Muir, Monte Carlo, Fusion, Rex and Red Rosie.
@@SimpleGreensHydroponics do you use any of those for caesar salads?
So how many plants per rails?
6 mature lettuce plants in one rail
Plants look really healthy too. What nutrients do you use?
Thanks! We have info on what we use on our site:
simplegreenshydroponics.com/posts/rail-system/part-5-nutrients
What kind of light are you using? full spectrum LED? How many watts?
Nice setup. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, full spectrum LED. 300 W at full power, but I usually have it around 60%.
How often is the fan running? Timer based? Great setup for a small, underutilized space!
Yes I run this fan on the same timer as the light so around 14 hrs per day. This is not necessary, but helps with reducing heat build up over the plants and increasing CO2.
Do you ever have problems with seedlings getting spindly? I know it’s a pretty easy fix but having to put a lower light in for the babies seems sad with this nice setup. I’m planning on building a setup with your tutorial in the next month!
Sometimes they get a little spindly if the plants in the nearby row get too big, but usually once I move the seedlings along they grow out of it. I haven't found it necessary to lower the light just for the seedlings.
Does it get humid in the basement? Do you run a dehumidifier?
Not too bad, but I do usually have a dehumidifier going.
What kind of hydroponic system is this? Is this the kratky method?
This is sort of a cross between NFT and DWC. It uses a pump to move water through the system.
Do you know any other fruits that grow well in nft channel besides strawberry?
No not at this point, but there's always more to learn and try.
I would just install the stones into the rails and eliminate the reservoir and pump all together
I found that air stones directly under the plant over waters the lettuce causing “damping off” the popping bubbles keep the peat plug wet. However I do use a stone to keep the seedlings wet at the entry to the first rail. Have had a lot of luck with just kraky for lettuce too.
Everything looks great
The reservoir adds a lot more nutrient solution to the overall system which stabilizes it. Evaporation and plant nutrient usage have a much smaller effect on the overall system.