Just thought I would share a few pictures of our hydro drip system, with some starter plans, arugula, tat soi, cherry tomatoes.
The setup is not ready for prime time but is coming along, It has four four foot T5's 2 of each red and blue spectrum bulbs, you can see the drip gang valves,
PVC plastic inserts, cut on C&C machine, the boxes are 8 feet, by 20 inches, by 6 inches deep, and there are three drains in each the return water is fed back to the 30 gallon bucket where it is recirculated forming a closed system. Sometimes we use dripper insert stakes, sometimes we clip the 1/4 inch hose on the baskets, there are inserts for them and run the water to the plants direct. The first unit has 6 and 3 inch baskets (basically an experiment), in the second box we are going to cut the 1/4 inch PVC grey plastic for six inch baskets. This is the largest home grow hydro system I have seen. The first and second box was made from high grade plywood, outside painted and the insides laced with 4 stringers to support the 5 PVC plastic inserts with basket cutouts, the inside of the box is painted with fiberglass to make it water proof. The next box will be made of all 1/4 inch PVC, so fiberglass will not be necessary, less time, material and labor to construct. If any of you are thinking those round drip outlets with blue screws are cool, they are not, they are junk, do not use them. The next big hurdle is getting a chiller to cool the water to a balmy 68 F. The lights heat up the water quite a bit, install black 1/4 inch drip hose, then build another 40 inch high stand next to this one, add 2 more tanks, 4 more lights, and the plumbing necessary for a drip system. We will be able to isolate each eight foot tank as needed for cleaning, etc... as needed. Any comments ? This is not for fun and games, we plan to grow and sell fast growing herbs and veggies this way.
Rhody...
The setup is not ready for prime time but is coming along, It has four four foot T5's 2 of each red and blue spectrum bulbs, you can see the drip gang valves,
PVC plastic inserts, cut on C&C machine, the boxes are 8 feet, by 20 inches, by 6 inches deep, and there are three drains in each the return water is fed back to the 30 gallon bucket where it is recirculated forming a closed system. Sometimes we use dripper insert stakes, sometimes we clip the 1/4 inch hose on the baskets, there are inserts for them and run the water to the plants direct. The first unit has 6 and 3 inch baskets (basically an experiment), in the second box we are going to cut the 1/4 inch PVC grey plastic for six inch baskets. This is the largest home grow hydro system I have seen. The first and second box was made from high grade plywood, outside painted and the insides laced with 4 stringers to support the 5 PVC plastic inserts with basket cutouts, the inside of the box is painted with fiberglass to make it water proof. The next box will be made of all 1/4 inch PVC, so fiberglass will not be necessary, less time, material and labor to construct. If any of you are thinking those round drip outlets with blue screws are cool, they are not, they are junk, do not use them. The next big hurdle is getting a chiller to cool the water to a balmy 68 F. The lights heat up the water quite a bit, install black 1/4 inch drip hose, then build another 40 inch high stand next to this one, add 2 more tanks, 4 more lights, and the plumbing necessary for a drip system. We will be able to isolate each eight foot tank as needed for cleaning, etc... as needed. Any comments ? This is not for fun and games, we plan to grow and sell fast growing herbs and veggies this way.
Rhody...
