NFT Systems – Home Built DIY vs Commercial Systems

by Wayne Schultz
(Collegeville, Pa)

I’ll admit to being a newby to Hydroponics, but I’ve been researching various systems for some time and frankly I’m confused.

Let’s start with the NFT Systems – Home Built DIY (Do It Yourself) vs Commercial Systems

There are an endless number of ‘You Tube’ videos of folks who’ve built all types of NFT systems using PVC pipe, and aluminum gutter downspouts. OK, I’ve been impressed with the ingenuity of home built systems, but then there are the commercial gully gutter systems, and that’s another whole different world. What I’ve been able to view are snapshots of systems either being constructed or are in a growing mode, what I haven’t been able to do is to collect much information about system maintenance, especially on home built systems.

Now I consider myself somewhere between being a hobbyist and a micro commercial farmer. I’ve been doing soil gardening for years and with mixed results, which is why I have bought into the whole Hydroponic concept. I don’t have a ton of money to invest, at the same time I certainly am not interested in making more work for myself. So, here are a few of the things that are bothering me.

For example, a commercial 19’6” gully channel plus the lid with holes 8” O.C. (that’s about 28 or 29 holes) goes for about $22 plus packaging and shipping, and that doesn’t include any of the other essentials that you need to complete the unit - that’s a lot of money. The other side of the coin is when you’ve finished with harvesting the crop from that one channel the lid is easy to remove to clean, and then reassemble, and that’s an improvement really worth considering.

Now, for the home built DIY systems. From what I’ve seen on the videos, they all show product growing very nicely, and I know that their systems are much more attractive investment wise. That does tend to make me think very seriously about going that route. But, whereas the commercial gully channel can be easily disassembled and reassembled for maintenance and cleaning, PVC pipe and aluminum downspout type systems do not offer that kind of flexibility, to me that represents a bigee. Disconnecting and cleaning an 8’ pipe does not look or seem like an easy task. This is an area from which I haven’t been able to find any information that would help in making an intelligent decision.

I also have questions about buying other type of commercial systems, that though well engineered are more expensive than the less expensive, under-engineered, yet well performing DIY systems.

Drip & Drain Dutch Bucket, Ebb & Flow Barrel, and Deep Water Culture Raft Systems all seem to have the same type of questions to which I would like to be better informed.

If you agree or disagree, let’s talk about it.
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Answer from Stella/Simon:
Hi Wayne,
Wow, you have a lot of intelligent questions! I think you would be able to construct a fine NFT system DIY with PVC pipe. If you actually cut the top off the pipe and plant your plants in the bottom, you should have no problem cleaning the pipe out between plantings.

We personally do not use NFT technique because it is a little more complicated and must not be subject to power failures.

Hope someone else chimes in here.

Hope this helps!

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Does lettuce actually flower?

by Allan
(Canada)

I always get confused when looking at nutrients which indicate "grow" and/or "bloom". When growing lettuce, do you actually worry about the bloom part of the nutrients? I am getting mixed recommendations and no one seems to be confident in what they are saying.

Not sure what the best set of nutrients would be best for the lettuce and what stages would you would apply the different levels of growth. Would Stella's mixing chart work fine for lettuce? Any variations when it comes to lettuce?

I am using an aeroponic system that I have created. Attached.
Thanks for your help!
Allan

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Answer from Stella/Simon:
Nice looking setup you have, Allen!
The bloom, or fruiting/flowering stage does not apply to lettuces or greens. They are grown for leaves, not fruit.

Stella's mixing chart would work fine for you, just use the first two stages only. Good luck, and send us a pic when full grown.

Hope this helps!

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View the original article here

Compost tea

by Larry Moore
(Toledo Oh.)

I have built an ebb and flow system with 12 Gal in the nutrient tank. I would like to make compost tea from real backyard compost to use for the solution. Question is how much do I add to the tank? Also to what level should the solution come up to on the plant basket when flooding? I am growing herbs. Legal ones.LOL

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Answer from Stella/Simon:

Hi Larry,
Although hydroponics lends itself wonderfully to experimentation and "recycling", we have never tried compost tea.

Why? Since there is no soil involved in hydro, only inert supportive materials like perlite and coco coir, you must supply your plants with the full spectrum of macro and micro nutrients they require, and in the proper ratios. (For a thorough discussion, read this page):

Hydroponic Solution.

It might be hard to give your plants all that they need with compost tea; but give it a try if you want, might work.

As far as how high to flood the pots, just so the bottoms are submerged and the medium inside the pots wick up the solution (maybe 1/4th way up the pot minimum).

Hope this helps!

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Maintaining nutrient concentration

by Darwin
(Alaska)

Your FAQ section was very helpful getting my Aeroponic system started. My tomato seedlings are now moving on into the vegetative stage. I am however, confused by your instructions regarding adding water rather than nutrients to maintain volume in the tank. If I just add water, I am diluting the nutrient concentration which I thought should remain stable. So, after adding water, I have been adding nutrients to keep my concentration at the correct level. Am I missing something here?
Thanks for the help.

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Answer from Stella:

The best way to explain is this: when your solution volume depletes due to evaporation, the only thing disappearing into the air is water, not the nutrients, leaving behind a stronger mix. So you top up for a while with just plain water. If you keep adding nutrients, you will end up with a way-too-rich mixture. After a few water toppings, you will change out the whole thing. This process is fully explained here, we have had great luck with this method:

Nutrient Solution
Hope this helps!

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Hydroponic ornamentals

by Ed V. Santiago
(DA-ADP Station, Region 1, Philippines)

Two Korean teens being briefed on Hydroponic Ornamental growing.

Another image grown with Ed's Hydroponic System.

Click on each photo to enlarge.

Ornamental crops can be grown successfully with Ed's Hydroponic Technique. I formulated the hydroponic nutrient solution (HNS)and results indicate that it can be used for others such as vegetables. Research is on-going and developments would be disseminated in the Internet.

View the original article here

Bubbler Power

by Memwl
(Phoenix Arizona)

Mimosa(sensitive plant)

Mimosa(sensitive plant)
moves tip the touch,to expose sharp spines
natures way to protect the plant from plant eating animals in a small raft system on
the front window sill.

View the original article here

Chemical Free Nutrients

by Luana
(Barbados)

I am new to your site and new to hydroponics. I would like to start with aeroponics due to space restrictions. On your website you recommend the GH Flora Series nutrients. However, the GH Flora site states they are pharmaceutical grade minerals. Are there any nutrient solutions that I can purchase that are not chemical based? Are there any earth based, natural solutions?

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Answer from Stella:

Hi Luana,
We have explained the reasons for using chemical nutrient solutions here:

Hydro Solution
Hope this helps!

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View the original article here