Drip System question - PLEASE HELP

Hello all,

I have a drip system that i built and have a quick question.

I have the pump set right now to its lowest setting so its pretty much a constant Slow stream.

I'm growing some seedlings in rockwool cubes in hydrotron.

They question I have is how often should I be running the pump. So far Ive had it running 24/7 - should I turn it off when the lights are off? continue running it 24/7 - or should I run it more like an ebb and flow - having it run for 30 mins every hour or something.

Another question I have is I noticed that my seedlings roots have grown through the growing medium and are making there way into the reservoir. Will this be a problem? Or should they just hang into the water?

Thanks so much!!!

Pick up a "drip ring" at a hydro shop, it connects to your feed line and drips in a circle around your plant, so it wets the roots all the way around. Drip rings usually drip 24/7.

The roots will be fine submerged if the res is well-aerated. With a seedling, the tap root will grow downward rapidly, clones have a more spread out root system.

HTH

Awesome.

So I added an airstone into the reservoir to help oxygenate the water.

I also bought some clear tubing that I wrapped in electrical tape since the clear stuff is easier to work with to make a drip ring.

Although this concept sounded good, the water is dripping through the electrical tape a little bit - hopefully this wont harm the plant at all

Chewing gum will neutralise the toxic plasticisers emitted from the electrical tape. If not, wrap everything in duct tape and coathanger wire and spray it liberally with WD40.

*mmmph*heh*HAHHAAHAHHA*

oops sorry about that...

Potroast is right, go spend the 3-4 bucks on a drip ring. MacGuyvering is OK as long as you can make something work as well as the correct article, but there's something about black tape and water that just don't mix so well.