pvc system help

Im posting just to get some tips on the best ways to run a 5 plant site pvc system.... like how long to run the pump how many times a day ect...

more details man, kinda hard to say without knowin what yer up to.

Ok sorry.... i have 2 20 gallon tote reservoirs, 2 5 foot long 4 inch round pvc above each tote with a drain hole at the end over the tote, with a submersible pump running from the tote to the other end of the pvc pipe with a manifold to dump water into each pipe, 5 plant sites a foot apart. hope this helps if not i can get pictures posted up later this week of the entire room and everyone can post thoughts, ideas, or suggestions.

You need to run the pump all the time if yo are trying to do nft. If your dripping, it depends on the media. post some pics, or suggest a commercial system similar to the one youre trying to develop.

yes the NFT system so i just run that constant?

If it's nft forget the pvc just grow them in the tote but either way you need an air pump with air stones! If you do want to pump it up to the pvc do an ebb & flo where you run the pump for 5 min every half hour then it drains they get oxygen for 25 minutes an the pump kicks on and repeat.

1. Get a large PVC pipe (one that is about 5 to 10 centimeters in diameter).

2. Drill holes (with a hole saw) the size of a cup into your pipe.

3. Connect smaller PVC pipes to your large pipe (using plastic adhesives) to create a design that will fit the space you have. The ends of the PVC pipe should be capped, depending on where the smaller pipes are attached.

4. Get a bucket filled with nutrient solution and set it below your PVC set-up. Nutrient solution will drain into the bucket.

5. Put a submersible pump into the bucket.

6. Drill a smaller hole into the top of your large PVC pipe for a hose from the pump.

7. Run a hose into the top of the pipe to circulate the nutrient solution. The height and placement of the PVC pipe may need to be adjusted to assure the pump can deliver the nutrient solution.
this is the best description of the system im using i got it out of the How to Hydroponics 4th edition
Sketchy picture attached hope this helps

Yea that looks about right. Now if your drain pipe is pvc you raise it a little higher then bottom of your net pots or where ever the roots are and that will be your water line if you have a good medium it will pull a little water in also. This is great because as it drains back down it won't splash if the pipe is long enuff. Just remember to make sure your resivor is light proof so no alge forms.

so i keep a constant flow of water about a inch high on the bottom of the net cups?

kiddfarmer08 said:

so i keep a constant flow of water about a inch high on the bottom of the net cups?

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id use half an inch or so. make sure you pump air into your resivoir with a air stone. go light on the nutes and monitor your ph. should go great!

Could I use like an aquarium air bubbled like used for fishies Haha? I'm starting them out in 1 inch rockwool then the net cups will be filled with leca stone... so bout half inch should be good? Constant flow or intervals?

I'm going to play around with different rotations but if they are sitting in just oxygen for a period of time is the oxygenator necessary?

the air stone also keeps the resivoir stirred up. Always a good idea unless your nutes advise against it.

how much do these usually run im not too familiar with them? where would one go to start invesstigating

pet shop, $15.

dont you want to do cycle type on off with nft? such as 1 min on 5 off? the roots arent suppose to be in the water constantly, just for a little, then they get oxyen then water, rinse and repeat

Where would you get a cheap timer for 1 on 5 off?

yea i agree too im gonna start a system like this soon

pitbudz87 said:

yea i agree too im gonna start a system like this soon

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Check out stink bud's thread, "How to grow a pound every three weeks" On Page 75 he has all the instruction in one pdf.

Hey jack you should throw up a permalink to that thread.