OK, new trials..... after some learnned discussion; I'm trying something different. I may have the wrong idea about this all together, but I'm giving it a go. I have constructes 3 "spray bars" to run the length of my E&F table; one down each side, one down the middle. I new transplants will be in 3 inch cups and buried in the hydroton bedding of the EnF table. The spray bars will fill the table to about 2 inches in 1 minutethe hydroton is 3 inches deep. My plan is the flood for 1 minute every 30 minutes because the hydroton does retain some water (just cohesion) but staying at the bottom . The spray bars are nothing special, just PVC with 1mm holes drilled every 3 inches the strems do create bit of "foam", I hope that's good.....any way, this is how it starts. I have some other ideas, but they are to come later, need to think a bit more.......Open for suggestions. I probably should add, this pic is not totally accruate for what Im planning....I think misting nozzles tapped into the PVC would worke much better AND the transplants will not be in rockwool, You can see the first of them in the lower right hand corner......Still Open for suggestions (Edited by Joint Effort at 11:18 pm on Dec. 19, 2003)
I think that'z a nifty idea! I believe it would dramatically aerate your solution better; thus faster transpiration; translating into faster growth!
If spraying I would increase the 'on' time. The plants should be getting correct airation when spraying, does the bottom fill up or is the drain fast enough to carry full flow away? That is the only concern with incresing the feeding time.
That "foam" may be the best way of introducing O2 into the system. On doing research behind my Pythium problem, I uncovered The Myth Behind Airstones QUOTE The most effective way to introduce Oxygen into the tank is by dissolving it at the surface. The surface level of the water is called the meniscus and it has been demonstrated that about 90% of the dissolved oxygen, known as DO, in a system is introduced at this point. Contrary to popular belief, air-stones and bubble devices attached to air pumps are not very effective at all, in fact the only way in which they really add oxygen to the tank is by causing disruption of the surface layer allowing dissolution of free oxygen from the atmosphere. The bubbles themselves are too small and too inhibited by surface tension to release significant amounts of oxygen into the solution. The Hydroponic grower can get far more agitation of the surface layer, and thus a much greater Oxygen gain, by using his existing pumping capacity. The main requirement is a decent sized pump that has at least twice the required capacity.
Streaker- I plan to lower the flooding level with the addition of the transplants. My goal is air root production. I have had a few discussions and have done some reading to support those discussions about how Cannibanol production is propotional to air root production. Therefore, I'm giving it a go, for progress. I thkn the dilema lie with how often to feed;from my understanding air roots quickly adapt to the environment and transform into water roots with as little as 3 minutes of flooding.........herein lies my Q, Would I be better off if I let my table drain freely, no flood level maintained?(feeding more frequently) .......or flood to 1-2 inches and feeding less frequently?(because more moisture would be maintained with a flood level maintained) Quitan-I think I have the surface agitation covered, I keep an aquarium powerhead in my res. It agitates the surface well and introduce bubbles into the solution...but I'm always game for more O in the root zone, any other ideas? (Edited by Joint Effort at 11:51 am on Dec. 22, 2003)
JE, you turned your E n F into a drip sytem. E n F works better than drip IMHO... Now, sounds like you have been talking to smurfy. I too am planning an aero system, and he gave me some great ideas. However, for what you are looking for, it would be better to remove the hydroton from the tray, put a lid on it and hang the net pots. Utilize the same feeding you mentioned, and you have an aero/nft system. Those work great. Check out the AeroFlo system from General Hydroponics. Same principle, onl;y they use tubes instead of a table. PM me if you have any ?'s....
That drip system looks cool.I run drip line to each plant with a mister on the end to add extra o2.Works good for me.
