Do you have hydroponics?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Do you have hydroponics?

MadEngineer

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#280895 18-Jan-2021 17:27

Must be a few of you running hydroponics?

We've just bought one of the kits listed here: Autopot For Sale - Otaki Hydroponics

More info: Home | AutoPot Watering Systems UK

Seems like a superior system - is gravity fed and float valve controlled.

I've set the kit up in one of these Number 8 Walk-In Greenhouse - Cloches Glass & Shade Houses | Mitre 10™ which is bolted down on concrete in a north-facing corner

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

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#2637743 19-Jan-2021 08:53

In response to the PM.

That setup in the video is pure NFT, where nutrient water is pumped into the NFT gullys and with gravity flows downward and is exhausted into the reservoir.

Its a first attempt POC with alot of learning applied, and alot of knowledge ascertained, which will be applied to v2 POC.

The shelves need replacing with pallet rack system, and the NFT gullys are all fed at one end, and the water flows downward one way.

The LEDs are sourced from a company in China, and have been very good.

Its a hobby with a commercial interest in mind.

The only other small farm is Shoots Microgreens in Wellington.

They are going down the 'supermarket display grown' approach.

cheers

The little things make the biggest difference.

plod

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#2637826 19-Jan-2021 10:12

Take the autopot back. There are far cheaper and easier options out there. These look good but are not. Previous owner of autopot system

Geektastic

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#2637849 19-Jan-2021 10:54

To grow what? Cough. Cough.

timmmay

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#2637857 19-Jan-2021 11:07

I use hydroponic nutrients in home made growing boxes, which is really easy and works very well. With three growing boxes last year I produced 22kg of chilies plus other stuff. This year I have two boxes doing tomatoes and it's keeping us oversupplied with tomatoes.

sscribenz

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#2637915 19-Jan-2021 11:37

I've used the autopots before when I've had no access to power and it works ok.
It's pretty simple to put A DWC system together and it's given me better results.

MadEngineer

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#2638417 19-Jan-2021 19:57

plod: Take the autopot back. There are far cheaper and easier options out there. These look good but are not. Previous owner of autopot system

Did you change to something else? I've brought them based on a family member's success who's loving the system so much they've gone and bought dozens of the things.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

timmmay

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#2638432 19-Jan-2021 20:44

Oh I forgot the link in the post above (edited now), here it is.

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MadEngineer

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#2638480 19-Jan-2021 22:38

timmmay:

Oh I forgot the link in the post above (edited now), here it is.

What's the grow media and what nutrients are you using?

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

timmmay

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#2638548 20-Jan-2021 07:08

MadEngineer:

timmmay:

Oh I forgot the link in the post above (edited now), here it is.

What's the grow media and what nutrients are you using?

Initial growing media is in the post, but it's somewhat expensive so lately I've just been using a mix from the hardware store design for pots. Basically - dirt.

I use Power Bud when plants are young, then Power Grow once they're fruiting, plus CMX for my tomatoes as they seem log on magnesium according to what I've read.

In my greenhouse here's how I find things grow:

Tomatoes: great, if I can keep the bugs and disease off them, fungus often gets in. Growing one tomato plant per box and keeping it well trimmed for ventilation helps.
Chillies grow like weeds - any kind
Capsicums grow well, but they take a heck of a long time to ripen. I tend to thin them out to help them ripen faster.
Mini orange tree grows ok, again I thin them out. I used to grow them outside but the Wellington wind kills them
Spinach and herbs grow great
Anything below the ground doesn't grow well because it's too warm even in winter. Potatoes work ok, but the stalks grow all the way to the ceiling. Carrots not too bad. Garlic doesn't grow well at all.

The greenhouse is concrete floor, backs onto a concrete shed, so it retains heat and that stabilises the temperature. It's made of a double layer plastic and it stays quite warm. If I was building it again I'd use single layer plastic and design to keep it cool, rather than warm. The key in Wellington is to keep the plants sheltered from the winds but getting plenty of sun.

MadEngineer

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#2638616 20-Jan-2021 10:26

^ So it is. The cost of the nutrient is a bit of a killer but the products you're using look reasonable. I'm looking to use the liquid A+B from Bunnings.

One of the concerns with that system is as you've found - the build up of fungus but you're getting great results which is the main thing. The system I'm using has a float switch that enables ebb and flow. It will fill up to a level set by the float then the water all drains away until a second small chamber within the float is emptied, which the allows the water to fill up again. This allows air to get to the roots, allows the plants to control the watering and should hopefully help alleviate fungus.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

timmmay

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#2638621 20-Jan-2021 10:36

MadEngineer:

^ So it is. The cost of the nutrient is a bit of a killer but the products you're using look reasonable. I'm looking to use the liquid A+B from Bunnings.

One of the concerns with that system is as you've found - the build up of fungus but you're getting great results which is the main thing. The system I'm using has a float switch that enables ebb and flow. It will fill up to a level set by the float then the water all drains away until a second small chamber within the float is emptied, which the allows the water to fill up again. This allows air to get to the roots, allows the plants to control the watering and should hopefully help alleviate fungus.

I end up spending about $25 - $50 a year on nutrients as it's a concentrate. Fungus I'm talking about is on tomato leaves.

plod

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#2639907 22-Jan-2021 01:49

MadEngineer:
plod: Take the autopot back. There are far cheaper and easier options out there. These look good but are not. Previous owner of autopot system
Did you change to something else? I've brought them based on a family member's success who's loving the system so much they've gone and bought dozens of the things.

I’ve gone with a diy approach from some good advice from a shop in Wellington. PM me if you want details

Stu

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#2639930 22-Jan-2021 07:25

Is there any reason you can't just share it with the team, @plod?

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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plod

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#2640007 22-Jan-2021 10:11

I’m absolutely useless drawing pictures. But will try at lunch. A simple flood and drain. 50 litre reservoir with your double pots sitting on top a pond pump and some tubing and a digital timer or smart plug you can schedule. I would send a photo but not on public forum

MadEngineer

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#2640043 22-Jan-2021 10:51

We're a non-judgmental bunch :) Draw away. I'll prompt a PM for a photo if you like

The unpowered solution suits me better. Permanently running extension leads out windows is a very bad idea and I couldn't justify the cost of installing an IP56 rated outlet on the outside of our house to our wife. Mind you, I hope to convince her to allow me to extend the system ...

I wanted to comment on the following:

MadEngineer:

I've set the kit up in one of these Number 8 Walk-In Greenhouse - Cloches Glass & Shade Houses | Mitre 10™ which is bolted down on concrete in a north-facing corner

It is a very cheap product yet is *just* good enough quality to withstand strong weather *if* it's in a sheltered spot. It's bolted down with half-saddle conduit clips with masonry screws into the concrete below it. I do plan to add a more solid greenhouse to our backyard at some point but that will have to wait till after we've built a new garage

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

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