What is a good inexpensive hydroponic system for
the first time user?
Our WaterFarm, AquaFarm and PowerGrowers are all good systems for a
beginner. Nearly any plant can be grown, and if you
later decide you would like to have some additional
units, they can be linked together and expanded with
our controller.
What is the best system for starting cuttings?
Our RainForest Series does an excellent job for starting cuttings.
Which is the best system for growing smaller plants?
You can use any of our systems, though the AeroFlo produces the most rapid
and dramatic results.
What is the best system for growing tomatoes,
peppers and cucumbers?
These plants have longer growing periods and need enough space for adequate
root development. Our best systems for these crops
are the Farm Series, PowerGrowers and the Dutch
Pots.
Can I turn my system off at night to conserve
energy? Should I run it continuously or cycle it at
intervals?
All systems can be left off at night once the
plant roots are long enough to reach the nutrient
level in the reservoir. Longer cycles depend on the
type of system you have:AeroFlo systems: The
cycle can be set to run continuously during the day
and coming on once or twice during the night on 15
to 30 minute intervals.
Dutch Pot systems: Set the timer
to come on for .5 hour/ off 1.5 hour during the daylight
cycle once the plant has a good root system. These
systems use cocopeat which holds moisture and nutrients
in the root zone.
Farm Series: Set the timer to come on for 1 hour/
off 1 hour during the daylight cycle.
RainForest systems: These units
are run continuously, especially if you are trying
to root cuttings. If you are growing plants, they
can be shut off in the evening once the roots have
grown into the nutrient solution.
How do the Dutch Pot systems
differ from the WaterFarm systems?
Each WaterFarm, AquaFarm and PowerGrower
can be used as a stand alone system, or several can
be connected together. There is a growing chamber
and a nutrient reservoir for each unit. They use an
air pump to deliver nutrients and have Grorox as the
medium. The Dutch Pot is a single chambered system
which is drip fed by an in-line pump. Drainage from
all units returns to a single reservoir. In the Dutch
Pot, smaller grade media such as cocopeat may be used
without fear of particles entering the nutrient stream
and clogging pumps.
What is the Controller, and what
does it do?
The Controller is a large external
nutrient reservoir, which can supply make-up nutrient
to as many as eight Farm Series or Power Grower modules.
It provides an additional supply of nutrient solution
as the plants move into their rapid growth phase.
The larger Texas Controller can be used to supply
up to 16 Farm Series or Power Grower modules, or it
can be used in conjunction with the RainForest System.
Our "Systems Instructions"
page is a good source of information on how to set
up and run various systems.
Can you recommend a simple solution
for keeping growing media out of drains?
General Hydroponics' PolyWool was
designed for this purpose. It also retains moisture.
It is recommended for moisture loving plants, especially
in very hot and dry environments.The hoses on my WaterFarm have
gotten dirty. What's the best way to unclog the system?
The easiest way to clean the drip
ring and pumping column is to soak the pieces in hot
water. You can add 1 Tablespoon bleach per Gallon
as a cleanser. After soaking, plug one end of the
drip ring and run hot water into the other end. This
forces water out of the drip holes and removes any
deposits. Some people keep an extra pumping column
and drip ring that they swap out during every cleaning.
The used pieces are soaked in bleach solution, rinsed
thoroughly, dried, and stored for the next cleaning.
How do I deal with algae build
up in my hydroponic system?
The best method is prevention. If
you keep the solution away from light, i.e. keep the
lids closed and all openings sealed, you can prevent
algae from growing. If you already have algae in the
system you can remove it with a brush, or use hydrogen
peroxide (3ml of 3% H2O2 per gallon of solution) to
remove it. If there are particles floating in the
nutrient solution, be sure to flush the reservoir
and growing chamber with ample water, and then start
with a new batch of nutrient. If the problem is severe,
make sure you have the algae completely flushed out
to avoid the risk of clogging some of the flow lines
in the system.
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