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j-roadtatts

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Posts posted by j-roadtatts


  1. On 5/5/2020 at 3:44 PM, ///M5 said:

    Just pulled this out of my oven...5 min ago.

    7g5AD3s.jpg

    And I know nothing of this high gluten flour you speak of.  Lol.  Just flour, sugar, dried legumes, dried peppers, asian noodles and rice.  Have some smaller containers of stuff that fit in those categories, but am in the middle of re-organizing my pantry and everything.

    2Z88bTO.jpg

     

     

    Nice stash! :D


  2. On 5/4/2020 at 8:22 AM, ///M5 said:

    I measured.  My fish tank is 50 gallons.  That ought to be ok.  My supercharging of my RO helped tremendously as well.  Next step is a bigger reservoir.  

    The jars are the ones that had the roots drop already.  Think I am going to build a little tray and cover to hold rockwool in netty pots already so no transplanting necessary.  Just pull the netty and go.  Density is what I am contemplating now.

     

    50 should be plenty. If I had to guess I’d  bet you’ll only need somewhere between 30 and 40. I’ve only had issues with the pump overheating the water in 20 gallons or less. I’ve never ran a continuous flow system but use a pump on its side with an air hose attached to it in Lou of air stones. I personally am not a big fan of air stones. As is a breeding ground for bacteria. Depending on the air pump type, it could possibly discharge oil into the reservoir upon failure. Plus I always just hated the sound of them humming. 
    is your RO system for your whole house? or just an under cabinet type?


  3. 16 hours ago, dem beats said:

    Replaced basically every important part on the damn oven. 

     

    Wont go past 425 and that's luck. FUUUUUCK!

     

    I would like to throw things through things until all the things are broken.

     

     

     

    Temperature sensor possibly touching the wall? Is there a calibration dial somewhere?


  4. 2 hours ago, ///M5 said:

    Contemplating NFT atm.  Why?  Easy.  Can include a couple dutch buckets at the end for larger plants and actually have some full size tomatoes as well..

    I agree is the simplest. Also appears the most popular for vegetables too. Especially in Europe and at least commercially here.
    should require less reservoir volume I’d think. Being as the water level stays low in the field. The pump running continuously may heat the water up quicker in a small res though, so could be moot. May want to have a spare pump handy is about my only other thought. Not that they go out often, but is so vital in that setup.
    Are you planning on staying with the jars until the roots drop? Or do you have another plan for propagating the roots?


  5. 9 hours ago, ///M5 said:

    During testing if the PVC went all the way into the tank the tank level changed the flow height.  I cut the PVC in half so that it would be in the water to quiet it, but not have any back pressure

    I’d think a larger drain would be quieter. I’ve had a setup on the other side of a wall I slept against. With a 2” drain and about 4” of fall was pretty quiet. 
    I’m definitely excited to see how it goes for you. Would love to see more pics once everything is going or if you change anything!
     


  6. Super cool manifold btw! I was really curious how you were using the 1/2” pvc. 
     

    the moisture sensor sounds like it could possibly be cheap insurance. The only time I had one in the house and on the second floor. I had a third tray that the reservoir and main tray sat in. So if there was a failure.


  7. 10 hours ago, ///M5 said:

    I started the seeds in rockwool, but my seeds were a year old and they didn't all start.  2nd round I started in a plastic bag with a wet paper towel.  Those I just transplanted 2 days ago.  The basil is in dirt as it was a store bought plant (day before Covid shut down), but I have 8 more basil plants seeding.

    No idea on the right size netty pot.  The ones I am using PERFECTLY fit in mason jars and considering we can and have a shit load of them that is convenient.  Again my original goal was herbs so I hadn't planned on big tomato plants and the like, but have 8 cherry tomato plants seeded now.  We shall see how it all goes.

    You have me wanting to build something now. Just have think of a place that passes the WAF. Haha

    After seeing what you have and going after an ebb and flow that fills periodically for a short time and then drains. Here’s the first suggest I have to propose. 
    you could do a tray that fits under that top. You could make the top interchangeable to fit different pots and configurations. Then use an ebb and flow drain kit or emulate it. That gives you an adjustable overflow drain height to control the water level as needed. The pump inlet is the main drain when shut off. And the overflow creates a waterfall during watering.
    Now the bonus idea. You could do 2 smaller trays side by side. Would require two pumps and drain kits. But you could run them at separate times so could get away with a lot smaller reservoir. Also would allow each side to be set to different water levels if desired. Could run just one side if you aren’t using the other half. Could make the interchangeable tops in a halves as well.  
    would be easier to find two small trays to fit in the size you have anyways. I would suggest either commercial restaurant tubs or concrete mixer tubs. Both being super cheap and the restaurant one probably being food grade.

    I personally would start with watering 20 minutes every 3 hours. The digital timers available have 8 stations so works out perfect.


  8. You are doing something right if the roots are blowing up like that!
    are you starting the seeds in rock wool? What do you think the ideal neti pot size Is now that you have worked with them?


  9. I could probably get into the 6” pvc idea. I’d shoot for a kinda industrial steampunk look with an Art Deco flare. As long as it has a directioin I think it will be aesthetically pleasing and a great conversation piece.


  10. 4 hours ago, ///M5 said:

    Shut it off if it spills.  

    I think you lost me. Like a moisture sensor on the floor?

    how are you controlling the water level in the field if it is flood and drain. As in what shuts the pump off when it is full? Are you using an automated drain to put the water back into the reservoir when the watering cycle is over? 
     

    I would think that should be about the only electronics other than a couple timers and a pump. As far as the water side goes.

     


  11. 4 hours ago, ///M5 said:

    Ok, holy shit.  My BIL feeds his everyday.  I assumed that was necessary, lol.  Of course he has 60 or something like that.

     

    he is probably trying to regulate how much food they intake with that many. 


    Otherwise all depends on the size of the feeder and the amount chickens. I have five currently. The chicken feeder holds about a half a 40 pound bag. Could easily build it bigger feeder and waterer if needed. I also have a large amount of wild birds that come feed as well. Probably all the ones that were used to my bird loving neighbors feeding them every day. 


    About the only thing I left off that list is will need a water heater in the winter. With five chickens I get about nine eggs every two days. Can’t eat them quick enough.


  12. 3 hours ago, ///M5 said:

    I also think if I were to do this over I would do some modfied aeroponic version of this.  Just linking in case anyone wants a cheap way for home:

    Mine is in a living space so the tote is a no go.

     

    Is the exact system I would build if I did an Aeroponic. Ironically have enough parts laying around to probably build about six different systems. Just no space. Lol


  13. 3 hours ago, ///M5 said:

    If I stay with a flood system, I thought about using square fence posts.  Advantage being that you don't have to guess as much for the overall height and flood relief.  Being this is in a living space that is my other concern.  Of course I can add a moisture sensor and shut off but that is added complexity that my dumb ass will spend time making sure works.  I like the only pump water a few times a day better than continuous, but again I shouldn't look for the nth degree here as this is not to make me money but food.

    Why would you need a moisture sensor? What would you use it to control? 


  14. 3 hours ago, ///M5 said:

    The correct answer on size of the tank is I don't know.  20, 40, 60?  I can figure it out, lol...but it is buried by plants right now.

    20 gal + enough to cover the pump in the bottom (1/6 of the tank) is a lot.  I need to research NFT vs flood/drain effectiveness.  Probably not super relevant as I am only growing herbs and lettuce pretty much.

    I haven’t asked if you plan on doing any overhead drip system? Assuming you’re not and just rely on the wicking. 
    The flood and drain will require a reservoir large enough to fill and then some as we discussed. The NFT constant flow on the other hand does not. The reservoir could be substantially smaller as the pump can only circulate so much water at once.

    as far as the plants are concerned they will not know the difference. i’m not familiar with each particular crop. But some do not care for wet feet. That would be the only reason to stay away from the constant flow. which I doubt is a concern with any you are growing.


  15. I know I sent you pictures when I built it four years ago. Don’t know if you remember, the main structure is built it out of an old playhouse. The type that can usually be hard for free, if one is willing to go pick them up. Easily a gheester of cedar and Coated 4x posts.


  16. 3 hours ago, ///M5 said:

    Awesome coop.  How much work are they?  ie, how often do you have to do stuff.  I know you grab eggs every other day, but the water, feed, clean?

    Pretty low maintenance. I clean the coop twice a year. Change the hay in the egg boxes a little more often. One bail of hay has lasted four years.

     Feed and water them about every 2 to 3 weeks. I feed them mealworms in the winter, and let them scour for bugs in the summer. They eat a little more food in the winter. 
    you’ll know when they need either as is about the only time they will follow you around instead of running away.


  17. 16 hours ago, ///M5 said:

    Ha, you did the same calc I did.  4" pvc creates the other problem that once you drill holes in it for the planting cups, it doesn't hold much water.  I almost think 6" is necessary.  I will never be able to fill a 6" reservoir wise.  6" and NFT is going to be easy though...I already have 6" PVC in the garage which doesn't hurt.  The platform that the tank is in is about 6' long.

    I feel dumb. When I estimated, I went long hand. And when I went for the circumference I did a 4” radius. Doh
    Found a sweet calculator that does displacement of liquid in a horizontal cylinder based on depth. https://www.mathopenref.com/cylindervolpartial.html 

    Twenty feet of 6” Filled 4” deep is only 21 gallons. That should be easy peezy. How big is your fish tank? 

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