by Ed Simpson
Getting Started and Lost Already
2:01 pm in Getting Started by Ed Simpson
I’d like to preface this post by saying that if these issues have been dealt with before or the solutions appear to be self-evident, please bear in mind I lived through the 1960′s. I think that says it all.
I am working from the ”new” 3-plant airlift sytem pdf file. I am in the process of assembling the items in the Materials List (ML) and have a few questions:
1. the ML requires 1 x 3/8 OD – 1/4 ID Kuritec Reinforced
2 x 1/4 OD – 1/8 ID vinyl tube
1 x 3/8 OD – 1/4 ID (vinyl tube??)
Step 6 of the assembly instructions tells me to, “fasten together the bottle stack, the rod, and the lift tube (3/8 ID rubber tube at 4’6″ long).”
Is the ML missing an item or is there a mis-print in Step 6?
2. The ML calls for 5 liters of clay pellets. I can fill a heck of a lot of 3″ diameter net cups with a 5 liter bag of pellets. Do I really need this amount?
3. Should the vinyl tubing be clear or opaque? I’m thinking the tubing will be subject to “algae bloom” if it is clear. However, thinking is not one of my strong suits.
4. Does the size of the bottles used in the stack have to be 1.5 L? I didn’t realize that the 1.5 liter size was almost unheard of in this region, until i went looking for them.
5. I don’t wish to seem critical but I have to say that the less than $30.00 cost estimate is way off target. In this little corner of the world, (Atlantic Canada), an air pump of the specifications detailed in the ML is going to run me about $35.00. A 1 liter (about 35 oz) container of hydroponic nutrients will run me the better part of $25.00. (OK, they’re Canadian dollars but it’s all I’ve got to work with.) The actual cost really doesn’t matter to me, I like the concept. Plus anything that can give me fresh “sweet million” tomatoes in mid-winter is worth shelling out for. However, I do feel that the stated cost estimate is a bit mis-leading.
Thanks in advance for the advice and assistance.
Ed
1- That does seem like a typo. I personally have not built this system so I don’t know.
2 – You’ll probably only need 3-4 cups worth, but they don’t sell it that small. The hydroponics store I ran into split up a larger bag for internal demo use and sold off remaining in smaller portions – so I got lucky there.
3 – You are correct, if its clear your going to get Algae build up. Every so often you can clean the system to get rid of this stuff.
4 – 1.5L bottles are the same diameter as the net cups. They’ll give a snug fit. Since your in Canada, try Metro (Loeb if they haven’t switched names in your area yet). PC branded 1.5L bottles should be there.
5 – I hear ya on that front. But the airlift concept is more cost effective then V1, where the pump runs about $80-100. But everything is more expensive up here. Shopping at a super Walmart in the US (when on vacation) is almost mind blowing…
And remember on the tomato front, your going to have to pollinate…
The 1.5L bottles is used because(as already mentioned) they go well with the 3″ net cups.
If you don’t use net cups, though, or use another size, other bottles may be better.
I don’t use net cups(just a small ice-cream cup that I hole) but picked 1.5L bottles as they were plentiful here. (Soda bottles, cider and stuff like that)
In fact, I’ve been unable to source the net cups, so I couldn’t use that design anyway.
The main reason to use net cups is that it’s easy to remove the cup with plant and pellets, from the WF.
I’ve just started building this as well and immediately ran into the same problems you found with the tubing. It would also be nice if the Materials list indicated the lengths requires. 1X and 2X mean nothing other then how many pieces you need. Also, the first two types of tubing are identified as “Kuritec reinforced” and “vinyl”, but the third type is non-specific.
Step 6, in addition to listing and 3/8″ ID tube for the lifting tube does not indicate which one it should be, the reinforced or the non-specified one.
I’m assuming it’s the reinforced tube since the lifting tube would be under the most pressure. I’m also assuming it should be a 3/8″ OD tube, since a 3/8″ ID tube would be at least 1/2″ OD, and now you’re talking garden hoses.
Did anyone actually give you an answer outside of the comments?
@edsim did you ever figure out the solutions to these problems? I agree with you that the instructions are not intuitive, and I was wondering if you finished your own WindowFarm, and if so if you can report on what you learned.
Thanks!