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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post Flood and Drain mod 1 day, 4 hours ago · View
Ebb and Flow is the method you are thinking of. Few issues to note: One of the main reasons why windowfarms moved to using airpumps was because water pumps get clogged with nutrient fluid. When I was talking with Britta early in 2010, she mentioned they had a whole pile of them in a garage. [...]
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post What are the best website’s to buy nutrient solutions? 1 day, 4 hours ago · View
Just to a google search for “Hydroponics international shipping” and you should find a few sites. I suggest using a site in the UK and not from the states, likely the rates will be cheaper that way. I’ve never made my own hydroponics nutrients but most people do worm tea or aquaponics to keep it [...]
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post Need information on nutrients 1 week, 3 days ago · View
I am not familiar with that part of the world, but I would imagine your best bet is to purchase a product online.
Most are all inclusive and can be used to grow anything. Usually larger plants need a more heavy concentration of nutrients. -
Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post how much water 1 week, 3 days ago · View
Not really a lot. Your basically looking for a constant drip over the plants.
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post New window farmer, new draft design 1 week, 5 days ago · View
OK nevermind what I was saying. In the picture it looked like you were connecting the bottles together using copper tubes.
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post Wicking System, Take 1… Need advise on lights! 1 week, 5 days ago · View
You need stronger lights then christmas lights. Since you have a hydroponics store near by, ask them for advice (hopefully they are good with what they do and just not looking for a quick sale). Based on your setup, I would probably recommend you try these: http://sunblasterlighting.com/lamp-and-fixture.php You could get one that covers the whole [...]
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post HDPE Bottles. Do I need to paint them? 1 week, 5 days ago · View
You would still need to paint them if light can pass through to the inside. The reason its painted is to make the bottle opaque to prevent algae growth. That stuff can grow anywhere it almost any light condition.
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post New window farmer, new draft design 1 week, 5 days ago · View
Deibre – do you have copper pipe going from bottle to bottle? Or is it just one piece that brings nutes to the top and they drip from bottle to bottle?
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post New window farmer, new draft design 1 week, 6 days ago · View
You would have to get an adapter kit for an American 120v to British 220v. But any aquarium shop should carry air pumps. The other issue with using copper pipe is that there is no way to make a seal between the glass and copper, without using plastic. You could also look into IPEX, but [...]
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post Water pump instead of using the air pump 1 week, 6 days ago · View
Check out the V1 instructions. The problem is that the nutrient fluid usually clogs up the pump after awhile. The air pumps were far more reliable.
http://our.windowfarms.org/2009/07/28/how-to-build-a-reservoir-system-window-farm/ -
Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post version d.3 (or; how d’artagnon kicked some trash) 1 week, 6 days ago · View
There are lots of alternatives for growing medium, including bio-degradable options. Best to check out local stores.
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post Air pump problems 1 week, 6 days ago · View
Airlift issues are usually a matter of tubing diameter, straightness in the line and depth of the nutrient solution, or a comibination of all 3.
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post How do I grow lettuce? 1 week, 6 days ago · View
Easiest thing to do would be to get some rockwool and put the seeds in it. They will be easily movable.
You can germinate with regular water, but move to nutrients after that.
I used to use a constant small drip in my V1 for Butterhead lettuce.
Lettuce takes 6-8 weeks to mature. -
Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post Our First Salad 2 weeks, 2 days ago · View
Take a closer look at the plant. You may see tiny webs. You might have spider mites.
http://home.howstuffworks.com/guide-to-vegetable-garden-pests.htm
http://www.essentialgardenguide.com/garden-vegetables-problems/14/Beans/ -
Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post Silencer?!? 2 weeks, 3 days ago · View
The only problem with that is that might act as a filter and take out some of the nutrients.
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post Silencer?!? 2 weeks, 4 days ago · View
Think of creating a shower head for the windowfarm. That’s how the silencer is supposed to work.
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post Cutting Glass Bottles 2 weeks, 4 days ago · View
You use the side with the neck of the bottle instead of the ‘cup’ end.
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post Air Lift Help 2 weeks, 5 days ago · View
Any pics we could look at?
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Hardware Junkie commented on the blog post waterlift experimentation/phillip 2 weeks, 5 days ago · View
Just not really clear on the bottom part thing in the diagram and how it acts as a piston to produce thrust.
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Hardware Junkie wrote a new blog post: Cutting Glass Bottles 2 weeks, 6 days ago · View
Thought I would post this instructable I came across for those looking to use an alternative to plastic. Rather then create a cup, you would use the other end of the bottle for the farm.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Want-to-cut-wine-bottles-Build-this-jig/
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Hey there, Thanks for your comments. Still early days yet, all I have is a couple of bottles stuck together and hanging from a stick resting between a chair and a table but I’m on my way!
I think we’re talking at cross purposes here, 1stly, So far as I understand, ”flood and drain” is a synonym for ”ebb and flow”, but I may be wrong. secondly, my mod is much less different from the average window farm then you seem to think. it could theoretically be added to the system shown in the windowfarms youtube vid with no change to the pump or lift side of the cycle. and nothing more than a few feet of tubing and some sealant added to each bottle. the lift to the top bottle is exactly the same as with any other pump and I do intend to use airlift for mine. when that tank fills to the top of a looped tube the water starts to flow through the end of the tube that is sticking out the bottom of the bottle. Because the bottom of this tube is below the end in the top bottle the water is simply siphoned out into the lower on with no mechanical intervention, gravity does all the work. then that bottle fills and it’s siphon tube gets going into the next bottle all the way down to the bottom. I’ll be able to demonstrate some time in the future. Pay day isn’t far off then I can get the rest of my materials! I didn’t know about hydroton floating, that’s really handy to know. I have definitely seen bigger tubs using this system and similar looking balls but maybe the collective weight made a difference. I could always weigh it down with some gravel on top I guess… The biggest problem I foresee is the fact that there is no obvious way to shut off the pump when the 1st siphon starts so I’m gonna need to get the pressure in the pump and the hight of the 1st siphon just right. also, when the pump shuts off there will almost certainly be some water left over in the top bottle so if I’m gonna have any thing growing in that bottle it’s gonna have to be happy having wet feet for half an hour a time. Thanks for your advice, Junkie, one more thing, I can’t find my original post, it just doesn’t appear when I click to view it either through your comment, in the dashboard or anywhere else I look for it. Is that normal? was it deleted? did I do something wrong? Thanks again, I’ll be back soon. Ed.