-
kazama posted an update in the group
For Beginners: 3 years ago · ViewI have a window farm I have built which has been working fine for about a week and a half now. The seeds are starting to sprout and it is flowing nicely. After the first day or so I started getting silt in the water but thought this was normal as I am just working the kinks out of the system. However, as time as gone on and I have added nutrients the water has started to turn a light brown and there is a kind of milky film near the top of the reservoir.
The system is still pushing water and there are no clogs but I am just wondering if this is normal? The idea of changing out the water is something I would not be looking forward to. Thanks for your help!
Silt … are you sure you haven’t introduced any sort of soil, clay, rockwool containing residues etc. into the system ?
When put some soil into a glass of water, you get the same effect after a while – brownish colour, and flower on the water surface.
The brown colour itself is quite normal in hydroponics , too – just take a look at Britta’s videos of her system f.e.
I’m very new to the whole hydroponic thing, but I would look at what your using for nutrients. We first used a nutrient solution that was for soilless plants and it turned out, ”soilless” is a broad turm. We switched to a solution recomended by the guy at the hydroponic shop and everything is working much better.
The light brown might be an indication of brown Algae (Diatom?if I remember correctly, I could be very wrong on the name) Normally occurs in newly established tanks as Silicates and nothing else are readily avaliable for it to reproduce. As we are constantly swapping water, and maintain a system where we are constantly resetting the early stages of an aquarium cycle (minus fish and really the rest of it) this is most likely a normal occurrence and I would imagine something we should get used to?
what kind of nutrientsare you using?
I am using seed pods which I think may be introducing the soil into system. It is the only thing I didn’t follow the brand off the basic WindowFarms instructions. I am using Mother Plant nutrients as per the instructions. I kinda don’t mind it as it is making the system much quieter but the plan is to do a flush and fill of the system with fresh water in the next day or so.
Other than that the system is working great except for some under performing seeds which is no fault of the system.
Wait you introduced soil into the water reservoir? Am I missing something here?
I think I am seeing the error of my ways. I am starting plants from seed so instead of putting them in compost sponges I put them in Peat Pellets that I pre-expanded with water. That is the soil that is filtering through system and clouding things up. I am thinking the course of action now is to change the water until the growth is large enough to move them to pellets only; right?
if your starting from seed, I think you should have waited until they sprouted and get them to the sapling stage before transplanting them into the drip environment? Just my thought, mind you I’m just learning about this whole farming thing as well….