j-roadtatts

Thanks Matt! I’ll post up a pic in the morning of the final product.

The only system I’ve dealt with like that was my BIL’s Deepwater culture setup. It required two 55 gallon drums of nutrient water. When the water was in the field there was less than half a drum left. The field being sixteen 5 gallon buckets, so probably 65-70 gallons. In that system the water would stay in the field and be cycled every six or eight hours. At the end of the circuit there was a control bucket with an electronic float that controlled the pump and water level. As he was on well water, also required having two additional 55 gallon drums full of RO water ready at res change time. He used the blue plastic drums they ship fruit in. Lastly ended up requiring an expensive water chiller to keep the water from going anaerobic. The returns were obviously greater so made sense. You could easily get away without the water chiller as the temps won’t be as high. Also will help if the res is sitting on cold concrete. If you did the 4” PVC twenty feet long and filled half way, it would be roughly 26 gallons in the field. So not bad. Would need about a 35-40 gallon res or so to keep the pump covered. The other style being a tray setup, like the one I linked. Which is easily built out of Rubbermaid tub or a botanical tray with a lid and what you probably already have. Could also do a second tank as a reservoir, so you don’t have to disturb the roots to change the water. I personally am not a big fan of how delicate exposed roots are. I do mine in pots full of perlite and build a manifold to top feed. The pots are in a tray that drains into the reservoir. I water 20 minutes every three hours. They can easily withstand 80° for the better part of the day if there is a water malfunction. The biggest reason I am infatuated with aeroponics is the dissolved oxygen aspect. Is the unicorn to plant roots. More specifically the microbes in the rhizosphere transforming the raw nutrients to material the plant can use. If the water temp is under preferably 65°, 70° tops and has the maximum possible 6% dissolved oxygen. Those plants are going to go ape shit, If everything else is in balance. Haha So yeah anytime you can introduce a waterfall it helps in any system. Anyways there’s some late night ramblings to give you food for thought. How big of footprint do you have to work with?

I could see the Great Pyrenees and Malamute. We have a German shepherd Pyrenees mix. The docile chill demeanor near that deer screams Great Pyrenees. Haha

Added a new door and staining the chicken coop as we speak.

Our original adjacent neighbors were avid bird lovers so was good. I pretty much greeted the new folks that moved in with a carton of eggs. Lol They have a three and five-year-old boy that are as fascinated as can be with them, so that helps too.

Are you after a continuous flow?... or trying to fill the circuit and cycle periodically?

Berry bushes are great because they multiply like crazy once established. Same with asparagus. I had heard it is a big crop over Europe, as that is where I got the sandy soil info. I’ve only grown lettuce in flower boxes sitting on my porch handrail. Which minimized the bugs and made for easy harvest. I haven’t done any in the last few years though as nothing is sacred to my chickens. Lol

Beautiful dog. Great Pyrenees?

Sounds like you might need to use some chicken wire. Lol

I’d say raspberries and blackberries just because I’ve found them in the wild in heavily wooded areas. If you’ve ever been to upper Washington state, they grow like weeds there. Rhubarb is another I know. Google clams cherry’s and Alpine strawberries as far as other fruits. I googled vegetables and it basically said most root or leaf ones. Like spinach or leaf lettuce. Asparagus would be a good candidate. It loves sandy soil if you have an area of that. A patch will produce for 20-50 years once established. as you stated I’m sure a lot of things will grow, just not produce a lot. I would think it would be worth looking into and at least attempting the things you’re most interested in. As far as perennial, I have a cherry tree, raspberries, blackberries, grapes and asparagus going. I would love to find a spot for another fruit tree or two, but I’m in about the same boat as you at this point.

Stoop and pick. Stoop and pick. Start with strawberries, maybe you’ll work your way up to them goddamn bananas you like so much.

About the only vegetable I have a desire to grow indoors hydroponically is wasabi. That’s probably more for the challenge though.

With a larger size PVC you should be able to use the baskets you have. I would probably attempt a high pressure Aeroponic mister style setup. Not that I’m suggesting it. I just think they are cool. Is how they grew vegetables in space iirc. I’ve always been intrigued with NFT too. Especially on commercial setups hooked to fish hatchery’s for the nutrient water.

Sounds like a good place to start some berry patches, if there is at least dappled light. or perhaps asparagus. Pretty sure carrots and quite a few leafy vegetables will grow in shade as well.

Best get to tilling.

I should’ve guessed you had a well. All bets are off. Are you’re building something like this? https://hydrobuilder.com/hydroponics/complete-hydroponic-grow-systems/aeroponics/super-closet-superponics-16-plant-hydroponic-grow-system.html I’ve seen a lot of people build them out of large Tupperware totes.

I’m trying to get my compost game up this year. I grow a lot of vegetables in containers and the cost of soil adds up. The potatoes and carrots in 10 gallon pots really eat a lot.

The covid hit a prison here. 138 inmates confirmed as of this morning. A prison in the middle of nowhere at that.

Not sure if you knew, but that Hydroton is reusable once disinfected.

I had switched up to 100 GPD and went back to a 50. About the only thing gained was quicker recovery time. Iirc the 100 didn’t drop the TDS and left more taste. Either way don’t forget to switch the flow restrictor to match. anytime I‘ve lost pressure it is because the post filter is plugged. That’s on a five stage RO. I had installed a booster pump for the ice machine but took it out and returned it as it was pointless, if everything is running correct and the inlet pressure is at least 60 pounds. as far as hydro I just use the water straight out of the tap. Is only about 150-200 TDS depending on time of year. And nothing that throws the nutrient balance off. If it is being aerated and below 70° it should not go anaerobic before the next water change, if it is algae and bacteria you are worried about. If you’re like me you do everything to the nine and then work backwards to the minimalist. I had originally started with running the water through a three stage carbon filter setup. The other option I’ve seen people use is a plastic drum with a float as a storage tank. Those were big set ups that needed a lot of water all at once. I guess the question is how much water do you need all at once to do a reservoir change? And what’s the TDS of your water? are you going to do high pressure aeroponics, deepwater culture, or ebb & flow?

Leaf lettuce is a great one to do from seed. Will reproduce for a couple months before getting bitter. Amazing salads.

Yummy!

No heartburn, but will burp the taste up all day.

Haha it was really bad with long hair.

I just started a celery this week. Have a pineapple plant that’s about two years old, that should produce in the next year.