artanis

I'm going to be building a system, i already made a 3d model of what i want.



Would this work?

I'm not sure on how it would be best to run this. Should i have the pump always on (provided the water would drain fast enough) like NFT? Or should i run the pump only once and a while like an ebb n flow? Would sprayers be a better choice?

The system is for growing plants with small rootballs, not MJ.

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Mr Burns

Difficult to answer on how to label this one, but its very close to some original NFT systems in the 80s. Just cause I said 80's don't go thinking you're method is behind the times though, the system you're describing is still the most popular and commercially profitable hydroponic cropping method in Europe and Africa today

If you have control and get to know your nutrients then yes it would work. I would advise against putting the pump on a timer for two reasons:

1: A pump that is switched off will syphon the loaded tubes content back to the lower res and with it some air into the impeller chamber. There is a chance (and I say this from experience using a remote header myself!) that the impeller chamber can become air locked. Next time the pump switches on it could thrash air within the chamber and not lift any fluid content. It differs from set up to pump choice, but the air could clear in seconds, minutes, or why I say not to, hours

2: Still nutrients are far more liable to breeding Pythium or 'the deadly algae' than nutrients that are moving. If I were you I'd choose the largest pipe diameter you can accommodate and get the highest 24hr flow rate the system can manage. Agitated nutrients or even water alone will be better infused with oxygen if moving and being twisted and convulsed I must add that Ebb and Flow have nutrients that stand still between timer operations but with Ebb and Flow the nutrients are taken away and into a light proof container for the next flood. With NFT there is a certain amount of nutrient fluid content that will sit amongst the roots in warmth and in inept home built systems, light. Not good

Keep the nutrient content moving and you'll avoid them two 'possible' flaws artanis.

DarkFox

I don't care what everyone else says Burnsy, I think you know what you're talking about.

Seriously artanis, he speaks the truth. The system you've drawn is still available now and works well. Often they are stacked 4 or 5 rows high with two rows facing each other, with each row slightly further out than the row below it, to make a stadium seating shape.

There's a few reasons that the "tray" type Burnsy and I use have taken over in popularity from the "channel" type you've drawn, but one of the main ones is the trays allow for much bigger root mass.

With that in mind, if you do go ahead with making what you've drawn, make sure you only SOG so the rootball doesn't get too big. 'Cause if the roots blocks the main tube/channel or grow down the tube into your pipework.... Game Over.

tripps

Hi artanis, you don't know how lucky you just got, mr burns and darkfox are the last 2 men still living who can both grow MJ using NFT and thatch a roof. You got the 2 experts, here, check out their grow journals.

Edit:God, aren't I clever now, I think I'll do everything in boldface from now on. boldface boldface boldface

Edit #2: Ruderalis

__________________
I may very well be laughing at you, not with you.

"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance-it is the illusion of knowledge"-Daniel Boorstin

"Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand." John Gay

Hi! It's me... the girl from the bus...Remember? The last tour? Well...Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is THE BEST...Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct).

"If I cannot laugh in Heaven, I do not wish to go there."- Martin Luther

First journal Soil
Second journal Hempy
Third Journal Ebb and Flow

Mr Burns

What was the answer on slapping someone unknowingly if taking up membership
You know were intimate. Don't embarrass us

DarkFox

What are you saying???!! You're embarrassed by me now?!?!

That's NOT what you were whispering in my ear when you trying to.... 'evacuate your pipes'

B*tch.

Mr Burns

For once, I don't think I have an answer

tripps

OMG!-mark this post!

__________________
I may very well be laughing at you, not with you.

"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance-it is the illusion of knowledge"-Daniel Boorstin

"Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand." John Gay

Hi! It's me... the girl from the bus...Remember? The last tour? Well...Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is THE BEST...Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct).

"If I cannot laugh in Heaven, I do not wish to go there."- Martin Luther

First journal Soil
Second journal Hempy
Third Journal Ebb and Flow