Anyone have hydroponic experience?

[FnWeirdo]

My neighbor set up rain gutters, small pump (tile saw) from HD, regular plastic pots with perlite and vermiculite (set inside rain gutter) and a large barrel to hold and cycle water to and fro. Was basic but functional.

thats interesting makes me think you could do something similar with pvc pipe

 

[FnWeirdo]

Maybe you could do something like this on a smaller scale. Using channels or trays. https://www.cropking.com/blog/growing-hydroponic-fodder

that looks like an amazing system for big scale, but a little too over kill for my needs (13 chickens and counting) lol

 

[BReeder!]

currently i am doing fodder in jars without any mold/mildew problems i recently did a day by day fodder in byc to start me on fodder.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/starting-a-fodder-adventure.1287753/page-12#post-20914276
i was gonna use misters in the jars so the full jar would get rinsed. i have plastic lids for the jar and i was gonna have small drainage holes on the bottom, a bigger hole for the water hose and mist nozzle to go through, and then a few bigger holes to left and right of the nozzle. you may very well be right but i figured this would give me enough air exchange? i will definitely look into that stuff though recently bought a nice book on hydroponics in the house. but i always find it easier to learn from others lol

Ah, that is you. I read that thread. Continue to to leave the jars on a downward angle with drainage through the lid located towards the bottom (jar upside down at roughly 45 degree angle with lid at bottom) a large hole for the spray nozzle in the lid and the nozzle facing upward at a 45 degree angle.
As for a pump, you will want to focus on pressure rather than flow. Figure out what spray nozzles you will use and the ideal operating pressure. Get a pump to match. Not that pressure is lost through every T and elbow as well as head height.

 

[D-tiny-chicans]

Just Kratky
Watch jeb gardener on youtube

 

[FnWeirdo]

Ah, that is you. I read that thread. Continue to to leave the jars on a downward angle with drainage through the lid located towards the bottom (jar upside down at roughly 45 degree angle with lid at bottom) a large hole for the spray nozzle in the lid and the nozzle facing upward at a 45 degree angle.
As for a pump, you will want to focus on pressure rather than flow. Figure out what spray nozzles you will use and the ideal operating pressure. Get a pump to match. Not that pressure is lost through every T and elbow as well as head height.

does length of hose make a big difference? what about inner diameter? any suggestions on hoses, heads, and all that would be greatly appreciated.

 

[FnWeirdo]

Just Kratky
Watch jeb gardener on youtube

ill give it a whirl

 

[BReeder!]

does length of hose make a big difference? what about inner diameter? any suggestions on hoses, heads, and all that would be greatly appreciated.

length of hose gets to be an issue only if you are running a very long line. I don't think you will have an issue unless you decide to run the line off the pump a long distance to the fodder system.

Use a larger main line that is equal to or slightly larger than pump outlet. T off with reducer T (example: 3/4"x3/4"x1/2") to thinner pipes that equal the diameter needed for the spray nozzles. I a reducer or adapter is needed to connect the nozzle install it right at the nozzle and pipe connection. Do not reduce to a smaller T and then back to a larger pipe. Avoid 90 degree elbows. two 45 elbows is better. "street elbows" are the type to use if you are working with pvc because they have a larger radius. Poly is easier to work with than pvc but lacks rigidity. If you want flexibility poly is the way to go. If you are running drain lines, I would make a pvc trough by cutting a 2" or 3" pvc pipe in half like a gutter and run it to an a pvc drain line out to whatever drain you have (sink, floor drain, the great outdoors, etc.)
I have no idea on the heads. You could find some on Amazon or Ebay I am sure though. something very small would be ideal for mason jars. Think about the spray nozzles you see in the produce section of the grocery store spraying leafy greens.

that's about all I got. my experience comes from DIY house plumbing, pond plumbing and large aquarium plumbing.

 

[FnWeirdo]

thanks exactly the type of information i was looking for. Pvc would make a great gutter and i have some laying around ty. i found some nozzles that work @ about 20 psi 360 degree micro sprayers. appreciate the info

 

[BReeder!]

thanks exactly the type of information i was looking for. Pvc would make a great gutter and i have some laying around ty. i found some nozzles that work @ about 20 psi 360 degree micro sprayers. appreciate the info

Let me know how the build turns out. Hope you write an article on it. This could be interesting.

 

[Kris5902]

I always did my tomatoes in flood and drain tables, or just hand watering in pots of soilless mix (usually 1 gallon). I would think that with a fodder/micro green sort of system mats in a flood and drain table would be a little less fiddly than a jar system. If we are introducing fish and hitting a full scale aquaponics system that’s another ball game for sure. Start with where you’re at and build from there! Would love to see pics of you’re set up once it’s all set and running smoothly!