C
Casual
Thanks alot for the insight CAZ...I'm still a little unclear on some specific details if you don't mind:
1. Okay so a float valve is the thing in the back of a toilet that decides when water level is low and needs to be refilled. I understand that but what is your source of water? Did you hook it up to a tap of some sort or a bigger reservoir? If you could plz provide pics. I would say I'm more of a visual learner.
Gotcha!! It's actually going to be plumbed off of the water line that supplies the toilet. It's more like the float for an Evaporative cooler, I don't think a toilet style would work. They're only about $6-$8 or so. I'll get pics of it when I get it plumbed tomorrow.
2. I noticed BT used tap water instead of distilled from an RO machine.... Have you gotten to the point where you might have some insight on this issue?
Oh boy... good timing. I'm planning on filling my system tomorrow for the first time. I just checked my tap water and it's showing me a pH of 7.4 and 650ppm... DAMN!
I'm thinking I'm going to go ahead and use the RO I bought... I was hoping to use tap water, but with that PPM, I'm not sure it's even possible.
3. When you said " I actually will only have about 2" of waterfall" are you talking about the bucket or the reservoir? I think you mean the bucket b/c the more water in each planter bucket, the more space is available for roots to grow... If your talking about the bucket,this would mean you would need to buy powerheads for each planter bucket?
I'm talking about the waterfall in the Rez... The water should be entering the bucket at almost exactly the surface of the water. The height of the drain fitting determines the water level in the buckets. This system is designed to be a constant flowing system, not flood and drain. I've seen some root shots from BigToke... the roots quickly grow through the net pots and will wind up completely filling the entire bucket.
The Powerhead I'm using is this one...
http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=6754
4. What kind of gph powerhead would be sufficient for a 2" waterfall?
As far as if this Powerhead is sufficient, I'm guessing on that one. It was the most powerful one they had. I don't think you can over-oxygenate the solution, at least not with a powerhead. I'm hoping it's enough. If not, I'll simply install another powerhead on the opposite side of the rez.
5. do powerheads hook-up in-line to the feed/drain system or are they submerged separately? I found a centrifugal one online that seems pretty legit...
http://www.aquariumguys.com/hydor-koralia-pump.html
The Powerhead is actually completely separate from the water pump. It plugs into the wall to power it, and then uses a small airhose that you would mount above the surface of the solution. I plan on running mine up through the lid. The powerhead then pump water up from its bottom, pulls air in from the airline and expels it into the rez under some force, which in turn agitates the water. At least, that's my understanding. If anyone knows better, please post!
I'll get some more pics tomorrow. I'm hoping to have a slow day of work tomorrow and be able to get this thing up and flowing!
Caz
May they live long and prosper!!!
