Useful Ramblings

This effort was brought about by a desire to grow strawberries using a hydroponic recycle system.  It should be noted that this entails mixing water and electricity (do be careful) to drive a fountain pump capable of at least a 7 foot lift – the distance from the bottom of the reservoir/bucket to the top of the main shaft.  The actual capability of the pump however must be 8+ feet.  An additional foot of lift is added due to water resistance within the supply line.  What follows is, I hope, a fairly detailed discussion of the design and setup.  This design could be modified and result in improvements. Should I undertake another build maybe the design will change because of lessons learned.  The water distribution side is simply "get the water high enough and let gravity distribute through several lines to the "grow pots" ".  Here goes:

	This design consists of three main components moving right to left in this picture:  the reclamation side (1 1/2 pipe and various fittings), the supply side ( 1/2 pipe with different fittings on each end, and a pond pump capable of an 8 foot lift – yours could be less or more depending on the total hight from bottom of the reservoir to the top of the supply line), and the gravity distribution side on the left most side (1/2 pipe utilizing threaded couplings – a lot more forgiving when it comes to aligning the "ends" to the "grow pots").  I say gravity distribution because fountain pumps are designed to lift water and not the provide high pressure within the lines.  I had tried a drip distribution head with 4 1/8" tubes but the water flow was not adequate nor reliable because the system lacked  pressure. Now for a closer look at each of these components.
This is the RECLAMATION side.
	It consists primarily of 1 1/2" pvc line, 1/2" right angle couplings, 4 "T" couplings (1 1/2 X 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 slip), 2 "T" couplings (1 1/2 X 1 1/2 slip X 1/2 threaded  – top and bottom of picture), 4 4"x3" reducers, 4 3" x        1 1/2" bushings, and 4 6" sections of 4" diameter pipe. The two "Ts" at the bottom and top having a 1/2" threaded side are used later for the erection of netting to protect the fruit should this miracle ever happen.
	Lets take a closer look at the grow pots.  In the picture to the left you can see:  a 6" section of pipe glued to a 4" to 3" fitting.  Protruding from the 3" side is a 3" to 1 1/2" bushing which connects to 1 1/2 pipe into a 90 degree elbow and over to a 1 1/2" "T".    All water from the distribution side flows into these grow pots and is reclaimed in the 1 1/2" pipes and returned to the bucket at the base where it is oxygenated by "falling" and then recycled.
The SUPPLY side.
	It consists of 1/2" pvc tubing with unique connectors on both the head and tail ends.  This entire assembly goes "inside" the reclamation component (see later picture). In the center picture to the left you have a 1/2 slip threaded nipple to a 1/2 threaded/threaded coupling.  The distribution "T" will screw into this part at the top of the tree. In the right picture you have 3 pieces:  1/2 inch slip/thread to a 1/2 threaded barb, and 1/2 flex tubing which connects to the output side of the pump.
	This picture shows the supply component being inserted into the reclamation component.
	In the picture to the left the supply component has been fully inserted into the reclamation component with only the flexible 1/2 pump connection line protruding.
	This is the "top" of the reclamation component.
	This is looking down into the "top" of the reclamation component.  What is not clear is that in the center is the 1/2 threaded part of the supply line.  The next picture might be a bit more helpful.
	This part accepts the "T-head" which is part of the distribution component as seen in the next picture in this sequence.
	This is the "T-head" which drops down into the top of the reclamation component and screws into the 1/2 threaded female nipple on the top of the supply component.
The DISTRIBUTION side.
	The ends of these 4 lines dump water "lifted" to the "T-head on the supply side to each of the grow pots.  It looks painful but the critical points are the two "Ts" and the top.  If either should be cocked to one side or the other then gravity would favor that side and plants would not get an equal supply of water/nutrients.  In a pressurized system it would not matter since both sides would be "forced" into receiving equal distribution.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 at 12:13 PM and is filed under hydroponics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.