Grow Mediums Anyone Running NFT System?
- Thread starter DrPurple
- Start date
The Medicine Man
Head Hydro Honcho
I used to run a low pressure aero/NFT (aka Stinkbud).
Hey Trigger and Medicine Man, what do yous think of NFT vs other systems?
There's a lot of DWC on the site and I use it myself, I'd like to move on to something new.
What are some pros and cons of running NFT? I know if the power goes out you need a way to keep the pump running so the roots don't dry out, but other then that what else?
I was thinking of building a 6 site system to fit in my 2x4 tent for just autos.
There's a lot of DWC on the site and I use it myself, I'd like to move on to something new.
What are some pros and cons of running NFT? I know if the power goes out you need a way to keep the pump running so the roots don't dry out, but other then that what else?
I was thinking of building a 6 site system to fit in my 2x4 tent for just autos.
The Medicine Man
Head Hydro Honcho
The biggest thing I hated was dealing with the pumps and power. I live in a rural area where our power goes out easily, and in the 100 mile wilderness in Maine, it can go out easily. So I moved to using coco and handwatering. it's been really easy.
Outside of that, I loved the way I had mine setup, though I didn't run a pure NFT rig.
Outside of that, I loved the way I had mine setup, though I didn't run a pure NFT rig.
I worked out how to avoid loosing a single plant from pump failure so long as you have have the working trays over the tanks. No electric needed, no pumps and no fluid volume movement.
IMO its the most time out friendly system available. During the 4 years I used NFT I never failed to have two annual vacations mid grow, one a year was normally a three week vacation but it was all capable because of the way I manipulated the system and increased the fluid capacity and PH buffer with a remote res and flood setting.
It'll take some typing up so I'll add an image to show what I have achieved with NFT. This image was taken in 2006 and was my first NFT grow. SS White Russians.
Let me get typing......
IMO its the most time out friendly system available. During the 4 years I used NFT I never failed to have two annual vacations mid grow, one a year was normally a three week vacation but it was all capable because of the way I manipulated the system and increased the fluid capacity and PH buffer with a remote res and flood setting.
It'll take some typing up so I'll add an image to show what I have achieved with NFT. This image was taken in 2006 and was my first NFT grow. SS White Russians.
Let me get typing......
What I would do is source res tank/tanks that support the trays. Low level tanks. The trays in these set ups are usually moulded so they sit a few inches within the supporting res/tank, this enables the condensation which forms underneath the tray drips into the res below.
Now, you also want a higher remote res which can be sited outside the grow which gives the benefit of being able to adjust PH and PPM even during the dark periods. This is the res that will also protect your plants against pump failure.
What you need to do is plumb the main res so that it pumps to the higher remote res which can be outside the room/space, but it has to be higher.
In the remote res install one smaller skin fitting and tap the the lower side of the res for a feed lline (3/16ths - 1/2") and a larger overflow (1"-1-1/2") to the upper side.
On the end of the feed line attach a tap so that the flow can be adjusted to the table/root bed. Install the pump so that it pumps into the remote res but make sure that the pump is far more than what you think it needs. To feed 4 6x2ft tanks I used four 1000lph pumps. Two tanks 2 x 1000lph etc etc.
When filling the system for the first time don't switch the pumps on. Fill the main res until the supported bed/root tray is flooded by an inch and then stop. Now switch the pump on to feed the remote res and you'll see that the flooding of the root bed/tray recedes and you only have the feed running fluid content across the trays. This is the way I prevented plant failure even though in 5 years or so I never had a single pump failure. I've killed plants from forgetting to turn a feed tap back on but never pump failure.
Hasving a remote res has so many benefits including as mentioned before the ability to PH and PPM during lights off. When you become to know your set up and can feel/recognise the parts within the room during lights off you can even drain down and then recharge the system from outside. It really does become easy when not being tied to the light period only.
Now, you also want a higher remote res which can be sited outside the grow which gives the benefit of being able to adjust PH and PPM even during the dark periods. This is the res that will also protect your plants against pump failure.
What you need to do is plumb the main res so that it pumps to the higher remote res which can be outside the room/space, but it has to be higher.
In the remote res install one smaller skin fitting and tap the the lower side of the res for a feed lline (3/16ths - 1/2") and a larger overflow (1"-1-1/2") to the upper side.
On the end of the feed line attach a tap so that the flow can be adjusted to the table/root bed. Install the pump so that it pumps into the remote res but make sure that the pump is far more than what you think it needs. To feed 4 6x2ft tanks I used four 1000lph pumps. Two tanks 2 x 1000lph etc etc.
When filling the system for the first time don't switch the pumps on. Fill the main res until the supported bed/root tray is flooded by an inch and then stop. Now switch the pump on to feed the remote res and you'll see that the flooding of the root bed/tray recedes and you only have the feed running fluid content across the trays. This is the way I prevented plant failure even though in 5 years or so I never had a single pump failure. I've killed plants from forgetting to turn a feed tap back on but never pump failure.
Hasving a remote res has so many benefits including as mentioned before the ability to PH and PPM during lights off. When you become to know your set up and can feel/recognise the parts within the room during lights off you can even drain down and then recharge the system from outside. It really does become easy when not being tied to the light period only.
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It's the same here, if we get a lot of wind trees and/or branches tend to fall on the lines and knock the power out, I think I may have to get a generator to keep the pumps and lights running, would be handy to have one around the house anyway
Yes I am Trigger, I can have whatever I need outside the tent, the tent is really only to help filter out the smell, those plants you had looked great by the way, love white russians
