Here is some practical and fundamental information to take care of the maintenance of your hydroponic tank. The reservoir is the fundamental part of any hydroponic growing system. These basic notions apply to any kind of system. Become a successful hydroponic grower by doing effective maintenance on your hydroponic tank.
Steps
Step 1. This information applies to most vegetables that can be grown and are intended for human consumption
Step 2. Each vegetable needs a specific supply of nutrients and acidity
There are guides that you can find online or in stores that specialize in selling plant nutrients.
Step 3. Check the quality of the water on a small sample with the fixed residue meter in parts per million (TDS / PPM) and electrical conductivity (EC), before inserting it into the tank
If the tap water measures 300 PPM or more, it means that you will have to pass it through a reverse osmosis system or you will have to distil it. You must make sure that the parts per million of the water are between 0-50 ppm, BEFORE adding the nutrients. It is fine even if it is around 100 ppm, just pay attention to the micronutrients found in the water tested. See the "Tips" section for ideas on using tap water.
Step 4. Use a digital probe to measure the hardness and acidity of the nutrient-based solution every day, trying to respect a fixed time
Record the results in a journal to keep a record of the changes.
Step 5. When there are nutrients in the tank, you cannot get an effective measurement using litmus papers or similar systems
For an accurate reading by the instruments, test the water after the nutrients have passed through the system at least once (preferably two).
Step 6. Change the pH of the solution using products to increase or decrease the acidity of the water
NOTE: Any variation in acidity affects the hardness of the water. The most effective acidity is between 5, 5-6, 2, never go above 6.5 and never go below 5.5, whatever vegetables you are growing.
Step 7. Use a parts per million (TDS / PPM) fixed residue meter or an EC (electrical conductivity) meter to test the hardness of the solution
If it is too hard, add water. If it's too soft, add some fertilizer. [See the “Warnings”] Run the test again at each change.
Step 8. Replace / top up the solution in the tank when the fixed residue indicator in ppm shows values lower than the needs of the plants
Step 9. Top up fertilizers should not be used more than 3 or 4 times between a total fertilizer replacement and the next
Do not use fertilizers indicated for substitution in place of those for topping up.
Step 10. It is good practice to have a hydroponic tank of the same volume or a volume greater than the empty one of the system / tank
For example, if you are using a 20L system, you must use a minimum 20L tank. You can use even more, up to double. The volume of the culture medium does not have to be calculated in the overall volume. The larger the tank (reasonably), the better.
Step 11. There is no specific life span of the fertilizer, as it depends on its volume and how much the plant requires, as well as on the transpiration rate of the plant
Each of these factors can vary substantially.
Step 12. When replacing the fertilizer, you can use the water accumulated in the tank to water the plants grown in the soil
Step 13. Hydroponic systems give their best outdoors, but it may happen that the weather conditions do not allow it
When the cultivation is located outside, rainwater or other types of water must be prevented from infiltrating and diluting the solution. If you grow indoors, you may need artificial light sources.
Advice
- Make sure the fertilizers used in the hydroponic system are complete. Try to match the type of solution and water hardness with the water requirement.
- Keep the temperature of the nutrient solution between 21/21 C °. These are ideal figures, but even if the water reached 12 ° C, the plant would grow, only that the growth would be slower.
- The oxygenation of the nutrient solution is essential for proper absorption of the fertilizer. If possible, try to get the nutrients back into the tank, that will be enough. If it can't be done, use an aquarium air pump.
- The quantities of nutrients that pass through the system every day depend on the type of plant, its size / maturity, the presence of fruit, humidity and air temperature.
- A good idea is to run smooth water or with 1/4 of fertilizers once or twice between a complete replacement and the other, to smooth out any fertilizer overdose. Remember that this can dilute the nutrient solution, and therefore tests and adjustments should be made after refilling.
- Some water treatment plants have recently switched from Chlorine to Chloramine. They do it because it is cheaper and because it does not evaporate like chlorine. If you ask a treatment company they will say it "evaporates in 2-3 days" but if you search the internet you will find that "it does not evaporate, but can break down into potentially dangerous by-products". You will need a filter capable of eliminating Chloramine. Standard RO filters are no good, you will need to use one that contains a Chloramine filter.
- Tap water contains chemicals that can affect plant growth. If you smell chlorine or are unsure, it is better to keep the water in the air for 24 hours, so that the substance evaporates. If you use a product for removing chlorine from aquariums, you will only add other chemicals to the water. Allowing the water to transpire will allow it to reach room temperature, reducing the possibility of thermal shock in contact with the root system of the plants.
- No less than two waterings should be performed per day (morning and afternoon), but one every two hours can also be used. To have a safe guide, wade the leaves, if they go limp you need another watering.
- A large tank better maintains changes in fixed residue, electrical conductivity, water and acidity. Better to make a big tank.
Warnings
- Some municipalities purify water with chlorine and bromine, substances that can damage plants. To get rid of the bromine just fill a basin (not the tank) with cold water and let it rest all night. If the next day you notice that bubbles have formed on the sides of the bowl, tap them to release them into the air. This method is called perking, and it is very effective and inexpensive.
- The chlorine present in tap water does not kill plants, on the contrary it can be useful for preventing mold and silt that settle on the bottom.
- Before using the tank / pipes / tanks / pumps, sterilize them by pouring boiling water over them. It will be especially useful if the tank has become infected. With the right attention, the implant will not become infected.
- If you add new fertilizer to an existing nutrient solution, be careful, as you may be putting in more micronutrients than you need. This process could cause plant problems. Some fertilizer manufacturers sell "top up" fertilizers made especially for this purpose. If you can't get top-up fertilizers, use fertilizers leaked from plants grown in the soil.
- Plants overdose quickly. An undernourished plant may last longer than an overdosed plant, but it can suffer from nutrient deficiencies.
Do not use products intended for the same purpose but from different manufacturers. Each producer has its own specifications and using two different ones could cause sensitive imbalances to the plant and to the plants.
