Strawberry Towers

[Tsaphah]

Has anyone used "strawberry towers" for other plants such as basil and parsley, and if so, what kind of success did you have?

[fishfood]

I have just converted mine to a herb garden so far parsley [excelent ] lebinese water cress [excellent] just planted chives
more to come

[Tsaphah]

Thanks FF,

Any photos? I'm waiting for an oppertunity to get a pallet tank, but thinking of a hobby size system to get going, by interlinking 2 large storage bins and feeding them into 4 x 1.5m towers, and using minnows.

A

[nick]

the pallet tank is a hobby sized tank. Go it and then try to hold yourself back from going bigger.
Nick

[fishfood]

Thanks FF,

Any photos? I'm waiting for an oppertunity to get a pallet tank, but thinking of a hobby size system to get going, by interlinking 2 large storage bins and feeding them into 4 x 1.5m towers, and using minnows.

A
Photo as requested

[Tsaphah]

Thanks for the pic FF. Looks good, plenty iron in your system there:D

Nick, do you think 1000 litre FT is still hobby size? I can't realy go bigger as in a rental!

[Tsaphah]

Hi FF,

I forgot to ask, do you flood & drain your tower, or continuous trickle?

[fishfood]

Just part of the normal flood and drain 3 min on 57 min off it stays wet

[nick]

the pallet tanks are the best thing o start with. There are lots of options that you can use o configure them and then when you want to change them the tanks are really versatile. I started with a 180 litre bunnings bin and was using aeroponics and a separate filter and within the month had got a palet tank cause I wanted to do more and grow more. Have a look around the site. You can use them as the entire system, cut a quarter down from the top, flip it over and you have a tank and a growbed.

Get some steel cut just the top off and put it across and then but beds on top of that assemblage.

Get two cut one in half or bury it and then use one of murrays growbeds between the two and you have an instant chop system. Water goes from low in the bottom tank to high in the tall tank and then flows through the bed and is clean before the pump touches it again. Good for tank and good for fish.

The pallet tanks are definately the smallest I would go for a start.
Hope this helps,
Nick

[Tsaphah]

Thanks guys,

I'm on a very tight budget, having three small kids and a single income, and pallet tanks (food grade suitable at least) round here are like hens teeth, or they want $250.00 a tank!!! Even the 200l blue drums are scarce, its a case of join the back of the que, and even then you have to know someone who knows someone!
I have seen the 320mm deep fiberglass beds at bunnings for just over a $100, which I think would be ideal. As I said earlier, I just want to get a system going. I could always convert the storage bins to bio-filters with a bigger system, so not a waste. I have got a heap of 90mm & 100mm Ø pipe, a pump and smaller piping and tubing to fit.

[djs-sa]

the bunnings tanks that are green and hold 500lts are a good start alot of people dont agree using them but I have used 1 for marron and pvc grow bed system and had no adverse affects but after living in the country 4 a few months now and seeing what chemicals these farmers use, the plastic from those tanks would be no hame at all in my opinon.

[nick]

have you had a look around for old bathtubs, they are one of the best cheapest growbeds. IF you don't mind the green bins from bunnings you have a system that will get you going.

Nick