New system in Isa

[BenY]

Picked up my kit yesterday, have it semi positioned, just need to get the plumbing sorted.
Looking forward to a morning of building AP then golf in the arvo.

Any tips for getting a system running for the first time? It's one of Murray's kits.

Cheers

[BenY]

Here's some photos from today. Just finished planting...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2444/3623281277_075834195a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3351/3624099558_550de7c7ea.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3624099708_618e23268e.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2470/3624099922_5c044eac35.jpg

[Murray]

Good install BenY,
Don't forget the Seasol
A cap a day for the first few weeks to help the plants along and also to get the system cycled.
Keep the photos coming.

[BenY]

Just fixed a big problem.
One of the auto siphon housings floated due to the rock not being heavy enough when the balls were new. Managed to get the little balls caught up in the auto siphon and found heaps floating in the tank.

After a little work it's all fixed.
First removed all the plants near the auto siphon.
Put a baffle half way along the bed, then bucketed out most of the balls.
Took a plant pot and cut the bottom out, put it over the stand pipe and pick out all of those little balls, one by one...
After sliding the cover back on the stand pipe (inside the pot), taking the pot off, rocks put on top, the balls were added back in.

The water got a little stirred up though, leaving my water brown again.

[GaryD]

Hi Ben,

You're experiencing some of the foibles of autosyphons.....it's happened to most of us. When you've ironed out the bugs, you'll find them an excellent way to control the pumping cycle.

Good Luck with it.

Gary

[BenY]

Just found some salty residue on the top of some of the clay balls. Not sure if this is good or bad?

Any ideas?

[GaryD]

Hi Beny,

Depending on how hard (mineralised) your local water supply, that might be one explanation. If your water has lots of mineral salts, you might find that they leave such a residue.

In any case, the water level in your grow beds should be limited to an inch or two below the surface.

Gary

[Taz]

:eek: those syphons aren't going anywhere :D