Grow technology

[smurfin'herb]

Since the big thing with recirculating systems is the upset of ion ratios in accordance to one another, why has nobody invented something to fix this.?
Ok so they have machines that will instantly tell you how many ppms of each seperate element there is in a solution. Ive seen them on large scale hydro greenhouses. Why hasnt someone made a machine like that for this problem? one you can hook up to N-P-K-C-Mg sources and so on, so that after each recirc period this machine can read the nutrient content and dose out exactly how much of each element needs to be replaced per your specifications. Is that out there on the market? You could literally recirculate with no changeouts until the final flush. It could be sold right next to the intelli-dosers, but for 20 times more money!

 

[kaljukajakas]

It would be hugely expensive (I'd guess several thousand $ for the parts alone to build one) and very high maintenance.

 

[Deviant420]

I wouldn't necessarily say high-maintenance, but the auto-feed systems like that are ~$2,000 and have 5-gal nutrient and 64oz. pH up/down rez's. It's expandable up to 6 commercial-grade pump-solenoid combo's. I wouldn't call that too too expensive, but definitely not high-maintenance. It will even change your rez for you LoL!

http://www.hg-hydroponics.co.uk/autogrow-intellidose-controller-with-3-peristaltic-pumps-207-p.asp

 

[kaljukajakas]

The intellidose system does only 2 out of the 7 things the OP wanted: TDS and pH.

Measuring TDS is cheap and simple, as is pH. Ion selective electrodes or other sensors for measuring nitrate, potassium etc are far more specialized, fiddly and of course expensive.

So based on the intellidose system a commercial total nutrient controller might go for at least 2000$x7/2=7000$. I guess you'd need to calibrate 6 of those sensors at least every few weeks or so. Unless the unit calibrates itself, which would probably double the price.


BTW: an alternative to total nutrient control for the small-scale grower would be a run-to-waste system. You just have to run water and drainage pipes to your grow. RO filter the incoming water and use an automated system to add the required amount of fertilizer. If you use raw salt fertilizers in 50 pound bags as ingredients for the nutrient mix then running it will be quite cheap. Dump the nutrients every day or two or use an intellidose-type controller to determine the reservoir dumping frequency.

 

[smurfin'herb]

Its that simlple. This thing jus needs to be invented and then recirc systems (large or small scale) will never need changeouts, especially if beneficials are involved. I know people do entire grows with no changeouts (only addbacks) and still pull it off, but you know that the nutrient ratios are still a lil off, so imagine if they remained constant throughout the grow all controlled by this unit! The only problem i see is the overaccumulation of certain elements. Molecules bind to each other naturally unless preserved by a chelate. Im no scientist, but im guessing that this overaccumaulation of stuff would screw this all up, cuz theres no way to remove it without removing everything else and starting fresh! Does anyone know what elements bond and build up over time in a recirculating system?

 

[kaljukajakas]

There's nothing to invent. It just has to be assembled. It will become practical for the home grower in the future, just not now. Much like jetpacks and hydrogen cars...

Not much should "bond" and accumulate over time if you're using proper hydroponics nutrients that are designed for the needs of the plant you grow. As the nutrients are taken up and you just keep adding more there will be even more EDTA in the solution to chelate stuff. Some micronutrients might build up to toxic levels but what will most definitely start accumulating are the impurities and mostly useless elements in the fertilizer like sodium, aluminium etc. No fertilizer is anywhere near 100% pure and over time impurities will build up to toxic level so you still have to dump the reservoir.

 

[JohnnyToke]

Since the big thing with recirculating systems is the upset of ion ratios in accordance to one another, why has nobody invented something to fix this.?
Ok so they have machines that will instantly tell you how many ppms of each seperate element there is in a solution. Ive seen them on large scale hydro greenhouses. Why hasnt someone made a machine like that for this problem? one you can hook up to N-P-K-C-Mg sources and so on, so that after each recirc period this machine can read the nutrient content and dose out exactly how much of each element needs to be replaced per your specifications. Is that out there on the market? You could literally recirculate with no changeouts until the final flush. It could be sold right next to the intelli-dosers, but for 20 times more money!

I dont cycle my recirc dwc system. it runs continuously. I dont dump the system nutes until final flush. just add backs. im on grow #7 using this method. works very well. I can sample nutes from each bucket as well as the rez and the ppms, ph and temps are the same in each.

JT