Partially in response to the interest in our previous article titled "Hydroponics Benches, Tables, etc. or Lack Thereof", this first installment of our year 2002 hydroponics articles will be the second in a series dealing with alternate (to using benches, tables or other support apparatus(es)) means of cyclically supplying & returning the required liquid hydroponics fertilizer nutrient solution mix respectively to and from the area supporting the root system(s) of the plant(s) being grown. These articles should be especially beneficial and/or enlightening to short people and/or persons who may not want to buy or build a bench or table to support their plants, or people who plan to grow plants that tend to get quite tall, thus requiring that the growth-plane be lowered to allow for the plants to mature without the necessity for pruning, if so desired.
Please take a few moments of your time to look at the following graphical depiction of an adaptation of the basic two-pump supply/return system as outlined in our previous article.
As you can see by comparing the two systems, the difference between this one and the previous setup is that some two-by-fours and plywood for example, or other structural components, have been used to raise the growth tray drain flow-plane above the floor level, allowing for more complete drainage of the tray. In this scenario, a couple of fittings, a piece of tube or hose, and some filtering material has been added to facilitate the nutrient fertilizer solution transfer between the two containers.
This setup allows for more complete drainage of the growth-tray. The system, as with any, should be fail-safe tested prior to use by over-filling with a mild fertilizer nutrient solution mixture. This will also allow for any residues, which may be present on the tray liner, tubes, etc. to be removed from the system.
I'm not an expert on the ancient civilizations such as the Aztecs, Babylonians, etc. that have been reported to have grown crops hydroponically with great success and wildly varying methods, but some of the descriptions and diagrams of their systems that I have heard about and seen in the past have served to inspire me to explore and imagine different means of hydroponics nutrient fertilizer solution delivery and return.
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