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Step 11Maintenance
The float valves;
these can become blocked, if you have a look at them you will see that the water passes through a pin hole size so any particles coming from your tank will block this eventually.
to fix this - if you find that the tray is inexplicable dry, or hopefully before that occurs, take the brick over the cover off, remove the cover, lift out the valve and let the floats fall away to reveal the pin hole. if its blocked disconnect the valve from the inlet tubing and either blow or use a can of compressed air to blow the obstruction back out the inlet.
This not such a problem if you insert inline filters in to the inlet lines - not something I have done to date. if you use filters then of course you will need to periodically clean then out as well.
Plastic Jerry cans
nutrient rich water, will grow algae if sunlight can get to it and this of course clogs the system, so the prevention is much easier then the cure, but if some grows eventually you will need to clean the tanks.
1) turn off the outlet,
2) disconnect the outlet tubing the other side of the tank tap, so the tube and tap is still connected to the tank.
3) fill the tank with fresh water, and add bleach at the correct concentration and let it sit
4) once the algae has disappeared - it seems to go clear when dead, then empty the tank on some weeds some place, and flush with fresh water - you don't want any bleach in there when you reconnect it.
The Tube trays;
Just like the plastic jerry cans, if sunlight gets to the nutrient water you will get algal growth, while this doesn't clog the system it does use nutrients to grow and can also make for a foul mess in the root balls.
1)when algae has built up in the tube tray, remove all the plants to a bucket containing fresh water
2) place a bucket under the drain hole and empty the tube tray ( or attach a hose knozzle to the drain pipe and pipe the water out to the garden
3) turn the drain pipe tap off - refill the tube tray with clean water from the hose and add bleach as you did for the tanks, let it soak, then empty ( on to the weed patch this time) and flush several times using the same procedure.
4) pop the plants back in - make sure you have turned off the drain tube, and open the float value tap
5) i find the black plastic bag plant pots, which are known here in New Zealand as "PB's" are the best to cover unused holes, and the float valve, and put a weight on top of them, or use a squre of hydroponic black plastic ( thicker than normal black plastic)
these can become blocked, if you have a look at them you will see that the water passes through a pin hole size so any particles coming from your tank will block this eventually.
to fix this - if you find that the tray is inexplicable dry, or hopefully before that occurs, take the brick over the cover off, remove the cover, lift out the valve and let the floats fall away to reveal the pin hole. if its blocked disconnect the valve from the inlet tubing and either blow or use a can of compressed air to blow the obstruction back out the inlet.
This not such a problem if you insert inline filters in to the inlet lines - not something I have done to date. if you use filters then of course you will need to periodically clean then out as well.
Plastic Jerry cans
nutrient rich water, will grow algae if sunlight can get to it and this of course clogs the system, so the prevention is much easier then the cure, but if some grows eventually you will need to clean the tanks.
1) turn off the outlet,
2) disconnect the outlet tubing the other side of the tank tap, so the tube and tap is still connected to the tank.
3) fill the tank with fresh water, and add bleach at the correct concentration and let it sit
4) once the algae has disappeared - it seems to go clear when dead, then empty the tank on some weeds some place, and flush with fresh water - you don't want any bleach in there when you reconnect it.
The Tube trays;
Just like the plastic jerry cans, if sunlight gets to the nutrient water you will get algal growth, while this doesn't clog the system it does use nutrients to grow and can also make for a foul mess in the root balls.
1)when algae has built up in the tube tray, remove all the plants to a bucket containing fresh water
2) place a bucket under the drain hole and empty the tube tray ( or attach a hose knozzle to the drain pipe and pipe the water out to the garden
3) turn the drain pipe tap off - refill the tube tray with clean water from the hose and add bleach as you did for the tanks, let it soak, then empty ( on to the weed patch this time) and flush several times using the same procedure.
4) pop the plants back in - make sure you have turned off the drain tube, and open the float value tap
5) i find the black plastic bag plant pots, which are known here in New Zealand as "PB's" are the best to cover unused holes, and the float valve, and put a weight on top of them, or use a squre of hydroponic black plastic ( thicker than normal black plastic)
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