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Step 5The Nutrient Reservoir
The nutrient reservoir is built out of a storage tote and 5 inch mesh pots. The pots are nested in holes in the lid of the tote so that they are partially suspended in the nutrient solution in the tote. It allows for the plant's roots to grow down into the solution while the shoot system grows up into the light.
I picked the tote so that the lid would hold six pots in two rows of three. Four of the pots are located in the extreme corners of the lid and the other two spaced evenly between them. This maximizes the space between plants.
The pots are not prefectly cylindrical in shape. The radius of the top is bigger than the radius of the bottom. I traced out the tops of the pots on the lid of the tote and cut out the holes with a utility knife. The holes are sightly smaller than the traces so that the lip of the pot catches on the edge of the hole and does not fall into the reservoir. The reservoir must be deep enough so that there is a gap between the bottom of the pots and the top of the air bars.
When I bought the tote it was transparent. I coated the tote and lid with a can of black spray paint to prevent any light from reaching the inside of the reservoir. However, I think a roll of duct tape would work just as well or better.
Finally, two holes were drilled in the side of the tote as close to the top as possible. The air lines are run through these holes so that taking of the lid of the tote does not disturb the air lines (Figure 5C).
I picked the tote so that the lid would hold six pots in two rows of three. Four of the pots are located in the extreme corners of the lid and the other two spaced evenly between them. This maximizes the space between plants.
The pots are not prefectly cylindrical in shape. The radius of the top is bigger than the radius of the bottom. I traced out the tops of the pots on the lid of the tote and cut out the holes with a utility knife. The holes are sightly smaller than the traces so that the lip of the pot catches on the edge of the hole and does not fall into the reservoir. The reservoir must be deep enough so that there is a gap between the bottom of the pots and the top of the air bars.
When I bought the tote it was transparent. I coated the tote and lid with a can of black spray paint to prevent any light from reaching the inside of the reservoir. However, I think a roll of duct tape would work just as well or better.
Finally, two holes were drilled in the side of the tote as close to the top as possible. The air lines are run through these holes so that taking of the lid of the tote does not disturb the air lines (Figure 5C).
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