OKLP
Well-Known Member
The primary reason I would never again use traditional hydroponics. Every 7-10 days you gotta dump all those chemicals somewhere. AQUAponics (combining with fish farming) is a viable option IMO.
Water, the big elephant in the room..
- Thread starter foreverflyhi
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Pattahabi
Well-Known Member
I respect Flyhi for being so politically correct. I'll work towards that, until then...
Residential growers use on average three times the chemicals farmers do, and we already know the damage the farmers are doing.
You think just because you're in the midwest there can't be a water shortage? What happens when the water treatment plants have no where to put the sewage slugde? What happens when they have already dumped so many biosoilds on the field that in time they become toxic to the plants? Biosolids are a complete biproduct of water neglect. We flush so much damn crap into the sewers. What happens when you live in the gulf and you still have TONS of toxic chemicals in your water? What then? What's going to happen when we have millions of people that think 'why should I care"? Just stupid, wake up people, we're in this together.
I am all ears about water conservation, the hydro growers can head back to the dark ages. This is organics where we care about the planet. We stay informed and do what we can to make this a better place.
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Residential growers use on average three times the chemicals farmers do, and we already know the damage the farmers are doing.
You think just because you're in the midwest there can't be a water shortage? What happens when the water treatment plants have no where to put the sewage slugde? What happens when they have already dumped so many biosoilds on the field that in time they become toxic to the plants? Biosolids are a complete biproduct of water neglect. We flush so much damn crap into the sewers. What happens when you live in the gulf and you still have TONS of toxic chemicals in your water? What then? What's going to happen when we have millions of people that think 'why should I care"? Just stupid, wake up people, we're in this together.
I am all ears about water conservation, the hydro growers can head back to the dark ages. This is organics where we care about the planet. We stay informed and do what we can to make this a better place.
P-
st0wandgrow
Well-Known Member
Great topic foreverfly!
I opted for a single stage water filter for this very reason. A lot of RO units waste several gallons of water for every gallon that is captured. I did some research and settled on this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Perfect-...-Top-Water-Filtration-System-tmjrf2/203515368
It doesn't waste a single drop of water, and eliminates up to 93% of chloramine. I have been using it for about a year now and I love it. Replace the filter every 3-6 months and that's it.
I opted for a single stage water filter for this very reason. A lot of RO units waste several gallons of water for every gallon that is captured. I did some research and settled on this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Perfect-...-Top-Water-Filtration-System-tmjrf2/203515368
It doesn't waste a single drop of water, and eliminates up to 93% of chloramine. I have been using it for about a year now and I love it. Replace the filter every 3-6 months and that's it.
Red1966
Well-Known Member
No, that's just for drunks.
Thundercat
Well-Known Member
Lol you guys are funny. Obviously clean water conservation is a very important topic. So if you wanna talk about water conservation lets talk about it.
The chemical issue is completely different, and you're very naive to think that the small amount of waste water that hydro growers may dump is a real issue. I gaurentee that the 1000+ acre farms all around where I live spray and dump more crap into the soil then I have ever put down the drain. There is no were near enough hydro growers( of any kind not just cannabis) to impact the water system anywhere near as much as commercial agriculture. Then you must give consideration to all the manufacting waste from factories, chemical plants, and other sources.
I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't all do what we can to improve the condition of this planet. We need to focus on the real problems, rather then make big issues out of minor things. Personally during the summer I use some of my left over nutes to water my veggies out side when I change my res. I also don't buy into changing my nutes every week or 2. I typically change my res once a month, and just top it off with water or nutes as needed in between, the plants grow great.
The chemical issue is completely different, and you're very naive to think that the small amount of waste water that hydro growers may dump is a real issue. I gaurentee that the 1000+ acre farms all around where I live spray and dump more crap into the soil then I have ever put down the drain. There is no were near enough hydro growers( of any kind not just cannabis) to impact the water system anywhere near as much as commercial agriculture. Then you must give consideration to all the manufacting waste from factories, chemical plants, and other sources.
I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't all do what we can to improve the condition of this planet. We need to focus on the real problems, rather then make big issues out of minor things. Personally during the summer I use some of my left over nutes to water my veggies out side when I change my res. I also don't buy into changing my nutes every week or 2. I typically change my res once a month, and just top it off with water or nutes as needed in between, the plants grow great.
st0wandgrow
Well-Known Member
If we all took that approach then nothing would get done. If we all try to conserve, and be conscientious of what we're doing then meaningful change can happen. Do you recycle paper, cans, etc, or just say "fuck it, my little bit of waste isn't the problem"?
foreverflyhi
Well-Known Member
Not entirely true.
A water plant in Santee California reuses its recycled waste water in the lake near by, this lake is now having a issue of fish and bio diversity, why? One problem is the estrogen that is coming from birth control pills. The fish are not producing males so the life cycle gets interrupted. That is a problem that was brought up years ago, but wAs looked down upon because no one knew it would cause this problem.
Same with hydro growers, saying it doesnt impact the environment is very very naive. And even foolish to think other wise. Walk in a random hydro store, look at all those bottles, theres hundreds if not thousands of gallons of chemicals. If they arnt used, where do u think they get dumped?
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foreverflyhi
Well-Known Member
Exactly, i honestly feel guilt when i waste water, or when i dump a piece of trash on the floor and not pick it up.
Millions of people smoke cigarettes, only a handful dont dump their cigarettes butts on the floor.
Humboldt county is currently in a battle of water pollution caused by cannabis growers.
Story on AP about cannabis growers and water waste
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/study-finds-medical-pot-farms-draining-streams-dry
For those who are too lazy or dont care, heres a pic from the article
Pattahabi
Well-Known Member
I really hate to even be talking about synthetic nutes in the organic section. We know it's bad. Everyone else is going to figure it out sooner or later.
Now seriously, how can we conserve more water? I love the filter Stow. I've been thinking for a while now I need to get off the RO because of the water it wastes. Most of the time I use the water to hit the few outside plants and trees I have, but sometimes I have more water then I use and I feel horrible for not having anything to do with it.
And btw, I don't pay for water, it's included in the rent. Now tell me how I can conserve water, because it is about more then the cost to me.
P-
Now seriously, how can we conserve more water? I love the filter Stow. I've been thinking for a while now I need to get off the RO because of the water it wastes. Most of the time I use the water to hit the few outside plants and trees I have, but sometimes I have more water then I use and I feel horrible for not having anything to do with it.
And btw, I don't pay for water, it's included in the rent. Now tell me how I can conserve water, because it is about more then the cost to me.
P-
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foreverflyhi
Well-Known Member
Yea im having the same problem, i use waste water for my citrus trees, but always have left overs...
Its official, I'm buying The filter stow is using.. 99$ is not bad! Filters im assuming are about 20-40$?
How about blumats? Heard they do just fine keeping soil moist with no leaks.
I think keeping direct air contact away from pots is essential, and mulch, good to repeat things around here.
Its official, I'm buying The filter stow is using.. 99$ is not bad! Filters im assuming are about 20-40$?
How about blumats? Heard they do just fine keeping soil moist with no leaks.
I think keeping direct air contact away from pots is essential, and mulch, good to repeat things around here.
Thundercat
Well-Known Member
Did you both miss the part where I said we all need to do what we can, and that I personally do reuse my hydro water whenever possible. I also recycle all my glass, plastics, and paper, I have a compost pile where I compost organic waste, and reuse it for planting.
By the end of summer I'll also have rain water collection barrels on all the gutters of my house. If we are gonna talk about water conservation then that's a hugely missed opportunity. I only know one other person that collects rain water in real life, and have only seen a few growers on here that use it. Once this is set up, it will provide me with all the water I should need for my gardens since I live in a reasonably wet part of the country.
By the end of summer I'll also have rain water collection barrels on all the gutters of my house. If we are gonna talk about water conservation then that's a hugely missed opportunity. I only know one other person that collects rain water in real life, and have only seen a few growers on here that use it. Once this is set up, it will provide me with all the water I should need for my gardens since I live in a reasonably wet part of the country.
Thundercat
Well-Known Member
I don't believe that most people use filters unless they are drinking it. I wouldn't think the water was on the roof long enough to leech, but I really don't know. I havn't planned on using it for anything other then yard work and gardens so I havn't looked deep into it. I have seen planters that are designed to fit on top of the collection barrel to auto water them.
skunkd0c
Well-Known Member
the 7 to 10 days you speak of is 3 months for me .. each to their own
Pattahabi
Well-Known Member
Yup, that's why we have the organic section.
skunkd0c
Well-Known Member
Red1966
Well-Known Member
That goes against "traditional" wisdom. What kind of nutes are you using and do you use a chiller?
Banana444
Well-Known Member
Forget what we as semi concious growers use on our gardens. Its the unknowing majority. I guess hydro growers might dump a lot of waste water down the drain or in thier neighbors yard but look at the amount of lawn fertilizers and chemicals used to control every type of bug and weed. And they are cheap and thousands of pounds of these chemicals are dumped directly onto what runs into our lakes and streams. What do you think causes algae blooms that destroys underwater ecosystems. What can you do?
skunkd0c
Well-Known Member
Traditional wisdom ?
this method of growing without the need for PH regulation or nutrient replacement is over 20 years old
vitalink max nutes
no chiller, pretty cold in the UK most of the time
from my own experience replacing hydroponic nutes is unnecessary
plants can maintain perfect health by adding (topping up) nutes and water when necessary
i have heard folk talk of nutrient imbalance (scare stories) if nutes are not replaced every 2 weeks
i'm sure this is possible but i have never seen it occur with my plants
they are always green and healthy until i chop them
peace
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