DIY Reliable Non-clogging water delivering system to aquaponics grow towers. Replaces the drip tubes that tend to clog with time!
Video Rating: / 5
Find out how to make an organic, sustainable, cheap, easy, and
efficient grow tower. I built this for and will grow 40 plants in 4
square feet. With the power of vermicomposting, this is a self fertilizing, and semi-self watering system. Great for patio gardeners or People tight on space.
MIgardener Website http://www.MIgardener.com
Join the fun on facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/MIgardener
+1 me on Google+ @ http://www.google.com/+MIgardener
Pin us on Pinterest @ http://www.pinterest.com/MIgardenerYT
Follow the fun on twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/MI_Gardener
Come tumble with us @ www.MIgardener.tumblr.com .99 Heirloom Vegetable Seeds: http://www.migardener.com/store
——————————————————————————————-
MIgardener Website http://www.MIgardener.com
Join the fun on facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/MIgardener
+1 me on Google+ @ http://www.google.com/+MIgardener
Pin us on Pinterest @ http://www.pinterest.com/MIgardenerYT
Follow the fun on twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/MI_Gardener
Come tumble with us @ www.MIgardener.tumblr.com
Michael DeLaMarre really there is far less to fail with a system like this. if you have a dozen beds you have a dozen bell siphons, with this system you flood all your beds or towers with one cycle, no siphons to hangup and clean
very nice build. I used a 2 liter soda bottle and spray painted it black, i still get some algae but it's easy to clean with a little pea gravel in the bottle and swirl it around. also easy to adjust the dump by drilling larger and larger holes until you get it timed just right. the 2 liter bottle worked for 2 years, I changed it to a 3 liter bottle and it no longer gets the bit of water that overflows the top fill hole. also turned my flush valve sideways to the overflow tube wasn't in the way of the flush arm, in my case i used a piece of 3/8 copper tube for the flush arm, smashed the ends flat and drilled holes to attach my flush valve and weight….
Very cool system, but why not just use a bell siphon? It seems as if you would have fewer moving parts and get the same effect. Fewer moving parts = more reliable no?
Nicely done!
Nice! I really liked this video and I appreciate your "cleanness". I have watched a lot of your videos and don't have to worry when my son is near that he'll hear something inappropriate. I would like to know where you find your barrels and are they food grade? I live in central WV and finding food grade barrels and IBC totes is really difficult….not to mention expensive. I have wanted to get into aquaponics for a long time. Your design is similar to Travis Hughey from My Aqua Farm but yours is neater and well thought out because he uses a plastic pop bottle to trigger his flush mechanism. Thanks again!
Fantastic!…thanks so much for sharing. By the way , where did you get the worms.
This might be a dumb question but, if you water the tube with the worms in it, won't they drowned?
do you just water the center pipe?
awsome idea.. u have a video of the result?
Actually I do have a couple tips. Even a system like this needs to be at least 3 feet off the ground to prevent rabbits and ground squirrels. If possible, have at least 2 feet of smooth, bare sides to prevent animals from climbing up from the ground. If the tube has no bottom hole, do put down some 1/4" galvanized wire screen to prevent voles and moles from digging up into it from the bottom (moles will go after your worms and grubs inside the compost.) Do read the plant requirements list and place plants requiring full sun on the south and west side of the tower, (tomatoes, peppers, strawberries), and more tender plants needing some shade on the north side of the tower. (some lettuces and green onions do better in part shade.) Deer and rabbits don't usually like strong-smelling plants such as society garlic, rosemary, and lavender, so underneath or around the towers do plant the strong-smelling plants to deter their interest. I also use bits of shedded dog fur wrapped up in cloth mesh tied to my plants in my containers to deter deer and rabbits. Do some homework on the plant varieties and try to select plants for your geographical location and weather conditions. Spring and fall are the best time to grow lettuces, broccoli, celery, spinach, sweet peas, cauliflowers and cabbages, summer is best for tomatoes, peppers, and squashes. Get a good schedule of vegetable plants and when to grow and harvest them for better use of these containers. Do invest in "heirloom" varieties when possible to keep the seeds going. These also work for flowers, too. I think we might look into these as a fair project for the 4-H kids.
Cost of materials + cost of soil + cost of starter plants ——– is it more than the quality of the produce? I have a problem where the total cost of materials, soil mixes, and plants is not worth the yield. I have yet to pick more than 5 strawberries. I am willing to try again, but so far I have only picked 5 strawberries and 7 (sour) tomatoes using these contraptions. And zero pumpkins. I am paying attention to this system, though. Maybe I will try it out this time. Thanks for posting!
Do you need worms for this?
Awesome Sauce!
Do you got to winterize it if you plant strawberries.
Your grower is brilliant and at 1/10th of the cost of a premed planter of smaller size. Thank you.
plastic trash can work. you build a wooden box if want and drill holes that work as well too.
this is cool, thanks a lot yo!!
I like space saving and would be perfect for lettuce
what did you do with it at the end of the season?
check out"barrel garden with worm tube" won't need to cut all those holes or use a plastic bag. luck
great system! thanks ☺
Hi , it doesn't need some sort of drainage?
Drilling holes in PVC is insanity. I find it much easier to run an electric saw through at shallow depths. It ends up looking like shark gills. Very effective for me though. Thanks for posting!
amazing we will rock…..