General Hydroponics WaterFarm 8-pack User Manual

Page 5

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HELPFUL GUIDELINES

HELPFUL GUIDELINES & TROUBLE SHOOTING

OPERATION

For moisture-loving plants, operate your WaterFarm 8-pack pump continuously.
Plants preferring drier conditions grow best when the pump runs for 1/2 hour on
and 1 hour off during daylight hours, and off at night (a simple timer will turn
the pump on and off for you automatically). Use mild to normal strength nutrient
solution and avoid strong or aggressive nutrient. As your plants consume nutrient
solution, the level in the reservoir will drop. The reservoir can be filled with half
strength solution or plain. It is necessary to change the water and nutrients every
one to two weeks depending upon the size of your plants and their rate of growth;
with bigger plants change more often. Simply empty the system by rotating the blue
drain level tube 90 degrees so water drains on the ground, or indoors in a pail.

PREPARATION FOR REPLANTING

After harvesting and before replanting your WaterFarm 8-pack, dismantle the
system and clean all parts with hot water. Rinse clay pebbles in very hot water and
soak overnight. It is a good idea to disassemble and wash the drip ring assembly
and pumping tube from time to time in hot water.

TROUBLE SHOOTING

If white salt deposits form on the clay pebbles:

1. Try using a milder nutrient solution and topping off with plain water only.
2. Occasionally drain your system, refill with plain water and run the pump
overnight. After the overnight rinse, empty reservoir and refill with
fresh nutrient.

If plants are not growing well and you suspect “hard” water:

1. Use FloraMicro Hardwater in place of FloraMicro.
2. Try distilled or purified water. You should see a significant improvement
in plant health and growth within one week.
3. Collect rainwater for use in your WaterFarm.

If nutrient solution stops flowing from the drip ring:

1. Check to ensure that pump is plugged in and reservoir is filled with
nutrient solution.
2. Disconnect air line from the air inlet and check whether the air is coming
through (put end under water and look for bubbles if you are not sure).
No air flow could mean that the pump is broken and must be replaced or
that the air line is loose or blocked. Try cutting an inch off each end of the
line to provide a tighter fit.
3. Blow into the air inlet to check whether it is clogged, and rinse the pumping
column in hot water. This type of clogging is usually an indication that you
have hard water or too strong a nutrient solution.
4. Check whether emitter holes in the drip ring are clogged. To clear,
disassemble drip ring by pulling it apart at the tee, rinse drip ring and tee
in hot water and clear the holes with a toothpick.

PLACEMENT

Abundant light, proper temperature and
adequate ventilation are crucial for fast
growth, healthy plants and higher yields.
Place the WaterFarm 8-pack in a warm,
well-lit, well-ventilated location, such as an
outdoor garden, sunlit window, patio or
greenhouse. Keep your WaterFarm 8-pack
away from areas where the inevitable
dripping that occurs during filling, draining
and pH adjustment could cause water
damage.

PLANTING

To prepare a seedling or a plant for
transplanting, remove all soil and/or organic
material from around the roots. Plants must
be sturdy with established roots before
transplanting into the WaterFarm 8-pack.
Choose seedlings because it’s more difficult
to successfully transplant older plants. If your
plant has been growing in soil or peat moss,
gently remove the plant from its pot and
carefully rinse as much soil as possible from
the roots before transplanting. Although
this method of transplanting from soil to
hydroponics is somewhat risky, as soil may
contain disease organisms that proliferate
in the rich hydroponic solution, we have
had success using this transplant method
and encourage you to try it. Or, you can
avoid these problems by starting plants from
cuttings in one of our RainForest Systems.

If you plan to grow several small
plants in the WaterFarm 8-pack,
place your plants just outside the
drip ring, near the drip holes. If you
prefer a single large plant, place it
in the center of the drip ring. Gently
add clay pebbles around the plant
roots until thoroughly covered.

FILLING

When filling the system with a nutrient
solution it is best to mix the nutrients in a
known volume of fresh water and pour into
the controller until the system reaches the
desired level. The controller and 8 individual
growing units hold approximately 17
gallons. The float valve can be adjusted by
bending the float valve arm so that the float
valve is all the way up in the off position.
Next, the reservoir can be placed on top
of the controller and can be filled with an
additional 12 gallons that will keep the
system full for one to two weeks with small
plants and may only last a few days to one
week with larger plants.

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