Reddit reviews TotalPond Vinyl Tubing, 1/2-inch
We found 5 Reddit comments about TotalPond Vinyl Tubing, 1/2-inch. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
1/2 in. inner diameter vinyl tubing; 20 ft. coilConnects your pond equipmentDurable yet flexibleResists algae growthSafe for fish and plants
I plan to grow larger variant tomatoes such as beefsteak and want to make sure this kind of layout and these components will be good enough for that purpose.
Here is the list of components I'm planning to use:
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The remaining plumbing components I need I'll pick up from my local Home Depot.
Here's the other stuff
Spray heads:
https://www.amazon.com/Rain-Bird-MSF10PKSX-Irrigation-Threaded/dp/B06XSR8MMG/ref=sr_1_84?keywords=threaded+spray+head&qid=1573768179&sr=8-84
Tubing:
https://www.amazon.com/TotalPond-Vinyl-Tubing-1-2-inch/dp/B004DL0Y9O/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia?keywords=vinyl+tubing&pd_rd_i=B004DL0Y9O&pd_rd_r=e0063686-f494-4dc6-9db6-1cbe026f303b&pd_rd_w=IxDke&pd_rd_wg=TfExm&pf_rd_p=1cb3f32a-ccfd-479b-8a13-b22f56c942c6&pf_rd_r=WDPF56WKV5AVVB3KFAYG&psc=1&qid=1573768211
This is basically what I use...
The basics:
Extras, that make things nice and easy:
If you feed drain-to-waste, you'll want to come up with some way to collect runoff. Maybe something like THIS small HD tote, with a few holes drilled through the top. Just set your plant on top and it will collect all your runoff.
Just adding some more info since I've been trying to come up with ideas. I've been attempting to figure out what goes into and sourcing the parts for a drip system. These are some parts I've come up with:
pump
1/2" tubing
1/4" tubing, emiters, t-fittings
I'll still have to try hand watering til I can get the parts but is that basically all I'd need? Well, other than a reservoir. I'd considered having a recycling res using the half-bucket I currently use to catch runoff given I have enough headroom for the pump. I could probably fit about a gallon of water in there. Given I have enough headroom does that sound feasible? If not I don't really have to recycle anyways. Just a thought.
I have a system similar to what you're describing, I posted it a while back here.
I have changed things recently, and maybe I can share with you some of the mistakes I made so you can avoid them. Firstly, you want a way to divide your flow and control it with ball valves. This is a great cheap pump on amazon. I know it seems like the gallons per hour are high, and with a small system that becomes an issue. If flow is too disruptive in your tank, your fish aren't happy. If flow is too high in your tiny grow bed, your plants aren't happy. I split the flow from my pump to divert some of it to two media beds and a third directly back into my tank. The splitting system was made of PVC and ball valves. It was the only way to reduce the flow rate so it wasn't crazy disruptive. A timer only costs about 10 USD and 15 min intervals really do help, even for an ornamental tank. I'd also recommend a bell siphon just because they're cool and can be made small. It helps your roots breathe.
I have aggressive filtration; small systems are very delicate and temperamental. Having lots of physical and biological filtration helps with this. I have an under gravel filter and also made a small canister filter that I run the water through before the media bed; you can make one out of anything water-tight. This provides a bit more water for your system and more aggressive filtration. Mine is full of filter mesh and bucky balls. I found that without this pre-filter, my media was getting disgusting within a few months.
My cheap fluorescent light worked like crap. You just can't grow things with anything but a good window or a good grow light. Amazon occasionally has great deals on lights, like this one. The T5's are great for little indoor systems.
Using clear acrylic tubing was stupid. It ended up with so much growth it gummed up everything. It also leaked like crazy everywhere even with hose clamps because it wasn't really made for any pressure. Use cheap black vinyl pond tubing like this. It's made specifically for this purpose and doesn't cost much more.
Heating a small system like this is a pain in the ass. I had a heater that was rated for 30 gallons, a heater in my canister, and it still couldn't keep up. Because there's so little water, as your water recirculates, it cools to room temp quickly. This makes your fish have to deal with constant temp fluctuations, which is stressful for them. You can get expensive line heaters on top of a heater for each tank, keep the room your tank is in at 24 degrees C, or just use cold water fish. I'd recommend the latter unless you have a good budget.
Finally, you still want to follow the general rules of aquarium keeping. Cichlids have no business in a 10 gallon tank, its way too small for them. Also an ideal pH for plants is ~6.8, so you need fish that are pH tolerant. I'm a little more lenient about goldfish and personally feel you can put 1-2 in a 10 gallon if you know how to keep your water chemistry happy. Goldfish police in this sub will tell you otherwise. That's up to your own opinion and research. Many people like to plant their ornamental AP tank, which is fine as long as they don't suck up all the nutrients and leave your herbs with nothing. I got rid of that second tank up top because I was naively hoping to use it as a little DWC area, but it became more hassle than it was worth for 4 net cups. I now have a 10 gallon tote, which is about the size you would want for your growbed as well. Fill it as high as you can to give your plants maximum root space.