Since we're all stuck at home with jack shit to do but bitch on the internet (guilty ), I thought I'd investigate something creative and constructive that reduces our reliance on supermarkets and may cut grocery costs.
Has anyone investigated hydroponics in Thailand? The idea of growing food using water and fish is a good one and easily achieved here if you have the room and the time (which we all have too much of at the moment).
We have a koi carp pond and the fish are pretty big now so the idea is to run some of this nutrient rich water through a hydroponic pipe system to grow basic salad plants to start with and expand if successful.
Has anyone tried anything similar? Any tips or links to share?
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Yes, I did try hydroponics quite some time ago, I used 4" pvc pipe and a part A/B nutrient solution specifically for hydroponics. It was a variant on the NFT (nutrient film technique), where the nutrient solution flows over the root system, but also chose to keep some water levels in the tube so it would not dry out. The pump needs to run 24/7. The veggies turned out okay but they all matured at the same time so ended up eating some older veggies too.
Have mothballed it for the time being, you need to watch nutrient levels carefully towards the 4th-5th week as the plants consume a lot of it.
I would recommend the floating raft type, just in case of power failure, and a safety level of nutrient solution.
Not sure if there would be enough nutrients in a large koi pond, but something to try.
Also, the hardware shops are closed so not possible to buy stuff just now.
I am considering a home build once this covid thing blows over, but with a floating raft design.
VincentD wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2020 2:48 pm
Yes, I did try hydroponics quite some time ago, I used 4" pvc pipe and a part A/B nutrient solution specifically for hydroponics. It was a variant on the NFT (nutrient film technique), where the nutrient solution flows over the root system, but also chose to keep some water levels in the tube so it would not dry out. The pump needs to run 24/7. The veggies turned out okay but they all matured at the same time so ended up eating some older veggies too.
Have mothballed it for the time being, you need to watch nutrient levels carefully towards the 4th-5th week as the plants consume a lot of it.
I would recommend the floating raft type, just in case of power failure, and a safety level of nutrient solution.
Not sure if there would be enough nutrients in a large koi pond, but something to try.
Also, the hardware shops are closed so not possible to buy stuff just now.
I am considering a home build once this covid thing blows over, but with a floating raft design.
Just as an aside, on our way back from Hua Hin earlier today, we passed Thai Watsadu and it was open!!
Whether hardware stores are open or not in different areas is irrelevant (though they are open where I live). Ideally I'd like to use materials that we can source around the house like bits of pipe and stuff. I know there are websites selling vastly over-priced hydroponics kits but I'll be avoiding those in favour of something homemade and 'upcycled'.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Aquaponics in motion. All sourced locally: 4 meter 2.5" water pipe, tray and sponges came from the garden shop, as did the seeds. Water is gravity fed from our existing fish pump outflow before it gets filtered. Total cost so far is about 600 baht including the drill cutter kit. This can be done without the fish pond but you'll need to add nutrients as mentioned above.
Already have germination ...
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Will expand it if this is a success and we get healthy plants from it.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
A couple of times I've bought hydroponic salads in Makro. I found them not just more expensive but totally lacking in flavour. I bought twice just to check that the second purchase was just as flavourless as the first batch.
Is that just the way it is or is it down to the method?
I’ve been buying mine direct from our local hydroponic farm for about 2 years. I can’t honestly say that it’s “tasteless” but you pick your own, so it’s certainly fresh and lasts at least a week in the salad chiller compartment of our fridge - plus it’s a third of the price that Makro charge
Buksi - you may find at a later stage that the 2.5" tube is too small as the root growth in later weeks can almost clog the tube. Also, if the flow of water stops for more than an hour your plants can dry out. I partially blocked the end so the tube is half filled all the time - this gives you a buffer so your plants won't die if you have any power cuts and can't keep the flow.
My two baht worth..
BTW I was using the two-part A/B hydroponic nutrient solution with a recirculating system into a holding tank. I also kept the solution aerated with an aquarium air pump and aeration stone in the holding tank.
Do keep us regularly updated, I look forward to see how your experiment progresses..
VincentD wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2020 9:42 pm
Buksi - you may find at a later stage that the 2.5" tube is too small as the root growth in later weeks can almost clog the tube. Also, if the flow of water stops for more than an hour your plants can dry out. I partially blocked the end so the tube is half filled all the time - this gives you a buffer so your plants won't die if you have any power cuts and can't keep the flow.
My two baht worth..
Thanks for the suggestions, yeah I was going to cap the end and drill an outlet hole halfway up so water can fill half the pipe but still get circulated. Its all just a science experiment at the moment so nothing lost if it doesn't produce.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
VincentD wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2020 9:42 pm
Buksi - you may find at a later stage that the 2.5" tube is too small as the root growth in later weeks can almost clog the tube. Also, if the flow of water stops for more than an hour your plants can dry out. I partially blocked the end so the tube is half filled all the time - this gives you a buffer so your plants won't die if you have any power cuts and can't keep the flow.
My two baht worth..
Thanks for the suggestions, yeah I was going to cap the end and drill an outlet hole halfway up so water can fill half the pipe but still get circulated. Its all just a science experiment at the moment so nothing lost if it doesn't produce.
Any update on how things are going buks? With all that's (not) going on, I've been looking into this again. Confusing advice as to which system to use, what plants to grow etc., etc. One thing however that has stood out is the diameter of pipe to use (and obviously associated feed/water supply). Many state 6", but you are using 2.5" - is this simply down to the plants being grown or the system used?
Anywho, hope things are going well!!
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
), I thought I'd investigate something creative and constructive that reduces our reliance on supermarkets and may cut grocery costs. 
