the thick pond liner still needs some containment, just placing it in a trench will not work. what if you have an earthquake and the ground turns to water? I would either go for plywood liners, loose breezeblock or 3 to one sand and cement mix made semi dry.
the breeze block laid loose will move with the ground and can easily be straightened. the ply wood is flexible and the sand and cement mix if it s fairly lose is also flexible even concrete may work, and if it cracks it matters nothing what counts is the liner is contained, and does not leak. there are other methods I am sure but the same principle apply.
After thinking about it, going concrete might not be such a good idea with earthquakes. It would crack. Maybe the thickest pond liner would work better?
a few more thoughts on creating a hydroponic channel system.
now cheryl asks me can we line the trenches with concrete? the answer is yes and no. if we use butyl ruber pond liner this is soft and will tear easily which is why ponds invariably are lined with building sand or soft soil. now, there are a few methods of making these channels and this depends upon first the budget and second the materials in hand
one way is to use breeze blocks and a layer of sand to protect the liner,. another method is to use three quarter ply wood cut in long sections and with batten spacers on tp to keep it rigid. here there may be no need for a sand lining and the pond liner may sit safely in these box channels. we can use concrete, but another method is to use semi dry mix of sand an cement moulded along the channels in the ground , again the rubber will fit nicley in these channels it may alos be the cheapest way .
now another idea has comes to me. every house with central heating i believe has in its loft a top up tank for the boiler. inside this plastic tank is a ball float that operates a valve that opens when the water level gets too low. thus the boiler is always filled. . now this equipment can be used to keep our hydroponics topped up, in the same way, but it needs a lot of thought and I would have to experimnt before I say any more. but understand the basic idea.
so, a few more tips and suggestions. in the end, it all boils down to practical common sense.
this has got me really thinking, Cheryl, and I may do some research on it. maybe post something. anyhow, there is a plastic used in water cisterns, that is shall we say, food grade, I forget the terms, but in all water storage it is certified safe for potable water storage. it does not leach chemicals. ah yes I think we re talking about butyl rubber, maybe John knows of this. anyhow, another thought has juts come to me. the best way to do this is to buy pond liner. now this can be bought here in the UK in any sizes at all masive areas of surface can be covered. so, I suggest you buy pond liner that which I know is made of butyl rubber. it comes back to me. I will supply some links later for reference.
now this liner comes in all grades, thin thick or very thick. choose which you need. thus can then be cut accordingly. I suggest you star this way. peg the area out, with several wooden pegs, connect a line it, then begin digging the trenches around th perimeter. maybe line them with building sand f the ground is too rough. next have a polythene shelter all set for placing over this trench system. then when it is in place and tied down to resit winds you can go inside and dig the rest of the trenches, and maybe have a two tier system where long benches straddle the ground trenches. now you need s point of exit as well as a point of supply fr the water. it may be possible to have a small recirculating pump, a pond pump installed. what matters s regulation of the chemicals in th water. fish will help fertilize the plants. I could go on and on, but need much more research. another way is to use an existing greenhouse and simply build benches around it and pond liners, make a framework of wood . also you can simply build wooden trays and line them accordingly. or use plastic trays-- use multiple tiers.
have a pipe going from one tray to the next and the water pump around so it is all replenished. I must stop there. hope that answers your questions. more later perhaps?
That's a good idea, Nicholas. Would plastic leech into the water and contaminate the food and the fish? If so, what else could be used? If time and money, what about using cement or something like what's used in making a swimming pool, except it would be trench size?
one idea has just come to me. if space is available why not use this method of hydroponics. have a flat piece of land, then dig trenches say twelve foot long by six inches wide, lined with polythene such that they hold water. other forms of lining may do but make it so the trenches are filled with water. then have a supply near by where you can replenish the trenches. next using Johns idea of fish you can have fish in them but more, you can then grow all your vegetables and have the whole thing covered in a polythene roof for warmth--of course you can make it any size and shape. and again why not a solar panel or two for additional heating? the model can be fashioned in all sorts of ways but this will be the cheapest I think. also you can make more space by having benches over the ground trenches and more vegies grown on these.
May I suggest the following. buy a few maybe a dozen, plastic boxes as as used for packing things, they come in many shapes ans sizes. learn about hydroponics, get a supply if chemicals, and grow such things as spinach, in fact most brasiccas and root vegetables can be grown this way. also try sprouting seeds, but masses of them
now one way of getting a bigger bang for your bucks to use an expression is to buy such as flax seed. not only to grind and eat but to sprout. find a room where a table can be set up, a bench type of table, maybe a few ultraviolet lights. and to cap it all, why not a solar panel or two wired up to the lamps so you have free power and the veggies can grow all day long.
True, except for me as I don't have any of those. I'll have to figure out something to build to contain it, etc. But for those who can, definitely...don't wait to do it!
Replies
the thick pond liner still needs some containment, just placing it in a trench will not work. what if you have an earthquake and the ground turns to water? I would either go for plywood liners, loose breezeblock or 3 to one sand and cement mix made semi dry.
the breeze block laid loose will move with the ground and can easily be straightened. the ply wood is flexible and the sand and cement mix if it s fairly lose is also flexible even concrete may work, and if it cracks it matters nothing what counts is the liner is contained, and does not leak. there are other methods I am sure but the same principle apply.
After thinking about it, going concrete might not be such a good idea with earthquakes. It would crack. Maybe the thickest pond liner would work better?
a few more thoughts on creating a hydroponic channel system.
now cheryl asks me can we line the trenches with concrete? the answer is yes and no. if we use butyl ruber pond liner this is soft and will tear easily which is why ponds invariably are lined with building sand or soft soil. now, there are a few methods of making these channels and this depends upon first the budget and second the materials in hand
one way is to use breeze blocks and a layer of sand to protect the liner,. another method is to use three quarter ply wood cut in long sections and with batten spacers on tp to keep it rigid. here there may be no need for a sand lining and the pond liner may sit safely in these box channels. we can use concrete, but another method is to use semi dry mix of sand an cement moulded along the channels in the ground , again the rubber will fit nicley in these channels it may alos be the cheapest way .
now another idea has comes to me. every house with central heating i believe has in its loft a top up tank for the boiler. inside this plastic tank is a ball float that operates a valve that opens when the water level gets too low. thus the boiler is always filled. . now this equipment can be used to keep our hydroponics topped up, in the same way, but it needs a lot of thought and I would have to experimnt before I say any more. but understand the basic idea.
so, a few more tips and suggestions. in the end, it all boils down to practical common sense.
this has got me really thinking, Cheryl, and I may do some research on it. maybe post something. anyhow, there is a plastic used in water cisterns, that is shall we say, food grade, I forget the terms, but in all water storage it is certified safe for potable water storage. it does not leach chemicals. ah yes I think we re talking about butyl rubber, maybe John knows of this. anyhow, another thought has juts come to me. the best way to do this is to buy pond liner. now this can be bought here in the UK in any sizes at all masive areas of surface can be covered. so, I suggest you buy pond liner that which I know is made of butyl rubber. it comes back to me. I will supply some links later for reference.
now this liner comes in all grades, thin thick or very thick. choose which you need. thus can then be cut accordingly. I suggest you star this way. peg the area out, with several wooden pegs, connect a line it, then begin digging the trenches around th perimeter. maybe line them with building sand f the ground is too rough. next have a polythene shelter all set for placing over this trench system. then when it is in place and tied down to resit winds you can go inside and dig the rest of the trenches, and maybe have a two tier system where long benches straddle the ground trenches. now you need s point of exit as well as a point of supply fr the water. it may be possible to have a small recirculating pump, a pond pump installed. what matters s regulation of the chemicals in th water. fish will help fertilize the plants. I could go on and on, but need much more research. another way is to use an existing greenhouse and simply build benches around it and pond liners, make a framework of wood . also you can simply build wooden trays and line them accordingly. or use plastic trays-- use multiple tiers.
have a pipe going from one tray to the next and the water pump around so it is all replenished. I must stop there. hope that answers your questions. more later perhaps?
That's a good idea, Nicholas. Would plastic leech into the water and contaminate the food and the fish? If so, what else could be used? If time and money, what about using cement or something like what's used in making a swimming pool, except it would be trench size?
one idea has just come to me. if space is available why not use this method of hydroponics. have a flat piece of land, then dig trenches say twelve foot long by six inches wide, lined with polythene such that they hold water. other forms of lining may do but make it so the trenches are filled with water. then have a supply near by where you can replenish the trenches. next using Johns idea of fish you can have fish in them but more, you can then grow all your vegetables and have the whole thing covered in a polythene roof for warmth--of course you can make it any size and shape. and again why not a solar panel or two for additional heating? the model can be fashioned in all sorts of ways but this will be the cheapest I think. also you can make more space by having benches over the ground trenches and more vegies grown on these.
Great post thank you.
May I suggest the following. buy a few maybe a dozen, plastic boxes as as used for packing things, they come in many shapes ans sizes. learn about hydroponics, get a supply if chemicals, and grow such things as spinach, in fact most brasiccas and root vegetables can be grown this way. also try sprouting seeds, but masses of them
now one way of getting a bigger bang for your bucks to use an expression is to buy such as flax seed. not only to grind and eat but to sprout. find a room where a table can be set up, a bench type of table, maybe a few ultraviolet lights. and to cap it all, why not a solar panel or two wired up to the lamps so you have free power and the veggies can grow all day long.
True, except for me as I don't have any of those. I'll have to figure out something to build to contain it, etc. But for those who can, definitely...don't wait to do it!
And . . . we don't have to wait until spring to get the parts and put them together
in the basement or in the garage or in the sunroom.
John DiNardo said:
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