Caring for Your Hydroponic Supplies
Are you planning to make a sizable investment for a hydroponic system? You'd definitely want it to last a very long time. The first step you can make is to purchase superior quality equipment. Usually, the more you pay initially, the more money you save later on when you might need repairs or replacements. The second step is, of course, ensuring that all your equipment gets the right maintenance and care.
Among the different hydroponic supplies in the market today, grow lights are often the most equipment. Therefore, you should take really good care of them. Usually, grow lights are kept on for around twelve to sixteen hours per day. That means a lot of heat will be generated, and eventually, this will not only wear down your lights' components, but also those of other equipment you may have. This is where auxiliary fans come in handy as they work to lessen the heat in your grow room. With the right temperature maintained, your lights can last twice as long, but your grow room will also be more comfortable for you.
If you make sure your your ballast is in good condition, you can also extend the life of your lighting system. Your high-intensity discharge light functions with a ballast which is meant to regulate the flow of electricity through your grow light. If you're still using an older magnetic ballast, it is time to upgrade to a digital ballast, if only to make your hydroponic supplies last longer. Digital ballasts have superior precision, making them highly capable of maintaining consistency in the flow of electricity through your bulbs. They even produce less noise and heat than their magnetic forebears. When operations are stable, there are less power surges and lower electricity bills. Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroponics for the history of hydroponics.
To flush the reservoir and pump from http://goodguysgardening.com, use pH-adjusted water to fill the reservoir first to a level just a little higher than the pump, then run for around 5 minutes. You can then unplug the pump and pull the drip tube, placing it in a large bucket. Next step is to run the hydroponic system to place the water in the bucket until it runs out of the liquid, pulling the system while it is about to suck air. Finally, attach the tube again and fill it with a pH-regulated solution.
It's important that you clean your pump every three months to ensure efficient operation. Also don't forget to rinse out or get a replacement for your growing medium following each growing season. For routine cleaning and disinfection of your equipment, make sure you have isopropyl alcohol available. We all know alcohol kills microorganisms and will even help make your hydroponic supplies canada look newer than it is. In addition, it also works great for dissolving buildup faster and safer.