Greetings from Iowa via Afghanistan...

[Hawkdriver]

Spending my idle time over here planning my system and was wondering if anyone has used 4 or 6 inch PVC tubing (horizontal) for your grow beds. I originally started using this concept with the tubes filled with media but am not sure if I can get enough volume or if the recommended depth(12") is an issue.

[Roger L.]

I am thinking of using 8" piping for a NFT system with Nettie pots every 6" and grow strawberries. My plan is more of a space utilization method because my system is in my basement.

[JCO]

PVC is not normally used with a media inside...it is for NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) only. The media would clog in not time and you would have to take it all out to clean it.

To use PVC, do it with a thin layer of water flowing continously and the plants in net pots usually in rock wool or peat moss after the roots are long enough to reach the water.

You have to be careful with NFT set up directly in the sun as the water going in might be at 70 degrees but by the time is runs through it can be hot enough to cook the root of the last plants in the PVC and can potentially reach temps above 100 degrees.