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Thread: Kitchen Herbs

  1. #1
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    Kitchen Herbs

    Since seeing the bare produce section this winter, my wife and I have decided to be a little more self-sustained. When deciding on where we should put a few different AP systems, she asked me to set up a little system so she could grow some herbs and spices. I breed aquarium fish, so I have quite a few of the parts just kicking around - it's a little bush-league, but it should do the trick.

    Here's what I started with - a 10gal tank with Hamburg Mat Filter powered by a MaxiJet 300 (I believe) powerhead. I'm not sure if you notice out the window, but those snow mounds are about 8' high... and that's after an unseasonal week of melting!


    I've only drilled the back pipe, so far - I have more pots on the way. The flow is pretty high for the system, so I didn't want the water just spilling out of the holes for the pots on the front pipe. I'll probably go pick up a throttle valve for the powerhead to slow down the flow a bit. Before the grow tubes were installed, the heater was behind the filter and kept the tank at 78F (what the fish like); however, it cools off significantly in the pipes and the tank is at 70F, so I moved the heater into the tank. This heater is only 50W, so I'll pick up a 100W and place it on the right side of the tank


    The fish are Lamprologus brevis. They live in empty snail shells. There are 9 in there - they're pretty small, but I'm hoping that they produce enough waste for some simple herbs. Seeds were planted a couple days ago - hoping to see sprouts by week's end.
    Jason M.

  2. #2
    Members foodchain's Avatar
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    Re: Kitchen Herbs

    Don't use a throttle valve. It dead heads the pump and it will wear it out faster. Create a Y split and recirculate one arm of the Y. Install a 1/4 turn valve on the pot side of the Y arm. And recirculate in a loop the other. Like this:

    Left Y = Pot/bed Right Y = loop back into the tank.

    This allows the pump to stay wide open without dead heading and allows you to control flow rate on the beds. I have burned up a lot of pumps before I figured this out.
    At first I left this blank...but now I believe: "It's better to keep your mouth closed, and have the world think your a fool, than open it and confirm it."

  3. #3
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    Re: Kitchen Herbs

    I know what you're saying about burning the pump out, but this little powerhead is mag-driven - those guys are supposed to be able to be throttled back w/o affecting the pump...
    I have about 6 of these little pumps kicking around, so if this one burns out with the throttle on it, I'll go out and buy a few more connectors and do it the 'right way' then.
    Jason M.

  4. #4
    Members dead_sled's Avatar
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    Re: Kitchen Herbs

    Extra flow diverted back to the tank is a great way to oxygenate. Just something to consider.
    Less irritating avatar since 02/27/14.

  5. #5
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    Re: Kitchen Herbs

    Hi,
    Throttling the flow should not be a problem for the pump as long as you keep it on the pump curve for the pump in question.
    Too high flow (i.e no backpressure) can be as bad as too high back pressure for a pump..
    br,
    Simon

  6. #6
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    Re: Kitchen Herbs

    I ended up putting a T between the 2 pipes, so water pumps into each one, instead of having a flow-through from one pipe to the next. I'll get some pics up tomorrow - have quite a few sprouts, already!
    Jason M.

  7. #7
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    Re: Kitchen Herbs

    Here's a little update. I re-did how water flows thru the pipes, and internally modified the drains so that the pipes are almost full. Once the roots are most established, I may take out those internal mods - they stay about 1/2 full w/o the mods.



    Here, you can see some sprouts starting. My wife did all the planting, but I think that's Basil and Thyme that are producing the most. I think there's also Oregano, Parsley, Dill and Sage.



    Next project is probably Turtleponics for leafy greens
    Jason M.

  8. #8
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    Re: Kitchen Herbs

    Here's a little update. Basil doing great; parsley seems to be doing OK, same with chives and dill. Sage and oregano seems to have stalled, and rosemary never did sprout.

    Jason M.

  9. #9
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
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    Re: Kitchen Herbs

    OK, your system has been up and running for quite some time, give us a photographic update as to it's health now.
    JCO
    Irish eyes are always smiling but
    • "In the eyes of the world, you are only as good as your last success"
    so never forget
    • "MAN IS ONLY LIMITED BY HIS IMAGINATION"

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