Page 3 of 5 FirstFirst 12345 LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 44
  1. #21
    Moderator davidstcldfl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Saint Cloud FL USA
    Posts
    2,029

    Re: Getting Ready for the basement

    Looking good jvision...

    I'm with Topaz....really like the metal racks...
    "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." - President Ronald Reagan

  2. #22
    Members
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Edmonton, Canada
    Posts
    109

    Re: Getting Ready for the basement

    The metal racks were only $170ea at Costco - I'm loving their diversity!
    Jason M.

  3. #23
    Members
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Edmonton, Canada
    Posts
    109

    Re: Getting Ready for the basement

    I went to the hardware store to get the fittings I needed, and missed 3! GRRRR!

    Here's all the plumbing


    That closed ball valve pointing up in the pool is for future strawberry towers. That'll have to wait, tho. I'm going to try to resist buying any goldfish for a year and get a bunch of free ones next fall when everyone is shutting down their ponds for the winter. I need about 100 gallons worth of rock to fill the other 3 GBs, but the landscape stores are only open during the week around here. If I get the same deal as last time, I may just pick it up 20 gallons at a time!!
    Jason M.

  4. #24
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Orange Park, Florida
    Posts
    1,830

    Re: Getting Ready for the basement

    So there is another person like myself that forgets things when at the store
    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"

  5. #25
    Members
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Edmonton, Canada
    Posts
    109

    Re: Getting Ready for the basement

    A couple weeks ago, I heard a rumor that a local aquarium store had some 5' T5HO fixutres on sale for $25. I have a 5' tank in my living room with a couple LED fixtures (designed for growing aquarium plants) over it, and thought if I could get 2 of these T5 fixutres (single bulb) for that cheap, I'll move the LEDs to grow veggies!

    Well, instead of getting 2 T5 fixtures for my tank (I did buy them, but to canibalize for another project), I got 24 72" T5HO bulbs for the amazing price of FREE!! Guess how long these metal racks are!
    When I ask what kind of ballast I'll need to run these bulbs, he tells me that everything runs off the same ballast as 48" T5HOs... Boy was he wrong!! That's OK, I found a lighting supplier in town that has ballasts for signs and he sells me one that will work... wrong, again! This morning I swapped ballasts for something stronger and a little lower cost. When I get home, I'll wire one of these babies up and post some pics... assuming it all work, of course.
    Jason M.

  6. #26
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Orange Park, Florida
    Posts
    1,830

    Re: Getting Ready for the basement

    When at first you don't succede, forget it and have a beer
    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"

  7. #27
    Members
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Edmonton, Canada
    Posts
    109

    Re: Getting Ready for the basement

    Surprise, sur-effin-prise... The ballast had a min of 16' of light and a max of 24'; my fixture is 3x6' for a total of 18' - no problems, right? The ballast fired up one completely, one only half way and the third was barely a flicker... PLUS, the lights are purple. Ef this, I'll stick with the hodge-podge lighting I have for now.
    Jason M.

  8. #28
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Orange Park, Florida
    Posts
    1,830

    Re: Getting Ready for the basement

    Make that a six pack
    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"

  9. #29
    Members
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Edmonton, Canada
    Posts
    109

    Re: Getting Ready for the basement

    Getting the media I need at this time of year is quite the chore! It's frozen, so I have to get the landscape store to get the loader to load up my 2 pails! I finally got enough rinsed for another GB.


    Since that last lighting FIASCO, I remembered I had a bunch of 12W LED Spotlights, so I went out and bought 2 48" Sunblasters to supliment. My 7yr old son helped me put this fixture together today.

    Here it is turned off


    Here are the spotlights... I thought I put in all "mixed spectrum", but looks like the far end is all red... I'll dig around to see if I have another mixed. I know I have all red, all blue and mixed kicking around. I might switch things up if I want to get things blooming.



    I set up the smaller GB as an herb garden. I planted most of these seeds a week ago


    And looks like the Thyme is already sprouting! I got the fixture built just in time!
    Jason M.

  10. #30
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Orange Park, Florida
    Posts
    1,830

    Re: Getting Ready for the basement

    Looking great...keep the pics comming
    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"

Similar Threads

  1. My new basement system!
    By Prometheus7504 in forum Back Yard Systems
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 12-17-2014, 04:08 PM
  2. almost ready to build, need advice-
    By mikiomcculloch in forum Back Yard Systems
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 06-03-2014, 08:56 PM
  3. Is my basement too confined??
    By AquaNH in forum Want To Know HOW TO..?
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-05-2013, 01:39 PM
  4. Basement Aquaponics
    By pniedzwiecki in forum Back Yard Systems
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 08-07-2011, 12:53 PM
  5. Ohio is getting ready.
    By Ironfish in forum Speak Up..!
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 11-01-2009, 08:20 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •