If you are concerned about high yields and high quality, you are concerned about sanitation. A factor most indoor gardeners forget about is air cleanliness. With the right air filtration in enclosed chambers, grow rooms can stay clean. Putting an organic air filter on the intake fan of your grow room will help reduce mold, dust, pollen, and insects from entering. Air filtration is one of the many reasons why all indoor gardens should be enclosed and air tight. These filters are put on the same way a carbon filter is put on to the exhaust portion of the grow room. The filter is attached via clamps. The clamps hold the ducting on the lip of the filter. Try to find insulated or sound proof ducting to reduce the noise of air movement which can become quite annoying. You can also get mufflers to reduce the noise of air flow. The type of filter needed for a hydroponic system can be found at online hydroponics retailers or at your local hydro shop. Keep your green thumbs up!
Tag: hydroponic safety
Confusion about Food Grade Plastics
Food grade plastics should be a minimum requirement in all hydroponic systems. When designing a home hydroponics set up or buying one from the local hydro shop, check the labels and do your research. If you don’t demand food grade plastics you could be digesting harmful chemicals and toxins with every harvest. It may also be beneficial to your plants to use food grade plastics so they don’t absorb deadly contaminants.
I use plastics with a Number 2 or Number 5 on them for the parts in my own hydroponic setup. Reservoirs, flood trays in a recirculating system, and plant containers are all possible examples of things that require these type of plastics. To find out if your drip lines, water pumps, and emitters are food grade plastic you may have to contact the manufacture. If you are unsure of a product’s quality I would stay away from it until you can do further research. High grade food plastics can also have an FDA approval which should be easy to research.
Remember: Always check the quality of the plastics you are using and double check their qualifications. To clarify the information here I have provided a link to The Daily Green which has an outstanding explanation of the 7 types of plastics.
Safety tips: Building the Grow Space
Here is a list of a few tips everyone should consider when putting together a hydroponic system or a hydro grow room/box.
1. DON’T OVERLOAD YOUR CIRCUITS. This goes for circuits, outlets, custom wiring(check the max load), timers, extension cords, and surge protectors. Its easy to get a room to use enough electricity to trip your circuit. If the power is too great you could start an electrical fire. High pressure sodium and metal halide lights 400 watts and over may need to be plugged into a lighting controller that is wired to the house electricity or plugged into the dryer socket. If you are doing wiring to the main circuit box make sure to shut the power down and have a clear plan of what you are doing.
2. Keep outlets, surge protectors, timers, light controllers, ballasts, and all electronic components off the floor. Make sure electronic components are out of reach of sprayers, drip hoses, and any reservoir that could crack or spill. Plan for the worst! Keep your electronic components away from the water!
3. Line the room or box with a water proof floor and walls so if something does break or water is spilled it doesn’t ruin the floor or create mold. If the liner is something like mylar or black and white poly it will be very easy to clean up the water. Even if you think you have a really tight hydroponic system that will never leak or spill, you are probably wrong. At some point in time through filling up multiple reservoirs and changing nutrients you will most likely spill something on the floor. It is much better to already have water proofing there to prevent a mess and mold possibility and its easier to clean up.
4. Turn off fans open or caged fans that you are working by. I’ve cut my fingers on computer fans in my mini veg box and clipped my ear in one trying to pull a bulb out from deep in the box.
5. Wear gloves – Wearing gloves can protect you and your plants from stress. Human hands constantly rubbing on your plants is not good. It may not show negative effects, but it will unlikely show any positive effects. We want our plants in the best condition possible all the time. The gloves will also protect you from sprays or bugs on the plant and the possibility of an allergic reaction.
Safe growing!