Maintenance¶
Reservoir Top-Up¶
Water is removed from the system by plant uptake and evaporation. The reservoir must be topped up with fresh water to maintain volume and dilute rising EC from evaporation concentration.
- Monitored by: Water Level sensor
- Future: auto top-up via solenoid valve connected to a fresh water supply
Reservoir Refresh¶
Even with tight EC/pH control, trace elements can become imbalanced over time. A full reservoir refresh is recommended periodically.
- Frequency: TBD (typically every 2–4 weeks, or between crop cycles)
- Procedure: drain, rinse reservoir and channels, refill with fresh nutrient solution
Biocontrol¶
Establishing a beneficial microbial community early prevents pathogenic organisms from taking hold.
- Inoculate at system start with a small soil sample (bag-steeped 30 min) and a commercial biocontrol agent (e.g. Streptomyces griseoviridis / Mycostop).
- Avoid harsh chemical cleaning after inoculation to preserve the established community.
- Monitor plant health and respond quickly to any signs of disease.
Algae Prevention¶
- Cover the reservoir to block light.
- Opaque tubing and channel covers reduce algae growth.
- Avoid leaving standing water in channels when the pump is off for extended periods.