This season I'm also planning on adding sensors to the nutrient tanks. Sensors will report the status of the following:

1. The tank water level
2. That water is actually flowing from then return pipe.
3. Pump still has A.C power ( Gound fault has not tripped )

Cleaning the NFT tubes

Getting the NFT tubes ready for the new growing season. I'm scrubbing the the insides of the tubes, by closing off one end. Adding 1/2 cup of bleach with 1 cup of water to the inside of tube. Then using a piece of 1/2 inch pvc tubing, with a sponge attached ( see picture ). I pull the 1/2 inch tubing back and forth with some downward pressure thru the NFT tube. Works quite well.

I purchase some sweet 100 tomatoes plants early today. I hopine to get the NFT tubes up and running by next weekend, so I can insert some of the sweet 100's in the NFT tubes.

New support structure for hydo buckets plants

My support structure last season started to fall apart from weight of plants. So this season I wanted a stronger structure. Here I'm starting to put together 1 1/2 inch pvc tubing for the main support poles. Still trying to come up with a roof structure to put plastic on to keep rain out of the buckets.

Plants coming along this fine.

Waiting for Spring to come

Here's the garden under about a foot of snow. Can hardly wait for Spring to get here.

Tomatoe Plants Still Growing

Tomatoe plants are still growing and starting to get top heavy. Going to have to add some ropes later to keep the whole structure from leaning.

Strawberries Plants Replaced

Strawberries crowns never took, so I pull them out. Just finished replacing them with flowers I got from lowes for 6 cent apiece. The two impatients were put in with the strawberries crowns orginally, that why their so large. I m amazed that they are doing so good, for being shade plants. That are in direct sunlight for 8 hours a day.

Little Giant Pump Installed

When my local hydroponic store and ask them about the little giant. They said it was a little on the expensive side, but one of the most reliable pumps they carry. So I purchase one and installed it today.

Low Water Press With New Pump

After putting in the new pump, I now notice all the 1/4 inch feed lines have barely any water coming out. The old pump only had a output of 210 GPH, where as the new pump has an output 300 GPH. The only other different between the pumps was that the new one could pump to a height of 8 feet and the old one only 3 feet. In my setup, I only need to pump to a height of 2 feet. Any way, I going to put another pump in this coming weekend. Did some checking with other folks. They all recommended getting a the little giant pump.

PUMP FAIL

During my late evening check, I found the pump on Hydro buckets unit one wasn't running. Lucky me was that Home Depot was still open. Installed a new pump and was back up and running. All the 1/4 inch lines had to be cleaned to get the water flowing smoothly through them again.