Hydroponic Reservoirs & Tanks
If you are new to hydroponics, you may be a little confused about the equipment that you require. Hydroponic tanks and reservoirs are one of the most important tools that you need to grow your plants hydroponically. So, what are they and what they do they do? Let us tell you about it!
What does a hydroponic tank do?
You can think of a hydroponic reservoir tank as any hydroponic system's backbone. It is responsible for both holding and circulating the hydroponic nutrient solution, the living elixir of your hydroponic garden. But that's not all. Apart from just holding the water and nutrients, the reservoir also houses a hydroponic system's other equipment too. These include a diffuser or air stone, the water pump and sometimes even a cover or lid to protect the nutrient solution from contaminants.
What should the ideal size of my hydroponic reservoir?
It is best to use a bigger sized system to make sure you feed your entire grow room adequately. Here are some common sizes of hydroponic water reservoirs:
The ideal temperature for your hydroponic reservoir
Regardless of whether you are using a hydroponic reservoir or tank, you will need to continually monitor temperature to ensure it stays within the safe range for optimum plant growth. You will require a water chiller during the summer months. In winter, you will need a reservoir water heaterto maintain a constant, balanced temperature.
Plants perform best in a highly specific range of optimal temperature. If you grow your plants at a temperature that is too low, they may interpret it as the end of the season and will cease to grow. On the other hand, if you raise the temperature too high, your plants will find it difficult to absorb oxygen, which will also slow down their growth. We recommend that you maintain your nutrient solution at between 65 and 75-degrees Fahrenheit in the reservoir.
Don't ignore aeration
Oxygen is one of the basic necessities of plants. They must have a regular supply of dissolved oxygen to maintain good health. Good aeration encourages good nutrient uptake and helps in the growth of beneficial organisms. The best way to ensure that your plants get dissolved oxygen is to aerate the mixture in your hydroponic tanks continuously. The most used way to increase oxygen levels is to use powered aeration with air stones and air pumps.
How to maintain your hydroponic reservoir?
If you want to keep your garden in the best shape, you will have to focus on maintaining your hydroponic reservoir. It involves more effort than just topping it time and again. In order to keep things fresh, you need to change the water completely periodically. You should also test your pH, PPM and EC regularly. This is crucial because if these things are not under control, it will ruin your plants. You can use a nutrient and pH auto doser to control this automatically. They are particularly helpful in commercial hydroponics where controlling things manually can get challenging. Read our blog to find out more about hydroponics. You can also reach out to the growing experts at Groindoor.com to ask questions or request advice. Call us at 866-GRO-INDR today!