1. Choose Clean Water for Cultivation
Clean water suitable for cultivation means water with minimal remaining nutrients and no harmful chemicals that could affect plants, such as chlorine from tap water. It should have a cleanliness level of ORP +150mV and an appropriate pH. Bacteria that affect humans when consumed are not a concern here. Simply put, it should be clean but doesn’t need to meet food-grade standards, balancing cost and suitability.
Using RO (Reverse Osmosis) water adds an extra layer of assurance against bacteria harmful to humans, like E. coli, which can contaminate flowers and prevent them from meeting Thailand’s GACP standards. RO water can be filtered to 0 PPM, ensuring optimal fertilizer balance. Typically, a PPM of 0-50 is recommended, depending on the pH of the area. For instance, with pH 3.5 and 0 PPM versus pH 5.0 and 50 PPM, I recommend the latter. While 50 PPM has minimal impact on plants, pH levels significantly affect plant health.
Alternatively, a household/food-grade filtration system can be used, offering a more affordable option. Fiber filters come in various sizes, are easier to maintain, but do not guarantee food-grade quality or bacterial filtration. This setup typically leaves a small nutrient residue of 50-100 PPM, which is acceptable. You can select filter sizes and materials as needed, such as carbon filters, resin filters, anthracite, manganese, and others, based on suitability.
2. How to Choose the Right Type of Water Pipes
Select pipes suitable for fertilizer delivery from the mixing room, based on thickness, light-blocking capability, chemical safety (Food Grade), and water pressure tolerance.
Opaque vs. Non-Opaque
Opaque pipes have the advantage of preventing algae growth inside the pipe. They are usually made of UPVC, which is more durable and aesthetically pleasing compared to standard PVC pipes.
Pressure Rating: Schedule 40, 80 (SCH)
Standard SCH 40 pipes can generally handle PSI levels for regular use. However, for high-pressure areas, SCH 80 is recommended as it can withstand more than twice the pressure of SCH 40.
Food Grade pipes ensure that no harmful chemicals leach into the water. While not always necessary for plant cultivation, they reduce risks from pipe joint adhesives that may contain hazardous heavy metals. For medical-grade cultivation, however, Food Grade pipes may be essential.
From the mixing room to the grow room, reduce the pipe size gradually to adjust the pressure and minimize water remaining in the system.
3. Choosing the Right Water Pump
Water pumps for Low-Flow systems (40-60 PSI, common in indoor farms and households) come in two main types: standard pumps, which cause an initial surge in water pressure, and digital pumps, which maintain steady pressure without surging. Examples include DAB, which offers precise adjustments, and Grundfos, a popular choice in Thai households.
4. Choosing a Fertilizer Mixing Method/System
Batch Tank Mixing: Manually measuring and mixing fertilizers in a tank, allowing for customizable mixing. It can be connected to the irrigation system for fertilizer delivery.
Dosers (e.g., Dosatron): Commonly used pressure-based models require no electricity, have a long lifespan, and are easy to set up—1 unit per fertilizer tank. It’s recommended to use them with a water pump that maintains steady pressure.
5. Water pH Adjustment System (if not using King Whale pH Auto Perfect)
After mixing fertilizers, adjust the pH to an ideal range for plants, between 5.5 - 6.5, using pH Down or pH Up solutions to raise or lower pH as needed. Adjust pH once for general growing systems, or continuously for hydroponic and aeroponic systems.
Choosing a pH adjustment solution with suitable ingredients is essential. King Whale Mira Up raises pH levels with a high concentration of silica, promoting thicker, stronger stems and leaves.
6. Maintain Water Filters and System Cleanliness
Keep your grow system clean and running efficiently. Dish filters are effective coarse filters for grow systems; it's recommended to use at least 120 mesh (130 microns) or finer. These filters are washable—choosing a larger size can extend service life and improve performance.
7. Control water delivery to the grow room with an electric solenoid valve paired with a water control system.
Our fertilizer system controls water delivery to each grow room precisely as specified. With only one mixing room, we use electric solenoid valves to direct water flow, functioning like a track switch, to send nutrient water to the selected room as needed.
Electric solenoid valves typically operate on 24V DC and work alongside fertilizer control boxes or various sensors, such as Growlink, which directly monitors soil dryness in plant pots.
8. Choosing Fertilizer Dispensers and Drippers for Pots
After nutrient water is delivered to the grow room at a consistent and appropriate pressure, the next step is selecting fertilizer dispensers or drip heads. These control the drip and ensure an equal amount of nutrient water for each plant. Typically, micro-drip lines are used to connect to the drip heads for precise fertilizer distribution.
Maintain fertilizer dispensers by preventing salt buildup, which can clog heads and damage the system, using OXY ROOT. It dissolves salt residue and reduces bacteria, keeping the water clean continuously.
9. Adding Functions to Our Grow System
Reducing Potential Risks in the Grow System, such as:
Flush Valve: Used to discharge leftover fertilizer when the water valve is closed, lowering PSI in the pipe. The remaining water in the pipe is automatically flushed out through the flush valves, preventing old fertilizer from lingering in the fertilizer delivery pipes.
Air Valve: A point for releasing trapped air in the pipes, ensuring a steady flow of nutrient water. This prevents air pockets from replacing fertilizer, which could cause uneven water distribution to each plant at the start of fertilizer delivery.
Choosing the Right Fertilizer for the System
King Whale Pro Grade fertilizers are designed for seamless use with irrigation systems, tailored specifically for professionals. They feature a straightforward mixing process. Learn more about King Whale fertilizers here. With just 250 grams, you can create 1 liter of concentrated fertilizer solution, making it easy to measure volumes or set mixing ratios accurately with dosing devices like Dosatron.
The Fertilizer Dissolution Ratio or Fine-Tune Irrigation Feeding Chart is designed for using King Whale Pro Grade fertilizer with Dosatron dispensers, controlled by percentage to achieve the target EC. Refer to the King Whale feeding chart alongside for precise application and optimal nutrient levels.
