New Tote

[campingcorgis]

Very impressed!  You do very nice work!

[mike]

Thanks Ginny.

[Sher]

mike, your setup is very professional looking. I am also impressed.

I took a screen shot for inspiration.

I also love the water dipstick idea!

[mike]

Thanks, Sher.

[airscapes]

Mike, where in relation to the bottom of the cage is the water level?

[mike]

There is about 2/3 of an inch below the solid part of the cage. That's higher than I will keep it later on. 2 gallons brings it to the bottom of the cage.

[Shawn]

Looks great Mike.  Reminds me of the one from years ago but even better.

[mike]

Same principle. The 2014 models wasted nutrients and water.  Using the AG basket and Park Seed sponges is just plain easier. The only shortcoming here is having to monitor the water level much more closely. I'd love to add an external tube sight glass for water level, but I don't see a way to prevent it from leaking over time. 2 gallons of water would make quite a mess. I could also use a containment pan, but that would take up space and be ugly.

This design is simple. It will be the easiest design to clean up and restart. I like simple.

[airscapes]

Mar 15, 2021 17:00:07 GMT -5 mike said:

 I like simple.

Guess my idea of water sensor tape, with arduino, relay,  pump and external resivoure would be out of the question 

[campingcorgis]

Mar 15, 2021 17:00:07 GMT -5 mike said:

<<This design is simple. It will be the easiest design to clean up and restart. I like simple.>>

K.I.S.S - I'm with you, mike!  You have the AG cover for filling, I think, and I'm guessing that will be the place for the dipstick too.  If you're like me, I never trust the "sensors" anyway, so I'm do a visual check once a day anyway.  I'm betting you learn to "see" the level even without the dipstick, just a flashlight, but good to have it anyway.  

Technology is fun, but nothing like knowing for sure with a visual. 

[Sher]

mike , I told you that I am using your template for inspiration, so I thought I would show you what I am doing with it.

I need more growing room for larger vegetables, so I will be starting my seeds in the Aerogarden seed starter.

Then I plan to transplant them into your modified template where they will have more room to spread, like this (yellow circles).

You took all of the angst out of my planning!

BTW, my containers arrived today, but it will be a while before I can start on them.

I do plan to get the seeds going in the seed starter right away, though.

[mike]

I had to look that stuff up. Interesting, but when I went through electronics classes in 1982, the microchip was pretty new. I was a telephone repairman in those days. Some of the phones I worked on in the Marine Corps were from WWII. Again, simple is easy. Replacement parts are cheap.    

I designed this for any sized plant. You can use AG hole covers for as many unused holes you want to.

[airscapes]

Hey Mike, how quiet is that GH air pump?  My current grow space in my office, been working from home for almost 19 years now.. that micro pump I posted is dead silent all you hear are the bubbles, but I really like the idea of enough air for multiple garden or a couple larger ones?

[mike]

There is a humm But it is much quieter than most others. There are quieter ones for $70 more.

[mike]

These were seeds 18 days ago.

[campingcorgis]

I'm impressed!  

[Sher]

Awesome, Mike!

[mike]

I am making 3 more totes. I am really cranking up the greens factory to make my own daily power juice, a super foods morning start to my day.

[Sher]

Totes are the fastest way I know of to do it without spending a fortune on equipment!

Wishing you a huge return on your efforts!

[Shawn]

Massive, love it mike