You should watch the MHPGardener Video Below - you'll see a live set up in action.
I have personally used this for about 3 years now and it works great. I power mine with 100% solar. Those little submersible pumps you get at Harbor Freight for about $15.00 and they work great. I have had my pumps for 3 years, and I admit I don't treat them well and they're still working.
Below is his video his set up and he shows you how.
He uses/I use MASTERBLEND + CALCIUM NITRATE + EPSON SALTS = 5 GALLONS OF WATER
For Tomatoes and vine climbing plants use:
MasterBlend 12 grams + 6 grams of Calcium Nitrate + 6 grams of Epson salts for 5 gallons of water
Leafy Greens:
MasterBlend 10 grams + 5 grams of Calcium Nitrate + 5 grams of Epson Salts for 5 gallons of water.
WHERE I BUY MY STUFF:
I purchase my Calcium Nitrate by the 25 pound bag at Treeland Nursery in Mesa:
LINK:Treeland Website
I buy my bags of perlite from Treeland Nursery in a 3.5cu ft bat. As of 1/27/16 its now $17.00 a bag
I buy my MasterBlend from Morgan County Seeds - I get a 5lb bag for $12.50 and add $13.50 for shipping.
LINK:Morgan County Seeds Website
You can buy up to a 25lb bag of it and they'll ship it for the same $13.50. Go in with someone and share that cost.
Epson Salts you can buy at any drug store
5 gallon Paint strainer Nets - The best price I have found is on amazon.com, for about $1.05 each, but you have to buy a 24 piece box.
Amazon search: 5 Gallon Elastic Opening Paint Strainer Bags 24 Pieces
Or you can buy them at Home Depot for about $2.00 each.
All of your pvc stuff and irrigation stuff, you can get at Home Depot or Lowes
The Rubber Grommets: I get at Grainger in Mesa Part number #3MPL8. I buy a 100 piece bag for about $15.50
Link:Rubber Grommet at Grainger
Pumps- I use the PaficiHydrostar 264GPH pumps from Harbor freight part # 68395
I get them for $15.00. Sometimes you can get a 20% off one non sale item from Harbor Freight
Link:Harbor Freight Pump
The Analog timers I get at Harbor Freight for about $5.00 each. 5minute intervals/They have 2 of the 3 prong inputs!
Link:Harbor Freight Timer
I have been experimenting with a smaller 2.5 gallon blue bucket for leafy greens and it has a 10" interior diameter. Only 1/2" smaller than the 5 gallon buckets. The upside of the smaller bucket is 1/2 growing medium needed per bucket. I get these great little buckets at the The Dollar Tree. And yes, I install the same elbow drain as I do in the 5 gallon buckets!
Another advantage is these little 2.5 gallon buckets are shorter by several inches and I can easily fit them on free standing multiple shelf units. That means you get a lot of leafy greens growing vertically. Your leafy greens and cabbages, do not need much more than about 6" to 8" of depth.
I'll post a photo soon of a one my 2.5 gallon leafy greens bucket. So far they are doing very well.
*You'll still want to use a taller 5 gallon bucket for heavier things like cucmbers, squash, toms or where you'll be needing a tall trellis over about 3 feet.
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PHOTOS OF MY 2.5 GALLON BUCKETS FOR LEAFY GREENS 2/7/16
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Photos taken Sat Feb 20th, 2016
All of the seedlings have grown about 3" to 4" - The nice warm 80F weather really expedited that growth.
Depending on temps, many will be ready for 1st cut back harvest in 2 to 3 weeks.
If it gets below 60F, then it will slow this down by a few days or so
I just added (2/20/16) 2 of the 5 gallon & trellis buckets for peas
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PHOTOS FOR END OF WEEK FEB 26TH-28TH
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PHOTOS FOR END OF WEEK MARCH 4TH-6TH
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PHOTOS FOR END OF WEEK MARCH 4TH-6TH
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