Reservoirs

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

Nutrient solution reservoirs should be as big as possible and have a lid to lessen evaporation. Gardens use from 5-25 percent of the nutrient solution every day. A big volume of nutrient solution will minimize nutrient imbalances. When the water is used, the concentration of elements in the solution increases; there is less water in the solution and nearly the same amount of nutrients. Add water as soon as the solution level drops.

The reservoir should contain at east 25 percent more nutrient solution than it takes to fill the beds to compensate for daily use and evaporation. The greater the volume of the nutrient solution, the more forgiving the system and the easier it is to control. Forgetting to replenish the water supply and/or nutrient solution could result in crop failure.

Check the level of the reservoir daily, and replenish if necessary. A reservoir that loses more than 20 percent of its volume daily can be topped off with pure of low (500ppm) EC water. Sophisticated systems have a float valve that controls the level of water in the reservoir.

If you reservoir does not have graduated measurements t denote liquid volume, use an indelible marker to make a full line and the number f gallons or liters contained at that point on the inside of the reservoir tank. Use this volume measure when mixing nutrients.

The pump should be setup to lift the solution out of the reservoir. Set reservoirs high enough so spent nutrient solution can be siphoned or gravity-flow into a drain or the outdoor garden.