Hydrofarm WaterFarm User manual

WaterFarm
Assembly Guide

WATERFARM PARTS
WATERFARM PARTS:
1) Clay Pebbles (not included with WaterFarm Controller 8-Pack
or Modular units)
2) Flora Series Nutrients (8oz bottles)
3) 4 Gal Reservoir (deep chamber for water)
4) 2 Gal Growing Chamber (shallow pot with perforated bottom)
5) Elite 800 Air Pump
6) Drip Ring Assembly (circular plastic ring attached to tee)
7) DLT Clip
8) Air Line (clear tubing)
9) Pumping Column (2-piece white tube with air inlet at bottom)
10) Pumping Column Support Tube (tube with bevel facing down)
11) Drain Level Tube (translucent blue tube fitted to barbed elbow)
1 2 3 4 5
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ASSEMBLY
STEP 1
Insert black DLT Clip into
Reservoir as shown.
STEP 3
Place the Growing Chamber
on the Reservoir.
STEP 2
Install the blue Drain Level Tube by
inserting the elbow through the rubber
grommet from the outside while
supporting the grommet from the inside.
The Drain Level Tube is supported by the
DLT Clip for normal operation and rotate
the Drain Level Tube level with the bottom
of the Reservoir to drain the system.

ASSEMBLY
STEP 4
Push the beveled end of the Pumping
Column Support Tube into the large hole
in the bottom of the Growing Chamber.
Push the Pumping Column Support Tube
down until it barely touches the bottom
of the Reservoir.
STEP 5
Attach the Drip Ring to the end the
Pumping Column Assembly. Ensure that
the holes in the ring itself are facing
downwards.
STEP 6
Push the entire Drip Ring
Assembly down into the
Pumping Column Support
Tube. Being careful not to
catch the tube clamps on
the support tube. Push the
assembly into the tube until it
barely touches the bottom of
the reservoir.

ASSEMBLY
STEP 7
Move Drip Ring out of way and fill
growing chamber with rinsed Clay
Pebbles or your favorite growing
media.
STEP 8
Securely attach the Clear Airline to
the flexible tubing of the Pumping
Column and the other end to the Air
Pump outlet nipple. If you’re using
your WaterFarm outside, use only
extension cords and outlets designed
for outdoor use.

HELPFUL GUIDELINES
PLACEMENT
Abundant light, proper temperature and
adequate ventilation are crucial for fast
growth, healthy plants and higher yields.
Place the WaterFarm in a warm, well-lit,
well-ventilated location, such as an outdoor
garden, sunlit window, patio or greenhouse.
Keep your WaterFarm away from areas
where the inevitable dripping that occurs
during filling, draining and pH adjustment
could cause water damage.
PLANTING
To prepare a seedling or a plant for
transplanting, remove all soil and/or organic
material from around the roots. Plants must
be sturdy with established roots before
transplanting into the WaterFarm. Choose
seedlings because it’s more difficult to
successfully transplant older plants. If your
plant has been growing in soil or peat moss,
gently remove the plant from its pot and
carefully rinse as much soil as possible from
the roots before transplanting. Although
this method of transplanting from soil to
hydroponics is somewhat risky, as soil may
contain disease organisms that proliferate
in the rich hydroponic solution, we have
had success using this transplant method
and encourage you to try it. Or, you can
avoid these problems by starting plants from
cuttings in one of our RainForest Systems.
If you plan to grow several small
plants in the WaterFarm, place your
plants just outside the drip ring,
near the drip holes. If you prefer
a single large plant, place it in the
center of the drip ring. Gently add
Clay Pebbles around the plant roots
until thoroughly covered.
FILLING
When filling the system with a nutrient
solution it is best to mix the nutrients in a
known volume of fresh water. Then pour
into the WaterFarm until the water level
reaches the white line on the Drain Level
Tube. The system holds approximately 2
gallons of nutrient and will sustain small
plants one to two weeks and may only last a
few days with larger plants.

HELPFUL GUIDELINES & TROUBLE SHOOTING
OPERATION
For moisture-loving plants, operate your WaterFarm pump continuously. Plants
preferring drier conditions grow best when the pump runs for 1/2 hour on and 1
hour off during daylight hours; off at night (a simple timer will turn the pump on
and off for you automatically). Use mild to normal strength nutrient solution and
avoid strong or aggressive nutrient. As your plants consume nutrient solution, the
level in the reservoir will drop. Top off with half strength solution or plain water
(the pump is more efficient when the reservoir is full). It is necessary to change the
water and nutrients every one to two weeks depending upon the size of your plants
and their rate of growth; with bigger plants change more often. Simply empty the
reservoir by rotating the blue drain level tube 90 degrees so water drains on the
ground, or indoors in a pail. When changing or topping off solution, pour directly
over the Clay Pebbles (rather than into the reservoir itself) to flush out excess salts.
PREPARATION FOR REPLANTING
After harvesting and before replanting your WaterFarm, dismantle the system
and clean all parts with hot water. Rinse Clay Pebbles in very hot water and soak
overnight. It is a good idea to dis-assemble and wash the drip ring assembly and
pumping tube from time to time in hot water.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
If white salt deposits form on the clay pebbles:
1. Try using a milder nutrient solution and topping off with plain water only.
2. Occasionally drain your system, refill with plain water and run the pump
overnight. After the overnight rinse, empty reservoir and refill with
fresh nutrient.
If plants are not growing well and you suspect “hard” water:
1. Use FloraMicro Hardwater in place of FloraMicro.
2. Try distilled or purified water. You should see a significant improvement
in plant health and growth within one week.
3. Collect rainwater for use in your WaterFarm.
If nutrient solution stops flowing from the drip ring:
1. Check to ensure that pump is plugged in and reservoir is filled with
nutrient solution.
2. Disconnect air line from the air inlet and check whether the air is coming
through (put end under water and look for bubbles if you are not sure).
No air flow could mean that the pump is broken and must be replaced or
that the air line is loose or blocked. Try cutting an inch off each end of the
line to provide a tighter fit.
3. Blow into the air inlet to check whether it is clogged, and rinse the pumping
column in hot water. This type of clogging is usually an indication that you
have hard water or too strong a nutrient solution.
4. Check whether emitter holes in the drip ring are clogged. To clear,
dis-assemble drip ring by pulling it apart at the tee, rinse drip ring and tee
in hot water and clear the holes with a toothpick.

707-824-9376 Monday through Friday 9am to 4pm PST
©2008 GENERAL HYDROPONICS
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POWERGROWER®8-PACK
The PowerGrower 8 pack is eight PowerGrower
modules connected to one GH PowerGrower
Controller. The Controller is an integrated 17
gallon reservoir and a 17 gallon controller unit. The
controller will maintain the nutrient levels in each
module while the reservoir actively recirculates
the nutrient to keep pH and PPM levels consistent.
This ensures optimized plant growth and provides
the grower with a lower maintenance garden. The
newly engineered plumbing design ensures uniform
delivery of nutrients to each individual chamber.
FLORABLEND®
FloraBlend is a Vegan Ferment Tea that is made from a proprietary
blend of plant materials, plus seaweed, rock powders and micronized
leonardite. FloraBlend is produced with a diverse mixture of highly
bioactive microorganisms that are fed a feast of select food sources
in a hyper oxygenated environment. These beneficial microorganisms
multiply rapidly consuming these food sources and through
bioconversion processes, new organic compounds are formed. These
organic compounds are enzymes, metabolites and organic acids,
which energize plants metabolic processes.
These highly soluble organic compounds increase and promote
healthy root structures, build the plants immune system and provide
carbon building blocks for plant processes responsible for color and
flavor of fruits and vegetables.
FLORANECTAR®
Our scientists have formulated FloraNectar to optimize the
greatest transference of sweetness and aroma into your fruits
and flowers. Flora Nectar contains all-natural raw cane sugar,
molasses, malt syrup, select plant based esters, L-amino acids,
organic acids, vitamins and essential minerals.
As a result, FloraNectar ensures optimal metabolic rates
during the flowering and fruiting phase when nitrogen levels
have been reduced. FloraNectar also promotes a sturdier plant
structure during the vegetative phase when high levels of
nitrogen are present. FloraNectar fulfills the additional energy
requirements of your plants throughout all phases of growth
and during stressful times of transition.