Could you list what parts you used? I was at lowes today and was looking in the pvc parts for something I could put together. A 4'' canister and caps w/ hose threads. I didn't find any thing at all like it. Lucky (or unlucky) you! I found a picture. It looks like it was taken with an old Barbie camera, so apologies for the quality. You can barely see the gray colored thread adaptor at the right side. You can see the kitty litter I used, charcoal, and Scotch brite pad I cut down to keep the filter innerds from flowing out into the hose. If you have trouble finding the thread adaptors to go from hose threads to the pipe thread, ask a clerk. I had to ask everywhere I went looking for them. It looks like I did not use any PVC pipe at all but only used pipe fittings. This experiment was from June of 2003 so I've forgotten a lot since then. If you want to get an idea of a ratio of charcoal to kitty litter (zeolite), crack open a filter from one of those water filters you put into the container in your fridge (like a Pur). I was surprised to find only a few specks of black charcoal inside. Most of it is zeolite. Still luckier YOU! I just went out and searched the archives of my garage and found the filter. Here's a modern picture. As you can see I did use 2-inch PVC pipe in the middle. This picture shows the threaded parts much better. It has to come apart somewhere to fill, or refill, with the filter medium. The gray nipple on the left side is straight pipe threads, not hose threads. The female hose fits on the male pipe threads okay (not great), but at the other end I wanted a better solution. It is a real pipe to hose connector. If I had it to do over again I would use 3-inch pipe for more filter volume and less water speed through the filter medium.

Almost any plant will grow in a hydroponic/hydroculture environment... at considerable expense and constant attention. The question is why would you want to do it?

I haven't used eithwr but found pictures: Joa's White http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sugexp=pfwl&cp=19&gs_id=16&xhr=t&q=farrow+and+ball+joa's+white&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1024&bih=600&wrapid=tljp132646966935108&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=MFIQT7qVPITo0QHwxsWuAw Archive http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sugexp=pfwl&cp=19&gs_id=16&xhr=t&q=farrow+and+ball+joa's+white&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1024&bih=600&wrapid=tljp132646966935108&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=MFIQT7qVPITo0QHwxsWuAw#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=farrow+and+ball+archive+227&oq=farrow+and+ball+archive+&aq=2S&aqi=g-S3&aql=&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=6219l6219l2l12079l1l1l1l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=deed73873c968c4d&biw=1024&bih=600

Rebecca, I have had mine for several months and it still is working fine. I would return your bottle to the store of purchase and if they won't exchange it, contact the manufacturer.