I know directing you to my Web page will create havoc with a certain someone, but here goes anyway: The URL is in my profile and all you have to do is click on "Technique" at the top and the last article in the list is "Mat Hydroponics". Everything you want to know is probably right there. I've grown baby green lettuce plants this way as a method of growing in the heat. The plants are harvested just before they bolt. I bought a 12' by 12' piece of burlap at Home Depot for about $5. It's sold to professional gardeners to wrap up their lawn clippings inside.

I think you can get some info from your water company. If you mix your own fertilizers you can compensate for the minerals that are present in various amounts. I just bought an RO system and I haven't used it yet but I can't wait. I was looking for the highest quality ones which were very expensive. I started looking through a very well known internet auction site(I don't know if I can say their name but the name has four letters). Anyway I found nicer quality/more expensive ones. One day I was searching and I found some that were cheaper because a company will start some at a cheap price and let people bid away. I got lucky and got a new six stage RO system with deionizer for $50 with shipping. I say just keep looking on this auction site and be patient because it could take a month or two but you can find a good price. I hope this helps.

Normally I don't like to do cycles longer than 30 for flood and drain systems, although during the summer heat I have done 1 hour cycles during the hot part of the day (I grow outside). 15 to 30 min cycles I don't see any problem with. Although I would always opt for the shorter cycle and just have more cycles if I had that option regardless. As long as it's long enough to flood the system. Realistically, as long as the system drains without leaving pockets of water in the system, you should not have a problem. The water doesn't really need to circulate when the roots are submerged, and each time the system cycles the water and nutrients mix. You just don't want the roots to be submerged too long no matter what, or they can suffocate. They can suffocate in water that's continuously moving as well. The water flow from the overflow tube back into the reservoir will still help oxygenate the nutrient solution just the same either way. Because the water drop height (out of the overflow tube) would be the same, and the GPH of the pump is the same as well. Honestly I don't see much of a problem for you other than the more the water circulates, the less algae and other organisms will be able to grow. As long as you already have it glued together, I'd run with it and see how it works. If you wanted to in the future, it shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to switch it over. All you would need to do is cap the end where the pump is entering the system right now. Then cut the PVC at the other end and splice in a "T" connector for the water inlet. The only hard part is trying to keep it dry as you glue in the new "T" connector. But if it were me, I would just see what happens for now. And as I said earlier, I would use the shorter cycle and just have more of them, that would get better oxygen to the roots anyway (each time it drains it draws down fresh air).

That is really blue, but it is hard to say because I see only the strand of root and no corresponding plant. The only suggestion I am able to make is to cover the reservoir. It appears you have the reservoir is about 50% transparent to light, but you should grow in a dark reservoir to prevent algae and other undesirable plants from getting out of control. I suspect the fertilizer you are using is not a complete hydroponic fertilizer and that may be stymying growth. But that is only my suspicion from the fact that you seem to think that all fertilizers have the same usage rate as well as your general worry that the roots look too slim. If you post the composition of the fertilizer we can help you with that. Fertilizers are not all the same and it is essential for success to know the guaranteed analysis of your fertilizer to see if it contains everything you need and in reasonable proportions. If someone gave you the fertilizer without this information, we cannot help you and you are stuck getting your assistance from only your seller, whether they are smart enough to give you a quality product or something inappropriate or a scam; we will never know. I don't know what it is like in Singapore but in the USA, all commercial fertilizer manufacturers are forced to disclose a guaranteed analysis of their commercial products to avoid exactly this uncertainty and to give the grower the power to improve without being confined to the claims of some random seller who convinces you to buy and do whatever he says. Good luck, it seems the plants have a chance as they don't look sick at a glance. Keep in mnid that fertilizer problems usually don't show up until the plant is finished with the seedling stage and has exhausted the highly concentrated nutrient supply it inherited from its seed. This post was edited by PupillaCharites on Thu, Dec 19, 13 at 15:43