CALCLEAR | Hydroponic applications
Hydroponics benefits of using the CALCLEAR system
The CALCLEAR Computerised Water Conditioning System delivers commercial quantities of treated water that has all the properties of soft water and charged in such a way that it will progressively and permanently de-scale irrigation systems, drips, nozzles, pumps, heater elements and any other equipment connected to the treated water supply.
It works by neutralising the bonds that allow minerals contained in the water supply to combine with each other to form crystals or combine with any other mineral or surface.
This process results in all minerals contained in the flow being Recent scientific researchby Suntec Hydroponic Consultants, has proved beyond any doubt that CALCLEAR treated water provides significant growing benefits, particularly in Hydroponics which will lead to IMPROVED CROP QUALITY AND MARKETABILITY.
This appears to be due to the unique ability of the CALCLEAR system to …
- Breakdown all mineral crystals into a form readily taken up by the plants (particularly of Calcium).
- Flush out debris from root capillaries and xylem tissues that would otherwise block up and starve the plants of essential nutrients. (This appears to de-stress the plants and enable them to cope more easily with a fluctuating growing environment).
- Change undesirable minerals such as salt into a non crystalline form which no longer seem toxic to the plants.
- De-scale and keep scale free the entire water circulation and reduce algae formation
Thus far CALCLEAR has …
- Significantly reduced the incidence of tipburn
- Produced bigger healthier plants
- Increased leaf Calcium levels of harvest
- Prolonged shelf life
- Produced stronger cell walls to deter insect mites
- Assisted in mixing nutrients in RO water for enhanced uptake
- Transpiration accelerated to leaf tips and flowering
- Reduced bitter taste component
- Improved colour in red lettuce varieties
- Removed algae from roots and growing channels
- Enhanced nutrient uptake
- Enabled commercial crops to be grown in bore water previously considered unsuitable for hydroponic production
- Reduce incidence of premature bolting
- Increased Brix (sugar) levels and taste in tomatoes
John Murphy doesn’t need to clean 36,000 drippers any more.
Murphy Fresh uses a CALCLEAR Water Conditioner.
Save Time + $$$$$$$$$
The first of a series of trials using the CALCLEAR system to treat hydroponic lettuce, carried out by Suntec, have now been completed. The results were considered scientifically significant enough for Suntec to publish their findings in the Jan 1999 edition of Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses.
The implications and potential benefits for hydroponic production are there for all to see and are briefly summarised below. For the full story of the research click here.
Further trials are under way to confirm that the benefits to lettuce production can be realised in other plants, including fruiting varieties such as tomatoes and strawberries. Thus far, the researched benefits of the CALCLEAR system are as follows:
- To change mineral crystals into mineral particles of 4 microns or less.
- To flush out root capillaries and xylem tissue.
- Make calcium into a form easily taken up by the plants.
- To improve transpiration throughout the plant.
- Significantly reduces the incidence of tipburn (both internal and external).
- Reduces the incidence of premature bolting.
- Enhances the colour component of red lettuce varieties.
- Enhances nutrient uptake.
- Significantly reduces bitter taste component.
- Increased fresh weight.
- Prolonged shelf life.
- Removal of algae from root systems and growing channels.
- The ability to produce commercial crops from bore water supplies previously considered to be unsuitable for hydroponic production.
TESTIMONIALS
Jeff Brumley, Yackandandah VICTORIA – Hydroponic Lettuce Grower
Feb 2007 – Jeff Brumley rang to say great things about CALCLEAR. Jeff bought a unit in 2002!
“The CALCLEAR is one of the best things I have bought. In the normal course of events right from the beginning it did everything you said it would, Robbie.
There are only 3 or 4 things I would recommend in my business and CALCLEAR is one of them.”
S.K. Bittern, Victoria | Tomato Grower
I thought you would be interested in my observations of your CALCLEAR unit, in my NFT system, in which I grow tomatoes.
The tomato seedlings were planting in April of this year, not an ideal time, but it was that or the whole system would lie idle until the end of June. We started picking fruit early June and to my surprise we have continued to pick good- sized fruit from these plants through winter and will continue to the end of January 2003.
These seedlings were planted at the same time as my tradiro crop in the same greenhouse, but the medium was Grodan. By the fifth truss I experienced some blossom end rot in the grodan medium growing plants, by the sixth truss the blossom end rot problem was pretty much right through the crop. Without exception the NFT plants being serviced by the CALCLEAR unit, did not show any signs of the calcium deficiency, indeed no signs have yet appeared.
I have since planted a new crop of tradiro in the same grodan slabs and would you believe it; blossom end rot has raised its ugly head again around the fifth truss. I am very keen to try the CALCLEAR unit on the grodan crop to see if I can eradicate the problem. Obviously, these observations are just that, but I would like to think that your unit had a lot to do with solving some of the problems I usually experience with calcium uptake in the plants.
I will keep you posted on my findings, and if you would like me to give a reference for your product I would be happy to do so. Look forward to chatting with you soon
Lana Mitchell, Gundaroo NSW | Australian Rural Woman of the Year - Flannel Flower Grower
The trial was finished and the results are:
- There were absolutely no blocked drippers in the house with the Calclear from the day it was installed, however there continued to be blocked drippers in the other house through to now, resulting in loss of plants. I would estimate it is about 20 blocked drippers over that period of time – so a saving of 20 plants. This alone is enough to sell me on the
- There was no observable and visible difference in flower size or length with the Calclear – however as we installed it when the flowers were already in full bud I suspect that having the Calclear on for longer, during the full growing season, that there would be a difference visible. I did measure the number of stems and the length of stems, and whilst there was no real obvious difference between the two houses (between October and December) I can state that I observed that the flower quality of my oldest flower plants (in their 5th year) was better than in the earlier year (4th season) with taller stems and larger flowers, and that flower quality was improved. There was no other change with those older plants, other than adding the Calclear – so I suspect that there is a definite improvement of yield and quality of flowers as a result of the Calclear – even if it is only visible in those older
- I have had NO pest outbreaks this year of any kind. I normally have aphid problems in large numbers and I did not have this year. When the nutrition of a plant is improved – particularly Calcium – it is harder for pests such as aphids to break through a toughened and stronger stem wall. I suspect that this has been part of the successful action of Calclear. I normally lose 10% of my crop to pests, and it was much lower this year.
Lana started her commercial cut-flower venture at Gundaroo in 2005, specialising in the Australian native Flannel flower. She exports to the USA, Europe, UK and Japan as well as providing for the Australian market
Grenville Stocker. Consultant for Indra WIRAWAN, Director Betterlife PT. Grita Farm Indonesia
Robbie, Thanks, all is going well. The units are installed on lettuce systems in Indonesia, in an attempt to stop tip burn in hot damp conditions.
Without the units they were getting a lot of tip burn, now very much reduced, but in the local climate it is going to be almost impossible during the wet season to stop tip burn completely.