Solaris Garden Carousel

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Summary

Introduction to the Garden Carousel

Choosing Your Garden Carousel Location

Guidance on selecting an optimal placement for the Garden Carousel, considering plant care and accessibility.

Powering the Garden Carousel System

Information on the electrical requirements, including the Y-cable and extension cord usage for the system.

Accessing Video Assembly Guides

Provides a web link to video tutorials for assistance with assembly steps.

Contents of Shipping Box 1

4 LED Grow Lights

Lists the four 4-foot LED grow lights included in the first shipping box.

Dip Stick

Identifies the dip stick included in the first shipping box.

Water Feed Pipe

Specifies the water feed pipe component from the first shipping box.

Contents of Shipping Box 2

Plant Holders with Turntable

Details the eight plant holders and turntable included in the second shipping box.

Mechanical Light Timer

Lists the mechanical light timer supplied within the second shipping box.

Eco 264 Water Pump

Identifies the Eco 264 water pump as part of the second shipping box contents.

Additional Plant Holders

Lists the thirty-two additional plant holders included in the second shipping box.

Bottom Plant Holders

Specifies the four bottom plant holders from the second shipping box.

Water Reservoir

Details the water reservoir component included in the second shipping box.

System Components Overview

Reservoir Cover

Identifies the reservoir cover part for the system assembly.

Water Distribution Head

Details the water distribution head unit for the carousel.

Extension Cord

Lists the 6-foot extension cord included with the system.

LED Stand Components

Includes the LED stand base and cover parts for light support.

Y Power Cord

Identifies the Y-shaped power cord for connecting lights and pump.

Seed Packets

Lists the four seed packets provided with the Garden Carousel kit.

BioDome Grow Lights and Legs

Details the BioDome grow lights and associated support legs.

Contents of Shipping Box 3

pH Down Solution

Lists the 8 oz bottle of pH Down solution for nutrient management.

FloraMicro & FloraGro Nutrients

Details the 8 oz bottles of FloraMicro and FloraGro nutrient solutions.

pH Test Kit

Identifies the pH test kit for monitoring water acidity.

Tall Plant Braces

Lists the two tall plant braces included in the third shipping box.

BioDome Seed Starter Kit

Specifies the BioDome Seed Starter Kit as part of the contents.

BioSponges

Details the 120 BioSponges included for seed starting.

Step-By-Step Assembly Instructions

Seedling Grow Light Assembly

Instructions for assembling the seedling grow light system prior to installation.

LED Stand Assembly

Detailed steps for constructing the LED stand to support the grow lights.

Planter Carousel Assembly

Instructions for assembling the main planter carousel structure and stacking components.

Optimizing Plant Growth Conditions

Optimum Light Schedule

Guidance on setting the recommended light cycle for faster plant growth.

Testing the Water Flow

Procedures for verifying water distribution to all drippers and planters.

Support and Documentation

Warranty and Returns Policy

Information regarding the product's one-year warranty and the 14-day return policy.

Contacting Solaris Systems

Details on how to get support and contact the company for inquiries.

Appendix: Submersible Water Pump

Technical specifications for the EcoPlus Eco 264 Submersible Pump.

Appendix: Barrina LED Grow Lights

Information on the features and benefits of the Barrina LED grow lights.

Timer Manufacturers Documentation

Instructions on how to properly set and operate the mechanical light timer.

The device described in this manual is the Garden Carousel, a hydroponic/aeroponic system designed for indoor plant cultivation, primarily lettuce, herbs, and other crops. It aims to provide a "Farm-to-Table" food source, allowing users to grow fresh produce without the challenges of outdoor gardening such as insects, pests, pesticides, dirt, weather, fungus, rain, or cold. The system, combined with a BioDome seed starter, ensures a continuous supply of plants ready for harvest.

Function Description:

The Garden Carousel is a self-contained hydroponic/aeroponic system that circulates nutrient-rich water to plants. It consists of a vertical stack of planters, an LED grow light stand, a water reservoir with a pump, and a water distribution head with drippers. The system is designed to be user-friendly, allowing individuals to grow their own food indoors with minimal effort. The continuous operation of the water pump is crucial for plant health, ensuring roots remain moist and nourished. The LED grow lights provide the necessary spectrum for plant growth, with a recommended schedule for optimal development.

Important Technical Specifications:

Footprint: 21” x 21” (approximately 3 square feet).
Height (36-plant system): 61" for the plant system, 71" for the LED stand.
Power Requirement: Requires one standard wall outlet plug. Includes a “Y” power cable and a 6-foot extension cord.
LED Grow Lights: 4x 4' LED Grow Lights (full-spectrum sunlight replacement). These lights are designed to provide the most reasonable grow light wave based on plant absorption ratios, with over 95% light energy absorbed by plants. Light efficiency can be increased by 17-20% with a reflector. The light shell is made of 100% aluminum for high-efficiency heat dissipation and extended LED chip service life. They produce a sunlight white color for comfortable viewing.
Water Pump: EcoPlus Eco 264 Submersible Pump. This is a fixed flow rate, 290 gallons per hour (GPH) multipurpose pump suitable for indoor or outdoor use. It should never be run dry.
Planters: 8 plant holders with a turntable, plus 32 additional plant holders and 4 bottom plant holders.
Water Reservoir: 1 unit (10 Gal. BRUTE Container).
Timer: Mechanical Light Timer (BN-LINK brand) for controlling LED lights. Preset to ON at 6 am and OFF at 8 pm, but adjustable. It does not have a backup battery, so it needs to be reset after power loss or unplugging.
Nutrients: FloraMicro & FloraGro (8 oz each) for plant nutrition.
pH Management: pH Down (8 oz) and a pH Test Kit for maintaining optimal water pH levels.
Seed Starting: BioDome Seed Starter Kit with 120 BioSponges, BioDome Grow Lights (1 unit), and BioDome Grow Light Legs (2 units).
Other Components: Dip Stick (1), Water Feed Pipe (1), Reservoir Cover (1), Water Distribution Head (1), LED Stand base (1), LED Stand cover (1), Tall plant braces (2), Seed Packets (4).

Usage Features:

Indoor Placement: Ideal for placement on a tile or concrete floor due to running water. For carpeted floors, a 24” x 36” boot tray is recommended to prevent water drips or spills.
Accessibility: The plant holder rests on a turntable, requiring access only to the front of the system for planting and harvesting.
Plant Rotation: Daily rotation of the plant holder by a couple of inches is recommended to ensure even light distribution to all plants.
Power Management: A "Y" power cable allows the system to operate from a single wall outlet. One plug connects to the timer for the LED lights, and the other directly powers the water pump.
Light Schedule: The optimal light schedule is 14 hours ON and 10 hours OFF for faster plant growth (e.g., 6 am to 8 pm). Plants require dark hours for respiration. The mechanical timer controls the LED lights, while the pump runs continuously (24/7).
Water Flow Testing: After adding water to the reservoir, the pump should be plugged in to verify that water flows steadily from all 8 drippers. Valves on the drippers can be adjusted to achieve an even pressure distribution. It's important to ensure water reaches all eight endpoints of the bottom planters and plant holders.
Seed Starting: The BioDome Seed Starter Kit with BioSponges and dedicated grow lights facilitates the initial stages of plant growth.

Maintenance Features:

Continuous Pump Operation: The water pump must operate continuously (24/7) to prevent plant roots from drying out. BioSponges can hold moisture for about 30 minutes, but prolonged pump stoppage will cause plants to wilt.
Timer Reset: The mechanical timer lacks a backup battery, so it needs to be reset to the current time if power is lost or the unit is unplugged.
Dripper Maintenance: Regular checks are recommended to ensure drippers are not clogged by algae or other organic debris.
Warranty: Solaris Systems Inc offers a one-year parts warranty against manufacturing defects or failure (not due to misuse or operational error). Modifications to the Garden Carousel or allowing water to fall below the top of the pump will void the warranty.
Returns: A 14-day return policy is offered for unused products in original packaging with proof of purchase. Shipping costs for returns are non-refundable.
Support: Contact information (website and email) is provided for questions, tips, tricks, and reporting missing components.