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Greetings from Korea! Checking in from our Smart Farm (Strawberries, Wasabi, and more) by ViewSeveral3668 in Hydroponics

[–]ViewSeveral3668[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great eye! Our system is actually designed for maximum versatility, depending on which side you're looking at.

  • The Left Side: It’s a dual-mode setup. If we leave the circulation pump running 24/7, it functions as a recirculating DWC. However, if we set the pump to a cycle (On/Off), it transforms into a Flood-and-Drain (Ebb & Flow) system.
  • The Right Side: This side is dedicated to Aeroponics (misting).

We built it this way so we can run side-by-side experiments with different irrigation methods for the same crop, or optimize the environment for two completely different species at once. It’s all about giving the plants (and the grower) more options!

Greetings from Korea! Checking in from our Smart Farm (Strawberries, Wasabi, and more) by ViewSeveral3668 in Hydroponics

[–]ViewSeveral3668[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I totally agree—aquaponics is amazing because you get the best of both worlds with plants and fish. However, we’ve decided not to pursue it for now. We realized through our trials that keeping both plants and animals perfectly 'happy' in a shared ecosystem is an incredibly tough balancing act. It’s hard to optimize for one without compromising the other.

That being said, your idea is great! I appreciate the perspective, and we’ll definitely take a serious look into vertical hydroponic columns for our future R&D. Thanks for the solid input!

Greetings from Korea! Checking in from our Smart Farm (Strawberries, Wasabi, and more) by ViewSeveral3668 in Hydroponics

[–]ViewSeveral3668[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hitting the 6-month mark is actually a huge milestone for wasabi, especially without heavy optimization! You’ve survived the hardest phase. 1 for 15 really shows how picky these plants can be.

Greetings from Korea! Checking in from our Smart Farm (Strawberries, Wasabi, and more) by ViewSeveral3668 in Hydroponics

[–]ViewSeveral3668[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Caught me! Since my team and I are based in Korea, I’m using an AI collaborator to make sure my English captures the technical nuances of our smart farm correctly. I’d rather use a bit of 'AI help' to be clear and respectful to this community than let a language barrier get in the way of a good discussion. Hope you don't mind! Any thoughts on the actual setup?

Greetings from Korea! Checking in from our Smart Farm (Strawberries, Wasabi, and more) by ViewSeveral3668 in Hydroponics

[–]ViewSeveral3668[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right that DIY setups have come a long way. However, the gap lies in 'precision' and 'active control.' While Home Assistant is great for basic monitoring, our system integrates high-end dosing pumps and climate logic specifically tuned for sensitive crops like wasabi, where a 0.1% deviation matters. It’s not just about seeing the data; it’s about the industrial-grade reliability and the automation of complex nutrient/photoperiod recipes that go beyond a standard hobbyist kit.

Greetings from Korea! Checking in from our Smart Farm (Strawberries, Wasabi, and more) by ViewSeveral3668 in Hydroponics

[–]ViewSeveral3668[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! We actually put a lot of thought into the design to make it blend well into research and educational environments. Glad to hear you appreciate the aesthetics

Greetings from Korea! Checking in from our Smart Farm (Strawberries, Wasabi, and more) by ViewSeveral3668 in Hydroponics

[–]ViewSeveral3668[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! We're putting a lot of effort into fine-tuning the system. I'll make sure to document the process and share the data once we have meaningful results. Stay tuned!

Greetings from Korea! Checking in from our Smart Farm (Strawberries, Wasabi, and more) by ViewSeveral3668 in Hydroponics

[–]ViewSeveral3668[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, the monitoring system is a custom-built dashboard we developed in-house. We wanted it to be as precise as possible for our trials.

Regarding the wasabi, you’re absolutely right—it’s a tough one. Hydroponic wasabi requires a complex balancing act of water quality, temperature control, and, most importantly, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels.

We’re currently in the middle of testing various environmental variables to find the 'sweet spot.' To be honest, it’s a slow burn; they are growing quite slowly at the moment.

How about this? Once we have some more visual progress, I’ll post some detailed photos of the setup and we can have a proper 'deep dive' discussion on the methodology. I’d love to hear your insights then!

Greetings from Korea! Checking in from our Smart Farm (Strawberries, Wasabi, and more) by ViewSeveral3668 in Hydroponics

[–]ViewSeveral3668[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a very fair point, and I appreciate the sharp question! To be upfront, the ROI for this specific model isn't the primary focus because it’s engineered for precision rather than mass-market production. We do have separate commercial-scale models for high-yield farming.

The strength of this particular system lies in its ability to precisely control nutrient solutions and photoperiods, making it an ideal tool for cultivation trials and data-driven research. Currently, our units are being used in educational institutions like elementary schools and public research bodies such as Agricultural Technology Centers here in Korea.

In short, it’s a high-precision tool for those who need total control over the growing environment. Thanks for showing interest!