Four years ago I posted an image of the large passive cooler in a Synology DS-3615xs NAS (network attached storage) system. 08-December-2015 The time has come where I need to increase my data storage capacity, but at the same time want to decrease the amount of energy required to maintain the storage. I’ve opted to upgrade to the Synology DS-3617xs NAS with 16TB Seagate EXOS hard drives. Once I get the data transferred, I will be able to retire two DS-3615xs NAS systems and four DX-1215 expansion systems. This should reduce my daily electric energy consumption for the servers from ~24 kWh/day to ~7 kWh/day (corresponding to ~ $1,000/year). I will be able to monitor and confirm this using my Sense home energy monitor.
The Synology DS-3617xs came with 16GB of installed RAM. In order to create a single volume > 100 TB I needed to add additional memory. Installation of additional memory is now accomplished from the side of the DS-3617xs, which is a lot easier. I also installed a dual 10GB RJ-45 network card to be used for the heartbeat connection for running two of the DS-3617xs NAS systems in the High-Availability server mode. With the DS-3617xs you do not need to remove the difficult to disconnect power supply cables to access the interior of the server. The large passive processor cooler looks similar.
Synology DS-3617xs memory upgrade. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)Synology DS-3617xs Passive Processor Cooler. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)Synology DS-3617xs Dual 10GB RJ54 network card. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (92.5 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (39.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny Day. A deficit of 53 kWh.
The Zucchini plant produces large (edible) yellow flowers. They appear to open in the morning, and then close at night. And I think that they only open for one day. I took an image of one using a Leica TL2 camera and 35 mm lens f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). The second version is a focus stacked image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). Composite of 50 images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus (method B)
Male Zucchini Flower. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Male Zucchini Flower. Focus stacked image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). Composite of 50 images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus (method B) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (95.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (40.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny Day. A deficit of 54.9 kWh.
It has been a week since the last AeroGarden hydroponic farm update. Some sprouts from the seeds planted seven days ago. All of the auxiliary water bottles needed to be refilled.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Left. Tomato plants at 123 days. Manually pollinating the tiny yellow flowers. Harvested a few small yellow tomatoes. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.79 and the TDS was 459 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Left. Tomato Plants (123 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Various “edible” flowers (Dianthus, Snapdragon, Marigold, Calendula) at 123 days. Trimmed and pruned the dead flowers and leaves. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.78 and TDS was 198 ppm. Added 24 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up pH adjustment.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Flowers: Dianthus, Snapdragon, Marigold, Calendula (123 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 02-Left. Pepper plants at 122 days. The pepper plants are getting bigger, but no flowers. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.49 and the TDS was 153 ppm. Added 24 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 02, Left. Pepper Plants (122 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 02-Right. Herb plants (Dill, Basil, Chives) at 122 days. The dill and parsley doing OK, others not as good. Harvested some dill. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.47 and the TDS was 385 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 02-Right. Herb Plants – Basil, Dill, Parsley (122 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 03-Left. Pepper and Basil plants at 122 days. The plants are getting bigger. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.07 and the TDS was 547 ppm. Added 8 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 0.5 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 03, Left. Pepper Plants (122 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Various flowers (Dianthus, Zinnia, unknown, poppy) at 65 days. Dianthus and Zinnia blooming. Unknown one growing, but no flowers. Red and California poppies not blooming yet. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 6.63 and TDS was 483 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 04-Left. Chives (all 12 positions) at 7 days. One tiny sprout, 3 possible sprouts, 8 no visible sprouts. No additional water needed. The pH was 6.39 and TDS was 449 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 04-Left. Chives (all 12 positions) at 7 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 04-Right. Bunching Onions/Scallions (all 12 positions) at 7 days. Ten sprouts, two dry sockets. No additional water needed. The pH was 6.34 and TDS was 481 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 04-Right. Bunching Onions (all 12 positions) at 7 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 05-Left. Flowers – Snapdragon, Celosia, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gazania, and Poppy at 74 days. Snapdragon flower about to open. Pruned some of the large zucchini leaves from the next tray blocking the plants. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.25 and TDS was 578 ppm. Added 8 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 05-Left. Flowers – Snapdragon, Celosia, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gazania, Poppy (74 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini and other vegetables at 74 days. The zucchini plants growing vigorously, others not as good. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.38 and the TDS was 400 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini Plants (74 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 06-Left: Ground Cherries (all 12 positions). One tiny sprout, eleven haven’t sprouted. No additional water needed. The pH was 6.15 and TDS was 478 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 06-Left. Ground Cherries (all 12 positions) at 7 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 06-Right: Burpee Sugar Snap Peas (positions 01-03); Snow Peas (positions 04-12). All positions sprouted. Noted some fuzzy white mold growing on the seeds. The pH was 6.22 and TDS was 496 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 06-Right. Positions 1-3 Sweet Snap Peas, Positions 04-12 Snow Peas. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 07-Left. Strawberry plants at 101 days. Most plants growing well, harvested several strawberries. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.48 and TDS was 253 ppm. Added 16 mL of Root Farm Base solution, 16 mL of Root Farm Flower and Fruit solution, and 2 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 07-Left. Strawberry Plants (101 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 07-Right. Strawberry plants at 101 days. Most plants growing well, harvested several strawberries. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.27 and TDS was 576 ppm. Added 16 mL of Root Farm Base solution, 16 mL of Root Farm Flower and Fruit solution, and 2 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 07-Right. Strawberry Plants (101 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 08-Left: Mustard (positions 01-06). Five of six positions sprouted. The pH was 6.39 and the TDS 499 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 08-Left. Positions 01-06 Mustard at 7 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 08-Right: Broccoli Raab (positions 01-06). All positions sprouted. The pH was 6.24 and the TDS was 505 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 08-Right. Positions 01-12 Broccoli Raab. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 125, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 09-Left: Swiss Chard (positions 02-07). All positions sprouted. The larger plant at position 01 was transplanted from a different farm. The pH was 6.36 and the TDS was 470 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 09-Left. Position 01 Swiss Chard moved from other farm. Positions 02-07 Swiss Chard at 7 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 09-Right: Bok Choi (positions 01-06). All positions sprouted. The pH was 6.22 and the TDS was 450 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 09-Right. Positions 01-02, 04-07 Bok Choi at day 7. Position 03 Bok Choi transfered from other Farm. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 10-Left: Romaine Lettuce (positions 01-06). The pH was 5.95 and the TDS was 475 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 10-Left. Positions 01-06 Romaine Lettuce at 7 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 125, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Farm 10-Right: Spinach (positions 01-06). None of the seeds sprouted. The pH was 5.76 and the TDS was 486 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 10-Right. Positions 01-06 Spinach at 7 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 160, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (91.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (40.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny Day. A deficit of 50.3 kWh.
Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, and Carolina Wren. I am beginning to believe that some of the Junco’s are partially brown. The Carolina Wren is not able to open sunflower seeds in its mouth like Cardinals and House Finches. When at the bird feeder with sunflower seeds, it will spend long periods of time pushing the un-husked sunflower seeds to the ground until it finds a husked sunflower seed. This makes the ground feeders (Squirrels, Mourning Doves) happy, and explains why the sunflower bird feeder empty so quickly.
Black-capped Chickadee. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1250, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)Dark-eyed Junco. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1400, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)Dark-eyed Junco (immature?).. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1000, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec)n. (David J Mathre)Carolina Wren. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1400, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec) (David J Mathre)
It has been nine days since the last AeroGarden hydroponic farm update. I’m finding that I need to feed the mature plants more often than every two weeks. Even nine days may be too long. Several of the auxiliary water bottles needed to be refilled.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Left. Tomato plants at 116 days. Harvested a few small yellow tomatoes. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.99 and the TDS was 089 ppm. Added 32 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Left. Tomato Plants (116 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1000, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Various “edible” flowers (Dianthus, Snapdragon, Marigold, Calendula) at 116 days. Trimmed and pruned the dead flowers and leaves. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.71 and TDS was 156 ppm. Added 24 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up pH adjustment.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Flowers: Dianthus, Snapdragon, Marigold, Calendula (116 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 02-Left. Pepper plants at 115 days. The pepper plants are getting bigger, but no flowers. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.65 and the TDS was 126 ppm. Added 24 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 02, Left. Pepper Plants (115 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 02-Right. Herb plants (Dill, Basil, Chives) at 115 days. The dill and parsley doing OK, others not as good. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.49 and the TDS was 635 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer added.
AeroGarden Farm 02-Right. Herb Plants – Basil, Dill, Parsley (115 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 03-Left. Pepper and Basil plants at 115 days. The plants are getting bigger. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.80 and the TDS was 320 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 03, Left. Pepper Plants (115 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Various flowers (Dianthus, Zinnia, unknown, poppy) at 58 days. Dianthus and Zinnia blooming. Unknown one growing, but no flowers. Red and California poppies not blooming yet. Reset the LED lights to 17 hours on per day, and the pump to 60 minutes on, 0 minutes off (Flowers, High Growth Setting). After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.74 and TDS was 750 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer added.
AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Flowers: Dianthus, Snapdragon, Marigold, Calendula (116 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 05-Left. Flowers – Snapdragon, Celosia, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gazania, and Poppy at 67 days. None blooming, pruned some of the large zucchini leaves from the next tray blocking the plants. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.1 and TDS was 565 ppm. Added 0.5 mL buffer up added.
AeroGarden Farm 05-Left. Flowers – Snapdragon, Celosia, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gazania, Poppy (58 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini and other vegetables at 67 days. The zucchini plants growing vigorously, others not as good. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.70 and the TDS was 190 ppm. Added 24 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini Plants (67 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 07-Left. Strawberry plants at 94 days. Most plants growing well, harvested several strawberries. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.70 and TDS was 190 ppm. Added 20 mL of Root Farm Base solution, 20 mL of Root Farm Flower and Fruit solution, and 2 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 07-Left. Strawberry Plants (94 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 07-Right. Strawberry plants at 94 days. Most plants growing well, harvested several strawberries. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.70 and TDS was 190 ppm. Added 15 mL of Root Farm Base solution, 15 mL of Root Farm Flower and Fruit solution, and 2 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 07-Right. Strawberry Plants (94 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
The upper farms bins were cleaned, filled with DI water (8.0L) and AeroGarden/Miracle Grow plant food (16 mL). Then planted, and restarted as follows:
Daily Electric Energy Used (64.0 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (9.1 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Cloudy most of the day, not much sun. A deficit of 54.9 kWh.
