2. i added nutrient. How often do i have to add more? Is there some
nutrient meter?

Not sure about the first question, but as to the nutrient, hopefully it's
the same in USA as in NZ, but we use a CF Meter. This measures how strong
the solution is in your system. I keep mine at an average CF of 18-20 and it
seems to be OK for my plants. I have beans, peas, lettuce, cucumber, tomato,
and capsicum in there, and they all seem happy with that. They all like
differing CF's, but this seems a middle of the road way.

My system is built out of plastic drainpipes, the type you use coming off
guttering, and I have taped a stake to the side of the system to hold up my
tomato, and also run strings down from the roof for support for beans and
peas.

--
Anna Merchant
http://www.thecotfactory.co.nz
If electricity comes from electrons, does that mean that morality comes from
morons?