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How to Build a Homemade Hydroponic System
Hydroponics
has various applications, from commercial
horticulture to hobby gardening. The amount of money
a hobby gardener needs to invest primarily depends
on the kind of hydroponic system he or she uses.
While readymade units are available in the market,
building a
homemade hydroponic system helps to save money.
Simple hydroponic systems, such as wick and water
culture systems, can be easily replicated at home.
Others, such as the aeroponic and drip water
systems, however, require specialized components and
expertise to build. A relatively complex system that
is quite easy to build at home is the ebb and flow.
Below are simple steps to help you build a homemade
ebb and flow hydroponic system.
What you will need
Your homemade hydroponic system will essentially
consist of two durable plastic tubs or containers.
You will also require a water pump with the capacity
to move 100 gallons per hour and an aquarium air
pump. Finally, you will need a timer, a flood and
drain system fittings set, including a flood/drain
and an overflow fitting, and some plastic tubing.
Building your homemade hydroponic system
1. Start by constructing a stand with shelves to
hold the two tubs one above the other. Ensure that
there is enough room between both tubs.
2. The tub placed above will form the flood tray of
your homemade hydroponic system. The flood tray is
where you will place the plants in containers filled
with a suitable medium such as clay pellets or lava
chips.
3. The tub that goes below forms the nutrient
reservoir of your homemade hydroponic system. Using
a darker colored tub as the nutrient reservoir will
help to prevent algae growing in the nutrient
solution.
4. Make two ¾ inch holes in the bottom of your flood
tray at one end. Attach the flood/drain fitting in
one hole and the overflow fitting in the other.
5. Install the air pump in the nutrient reservoir so
that its tube opens into a couple of air stones,
such as are used to disperse air gently from an air
pump in aquariums. Also, set up the water pump in
the nutrient reservoir. Attach one end of a plastic
tube to the water pump, with the other end going
into the flood/drain fitting in the flood tray. Plug
the water pump into the timer to control the flood
and drain cycle.
6. Now your homemade hydroponic system is ready to
use. Fill up the nutrient reservoir with a good
quantity of the nutrient solution and set the timer
to fill the flood tray for about ½ an hour, about 4
times a day, when there is light. |
