How To ...

Build Your Own Hydroponics System

If you want an inexpensive way to give hydroponics a try, I suggest building your own system. This way you can see how it works, firsthand, and see why it is such a great way for food production.

The Things You Will Need:

1. To get started, you will need a container such as a bucket or fish tank. This will be the reservoir, and you will need to paint it black. You will need to keep track of how much water you put in so make sure to use the measuring tape.

2. Next, you will need Styrofoam. It should be ΒΌ" smaller than the dimensions of the reservoir. There needs to be enough room to add water and nutrients.

3. Now you need to cut some holes in the Styrofoam. Set the net pots on top of it in the places you plan on placing the plants. With a sharp object, cut the Styrofoam around the bottom of the pots. You also need to cut a hole on one end for the air line. Space the plants appropriately around the Styrofoam so that each can receive an adequate amount of light.

4. The last main step is to choose a pump and connect the air line to the bottom of the reservoir. A good hydroponics supply store should recommend the right size pump for you. They come in gallons of at least two, so you need to get one large enough for your reservoir. Hopefully, the pump will come with the air line. If not, then make sure you order one that will extend from the pump to the bottom of the reservoir.

5. Fill your reservoir with water and plant nutrients. Place you Styrofoam in the reservoir. Then place your net pots in the Styrofoam. Place your plants in the net pots along with your growing medium. Watch your plants grow! Just keep track of your water level and be sure to feed them.

For more detailed information try www.ehow.com.

Note: If this system seems too complicated or like too much work there are pre-made systems that are great for getting started also.

Different Types of Hydroponics Systems

Hydroponic systems are characterized as active or passive. An active hydroponic system actively moves the nutrient solution, usually using a pump. Passive hydroponic systems rely on the capillary action of the growing medium or a wick. The nutrient solution is absorbed by the medium or the wick and passed along to the roots.

Hydroponic systems can also be characterized as recovery or non-recovery. Recovery systems re-circulate or reuse the nutrient solution. Non-recovery systems do not reuse the nutrient solution after it is applied to the growing medium.

The Wick System

The wick system is a passive non-recovery type hydroponic system. It uses no pumps and has no moving parts. The nutrient solution travels up the wick and into the root system of the plant. Wick systems often use sand or perlite, vermiculite mix and a growing medium. The wick system is easy and inexpensive to set-up and maintain.

The Ebb and Flow System

The Ebb and Flow hydroponic system is an active recovery type system. The Ebb and Flow uses a submersible pump in the reservoir and the plants are in the upper tray. They work on a simple flood and drain theory. The reservoir holds the nutrient solution and the pump. When the pump turns on, the nutrient solution is pumped up to the upper tray and delivered to the root system of the plants. The pump should remain on for about 20 to 30 minutes, which is called a flood cycle. Once the water has reached a set level, an overflow pipe or fitting allows the nutrient solution to drain back into the reservoir. The pump remains on for the entire flood cycle. After the flood cycle the nutrient solution slowly drains back down into the reservoir through the pump. During the flood cycle oxygen poor air is pushed out of the root system by the upward moving nutrient solution. As the nutrient solution drains back into the reservoir, oxygen rich air is pulled into the growing medium. This allows the roots ample oxygen to maximize their nutrient intake. Rockwool and grow rocks are most commonly used growing mediums in Ebb and Flow type systems. The Ebb and Flow is low maintenance, yet highly effective type of hydroponic gardening.

Nutrient Film Technique

The Nutrient Film Technique or NFT system is an active recovery type hydroponic system using submersible pumps and reusing nutrient solutions. The NFT uses a reservoir with a submersible pump that pumps the nutrient solution into a grow-tube where the roots are suspended. The grow-tube is at a slight downward angle so the nutrient solution runs over the roots and back into the reservoir. The nutrient solution flows over the roots up to 24 hours per day. Oxygen is needed in the grow-tube so capillary matting or air stones must be used. The plants are held up by a support collar or a grow-basket and no growing medium is used. The NFT system is very effective. Although, many novice hydroponic growers find it difficult to fine tune.

Continuous Drip

The Continuous Drip system is an active recovery or non-recovery type system. This system uses a submersible pump in a reservoir with supply lines going to each plant. With drip emitter for each plant the gardener can adjust the amount of solution per plant. A drip tray under each row of plants, sending the solution back to the reservoir, can easily make this system an active recovery type. Continuous Drip systems are often used with Rockwool. Although, any growing medium can be used with this system, thanks to the adjustment feature on each individual drip emitter.