Wow -- that is beautiful. When did you start your seeds and how many lights do you have, what kind and wattage? I'm just figuring it out myself. I'm with you -- it's the most wonderful time of the year!

Neat pictures  thanks for posting them. I have another question. What kind of media are you using to start your seeds, especially your spinach seeds? It looks like you are running 12 drippers off one pump, which I am guessing is in the lower reservoir. What kind of pump are you using, and how is your nutrient getting back into the lower reservoir?

Thanks for looking at the pics!

Monique - Started the seeds the first two weeks of January. I use four shoplights for the starting shelf, each w/ two 40 watt bulbs. Then I will move two of the fixtures over to the hydro system. I started the hydro seeds four weeks after the others.

Baci - The water returns through holes in the trays, and gravity fed through PVC back to the resevoir (obviously that is not in the pic!!). I start my hydro seeds in rockwool, and my regular container seeds in a peat/perlite 50/50 mix. I use a max-jet 9w, 215gph pump, it is a little more expensive (25 vs. 15) than the "average" 200-220 pump, but it is quite, and 9watts is a lot of bang for your buck!

Tomatos and peppers will all go into their containers this week! Should start running the hydro system in about ten days.

I just built two similar systems to yours. But, to make it simpler, I just put the growing tote on top of the resevior and have holes in the top of the resevior and in the bottom of the top tote, everything drips down.

I have it outside though, hoping that I don't lose too much to evaporation. Its only going to operate until it gets really hot here, so hopefully I'll have it running into May.

Thanks, austin1227 - it looks like you are using a Maxi-jet pump. That cost is very reasonable for the power you are getting.
One of my outdoor low tech pot method hydro tomatoes is starting to fruit. Spring sprang here about 1 month ago.

I am the OP.. My hydro system works great. It is a ton of fun. And it is for sale!! Let me know if you are interested. I will sell it for less than production cost. It was a fun project, but to tell you the truth, i prefer gardening in the ground!!

I will sell it w/ Pump, tubing, resevoirs, rockwool, clay pellets for $50. Let me know if you are interested.