Hi

I'm a newbie and am not sure I can help you out, but I live in a small island where most hardware (especially cheap stuff) is difficult to find. Stimulates creativity a lot!

Going through the same process as you, I can only advise you first to check what material you already have at hand (an aquarium pump or a water pump for instance) and then to search the internet for cheap DIY systems - there are tons of them available.

Hope this helps, let me know once you decided what type of system you chose to try out.

Mark

In the internet search box, type "Low-cost hydroponics" then click search.

When I put my system together, I just used a plastic storage bin. I cut holes in the top for 6 5" net pots. I bought a small submersable pump for $14 at k mart. Attach the pump to about 40" of black 1/2" ID tubing. Run the tubing through the lid, and attach 1/4" dripper lines for each plant. Some folks think this should be run on a timer, but I have run mine for sevral months with no timer and no problem. Toss in a small air pump and stone and you are good to go. Hope this helps.

If you are thinking of making an outside system, I think that the float and slope system is very easy and inexpensive to construct. It uses a tarp and some 2X4's to make troughs filled with the growing medium. Check it out and see if this might work for you, chuck

Here is a link that might be useful: outside home made system

Usually some of these growing websites like overgrow.com have good system plans. They work for a lot of different crops. Although in hydroponics people in the states tend to have a slanted view of its uses.

Here is a link that might be useful: www.overgrow.com

Check this out.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hydroponics Ideas

what type of system to make depends on what you want to grow. if you tell us that we might have more ideas. ~Ryan

I'm a novice and haven't constructed one yet. I just got Keith Robberto's book "How To Hydroponics", and there are plans in there for several different systems. I'm interested in building the aeroponics system -- it looks really cool.

http://www.howtohydroponics.com/

cheers,
shireen

http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/11plan01.htm

This is the one that I built. It's perfect and cost about $20 to build.

Here is a link that might be useful: Good Plans

I use 6" sewer pipe using the flood and drain system outdoors. The first year I used 4" with pea gravel but was noy large enough for tomatoes that is why I switched to 6" for tomatoes. I now use peralite and coconut hull chunks 1/2" for the medium. If it ever quits raining I will post a picture. Also I use what is called a still water garden for other crops and it works wonderful I only use the air pump which is not really necessary. For lettuce I am using thr raft system. This is one of the best for lettuce

1- 5gallon bucket w/ lid
1- small air pump and air stone
1- net cup

thats it, and you can go bigger and bigger by just adding more buckets, more air, and a reservoir with a pond pump in it.

There's good plans for a hydroponic/aeroponic hybrid system I built here:

http://www.fiery-foods.com/dave/hydroponics.asp

Hi Chuck (Outside home-made system), I see that you used 32 oz dixie cups for growing tomatoes. I thought tomato plants have big root systems so they require bigger containers. Are your tomatoes growing ok? I am very curious.