Need advice and comments on my Hydroponics Setup

10 years ago

Hello,

I had some Sears points that were going to expire and I decided to buy some "self watering" vertical pockets to try them out. I bought 14 of them for 42 plants. I was going to build a wall out of cedar and hang it on my deck railing and just do a traditional soil based wall system. While I was waiting for them to arrive, I started to learn about hydroponics. After receiving the product, I thought they could be used to make a hydroponic system, so I started to build a system. I got some directions from the manufacturer on how to make these self watering.

I am new to Hydroponics, so I wanted to run my setup by some people. I built a cedar frame and installed 12 of these on one frame. 3 sets (each set is 3 pods in one piece) on 4 rows. I then connected each row to each other using tubing. I tested this out and all rows fill with water and I believe I can maintain a level I desire by controlling the rate of flow. My plan is to fill the interior fill baskets with some sort of growing medium for the plant to take root. Then there will be a constant level of water in each pot, anywhere between 2-5" inches. Then I will circulate water using a tank and pump. As the water on the top fills, it will flow down to the next level ect, then back into the water tank. Here are a few pictures of the pots filled with water:

Here are a few pictures. One of me testing the flow. After getting the initial levels right, I added orange soda to see how the water would distribute from the top down and it seemed to spread well to all pods.

Here is a picture showing how it will be installed at my house:

I plan to put the tank beneath it and run tubing to the top row. I will us a submersible pump to push water up and start the flow down. Should I use an air stone or an air pump with this setup? Also, is my setup sound enough? Meaning, I plan to keep a constant level of water in each pot and have it cycle through using the input of the tubes. The tubs fill at the bottom of the pot which will push the older water down and out of the system. So, basically a growing medium for it to take root and a constant flow of water and the bottom of the roots. Any feedback is appreciated.

Featured Answer

hex2006

10 years ago

seems more like recirculating dwc ;) The main issues i`d look out for are high water temperatures and waterlogging of the medium.

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Comments (11)

Jason
Original Author
10 years ago
This seems to be a mixture of the ebb and flow method and the deep water culture. Since the plants aren't sitting in the reservoir but instead watered via tubes and the fact that the pots never fully drain, makes me think that. I wonder if this will cause problems with root rot? With oxygenating in the tank and then sending the water up through a tube, with that help with getting oxygen to the roots? And since these are open pots, that should help with oxygen too right?
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Jason
Original Author
10 years ago
With this setup so I just want to make sure the tips of the roots are submerged? Or do I put a majority of the root in?
hex2006
10 years ago
It wont matter either way as the roots will ultimately fill the container. It they restrict the drainage you could potentially have some flooding issues. .
Jason
Original Author
10 years ago
That is a good thing to watch for. Well, I ordered the pump and air pump.

Are there any vegetables or herbs that can be planted from starters at this time of year to test it out?
hex2006
10 years ago
basil, corrianda/cilantro. pak choi are easy to grow / hard to kill depending on which way you look at it :).
Nick Tomic
10 years ago
Not bad but you can get faster growth using a deep water culture setup. Good info here http://growww.weebly.com/hydroponics.html
Jason
Original Author
10 years ago
I finished the setup and tweaked it after seeing I had some leaks. I also planted the same strawberries next to them in a soil based system to see how they do side by side. If I were to do it all over again, I wouldn't do it this way but I had the planters so I figured I would give it a go. I might switxh it over to a dripline for eqch ant but that is yet more cost to this project. Im worried im not getting equal distribution of nutrients to all plants. I'm going to be doing a nft rail vertical system next to these as week at some point. I've spent too much time on outside projects for my wife's tastes so o need to do some inside projects build back up some goodwill.
Erica Jhon
5 years ago
Hydrophobic farm products are dangerous to fitness as it's far grown on one hundred% chemical synthetic fertilisers and artificial additives without natural mineral soil.

It will motive most cancers and regularly occurring diseases simplest recognized after 10 years whilst tens of millions going to suffer.

World is searching for for natural mineral soil grown farm products with out out synthetic chemical in our food products.

Why one society is misguiding artificial grown products... Inside the technological know-how and generation.

Alredy global is dealing with big problems in swine flu, mad cow sickness and lots of more unknown diseases prompted due to artificially developed speedy developing cattles.

This is all not there 100 years earlier than and global changed into going satisfied with nature.Garden Blog
George Davis
5 years ago
Yes, yes and yes. But the problem tho is there’s no more Natural soil around cities and suburbs. 50 generations has seen to that. There’s nothing that can be done about that. The large farm lands have been turned into sponges. It’s not land anymore just a place to dump chemicals on to force seeds to growth that provide less nutrient. And...an think on this. Those mined nutrients are the remains of big fat dinosaurs. Now look at those who eat those same nutrients. Hey and why not there cheap.
George Davis
5 years ago
And here's the question? Did Jason give up. That seems to be the trend hydroponics leaves people in here.