hydroponic My hydroponic project: 1st attempt, follow along :)

[wordwiz]

Pick up a couple of those styrofoam coolers. Use the tops, sides and bottoms. I read one place where they could almost be used as the entire hydro unit except that over time they tend to let some water seep through. But they certainly will float.

Hey, if this idea works, post some pics of your set-up. I would like to see it, as I'm trying to grow some lettuce as I type (in dirt). Simpson elite, a loose leaf variety. But why a large tub for plants that don't need lots of water?

Mike

 

[TXCG]

Pick up a couple of those styrofoam coolers. Use the tops, sides and bottoms. I read one place where they could almost be used as the entire hydro unit except that over time they tend to let some water seep through. But they certainly will float.

Hey, if this idea works, post some pics of your set-up. I would like to see it, as I'm trying to grow some lettuce as I type (in dirt). Simpson elite, a loose leaf variety. But why a large tub for plants that don't need lots of water?

Mike

Mainly to overcompensate for the fact that I don't have an EC meter. EC & pH fluctuate less in a large system, the extra volume acts as a buffer. Plus, I'm going to convert the reservoir into an aeroponic system later on. Also, I plan on having 6-8 lettuce plants in this system, and I can't find a shallow tub that is large enough.

 

[willard3]

Buy HID fixtures now. If you buy enough fluorescent fixtures to grow inside as you indicate, first cost will be higher than the proper HID.

Fluorescent also uses much more electricity than HID for the same amount of light = more $.

 

[TXCG]

Buy HID fixtures now. If you buy enough fluorescent fixtures to grow inside as you indicate, first cost will be higher than the proper HID.

Fluorescent also uses much more electricity than HID for the same amount of light = more $.

I am going to get an HID light for another system, but I'm going to grow lettuce only in this one and I think that a few T5's (i already have 2 2') will be plenty since lettuce is a short stature, lower light crop. I'm going to build a much larger system soon once I get my feet wet with this one.

I'm sure I'll have lots of questions for you very soon though willard, since you're our resident hydro guru

 

[wordwiz]

Hey TX,

If your tub comes with a lid, why not cut holes in the lid and simply drop some net pots in it? Think about using styrofoam and the container - most of the containers taper meaning that you will have to cut the styrofoam small enough to sink a bit. That will allow light to hit the water, which leads to algae forming. I have a six-hole, 22-gallon system and I added water once since spring. Plus, if you use a floating "lid" you will probably get much more dust in the water than if you use one that covers the entire top. That's gonna mess with your ph.

Just some things to consider!

Mike

 

[cheezydemon]

I think I have that PDF .. Cheezy isnt that the I sent to you way way way way back about 2000 posts ago

Why yes!......I printed it all out too. Thanks again, but I don't have it in electronic format anymore.


This texas grow system is in his closet,......right?()

 

[TXCG]

Hey TX,

If your tub comes with a lid, why not cut holes in the lid and simply drop some net pots in it? Think about using styrofoam and the container - most of the containers taper meaning that you will have to cut the styrofoam small enough to sink a bit. That will allow light to hit the water, which leads to algae forming. I have a six-hole, 22-gallon system and I added water once since spring. Plus, if you use a floating "lid" you will probably get much more dust in the water than if you use one that covers the entire top. That's gonna mess with your ph.

Just some things to consider!

Mike

See, I thought about this too. But apparently lettuce rafts are extremely common and very effective systems, you can find lots and lots of information on them. I think because lettuce takes less than 2 months from seed to harvest a lot of the problems you experience in hydro don't have as much time to surface. And as far as cutting it too small, the raft part is only supposed to float up and down a few inches, not all the way to the bottom so its a pretty snug fit.

I'm saving the lid though, because this tub will eventually become an aeroponic system once I can afford the timer & HID light.

 

[willard3]

If you want info on hydroponic raft lettuce growing:

http://www.cornellcea.com/Lettuce_Handbook/introduction.htm

 

[wordwiz]

See, I thought about this too. But apparently lettuce rafts are extremely common and very effective systems, you can find lots and lots of information on them. I think because lettuce takes less than 2 months from seed to harvest a lot of the problems you experience in hydro don't have as much time to surface. And as far as cutting it too small, the raft part is only supposed to float up and down a few inches, not all the way to the bottom so its a pretty snug fit.

How many seeds do you plan on germinating at once? I'm considering a hydro chamber for lettuce, simply because I have several Sterilite containers laying around as well as three fluro shop lights that I'm not using. The one downside is the cost to grow it vs. go to the store. I can buy a head of lettuce for 99¢, less if it is on sale. I don't know about running 160 watts of lights to grow 15 heads.

Mike

 

[TXCG]

How many seeds do you plan on germinating at once? I'm considering a hydro chamber for lettuce, simply because I have several Sterilite containers laying around as well as three fluro shop lights that I'm not using. The one downside is the cost to grow it vs. go to the store. I can buy a head of lettuce for 99¢, less if it is on sale. I don't know about running 160 watts of lights to grow 15 heads.

Mike

Yeah, I realize it's not exactly cost effective to grow something that is so cheap, but the lettuce experiment is more or less to get my feet wet so to speak, and hone my skills for the big game next spring w/ hydro on the balcony.

I also plan on growing loose-leaf varieties of lettuce as opposed to "head" varieties, since I could just continuously harvest leaves as opposed to harvesting whole plants. But the number i'm shooting for is about 6-8 plants.

 

[wordwiz]

The person I have bought all my hydro units from (and most of my LED lights) is really, really into using hydro outside. She had a fantastic result - tomatoes and cucumbers were two of the plants she grew. If you are intested in talking with her - she will give you tips without try to sell you something, let me know and I will PM you her address.

Yep, my favorite lettuce is Simpson Elite, a loose leaf variety. I'll be following your "season" closely to see how it works. Best of luck to you!

Mike

 

[TXCG]

Here are the two varieties I'm growing:

I started seeds in rockwool cubes today, 4 of each, 3 plants in each cube going to cull all but strongest:

 

[TXCG]

K bear with me this is step by step system construction, please wait to post until I finish so I can get this all in a row, thanks:

I decided to go with a fixed lid DWC system instead of the floating raft simply because I couldn't locate suitable foam:

10 Gallon rubbermaid container
6 2" mesh cups
2 air stones
1 two outlet air pump
2 pieces 1/4" air tubing
1 4" site plug
1 piece 1/2" blue tubing
1 1/2" rubber grommet
1 1/2" 90° elbow
1 1 7/8" hole saw
ruler
sharpie for marking holes
razor knife for cutting plastic if hole saw doesn't work
1 badass jack o' pepper for moral support

 

[TXCG]

Step 1: Mark the holes for your cups & site plug. Site plug is for filling reservoir.

Step 2: Cut holes using drill saw. Note, my drill saw was too small so I had to enlarge the holes with the razor blade. Set lid on top of box for easy platform for drilling:

make sure all things fit snug, check as you go and be sure not to take off to much plastic so go slowly

 

[TXCG]

Step 3: Drill hole for water level gauge. The gauge is simply a piece of tubing and a 90° elbow. Drill this a little larger than the elbow, make sure the grommet will fit snug. This is crucial, you don't want 10 gallons of water leaking on your floor.

Step 4: Insert grommet & drill hole through handle large enough for the blue tubing to fit through.

Step 5: Attach hose & 90° elbow and thread through hole in handle. Moisten elbow to help slide through grommet.

Note: The water meter can be pulled back out from the handle and rotated 90° and used to drain the water. Sweet.

Forgot to say cut tubing down so the lid will fit back on but I guess you would have probably figured that out

 

[TXCG]

Step 6: Drill holes for the air hoses through handle as high up as you can go where the lid will still fit. Should be drilling through 3 layers of plastic, both sides of the handle & the box itself. This will help light from leaking in through the hose. Attach the air stones at this point.

 

[TXCG]

Step 7: Attach the air pump, making sure to keep the air pump elevated above water level. This makes sure water doesn't siphon back down the tube and destroy the pump.

Good, no leaks, now lets see how the cups sit in the water.

Nice.

Coming soon: Grow tent

 

[TXCG]

 

[PrairieChilihead]

This is absolutely fantastic! Your step by step pictorial is very inspiring! I have been thinking about trying some hydroponics, using a 10 gallon aquarium that has been in storage since the last occupant moved to fishy heaven, but your pictorial is making me think that a large plastic tub would be even better. You could really fit far more than 6 plants, couldn't you? Or is it because lettuce spreads out where peppers wouldn't? That water level gauge is particularly clever! You've really thought of everything. I'll be looking forward to seeing your progress.

Thanks for going to so much trouble for our benefit Txclosetgrower!! This is fun to watch.

 

[TXCG]

one of the beautiful parts of this kind of system is a new lid is just a couple bucks so you can scale your system according to what you're growing easily