How to Build a Home Made Hydroponics System

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www.container-gardening-for-food.com A step-by-step account of me building my very first NFT Hydroponics system made from standard household parts. Parts List Squareline Rain Gutter (4 meters £7.65 Wickes) 6x end caps £1.65 ea (£9.90 Wickes) 3x gutter running outlet £4.30ea (£12.90 Wickes) 1 x small pond pump (11w) – approx £10 – £15 2 meters pond pump tubing £2 several lengths of timber for framework (Approx £10 worth) Large plastic container (resovior) £5.99 Buyology Gutter leaf guard (4m) £7.99 Max total cost (UK) £65

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25 Responses to How to Build a Home Made Hydroponics System

  1. try use pvc tube in sted then you wont have ligth problem

    nixxo1983
    November 24, 2011 at 9:40 am
    Reply

  2. Spend way less with The Bucket Garden and with even better results for organic vegetables. Highest production and quality-Ted Hallett, The Garden Master

    1000Classics
    November 24, 2011 at 9:45 am
    Reply

  3. @rickvanman just wanns say that I thoroughly enjoyed watching this vid, thx!

    dajgtre
    November 24, 2011 at 10:44 am
    Reply

  4. @WoodyNFla34482 THIS IS PART 6, forgot to label the others
    Tips for Making Hydroponic Nutrients
    1. Use a large and clean bowl for mixing the trace elements.
    2. Use a mortar and pestle to crush pebbly elements.
    3. Add powdered trace elements in the last step and mix everything together gently.

    yammer1345
    November 24, 2011 at 11:37 am
    Reply

  5. @WoodyNFla34482
    You can either
    1. Use the ratio of 1/2 teaspoon to 100 gallons of water, or
    2. Mix 1 teaspoon into one quart of water and use one liquid ounce to 3 gallons of nutrient solution.
    Keep in mind that the remaining mix shall be discarded as it becomes bad after a day

    yammer1345
    November 24, 2011 at 11:57 am
    Reply

  6. @WoodyNFla34482
    Combine the above trace elements in a different container. Mix them well before crushing them into fine powder. When they are completely mixed and in powdery form, add them to the formula prepared above and stir well.

    yammer1345
    November 24, 2011 at 12:00 pm
    Reply

  7. @WoodyNFla34482 Part 3
    Combine the above trace elements in a different container. Mix them well before crushing them into fine powder. When they are completely mixed and in powdery form, add them to the formula prepared above and stir well.

    yammer1345
    November 24, 2011 at 12:04 pm
    Reply

  8. @WoodyNFla34482 PART 2
    These are the trace elements to be added into our hydroponic nutrients in order to provide balance nutrients for proper plant growth.
    – 1 oz iron sulphate
    – 1 teaspoon boric acid powder
    – 1 teaspoon manganese sulphate
    – 1/2 teaspoon copper sulphate
    – 1/2 teaspoon zinc sulphate

    yammer1345
    November 24, 2011 at 1:00 pm
    Reply

  9. @rickvanman
    here is the formula part 1
    Combine the following ingredients in a container and set aside for later use.
    – 15 oz superphosphate
    – 10 oz potassium sulphate
    – 10 oz sodium nitrate
    – 10 oz calcium nitrate
    – 5 oz magnesium sulphate

    yammer1345
    November 24, 2011 at 1:21 pm
    Reply

  10. silver foil?

    jesusfreak1975
    November 24, 2011 at 2:16 pm
    Reply

  11. maybe you can use pond foil 😉

    geekay16
    November 24, 2011 at 2:17 pm
    Reply

  12. use black corriboard as a light block, i do no green algy..

    MegaJules1234
    November 24, 2011 at 2:36 pm
    Reply

  13. I agree with using PVC Pipe instead, but I think this system is good, but the cost could be drastically reduced by using all end caps and then using like 1″ PVC pipe instead of the t-shaped down spout pieces. I don’t know where you live, but where I am, they are quite pricey. This system is another great idea, but using round PVC pipe instead would eliminate huge costs. No covers for the trays, etc. I have used one made of 4″ PVC and it’s amazing. Keep the good ideas coming M8

    shadowrider750
    November 24, 2011 at 2:51 pm
    Reply

  14. Do sunspots affect solar electric systems?

    Hydroponics4Dummies
    November 24, 2011 at 3:22 pm
    Reply

  15. Not bad. Try using PVC round pipe. U can do much more with it. If done the right way you don’t have to worry about covering it up.
    Well done.
    “Say not to fast food”
    Cheers

    Rafalisqt
    November 24, 2011 at 3:46 pm
    Reply

  16. I would suggest u get a stronger pump from Petco and ur plants light source well be ???

    jamoho
    November 24, 2011 at 4:13 pm
    Reply

  17. where do you get the container?

    livingdaylight
    November 24, 2011 at 4:14 pm
    Reply

  18. u fucking talk to much buut respect for the vid 😀

    daviude
    November 24, 2011 at 5:07 pm
    Reply

  19. Rick that was very well done thanks I too will be trying some Hydroponics in the near future. Working on my greenhouse first.

    Allonjr
    November 24, 2011 at 6:04 pm
    Reply

  20. Looks like we kind of had the same idea of making a free standing hydroponics unit. Nice work, I’m impressed. Check out the one I designed. It’s not home made but expandable and can accept all kinds of media.
    I’m actually going to explore the way you did the gutters. I would have to make custom ones because we need a minimum of 7 inch in the width. I want to see how it will work with coco coir as this is the medium we use.

    ironyc2
    November 24, 2011 at 6:45 pm
    Reply

  21. Looks like we kind of had the same idea of making a free standing hydroponics unit. Check out the one I designed. It’s not home made but expandable and can accept all kinds of media.
    I’m actually going to explore the way you did the gutters. I would have to make custom ones because we need a minimum of 7 inch in the width. I want to see how it will work with coco coir as this is the medium we use.

    ironyc2
    November 24, 2011 at 6:59 pm
    Reply

  22. tin foil to cover the tubing? light cant penatrate and it will reflect uv rays…. just a thought, also how did you keep from massive root tangle, i like your system and will be looking into making one very similar ill let you know what happens.

    shoff1983
    November 24, 2011 at 7:00 pm
    Reply

  23. thanx for sharing some helpfull info! great work

    hamed8555
    November 24, 2011 at 7:35 pm
    Reply

  24. Hey Rick, Thanks For Teaching Me How To Grow Marijuana.

    TayzzScottBerr
    November 24, 2011 at 8:09 pm
    Reply

  25. @WoodyNFla34482 I generally use ‘ionic hydroponics nutrients’ – you can buy them in bottles and you just add a small quantity to your reservoir every now and again. There are several different versions including Grow, bloom and boost.
    However, a few weeks ago I tried adding some standard miracle grow plant food to my resoviour and my lettuce went nuts!

    I guess the trick is to experiment and see what works for you.

    rickvanman
    November 24, 2011 at 8:41 pm
    Reply

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