How to Make a 10 Gallon Drip Hydroponics System
Drip hydroponic systems are one of the most commonly used methods of soilless gardening, for home and commercial growers. Drip systems are simple, relatively inexpensive and effective. In a drip hydroponic system, nutrients are pumped from the nutrient reservoir through a network of small tubes that drip the nutrient solution onto the base of each plant. The nutrient solution seeps through the growing medium to the roots of the plant, just like rainwater seeps through soil to the roots of a plant grown in a dirt garden. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Table or workbench large and sturdy enough to support the plants
- Extension cord if the support structure is not near an electrical outlet
- 2- by 4-foot flood tray
- 35mm hole saw
- 35mm ebb and flow drain fitting kit
- 4 1-1/2- by 2-inch blocks of wood
- 10-gallon bucket or plastic bin
- Medium power pond pump
- 8 feet of 1/2-inch black tubing
- Power drill with 1/16-inch (2mm) bit
- 1 to 2 feet of 1/4-inch drip tubing per plant
- 1/4-inch barbed straight coupling
- Basket or angle drippers--one per plant
- 1/2-inch barbed elbow joint
- Zip tie
- Nutrient solution
- Plants in growing medium
Instructions
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Prepare the Flood Tray
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1
Set your table or workbench in the grow room. Make sure there is an outlet nearby or use an extension cord. Set out your materials on the table, and store the 10-gallon nutrient reservoir under or next to the table.
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2
Use the hole saw to drill a 35mm hole in the bottom of the flood tray.
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3
Install the ebb and flow drain fitting in the 35mm hole, making sure the barbed end is outside the tray.
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4
Cut a 4-foot segment of 1/2-inch black tubing. Use the drill to create evenly spaced holes throughout the tubing, approximately where your plants will be placed in the flood tray.
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5
Insert 1/4-inch barbed couplers in each hole in the 1/2-inch tubing.
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6
Cut the 1/4-inch tubing into uniform lengths, 1 to 2 feet per plant. Attach 1 tubing segment to each barbed coupler. Attach an angle or basket dripper to each segment of 1/4-inch tubing.
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7
Attach the barbed elbow joint to one end of the 1/2-inch tubing. Clamp the other end of the tubing in a "Z" fold and secure with a zip tie.
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8
Place the pump in the 10-gallon bin and attach it to the elbow joint using the remaining 1/2-inch tubing.
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9
Fill the nutrient reservoir with water, and turn on the pump to test the system. When you are satisfied that there are no leaks, drain the water and fill the reservoir with nutrient solution.
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10
Place your plants in the flood tray, and position the drip tubes near the base of each plant.
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1
Tips & Warnings
The size of the pump you need depends on the number of plants and the distance from the nutrient reservoir to the plants. When in doubt, get a more powerful pump.
Be sure to test your system with plain water before setting up your plants and filling the reservoir with nutrient solution.
