How to: Cheap and Simple DWC Hydroponics

[Sam Fisher]

Check your local pet shop for plastic valves. You can adjust each line to however much air you want going thru. In case you have a small container and a large one. You may also need a larger air pump depending on how many lines you use. Here is a link to the 4-way Plastic Valve http://www.aquariumguys.com/4plva.html like the one they carry at Wal-mart. Wal-mart has a decent selection. I picked up a huge disk shaped air stone for a few dollars. The good thing about Wal-mart is you can go crazy and buy lots of stuff to experiment with and get a full refund on the stuff you don’t need. Even if it’s been used  

[Paradoxic]

would it be possible to "split" the air hose comming from the air pump to lets say 3 different "pots/2litres" I assume one would have to get a higher preasure pump to accomidate? asking this because once one works, and keeps growing i plan on making a few more yah dig? has anyone tried this? or would i need to get a separate air pump for each pot?

As Sam suggested you can definitely split up the pump, but keep in mind that you are reducing the oxygen that will be available to the roots for each split by 1/2. This quote may be helpful to you:

While I do not know what the minimum amount of oxygen needed for good growth is, it is extremely important to ensure plenty of oxygen to the nutrients/rootzone in bubblers. One of the things that seperates this hydroponic method from some others is that the plant roots sit directly in the nutrient solution. Without proper oxygenation of the solution,the roots would quickly drown and the plant die. In addition, the fact that high amounts of oxygen are delivered directly to the roots is what makes this hydroponic method the fastest in growth rate. Be sure that it will be able to deliver 500cc's-600cc's/min to your bucket(s) per gallon of nutrient solution.

oh yeah, and what is that little dual compas looking contraption in that picture, rioght in between the plants

I believe that is a hydrometer (measures humidity) and a thermometer.

[tator547]

Question:umm so you just can put the perilite straight in there like the clay balls?

[Arcygenical]

Question:umm so you just can put the perilite straight in there like the clay balls?

Yep. Just rinse it off first. I'd put it in a wire strainer and run it under the tap.

I believe that is a hydrometer (measures humidity) and a thermometer.

I hate to point this out (I really do...) but it's a Hygrometer . Hydrometers measure the specific gravity of particles in suspension, and other fluids.

[tator547]

do wou just poor in the plant media even if its just perilite

[Paradoxic]

I hate to point this out (I really do...) but it's a Hygrometer . Hydrometers measure the specific gravity of particles in suspension, and other fluids.

Oh yeah Hydrometers are for making beer and stuff. Heheh, those are definitely easy to confuse.

[tator547]

the compass to me looks like a ph, humidity meter

[Paradoxic]

do wou just poor in the plant media even if its just perilite

If you are asking that if you have a plant in perlite can you just put it right into the hydro system, then the answer is yes. For this system you could probably even use perlite for the entire medium instead of the hydroton grow rocks.

[zee]

So, if you used this setup, you would have to have the pump running all day to oxygenate the water?

[frostyd00d]

You wouldn't have to, but why would you not run it 24/7? If the pump is too loud, then you should buy another pump. (I know about loud pumps... don't buy the cheapest one,  it pushes air fine, but it's loud)

I used a similar setup in this guide except I used a 20oz bottle and didn't replace the cap. I found that no matter how many holes I drilled into the cap, the roots would spiral around themselves and starve each other instead of finding a hole. And if you select the larger of the clay pellets, the cap isn't needed to keep them from falling thru either.

[strgzr]

Here's what I made with some stuff I already had. I did have to buy the pot and a couple fittings.



It looks just like the bubbler unit except I used a larger pot. (Still waiting for some Hydroton medium to arrive.)



The pot fits very well into the 5 gallon bucket and I attached about 6 feet of hose to allow me to pick up the pot and set it aside when necessary.



I used an aquarium power head for the pump. it will easily pump water up to the top of the pot. it's fully submersible, They will run 24/7, and they're cheap at walmart! I already had this one so it made even more sense to use it! I have added an air pump and stone to this also.(but it's not pictured!)

I was thinking about trying to grow my first plant with this setup. But smarter people prevailed and I will wait until I get some cuttings rooted and then try it out.
I have not done any hydroponics before so if you more experienced growers see any flaw to this setup please let me know!

[bifster]

This might be a really dumb question to ask, but the vinyl tubing attached to the airtone is where the nutrient solution is coming from, right?
Does the tubing need to be attached to a bucketful of the nutrient solution?

[bohmars]

Alright, so back to the original bottle hydro.
Is the air source supposed to be positioned so that the air bubbles go into the medium or away from the cap?
Or does it matter?

[gnorme]

This Ebb & Flood i build today..

[Sea Mac]

Cool, gnorme!

[Genius +]