How to Make a Drip System Using a Water Pump or Air Pump

This guide describes two ways to convert your DWC bubbler bucket into a drip system. This guide describes two methods, one uses an air pump (fish tank bubbler) and one uses a water pump. If you have not yet created a DWC system before you should read the guide that describes how do so: Basic Bubbler (DWC) System

How to Make a Drip System Using a Water Pump

MATERIALS
Tee
water Pump
tubing

Choosing a Water Pump
From what I have seen you can spend anywhere from $15.00 to $100.00.
I like to use the cheap ones from my local pet shop that costs ~$16.00,Its the cheapest smallest submersible pump. If the pump goes out you can take it back for a replacement without much hassle. Be sure to choose a pump that will pump enough water for the job. This small pump is plenty for a five gallon bucket system using a six inch net pot.

Choosing Your Tubing
Its best to choose tubing that is not see through. Buy enough of it to circle the pot and reach the bottom of the reservoir. Approximately 32 inches if using a six inch net pot and 5 gallon bucket. It?s a good idea to buy extra tubing so you can make an extra ring or two. 3/4 inch tubing is ideal but I couldn?t find 3/4 tees at the hardware store. For my system I used 1/4 inch. Just be sure that you will be able to connect the tubing to your pump. You can take your pump with you to the hardware store and check the fit before you buy it. Using tubing that is too small for your pump may shorten the pumps life.

Choosing Your Tee
Make sure you get a tee that will fit your tubing. You can check the fit while you are in the store.

Assembly
Before you cut the tubing connect the tee to one end.
Next measure your pot or run the tubing around the inside of the pot to get a measurement.
Once you have your measurement you can cut the tubing and make a circle (drip ring assembly).

Connect the left over hose to the tee.

Now you can drill the holes along one side of your drip ring assembly. I used an ice pick heated up with a torch to make the holes. Make 6 holes evenly spaced on the drip ring assembly. You want to make the holes big enough for the water to drip out, not spray out. Start out with small holes check the flow than make them larger if needed. It's nice to have extra tubing so you can experiment with the amount and size of the holes.

Installation
Drill a hole in the side of the net pot or in the bucket and run the line to the pump.

NOTE: In addition to having the pump powering the drip system, you should also have an air pump (fish tank bubbler) to oxygenate the water which is described in Basic Bubbler (DWC) System

How to Make a Drip System Using an Air Pump

MATERIALS
pumping column
drip ring assembly
Tee
Air Pump
tubing

NOTE: You do not need a water pump for this drip system. The air pump pushes the water up and out the drip ring while oxygenating the water.

I suggest you get a General Hydroponics WaterFarm kit online if your going to use this drip system. The cost of General Hydroponics WaterFarm kit is $14.50. After pricing the parts at the hardware store I found that the online kit is only slightly more expensive including shipping. The kit you can get online comes with a drain valve. The photos in this post are of the General Hydroponics WaterFarm kit.
http://www.hhydro.com/cgi-bin/hhydro/HH00463.html

ASSEMBLY
If you get the General Hydroponics WaterFarm kit it comes preassembled. If you build it from scratch you can use the instructions for making a drip ring described above.

This is a photo of the General Hydroponics WaterFarm kit. This is the complete kit minus a ring that holds the drain valve in place. The clip not shown in photo in currently on a five gallon bucket, Ill show it in a photo later.