Extremely simple DIY ebb and flow hydroponics system: part 1

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This is a work in progress and I will add follow-ups to this video as the basil plants grow larger!

As winter will soon be upon us, I am experimenting with the wonderful world of hydroponics so I can have some fresh veggies during the off season, ON THE CHEAP!

Hydroponics is a lot simpler than it first seems. Liquid nutrients deliver regular and consistent food to the plants on a timed schedule and therefore producing an ideal growing situation for bigger and faster fruit production than soil! Also because there is no soil, the system runs cleaner and much smaller pots can be used as we are only need to accommodate space for the roots and some media (rock wool and hydro pellets) for support.

All that is needed is:
-Hydroponic cup
-A rock wool plug
-Clay pellets for added substrate
-Aquarium air pump
-Air tubing
-Air tubing relief valve
-Inverted water bottle, with bottom cut off, sized for the Hydro pot
-Plastic cup to hold water bottle
-Power drill to drill holes in the bottle caps

During winter, this set up will need an artificial light source, but this was a trial filmed in July 2009, so there is sufficient sun intensity and duration in the window sill for now!

Feel free to comment!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• DIY
• ebb
• and
• flow
• hydroponics
• herbs
• vegetable
• indoors
• simple
• recycled

[dt65262]

I thought I'd learn something about your system but the music was so distracting, I couldn't listen to you talk and that music. I'm glad you stopped playing music on your other videos so I will give another one a try. That's 4.25 minutes wasted. FML

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@dt65262 My bad, it was my very first video. I've learned to be better since then, this has so many hits that I can't get myself to delete it. The other vids have no music, are more to the point, and better picture quality!

[FlashGameReviews]

WTF? How is an airpump and a timer free? All your doing is using an airpump as a ghetto water pump.

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@FlashGameReviews True! I guess if you don't have an aquarium, you will need to go and purchase these items. I was under the assumption that most people have an unused aquarium from the 80's somewhere in the house or at your parent's/grandma's house. I think the 10 gal pumps are about $7-10 at walmart.

But ghetto indeed, however i think thats the beauty of this system, instead of spending hundreds on a commercial system and even more cash for proprietary replacement components.

[maxlucas88]

let us know whats the second song? me na care about the alchemist one i like that phat drum break flutey... nice set up here

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@maxlucas88 Awesome, no one else seems to like the music! :D People have told me its corny so I don't use music any more. The second song is "Chase of Death" by Tony Bruno. I thought it was the perfect instrumental for peculating water.

[teazyFbaybee]

Music Fuckin killed it

[sharpasadullknife]

You should add a air stone on the end of the air hose it can aerate the water as its forcing it into the bottle. Just a suggestion I dont even know if it would work

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@MyWillyboi Thanks! I will do a new hydro project soon!

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@HerbalixPro I am under the impression that it is actually solar flares that cause electrical disruptions!