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I was in the market to buy a hydroponic bubbler to attempt to grow some fresh herbs for cooking. I saw several online and looked at a couple locally and figured I could make one of these. Either way here is how I made it, what you will need etc.
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Signing UpStep 1What you need
This is what you will need. Cost of materials was roughly $40.00 bucks. Average cost of typical bubblers is like 200 - 300 bucks so well worth it.
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You do not have to run the pump continualy, unless the roots are in the solution. In fact you will get higher yeilds and faster growth if you give the plants time without any water at all intermitedly through the course of the day. You should experiment to find out what is best for your plant type and growing medium. If you are using rockwool... they need to have time without the water bubbling.
And yes the roots can absolutely touch the water. They are getting oxygen and and nutrients at the same time so there is no root rot.
If the roots are in the water however you must always keep the pump going or set up an ebb and flow so that they do not.. Here's how.
To whomever was interested in building one of these, do yourself a favor and do it right.
The system I have built combines three techniqes very easily and cheaply. Nutrient film, Flood and drain, and a bubbler.
First get a dutch leach tray (online for ten bucks), then get two, three foot flexible airstones, (5 bucks a piece) for each tray you add. I run four trays with six plants in each tray. Next get a large container for your res. 5 gal for one tray and equall for each tray you add. You will need to outfit the container with a small pump that will fill your trays from the res.
Put your water pump and your air pump for the airstones on the same timer.
On one side of the dutch tray the water comes in from a 90* angled coupler provided with the tray and then drains out on that same side, through a different hole with the same coupler. This is how you can dial in your water level, by twisting the drain spout vertically to the level you want the water to be in the tray.
The water level is arguable. I keep mine right at the bottom of the roots to get the most out of the nutrients that usually float nearer to the surface, but your bubbling so dont worry, its fool proof! . Then fashion a cover for the tray with holes where ever you wish and at the appropriate size for mesh pots that you will place your plants into. . I cut a six inch wide strip of 1/8 inch thick aluminum for my top ;-) Put your mesh potted plants in, and thats it.... set your timer however you want as long as your cover is light tight. I would recomend running it at least 50% of the time, but that is up to you and your medium.
This is an expandable system also! If your grow, grows, the system can grow with you.
This is also the best of the best. Only misters of foggers may produce better results but I doubt it.
And its super cheap! The system I just explained will cost you 50 dollars. Ten for the tray, ten for the stones, five for the containers and about 25 for the two pumps and hoses from a pet store. Depending on what your growing, you could have up to nine sites per tray!
I havent seen any thing like this online but a similar system that is NOT expandable is around $300-$400 online.
This is a very good system. Its flawless and fast.
Happy to share the info, and dont let anyone tell you, You can't do something!
Best of luck!
Growing hydroponically is an easy and rewarding system, however you can really screw things up with only a few bad moves. Since there is no soil to act as a buffer and filter the plant will absorb everything it comes in contact with.
Do Not Paint anything!!!
Unless your using some hippydippy natural paint dont paint anything. Paint is TOXIC!
It takes up to a year to fully dry and that is without it holding water! LOl
Im sorry dude but your plants are drinking paint tainted water. If you replicate your grow with a different resivoir next time, I promise you will have healthier plants and better yields! : )
I wrote this instructable a while ago and don't feel inclined to read all my previous comments. Not exactly sure what you are getting at. You mentioned that i said that the roots can't touch the water. I was telling someone that planned on turning the system off that if you do turn it off you could drown the plant if it has roots in the water with no air.
Hope you like the instructable.
If you ever want to expand, please give this system a shot. I promise it will be bigger, faster, and stronger.
Thanks
I wasn't refering to you as the person who said the roots cant touch the water. I didn't feel like looking back to see who said it, but I knew it wasn't you. Sorry I didn't specify.
If your system is in a closed area which most hydro systems are, there should not be any paint anywhere. I liked your instructable very much, but I think for the sake of others you should have recomended a dark colored res instead of painting.
Im not sure what you mean about the "soap box" I don't think I was preaching?
I also just jumped on here to help you and others build a much better system for the same amount of money.
I think everyone should be able to get the best info they can and your post was the best to elaborate on. You already built the base and I just added on.
I wanted to show while bubblers are maybe one of the best hydro systems, they have short commings.
The system I created adds two other elements that only increase yeild and grow time. It is also much more flexible. With the bubbler in a bucket you are limited by the surface area. The system I am advising gives you much more flexability with the added benifit of a flowing nutrient for better dispersal and full drainage to give the plants time without any water.
You have never seen this with a bubbler before because they are always one unit. Thats why they are always running. The roots grow fast so the only way to keep them out of the water is to lower the water. That seems backassward so nobody does it. But from experience the down time without water does speed growth and increase yields.
I hope I didn't piss you off. I don't believe I quoted you for saying the roots cant touch the water.
Moreover I hope you try this system out. It has many advantages for the same price. I just want to help us all become self-reliable.
Sorry I didn't give your instructional props. I should have. It was very good. It was only others jumping in saying don't do this and don't do that, that I was responding to.
Namaste!