Hydroponics - at Home and for Beginners

Step 3 Aeration

My container has breather holes in the handles, so I plan on running my airline through there. You may wish to cut a hole in the top, side or other location. It is not imperative where the hole is as much as it is functional. Keep in mind that you want to keep sunlight out of the container and keep rainwater OUT.

Prep your air stone(s) as per the instructions on the packaging (typically rinsing and a water soak). Please use new stones to avoid intorducing contaminates.

Connect your air stone(s) to your air line and connect to your aquarium pump.

Comments

[jessica3073]

The directions were great. Except, now that I got my air pump going and everything else, there is a smell coming from it. It smells like garbage. Also, when the bubbles come up to the surface there's a bunch of bubbles left at the surface...it looks like a bubble bath. The first time this happen with the smell I just got another air stone. So, now I have two in the container. I emptied the old water and solution, cleaned the container and add more water with fertilizer. This worked great, but then two weeks later it was time for me to put fresh water again and now it's doing the same thing with the garbage smell.

[pigpen]

Also make sure that you aren't growing algae in your tub. Depending on the color/material of your tub you will get some amount of light into the water. You can always wrap the tub in reflective tape (good to reuse lost light) or just spray paint it on the outside. Clear air tube will also shine some light in, but as long as you are not losing giant lights and change your water periodically it shouldn't be a big problem, Hydrogen Peroxide can be your friend -- it actually will support root growth while killing bacteria. Maybe your water source isn't the greatest. It is recommended to use distilled/RO and I have had some success with rain water, just have to be careful of how it is collected that you don't get even more junk in it.

[angrydroid]

try using 3% hydrogen peroxide added to your water... this will kill off bacteria and also helps increase oxygen uptake in the plant. only a few drops per gallon are necessary. also the fact that you use the term 'fertilizer' worries me... you're not using fish emulsion by chance are you? that would explain the smell. you need to go find a supplier of quality hydroponic nutrients... NOT the stuff you find at most stores' plant & garden section, you need to find a specialty shop.

[Dzakovich000]

3% really doesn't help too much. 3% Actually has harmful substances added in to reduce the rate of diffusion. This can harm and kill your plants. Your best bet is 35%, but that isn't something to be found at every corner store. Personally, I use Reverse Osmosis to filter my water, but I am looking for more efficient ways since those filters are super expensive. I'm going to see if I can distill my own water using my hot water heater and seeing if I can tap into that.

[jongscx]

Sounds to me like something (probably bacterial) is fermenting. That would explain both the garbage smell and the surface froth... When you emptied the water, did you disinfect it with the clorox sol? or is that what you meant when you cleaned the container? IF so, did you put all the equipment there, aka bubblers and tubing too... Otherwise, my only other guess is that its coming from the plants themselves. (the natural bacteria that grow on the roots)

[uberbud]

Hi, first of all thank you for a informative instructions But , I have a question concerning if there is a need for 2 air stones , if the container is at least twice as long as what you used. Or would one pump suvice. Thanks

[uberbud]

I have the same question ,is there a certain depth the container has to be.

[trebuchet03]

Depends on how much grunt your pump has ;) I have used two stones on my pump without a problem - mostly due to the shallow water (deeper water requires a stronger pump to overcome water pressure).