Small NFT Hydroponics System

Hydroponics is a type of agriculture that uses no dirt, and usually results in larger, fuller plants. I recently became interested in the topic, and decided to start my own vegetable garden using the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT). It involves a channel of nutrient enriched water constantly flowing past a plant's roots. The system that I'm demonstrating here is just one example of infinitely many possibilities. Take my work and use it as inspiration for developing a system that suits you and your needs.

Step 1 The Idea

Because hydroponics requires a resevoir for water to be drawn from and returned to simultaneously, and I was just building a small system, my design has two gullies. This allows the water to easily go full circle.

Along with the water pump, my system uses gravity to assist the flow of water. Each end of the PVC is one inch higher than the end that comes next in the circle. The end of the tube that water enters from is the highest, and the end that it leaves from is the lowest. To achieve this, I built supports out of lumber for the pipes. The supports also keep them high enough to be above the reservoir, so that gravity will return the water to it.

Comments

[scottinnh]

A 'pipette' or 'wine thief' will sub for a syringe, and any home brewing/wine making shop would have it.

[MrChuII]

Sweet setup! An even gentler way to remove dirt from roots is to submerge the root ball in water, gently moving the water to wash away the dirt. Just make sure you 1st adjust the PH of the water as it you were going to use it for the nutrient solution.

[Goudla]

Nice work!
At some point, while following interesting biology classes in highschool, I also got interested into that, and I seem to remember that by monitoring the pH and the electrical conductivity of the liquid (nutrients), it was possible to control it.
This even makes it possible to adapt it to the actual needs of the plant, which can vary depending on the actual stage of development of the plant.
Finally, if you can control, and adapt the composition of the liquid, you don't need to replace/through any.

[bountycrops]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful step-by-step process on building an NFT system. The PVC pipe would really do better with this kind of system although rain gutters would also do fine. I think the only challenge with rain gutters is to find a covering that will be light proof. Anyway, what kinds of plant have you tried growing with this system? Would be happy to know the results.

[pyrofyr]

I see most other instructables use LECA on the bottom (Holy christmas batman, I just found out my home depot carries it, and it's cheap too), Vermiculite, and Perlite.

I can't find Vermiculite anywhere, and then I noticed you didn't list what you use besides LECA, did you use anything or just fill it up with  LECA?

[Weissensteinburg]

Sorry for the late reply. I've made two hydroponic systems now, and both used only LECA. Some people seem to like mixes, but I haven't had any problems using only it.

[tea-pain]

is pvc ok to use? its not toxic @ all?

[Weissensteinburg]

 PVC is only toxic when heated.

[[AV3NG3R]]

LOL, I saw the NFT Acronym and assumed it was your secret code for "No F*cking Time"...

Awesome instructable though.

[mslorraine101]

How did you get the stinking plastic out of the hole cutter?  I'mabout to pull my hair out.

[mslorraine101]

I got it.  I waited to long to take it out.  I had to put iton a stove burner to get it out. 

[chimpycheeseman]

just curious as to how much water you want moving across everything. like if i wanted to expand this to something bigger, could i still use that same size pump you are using, or would i want a bigger one

[Weissensteinburg]

You should be able to use the same one. The flow of water really isn't as important as the fact that it is circulating. The reason you can't just stick a plant in the water is that the water needs to re-oxygenate, like in a fish tank.

[lchhour]

where do you purchase adjustable rubber end caps? i'm working on a hydroponics setup and i also have gutters. What can i use for the ends of those? any info/help would be greatly appreciated! thanks!

[Weissensteinburg]

I got those at home depot. Rain gutters are a good idea, I would have gone with them if I didn't already have the PVC. I believe they make end caps for gutters. Have you looked around your store?

[serpensphile]

Where did you get your nutrients for $9.99??? That's a good price!

[Weissensteinburg]

Sunshine hydroponics.

[serpensphile]

Thanks!

[pipster562]

i was wondering does the pump always have to be on or do you have it on a timer?

[Weissensteinburg]

With a system like this, you'll usually want it on all the time so that the roots don't dry. If you use an aeroponics or ebb and flow system, then you will need a timer.

[Parabri]

Nice simple , well done
Lawn looks good to _,Lol

[Ha4xor4life]

i have a 60gph pump is that too little?

[Weissensteinburg]

No, it shouldn't be.

[DebH57]

Thanks for directing me here Weissenstienberg, I am going to need to spend some time going over this and gathering materials and will probably have a lot of questions later.

[shwa]

For the veggies you trying to grow be sure to have really sturdy trellis on top of your system,tomatoes have very brittle stem which break very easily,I'm not sure about other ones, but you need to have something that can bear the load of the plants and the crop.Or you might try leafy stuff like Swiss chard or lettuces and herbs,for half perpetual crop harvest just pick the mature leafs and leave rest to grow ,but on other thought maybe it's not good idea since you using non organic fertilizer,all nutrients go directly into leafs,you might consider switching to organic nutrient juice or to aquaponics (a way to go system). keep us informed .good luck

[awang8]

Organic and non-organic fertilizers are pretty much the same. They are all based on the nutrients a plant requires, and the term "organic" refers to the fact that the fertilizer has had it's nutrients extracted from organic matter. As for the nutrients itself, it cannot make a difference. There is no such thing as "organic nitrogen" or "organic potassium". I don't mean to offend you, I just want to give you my opinion for "organic fertilizers".

[shwa]

Problem is not in nitrogen ,potassium or phosphorus.Problem is in other minor element traces such as arsenic, cadmium, and uranium which can be build up in prolonged application of chemical fertilizers,surely FDA approved.This is more evident in soil agriculture than in environment controlled hydroponic system but still sooner or later you'll have to waste the nutrients from your system somewhere...

[Weissensteinburg]

Not at all! That was actually a point that had been confusing me since I was at the store.

[Weissensteinburg]

Thanks. Will the non organic fertilizer make a difference in plants that aren't as water based as lettuce? I was planning to play it by ear in terms of support. The cukes and eggplants will both need a structure. I've since moved them to the far right of the system, so I can build straight out. As for the tomatoes, I still have the green garden mesh I used in my water bottle raft, so I'll probably use that.

[shwa]

I'm not quiet sure what you mean by non water based plants non of above mentioned plants are water based,what I meant is that plants like tomatoes and alike have roots ,stem and leaves to process nutrients before they reach the the fruit so it's fairly safe to eat them ,leafy veggies everything goes and builds in the leafs so what you give to the plants end up in your stomach bottom line is if you going trough all the pain of making costly hydroponic system why ending up with the products that you can get in any supermarket =commercial chemical based... god know what..poisoned products opposed to natural organic products that are safe to eat .. just by switching couple a things...Like ErisKSC mentioned .
Do you keep your pump 24/7 on or it's interval based?

[Weissensteinburg]

I don't know why I said water based, but I meant how lettuce is composed nearly entirely of water...which is why people don't generally spring for it as their daily veggies. I keep my pump on 24/7. I'll have to post pictures soon, they've had some amazing growth.

[hjenkins]

I've done hydroponic tomatos a few times with a complete outfit I bought. The tomato plants grew about 10 lbs of roots each, pretty much took over the growing tank. Tomatos didn't have any taste though. I was using micronutrients along with the regular liquid plant food. It was in a greenhouse, maybe it needed real sun. A neighbor has 3 huge greenhouses for growing tomatos commercially and his tomatos are completely tasteless too. Now I'm trying upside down tomatos outside. I'll keep trying.

[Dr. D]

It may be the plants you started with. Find some nice heirloom tomatoes. You may have gotten some GMO hybrid bred to look nice and ship well at the expense of taste.

[awang8]

True. Once I tried growing seeds from a store-bought hybrid and it tasted like cardboard. Even worse than the tomato it came from.

[grullord]

where did you buy the cns 17 for that price?? I can't find it cheaper that 18.00???? PS > By the way great Job!!! Grullord

[Weissensteinburg]

$9.95 at Sunshine Hydroponics.

[awang8]

I've got a 500GPH Bilge Pump somewhere in the garage. Will it work? Or will it be too vigorous and damage the roots? I'm trying to make a nice 4-hole herb garden for my kitchen with all the needed herbs - rosemary, parsley, basil and thyme.

[Weissensteinburg]

I'm thinking that's a lot more than you need.

[awang8]

Sorry, one more question I forgot to mention. Are you sure that tiny hydroponics... thing... will be able to handle a mature tomato? Because i'm also planning on growing a few of those.

[Weissensteinburg]

In what sense? Depending on the plant, you may need a trellis to support it. If you mean the nutrient supply, than yes, it will. As long as water flows, it can get as much nutrient as it needs. That being said, some plants require more nutrients than others, and you'll have to replenish the supply more often.