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.
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.
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.
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?
Awesome instructable though.
Lawn looks good to ,Lol
Do you keep your pump 24/7 on or it's interval based?