Hydroponics

Dan has always been one that loves to make things and with the least expense as possible. So to buy a hydroponic system was not really ever considered. We aren't quite sure yet all what we will do with hydroponics and/or Aeroponics, but we are hoping that it will get us to the Farmer's Market sooner in the spring/summer and keep us there longer with good veggies in the fall.

The following pictures shows the first hydroponic system that Dan made. Today 1/6/01 we planted our rockwool slab with our first lettuce seeds.

The system was made with 4 pvc sewer pipe, with 1/2 inch feeder pipe line inside of this. The plant holes were drilled every 8 inches with a 2-3/8" hole saw. We will use 12 oz solo cups for our pots. Each pipe is 20 feet in length with 28 plant holes in each one.

To the right is a picture of how Dan made the drain back into the holding tank. The higher collar inside the pipe will keep the water level even.

This shows the extending piece that will go into the tank. Sorry the picture is blurry =:> It also shows the end caps. We used silicon to seal the bottom edges of the cap so that we can take them back off between crops to clean out the pipes.

The solution tank was bought at a local store. It is a 33 gallon tank..relatively inexpensive. The holes for the return drains were drilled into the top.

The 1/2 inch feeder pipe has 1/16th inch holes drilled between every other plant hole. The pipe is held inside by zip ties and small holes drilled in the pipe. See close up on right.

Here is the tank end of the system. You can see Dan installed a filter in the system since come summertime we will be using irrigation water and it's not always known to be the cleanest of waters. We will use well water during the winter months the irrigation water is not on.

Here is another view of the solution tank and all it's pippies!!


	Here are a few of the plants that did, and are growing in this system. We had strawberries and icecream from our first berries =:> It is now getting to warm in the greenhouse to be doing lettuce, and what you see has gotten bitter and is out of there now. We are building a float table to be used outside in the cooler spots around the house. Thumbnail pics here can be clicked on to see bigger pictures