Hydroponic FAQ

I did not have any kind of Hydroponic FAQ when I was building my first hydroponic system. And I did not have a clue what I was doing. I realized quickly I was 'over my head' so I decided to buy a prebuilt system which featured a semi-submersible pump.

Stuck? Need help?

Click here for our very own Hydroponic FAQ and forum!

This meant that the bottom half of the pump had to be submerged while the top half had to be dry. This also meant that sooner or later the pump would fall over into the nutrient solution destroying the pump and maybe electrocuting me in the process.

Well...this actually happened.

The pump accidentally fell into the nutrient liquid while plugged in and destroyed itself in an impressive display of sparks. Fortunately I was not hurt but I was out a pump and a fuse (and I learned that semi-submersible pumps were worthless). But having more stubbornness than smarts I persevered and finally got it right...

greenhouse

(By the way, this is not a picture of my greenhouse - I should be so lucky)

Now I'm in the position where I can actually help others succeed with their hydroponic system rather painlessly. And since I'm mailed so many questions about hydroponics in general I decided to create a Hydroponic FAQ page so people can find answers quickly and easily.

Questions or comments can be mailed to me via the Hydroponic FAQ form below and I'll post the question as well as the answer. The best part of this is it's interactive nature where others can also respond to questions and comments.

Click on this link for the 2009 Archived Hydroponics FAQ

Click on this link for the 2010 Archived Hydroponics FAQ

Below the following list of hydroponics questions and answers you'll find the simple form where you can post your questions and/or answers.

So, let's begin!

My Most Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Can your systems be imported and utilised in the UK? We're on a different power supply to yourselves?

Answer: Yes, my systems can be used anywhere in the world. In fact the UK has more hydroponics equipment than the US and since the basics of most of my systems is a pump that is all you need matched to your power supply. Even if you obtain a pump made for US voltage I'm sure there are adapters which could probably be found in places catering to business traveling. You could even ask an online hydroponics store for pumps that work with UK power... So get the proper pump and you should be all set.

Question: Your "plans" link to the PVC greenhouse seems to be a dead link. Any other path to the plans??

Answer I noticed that and could not find a new link which is really too bad. For now I took it out but I have detailed instructions from that site so if I manage to contact the owners somehow and get permission I will put them in my site. Thanks for the info...

Question: I like the ebb and flow system and am thinking of building one. I have a question. Is it a good idea to buy seedlings from the garden centre and then wash all the dirt off the roots and plant them in an hydro system?

Answer: Yes it is. Buying them and washing the dirt off is faster and easier than germinating the seedling yourself.

Have A Question or Comment?

Building a system and stuck? Or maybe you just need some encouragement... Maybe you have an answer.
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What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Seeds or plants
I have to build a Waterflow Hydroponics System for my Biology class. I was wondering in order to build it do I need an actual grown plant or can I start ...

Compatability
Are tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers compatible in same hydroponic system and using same nutrient for all??

Drip System
Hi I love your site. I am working on a system of my own and I have some specific questions. I am making a drip system which has about a 5' lift of solution ...

Hydroponic System Plans
would you please send me details of your system.

optimum photosynthesis photon density flux for different plants
I would like to know the optimum photosynthesis photon density flux for different plants. For example for Tomatos. the most important thing for photosynthesis ...

Container System
Hello "Hydroponics at home" ! I am beginner ....I want to try your bucket idea ...I have plastic buckets ...wherecan I purchase plastic spigots ..Thank ...

Wants to Learn
I was wondering if you had any info on indoor gardening. My apartment has a second bedroom which i am not using. I thought, due to the almost year round ...

Growing Rice
Your article on growing rice is intresting. Is there any report or publication of having grown rice using Hydroponics. Next wanted to ask you what is ...

Drip Systems
I am from Texas but I am currently in a small village in the Indian desert working for sustainability with an NGO.

I am looking at starting a greenhouse ...

Hydroponic Nutrient
Enjoy your site and articles you have written. Would you share the vegetable nutrient you use. I could not make out the label. Thanks for your time.
...

Substrate
I like the container design. I am from a tropical
island and we have coconut husks and cinder or gravel in abundance here. Do you think this would be ...

Growing Medium
I visited your website recently. It is very rich and useful. I have been testing different hydroponic systems for a while. Recently wanted to use "organic"...

An easier way...
Why bother with this labor intensive way of hydroponics? Why not just use a CWC system...a 5gal bucket, 3 or 4-3" net pots
filled with grow medium, fill ...

Color bulbs to grow?
I want to grow one plant indoors. What wattage
should I be looking for.

And what color bulbs should I be looking for.

nutrients
Which type of nutrients will we need?

Foam
What is styrofoam?
Can thermocol sheet is suitable for hydroponics, as it floats on water?

led lights
do you know what is the best wave length and the ratio of reds to blues and orange for the grow cycle and the flowering cycle??

and also how many watt ...

Need help!
Need help.

I HAVE A HOBBY LEAN TO GREENHOUSE 8'X13' WEST SIDE NOT IDEAL. tRY TO GROW HYDROPONIC TOMATO, CUCUMBER AND GREENS.
Started 1st week in ...

HYDRPONICS
Do plants grow taller hydroponically or in soil??

growing vegetables on the side wall of the house
A few years ago I stumbled on a site where a gentleman in Australia had set up a system of what appeared to be rain gutters attached to the wall on the ...

Tropical Plant leaves turning a light color
I put my tropical plants outside and the leaves turned light color in the leaves What should I do? Is there too much sun on them? I put some mircle grow ...

Nutrients
I have a system that has a 55 gallon plastic drum and a flow control unit with 2 submersible pumps. The buckets are 2 gallon buckets and I use a combination ...

Can I transfer from hydroponic to dirt?
I have a hydroponic plant. I want to put it back into dirt. Is that possible?

Container with the bottom attached to a hose.
I saw the picture where you have a 5 gal. bucket that has a hose (and shut-off valve?) attached to the bottom of it. I have the bucket...I just want to ...

choosing a submersible pump when dealing with considerable dynamic head
hi--quick background: i'm trying to devise a DIY system for my condo balcony. i want to do a vertical veggie garden in a 'wally-pocket' type setup, going ...

i just want to build a system to grow two plants at a time no more i nee to know what i need to set this up to grow in my bed room
how and what i need to set up and grow two plants at a time in my bed room can u help i want it simple and get all my stuff needed from lowes thanks richard...

Hydroponic systems using tilapia fish as a nutrient
I am about to build my own hydroponic system in my new 8x8 greenhouse. What is the set-up and process of using live fish to "feed " the plants? Can your ...

Questions on the usage of raw river water etc.
I am a design student who is fond of design possibilities of hydroponic farming and how to make it more inviting, accessible and easier for people to start ...

pumps Not rated yet
I love your site lots of information. I have a question about air and waterpumps.Do the air pumps come in different flow ratios as water pumps do? I did ...

Water for reservoir Not rated yet
1) My water is quite hard and it has some iron in it, too. Is it ok to use my water, but then use the "General Hydroponics FloraMicro for hardwater," along ...

Can hydroponic system be built in cement-concrete structure? Not rated yet
Can I build hydroponic structure in cement-concrete?

Growing Hydroponics Not rated yet
How long did it take you to grow your hydroponic? Do you have a gerneral timeline of this?

Transplanting Not rated yet
When transplanting into different containers is there a best time, i.e. veg or flowering and how would i eliminate as much shock as possible?

conduit Not rated yet
i am looking at doing lettuce but how long can the pipe be? i was advise not more than 20 ft is that true?

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