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

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.
Let's hear it!

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What Other Visitors Have Said

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

How do you make your own hydroponic liquid?
hello im from Zambia and i need to do this science fair project. my question is do flowers grow faster hydroponically grown or with soil? except there ...

Pump timing
How often and how long should I run the pumps in a flood system?, drip system?

feeding schedule
If feeding of the plants is a dual action process, the pots fill bringing nuitrients into the pots, and as the solution recedes oxygen is pulled into the ...

A Question on Fertilizer
First of all thanks for doing such a wonderful job, your information can really help others who can't afford to buy such systems (which can be expensive)...

Hydro Jars?
When growing a plant in a clear glass jar hydroponically, does the glass jar need to be covered by something to keep the light from reaching the roots ...

grodan grow cubes
how often should I water with ebb and flow with grodan grow cubes, Thanks

Where to buy styrofoam stackable planters
What company sells the hydroponic styrofoam stackable containers?

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