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Build your own Hydroponics System; an ebb and flow, timer-controlled designThis page will lead you step by step to build your own hydroponics system. This will be an ebb and flow design, one that I use every year with great success. The system was originally a pre-made unit purchased from an online hydroponics store. It never worked from Day 1 and had to be completely rebuilt from scratch including a new pump. It consists of a grow box with 2 drainage outlets, a nutrient container, submersible pump, aquarium air pump and bubbler stone, timer and connecting tubing. The design is simple: nutrient water is pumped into an outlet at the bottom of the growing container eventually rising to the top of the growing medium which is right where a drainage outlet is placed. Nutrient solution flows back down through this drainage outlet into the growing container to be recycled. After a predetermined amount of time the timer switches off, cutting electricity to the pump until the next cycle. Remaining nutrient solution drains back down through the stiff 6 inch tube with screen connected to the fitting at the bottom of the growing container, through the pump and back into the nutrient container.
Where to begin? The first task to build your own hydroponics system is to
gather your tools and basic materials
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This system is designed to use pea stone as a growing medium mainly due to its density. If you decide to use a different growing medium you will probably need a much larger nutrient solution container.
