Build your own Hydroponics System; an ebb and flow, timer-controlled design
This 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.
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.
Once you have all the parts needed to build your own hydroponics system, it is time to assemble the system.
Once the system is assembled, don't forget to check out the intial setup of the system and reread the Maintenance Page.
Where you place your system is important. Besides adequate light, will the system be protected from animals and weather? I generally place my systems outdoors in a homebuilt greenhouse so there is cover from rain and protection from roving critters. But an outdoor system does not necessarily need to be under cover as long as the electrical parts (if you have them) are protected.
Rain will soak your plants and filter down into your nutrient solution diluting it but as long as it does not rain too often and you change nutrient solution at least once every 2 weeks then rain doesn't matter.
Since I have received many questions about this design I have archived the questions by year.
container hydroponic farm
Hello! I live in Florida and want to build a hydroponic farm inside of a shipping container. I know its possible but I'm stuck! Can you help me?
Ordering a hydroponic pump
The website is very helpful. We would like to order a pump tomorrow. Two closed systems with submersable pumps. One is 16 cherry tomato plants with 16 ...
Awesome site
Your site is awesome and very informative. It has helped me pick and setup our hydro system we went with the ebb and flo design with 12 2 gallon buckets ...
fish or foul
If the waste from fish used in aquaponic is used immediately, why does all other waste need to be composted? I understand the fish waste is subject to ...
Ebb and flo from seed
Hi there I'm new to this and I want to set up an ebb and flo system for my tomateos. I'M currently growing them in hanging baskets and grow bags and the ...
Suggestions??
Im doing a report on hydroponics and plan to build an ebb and flow system as part of my presentation. What plants do you suggest that grow quickly??
water pump times
i am building a Ebb/flow you show but dont know how meny times i should flood my system for the begining,middle and end and for how long each time i am ...
If you like this website, consider downloading this free toolbar for your browser.
Previously I featured a conduit toolbar with radio for download but replaced it with the Alexa toolbar featuring website anaysis tools along with real-time related links to facilitate searching. Alexa is owned by Amazon and will not embed spyware into their toolbar. It's safe and it's free!
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.
