My first Hydroponic attempts
 

Well I've built myself 2 Hydroponic systems now as my first attempts. One is an ebb & flow system and the other is a kit form system which is gravity fed - It floods the base of each plant with 30mm of nutrient and then lets the plant absorb that still it runs dry before giving it more nutrient.

The ebb and flow system is built of 2 x 2.5m troughs with 8 net pots evenly spaced. Water is pumped from a 2.5kl/hr aquarium pump to two inlet hoses in each trough. Water then exits the system through the 52mm drain pipes. Currently the system is on a 15 min on 15 min off rotation. Growing material is light expanded clay.

As the systems are on my deck they aren't being provided with artificial light - this has resulted in them all leaning to one side (the deck is roofed). At the moment I'm just rotating them every week. Temps here have been really high for this time of year and really really low humidity (32c and 10%) this has meant the plants water consumption has been huge. Also on one day I had to turn on the pump without a break because the plants were dying in the 15 min interval.

Plants were small seedlings when they went in approx 10 days ago and have pretty much doubled in size. There is a mixture of Cos Lettuce, Mesculin, Rocket, Basil & Oregano.

The other system I'm growing larger fruit bearing plants and have a tomato and a habenero atm. I will probably add another pot set to that kit shortly.

Total cost of Ebb system was:
5m trough - $20
Pump - Had one C$30
Hoses - $10
Reservoir - $16
Growing material, Pots = $12

Total - $88

The other system came as a starter kit for $120. This included, 2 large pots, Growing medium, 3m of of 6mm hose, 2 x taps, in line filter, reservoir, base and valve. Expansion kits cost about $60.

$1AUD = US 85c

Plants look good. I always like to see home made systems because if you understand the functions of what makes them work they are so easy to build yourself, for much less money. I just finished a 4 plant drip system for some large plants that cost $40 plus the growing media $10 (pump I already had). I will post pics later this week in this forum.

Sounds like you live in Arizona where I live, if so just wait tell summer (June-September) .

Other side of the world :p. Brisbane Australia. Its currently 19c - 32c today and we are coming into Summer. Summer is 26 - 34c but high humidity and lots of storms so not as hard on the plants.

Yesterday was the first bit of rain we have had in 8-10 weeks. Everything is brown and dead :(. We also have hardcore water restrictions (140l per person per day including showers, cooking, washing and no watering your garden, washing your car etc.) that make it impossible to irrigate. It was a big reason for me to start the hydro. The soil here is really very very good but I'm not allowed to use the water.

Updated pics... I'm really happy with how everything has done - tomato has its first fruit and the chilli has like 100 buds on it. Lettuces are coming up nicely as well.

OK, when you mentioned that they were on your deck I thought it sounded familiar. How are the plants doing? Do you have any new pictures?

I'll bring some new pics in tomorrow. Lettuce plants have grown heaps - they produce more than we can eat. Tomato plant is now about 4ft tall and I have expanded the green kits and have added another tomato and then grown from seed pumpkin, chilli, capsicum, zuchinni and eggplant. Waiting to sprout are peas and runner beans.

hey what are those "troughs" you are using? Are they maxi trunkings for electrical wiring? I havent been able to find any pvc fence posts or pvc down pipes in my country so am wondering what you are using?

They are actually specific hydroponic troughs that my local hydro store carries. $2 per meter. Also came with end caps, one set that are solid and 1 set that have a 1.5" drain hole at the end. If you were to look at them in profile they have a slight vee in them that moves the nutrient to the center of the channel.

Updated pics.

As you can see one I've expanded one of the systems alot and have planted a lot of fruit bearing plants.

Thanks, it is very similar to maxi trunking ( http://www.cablemonkey.co.uk/acatalo...unkingMMT2.jpg ) although it is a heck of a lot cheaper, at least in your part of the world. The stuff costs about 28 of your dollars for 3 meters here :/

Very similar but quite a bit wider - these are about 4"wide and about 2" deep.

Also anything "electrical" in Australia is very very expensive. Try looking for agricultural supplies. Identical stuff heaps cheaper.