My first Hydroponic attempts

[Harlequin]

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