A simple hydro system

[Capt. Crip]

This is a simple hydro system that anyone can put together with products from Wal-Mart and Home Depot/Lowes home improvement stores.
You can use any type,shape or size of plastic container.It must have the lid.

Material list
plastic container of your choosing-walmart
aquarium power head-walmart
Raindrip -1/4" black plastic tubing,Lowes/Home Depot
Raindrip-1/2 black plastic tubing-Lowes/Home Depot
Raindrip-black plastic connectors-Lowes/Home Depot
32 oz.plastic tumbler cups-walmart

You use a 3-1/2" hole saw to drill the holes in the top of your container to drop the tumbler cups into.
The powerhead is just an aquarium pump to pump water/nutrient up to the top of the tumbler cups to feed/water the plants.Use the 1/2" tubing to go from the powerhead up to the top of the box and fold it over and put a tiestrap around it to seal off the end.Then you use the plastic connectors to go from this 1/2 tubing to the cups with a piece of the 1/4" tubing.You also have to drill many holes in the bottom of the cups to release the water back into the sump.This system will grow plants extremely fast.I have always used grow rocks in the cups for medium.
I am going to post a few pics to help anyone along that wishes to build one of these systems.If you have any questions,just let me know and I will do all I can to answer them in an understanding way.
Take care everyone...................... ..........CC
http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/161Capt_s_pics_2917-thumb.jpg (http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/161Capt_s_pics_2917.jpg)

http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/161Capt_s_pics_2905-thumb.jpg (http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/161Capt_s_pics_2905.jpg)

[Sleepy]

Then you use the plastic connectors to go from this 1/2 tubing to the cups with a piece of the 1/4" tubing.

hi capt.! :wave: do you have a pic of this connection?

thanks! :confused:

[Capt. Crip]

I will try to find you a pic.They are about an inch long,hollow with the ends on a 45 degree angle to make pushing them through the thicker 1/2 black tubing.It's made of hard black plastic and are called couplers I think.They also have these fittings in 490 degree elbows,T's and other neat little fittings.
All the tubing and fittings are easy to find in the plumbing or lawn and Garden areas of the stores.The main brand is called Rain Drip although there are others that sell the same type stuff under a different name.I'll check and see if I can dig up a pic for you........................CC
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I usually use a long siding nail to puch my holes instead of the cheap thing they sell for this purpose.A nail or the little mini screwdrivers(silver in red case)work much better.

[Capt. Crip]

Bingo,this pic shows most of the materials wrapped around some nice young Sensi Star seedlings!!!!!
http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/161Capt_pics_024-thumb.jpg (http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/161Capt_pics_024.jpg)



Small pic so you will have to click and blow it up!!

[Sleepy]

ahhh...

so you basically make the dead end into a 'manifold' of sorts...

exactly what i couldn't visualize!

thanks, capt.!

[Hashish]

Hi Captain,whats the settings for the timer on your system or is the pump constantly running? thanks hashish

[Capt. Crip]

Yes,it's a continual flow system.The nutrient solution stays saturated with oxegen due to the water falling back into the sump from the cups.Growth rate is extremely fast.
Take care.................CC

[Hashish]

Thanks Captain thats what i thought, just needed it verified by yourself it,s kinda like the waterfall effect, i fitted a fan to my bucket because earlier on it was getting really warm it has now dropped way down to 24 degree Celsius = 75.2 degree Fahrenheit and still dropping does that sound about right to you Captain? thanks again for replying.hashish

[Harry Gypsna]

nice little setup there capt..... I bet it fires out the cuttings at a phenomenal rate when used for mothering.....

[Capt. Crip]

It will grow a mother so fast you have to continuously cut them back!!
Hashish,,,,yes!!!Between 65 and 75 degrees F is optimum,although I have seen it over 80 with little problems.You see the problem with higher temps is that the H2o is not able to have as much oxegen present as cooler water.Dissolved oxegen is the key to rapid hydro growth.
Take care.........................C C

[Hashish]

Thanks Captain thats all i need to know,i just thought the temps might have been a bit high ,but i fitted that fan and it,s keeping the water cool even with all the lights on,i,ve put 3 ice packs in to try and get it down more to the 65 mark.Thanks again Captain for answering my questions,this is a nice little system aswell CC.hashish