jacobking101
Newly Registered
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2015 12:36 am
Location: Northeast Kansas (Zone 6a)

Potential Hydroponic/Aquaponic Setup?

Is this a good setup? In the future if I make this I would add fish to help with nutrients. In this I plan to grow lettuce, basil, dill, oregano, and parsley!

1 Sterilite Model # 19908604
16 2 inch Net Pots
1 40 Gallon Air pump
1 Styrofoam board cut to size
Perlite for Net pots
2 Clamp on Lamps
Some CFLs >
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-100W ... /204855102

imafan26
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Posts: 13961
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:32 am
Location: Hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.

Are you getting an air pump or a dual air and water pump. If it is a water pump when you add the fish you still need aerators.
If this in indoors,it would be better to have flourescents on chains. You will also need some air circulation so fans as well.
The sterilite box may not last that long depending on how much water you put it it. Water is heavy and the plastic looks thin.
You can build a tank with 2x 6, plywood sheets and a pond liner. You would need use tile blocks or build sturdy legs for it. you also will need pvc fittings to run the water through the pipes into the grow bed and put in a drain to return it to the reservoir. You will need a reservoir too.

Lettuce needs 8-10 inches between them I don't know if your box has the surface are for 16 of them.
Oasis blocks might work better than perlite. perlite can come out of the pot and clog your pump. Oasis cubes are sold by the strip, sheet or case. The case is the most cost effective. But you can try a sheet if you are just starting out. The sheets fit a standard 1020 tray. You would plant one seed per cube, bottom water and when the seedlings are large enough transplant them to the raft net pots.
Fish are coming later so in the beginning you will need hydroponic solution. I suggest you grow only one thing in the system. It is easier to get the right formula that way
You should also get an EC meter. Ph up and Ph down.
https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/pro ... ail-pack/s
You might consider a kratky system as a beginner since it requires no pumps, it is a static system. You will need the drain and a way to fill the tanks to change the solution. It would be better if this is in an outdoor location in a vented green house so you will get the best light and air ciculation.
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/vc-1.pdf

jacobking101
Newly Registered
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2015 12:36 am
Location: Northeast Kansas (Zone 6a)

imafan26 wrote:Are you getting an air pump or a dual air and water pump. If it is a water pump when you add the fish you still need aerators.
If this in indoors,it would be better to have flourescents on chains. You will also need some air circulation so fans as well.
The sterilite box may not last that long depending on how much water you put it it. Water is heavy and the plastic looks thin.
You can build a tank with 2x 6, plywood sheets and a pond liner. You would need use tile blocks or build sturdy legs for it. you also will need pvc fittings to run the water through the pipes into the grow bed and put in a drain to return it to the reservoir. You will need a reservoir too.

Lettuce needs 8-10 inches between them I don't know if your box has the surface are for 16 of them.
Oasis blocks might work better than perlite. perlite can come out of the pot and clog your pump. Oasis cubes are sold by the strip, sheet or case. The case is the most cost effective. But you can try a sheet if you are just starting out. The sheets fit a standard 1020 tray. You would plant one seed per cube, bottom water and when the seedlings are large enough transplant them to the raft net pots.
Fish are coming later so in the beginning you will need hydroponic solution. I suggest you grow only one thing in the system. It is easier to get the right formula that way
You should also get an EC meter. Ph up and Ph down.
https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/pro ... ail-pack/s
You might consider a kratky system as a beginner since it requires no pumps, it is a static system. You will need the drain and a way to fill the tanks to change the solution. It would be better if this is in an outdoor location in a vented green house so you will get the best light and air ciculation.
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/vc-1.pdf
I was going to use https://www.amazon.com/Tetra-77853-Whisp ... B0009YF4FI and have only 2 lettuce plants. Thank you for the suggestions! I guess 16 net cups would probably be over doing it as it is small. I will look into a stronger container though. I didn't think much about the container. It's indoors and I will think about hanging shop lights, what type would you recommend (T5,T8,T12)?

jacobking101
Newly Registered
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2015 12:36 am
Location: Northeast Kansas (Zone 6a)

I will probably end up growing lettuce outdoors anyways, and I want to keep this under $80. Please explain to me how to make 2 different containers work together.



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