Hydroponic Rail System Construction Vid.

Hey Monkeys, Right out the gate I want to Say I got it backwards in the video Hydroponics requires no fish, Aquaponics does.
This project was by far the fastest and easiest I have done so far.
I have always hated videos that don't give enough info so I tried to make one that shows it all The Good, Bad, and the Ugly! That'd be me.

 

Material list may vary depending on how many rails you use, this is based on a 3 rail system;
3 5x5" BY 8' long Square Post Covers and 6 end caps (found in Garden Dept.)
4 2x4x10' pressure treated boards
3" Deck Screws 1lb. box
3 3/4" threaded PVC adapters
3 3/4" Rubber O Rings
3 3/4" Conduit Lock Nuts
3/4" PVC T's and 90* elbows 2 T's and 6 elbows (Just in case)
6' piece of 3/4 PVC Pipe
3" hole cutter and 1" paddle bit
1 Air Pump and 1 Fountain Pump (preferable with adjustable flow control)
20' of watering trunk line 1/2" and drip feed attachments 1 per hole
1 20 gallon tote
this is a useful link for the growing cups and rockwool
Cultilene Rockwool Starter Sheet (Case of 14 Sheets)
Estimated cost if you already have the tools $250
Time involve 2 1/2 hours more if your drinking beer!

 

@Gopherman Excellent video. It all made sense, clearly explained. I really like the simplicity of the whole setup. The 16 inches was very wise because you have a green thumb straight from Heaven so I have no doubt your lettuce will use all that space.

I did have one question regarding the caulking and toxicity. Can any waterproof caulking be used?

Great project. Thanks for sharing.

 

BRAVO!
Watched the whole thing....simple....perfect and even did the drilling in reverse right!
As far as being all downtrodden on cucumber and bigger stuff...
You'll be surprised what you can get outtta those 3 or 4 inch netcups....the roots will fill the pipes!

 

How much light does one of these set ups need? Hours? Direct light? Best in a greenhouse? Seedlings get skinny and reach to the light.

 

I heard you say you were going with rockwool...
Please try 1 row with clay pebbles...you'll see a difference...

 

Next step...

: Amazon.com: 7 in 1 Meter ORP pH CF EC TDS PPM Celsius Fahrenheit



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Large, Tri-Screen LCD Display; 3 resultsdisplayed simultaneously
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Electrodes & Probe:
* pre-calibrated (factory calibrated)
* plastic-coated for enhanced protection
* detachable BNC composite
Instantaneous reading results
Option for mounting or hanging
Quick and easy Installation
Reliable and stable and transportable
The operation is simple and comfortable

Specifications:
Accuracy
** PH : ±0.1PH
** °C : ±1.0°C
** mV : ±0.1%F.S±1digit
** EC, CF, TDS : ±2% F.S
Operating Temperature : 0 ~ 50°C
Automatic Temperature Compensation(ATC) : 0 ~ 50°C
Pre-Calibrated Electrodes & Probe
Built-in Battery Pack with USB Type Battery Charger
Size : 155 x 86 x 22mm
Weight : approx. 230g

Set Includes:
1 x All-in-OneMulti-Function water quality meter
1 x pH Electrode BNC Type (EnhancedPlastic Protection)
1 x ORP Electrode BNC Type (EnhancedPlastic Protection)
1 x TDS Electrode (Connected withmain unit)
1 x Rechargeable Battery (installed)
1 set of pH4.003 and pH 6.864 Calibration Solutions (FREE)
1 x USB Type Battery Charger Adaptor(US, UK, EU or AU)
1 x Mini-Screw Driver
1 x Metal Hanging Hook
1 x English User's Manual

 

actually....
next step is probably a filter bag for your pump...since you'll be outdoors - you're gonna get gunk for sure...
with rockwool..you're gonna get algae for sure too...

Amazon.com: EcoPlus 728188 6.5 by 9" Pump Filter Bag, Small: Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

@Gopherman you win the prize. You are the 1st person to get @Mindgrinder to post outside of the tin foil hat loungel. love the clear instructions

Very nice post

 

South-facing treat as potted/regular beds outside...

Inside...u can rig it totally different...
full 24/7 veg, switch to 18/6, switch to 12/12 - harvest.
If you really had the loot and mindset to do it right.....
This would MAX OUT that whole 18 hole rig @Gopherman built...

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5.5' x 5.5' core coverage

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**edit**
i've been kicking myself in the 455 for not buying one of these lights when the CDN dollar was par for quite some time now.

Dream light.

 

Thanks Guys/Gals,
My son was bagging on me about the length,but, I figure if I'm going to have that much money invested in something I want idiot proof direction, I was banking that others would too. I was impressed with how quick it was to do it. Even toying with selling ready made kits, minus the pumps.

The silicone is tub and tile pure silicone. I don't think its toxic when its cured, though I wouldn't want to eat it. You have to use something!
as far as the light goes I'm putting it my green house on the sunny side, passion flower vines got half covered up.Its a 30 day turnaround on the plants. I think from what I've experienced so far if you give a plant half of what it really needs it'll do well. If you give it everything it needs you'll end up pulling it because it will over produce.( Habenero's come to mind)

I already have these to fill in the rest of the cup with. I pretty much am leaving personal preference to growing medium to the individual, different strokes kinda thing.I'm using the rock wool to sprout them. It directs the roots downward.
It's good to see you back, haven't heard from you lately.Been real busy as well.
I'm going to use rabbit/goat/sheep compost tea right out the gate. Plenty on hand and the point for me is not spending more than I have to.

 

When i do lettuce in the tower garden - you're right....the rockwool pushes the roots straight down and out...it also gets funky if i'm not using store brand chemical fert. If you're doing tea straight out of the gate.....these will be interesting videos to follow!
Get 3 filter bags for your pump....FOR SURE.
2 is 1 and 1 is none as @BTPost would say....so get 3 just in case he's wrong. ;p

MG

 

I'm am still thinking this out I was going to maybe get a small plastic box and drill holes in it, then fill it with plastic pot scrubbers. This is how solids are strained out of Aquaponic systems.
I don't want a real complicated system that I'm always spending money on. A friend of my son is finishing up my solar system install, that's where I will get my power to run this. If I put it on a timer, I should have plenty of power.

Nice! Is this yours? I tried this with a 30 gal. drum, didn't work out for me, but I was using soil.

 

Negative. That's a "Foody Tower". Mine is a more expensive and "trendy" Tower Garden.
Pulled around 100 salads out of it this year...pump timer isnt working properly and needs fixin'.
100% off or 100% on...

 

Ok, mental note, I started the rail system up this morning 10/11/15. Using Rabbit compost tea, 3 gallons and
17 gallons of well water , and 1 good handful of Epsom Salt. All seems to be working fine got a filter bag on the return pipe and an old nylon wrapped around the pump. Planted Radacio, Red Romaine and reg Romaine. 18 Plants total.We'll see what happens.
Before anyone gets to it, NO, it's not my Nylon it was my wife's!

 

*shakes magic 8 ball*

41 days till full harvest ready.

Thanks for buying the filter bag...you'll find it good advice i think.

 

Day 4; had to put mesh up so I wouldn't have to kill all my chickens and turkeys for eating my lettuce!
All seems to be well, no dead plants yet!

 

Progress report on Hydro Rail System:
Still no dead plants! It has been 17 days so far so good!

 

Third week compost T and a little Epsom Salt. They are definitely outperforming the leftovers I put in the grow boxes almost 75% larger.

 

@Gopherman that is beautiful looking lettuce. It is healthy with no spots. Just love it. Great job. Very envious.