Plastic-free Aeroponic or Hydroponic setup?

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showman

New Member
Hi, all:

Can we make a hydroponic or aeroponic setup without using plastic parts?

For starters, I found stainless steel hydro tubs available on Amazon. I think the dimensions are 16x16x14 for the 4 site tubs. I see mention elsewhere from the seller of other sizes, but not finding them on amazon or anywhere else. Comes with a manifold (aluminum) and tubing for top dosing and also comes with a water pump and grow medium and net pots. I'd post the link but it doesn't let me as I'm new.

Would also get steel net pots which can be had on Alibaba for $1-2/each shipped if you buy like 50-100.) Pretty sure I can also get stainless steel tubing if the tubing turns out to be plastic. Could also probably find a stainless steel water reservoir from a lot of places.

Does anyone know of similar options for a stainless steel hydro tub?

What else would be needed or helpful (aside from the lights)? Maybe a stainless steel water reservoir? could probably be easily sourced. Any other ideas/suggestions?

I'd also been thinking of making an aeroponics setup rather than a pure hydro. Do you think I could convert a stainless hydro tub like this to a High pressure aeroponic setup by adding misters, pump, solenoid, accumulator, pressure switch, timer?

Thanks for help and ideas.
 
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showman

New Member
Fender Guitar said:
why do you not want to use plastic?
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Is there any reason that a plastic tub would be better than a stainless hydro tub? Sourcing the two, it doesn't really seem much more expensive to get a stainless steel tub, and plastics leach, can't be sterilized as easily, and are less durable. Is there any reason this can't be done?
 
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showman

New Member
rkymtnman said:
ss is just a bit more than plastic? where are you located/
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So are you saying the only advantage of using plastic is the cost? That's what I was hoping to hear.

I understand steel is more expensive than plastic. But in the context of an overall system, the difference doesn't appear to be terribly significant. For the units I'm looking at, I see $159 4-site stainless steel (304L) hydro tub systems available, which come with a water pump, timer, manifold and tubing for top dosing, pots, and a grow medium. I think the larger 8 site units are like $229 if I'm not mistaken. If anyone knows of other similar options to look at, let me know, as I'm still searching for possible choices.

I see plenty of similar pre-made plastic systems that are of a comparable price (many seem to be more expensive). So I said that it doesn't look like the cost of a steel tub system is all that much more than a plastic tub system (not really interested in the price of steel vs plastic per se, just the price of a steel system vs plastic system.) Maybe you could put something cheap together for like $60-80 (just guessing) out of a rubbermaid container + sawing the holes yourself, and sourcing the pump, tier, manifold, tubing and other bits, though now you're comparing a pre-made system with something you had to hack together yourself. Even then, I guess I'm not seeing that the cost savings is worth it, when the steel tub will be more durable, easier to clean, more sanitary, and less likely to leach.
 
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davidlynch

davidlynch

Member
I'd be intersted to see how you get on with this, I've often ponderd the same thing. Who knows what leehes out of those plastics. I'd been looking at homebrew shops to see if I could find anything sutiable but so far nothing's caught my eye. I'd really prefer glass (have to light proof it though), maybe I should look at aquarium tanks...
 
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showman

New Member
davidlynch said:
I'd be intersted to see how you get on with this, I've often ponderd the same thing. Who knows what leehes out of those plastics. I'd been looking at homebrew shops to see if I could find anything sutiable but so far nothing's caught my eye. I'd really prefer glass (have to light proof it though), maybe I should look at aquarium tanks...
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Glass would also be interesting. Perhaps better, though I don't know how you would manage the light-proofing. Let us know if you find something suitable.
 
dstroy

dstroy

Well-Known Member
showman said:
So are you saying the only advantage of using plastic is the cost? That's what I was hoping to hear.

I understand steel is more expensive than plastic. But in the context of an overall system, the difference doesn't appear to be terribly significant. For the units I'm looking at, I see $159 4-site stainless steel (304L) hydro tub systems available, which come with a water pump, timer, manifold and tubing for top dosing, pots, and a grow medium. I think the larger 8 site units are like $229 if I'm not mistaken. If anyone knows of other similar options to look at, let me know, as I'm still searching for possible choices.

I see plenty of similar pre-made plastic systems that are of a comparable price (many seem to be more expensive). So I said that it doesn't look like the cost of a steel tub system is all that much more than a plastic tub system (not really interested in the price of steel vs plastic per se, just the price of a steel system vs plastic system.) Maybe you could put something cheap together for like $60-80 (just guessing) out of a rubbermaid container + sawing the holes yourself, and sourcing the pump, tier, manifold, tubing and other bits, though now you're comparing a pre-made system with something you had to hack together yourself. Even then, I guess I'm not seeing that the cost savings is worth it, when the steel tub will be more durable, easier to clean, more sanitary, and less likely to leach.
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You got links to these cheap ss tubs? They’re expensive as hell around here.
 
Big Perm

Big Perm

Well-Known Member
The plants aren't going to uptake the plastic though, right? It's not really in their mineral element list of nutrients.
SS isn't all created equal. I have SS ends on all of my sensors, and all of the ones that sit in nutrient solution are way stained. I'd make sure there will be no reaction with the metal first.
 
Big Perm

Big Perm

Well-Known Member
Kratky method in a non plastic tub is about the only way I can see it working for hydro. I don't know how you can get around pumps, hoses, pipes, and sprayers without using plastic. They make all that in metal, but the nutrient solution would eat it up. Simple water stuff isn't going to work as the nutrients are quite corrosive on metal and then you have heavy metals in your water to the point to where I'd rather just use plastic.

Edit: Highest quality SS could work for all of that, but I think the price would be more NASA budget that the hobby grower.
 
Keesje

Keesje

Well-Known Member
I guess in professional greenhouses you will hardly see almost only plastics and concrete.
Guess they have their reasons.
 
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PhatNuggz

Well-Known Member
In swimming pools calcium is added as a buffer to prevent the marcite from being attacked by the aggressive water

I imagine calcium acts similarly in plastic
 
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