The Drip-DWC Bucket System Is Powered by Air and Works Great
In the early 1980's I made my first hydroponic system and was hooked on how easy hydroponics really was. At that time there was a window box design that used a small aquarium pump to deliver air into the bottom of the window box which had water in it. There was a small hole in the tubing at the bottom where the bend was. The tubing went back to the top of the window box and wrapped along the top then terminated. There were holes along the tubing every inch or so along the top. When the pump is on it blew air out of the hole and into the reservoir bottom while picking up water droplets and they would travel along the tubing dripping at every hole wetting the media which was vermiculite. Vermiculite would spread the moisture along the growing area.
I didn't like the system and I don't like vermiculite as it breaks down and doesn't hold enough oxygen. A better media is Coir which is coconut shavings.
The picture below shows plans I made using a 5 gal bucket. I used clay balls in the growing net pot. The system works very well. The air blows into the bottom of the bucket aerating the nutrient solution in the bucket and at the same time lifted the solution up the pump assembly and out the drip ring which constantly drips onto the grow chamber irrigating the plant. The solution falls out the bottom of the grow chamber and into the reservoir further aerating the solution.
The plants like all the oxygen this system delivers and pays you back with lush growth. This is a drip system and DWC system in one. You can chain them together using the same air pump. The more powerful the pump the more buckets you can string together.
I have videos on you tube under tkrimo showing a couple of air driven examples. If enough people are interested in free plans on this very simple system I will give you our plans.
Attached Thumbnails
In the early 1980's I made my first hydroponic system and was hooked on how easy hydroponics really was. At that time there was a window box design that used a small aquarium pump to deliver air into the bottom of the window box which had water in it. There was a small hole in the tubing at the bottom where the bend was. The tubing went back to the top of the window box and wrapped along the top then terminated. There were holes along the tubing every inch or so along the top. When the pump is on it blew air out of the hole and into the reservoir bottom while picking up water droplets and they would travel along the tubing dripping at every hole wetting the media which was vermiculite. Vermiculite would spread the moisture along the growing area.
I didn't like the system and I don't like vermiculite as it breaks down and doesn't hold enough oxygen. A better media is Coir which is coconut shavings.
The picture below shows plans I made using a 5 gal bucket. I used clay balls in the growing net pot. The system works very well. The air blows into the bottom of the bucket aerating the nutrient solution in the bucket and at the same time lifted the solution up the pump assembly and out the drip ring which constantly drips onto the grow chamber irrigating the plant. The solution falls out the bottom of the grow chamber and into the reservoir further aerating the solution.
The plants like all the oxygen this system delivers and pays you back with lush growth. This is a drip system and DWC system in one. You can chain them together using the same air pump. The more powerful the pump the more buckets you can string together.
I have videos on you tube under tkrimo showing a couple of air driven examples. If enough people are interested in free plans on this very simple system I will give you our plans.
Attached Thumbnails
