Systems

Hydroponic systems put nutrient solution against the roots on a schedule you set, which turns daily hand watering into a weekly reservoir check. Pick by control: AutoPot feeds on gravity with no pump, Root Spa holds solution in the bucket, Grow Flow floods and drains on a timer.

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Systems

Hydroponic Systems: Gravity, Deep Water Culture and Ebb and Flow

Hydroponic systems all do the same job: hold nutrient solution against roots, then take it away. What differs is the thing that moves it. AutoPot uses gravity. Active Aqua Root Spa leaves the solution in the bucket. Grow Flow pumps it on a timer. Start with our guide to the best hydroponic systems for small grow tents....

Hydroponic systems compared: gravity-fed trays, deep water culture buckets and ebb and flow, with pH and solution figures

Browse by method through deep water culture or ebb and flow. Tanks, controllers and fittings sit in system accessories. Sizing is by site count, one pot to thirty-six.

Types of Hydroponic Systems

Gravity-Fed Trays

AutoPot needs no pump, no timer and no outlet. An AQUAvalve refills each tray when it runs dry, so a power cut changes nothing. Raise the tank at least 150 mm above the highest valve. Pots come in 2.2, 3.9 and 6.6 gallons.

Deep Water Culture

Active Aqua Root Spa suspends each plant over its own 5 gallon reservoir, with an 8 inch basket and an air pump. One, four or eight buckets. Current Culture Under Current recirculates 13 gallon modules, four sites up to thirty-two.

Ebb and Flow (Flood and Drain)

Active Aqua Grow Flow sits a 7 gallon controller between a 55 gallon reservoir and the modules. Two 250 GPH pumps and a Grasslin timer run the cycles. An adjustable float ladder sets fill depth. An emergency shut-off covers a failed float.

How Growers Run a System

Most indoor runs start at four sites, because every line here extends one module at a time. Hold the solution at 72 to 75 F. Keep the root zone between pH 6.0 and 6.5. Psycloner and EZ-Clone root the cuttings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a hydroponic system cost?

What you pay for is site count and control gear, not the growing method. A single gravity tray on a 12.4 gallon tank is the lightest outlay, because it needs no pump, timer or controller. A flood and drain run adds all three.

Does a hydroponic system need to run all the time?

A gravity run never switches on at all. Deep water culture wants its air pump running continuously, and the solution stays put if it stops. Flood and drain is the one to watch. Roots in a drained system can be lost in as little as 30 minutes without power.

Do I need to change the water in my hydroponic system?

Yes. Replace the nutrient solution completely every two weeks, because salts accumulate with every top-up and adjustment. Between changes, check the reservoir level twice a week and keep it at capacity. Top up with solution at label strength rather than plain water.

Can you use tap water in a hydroponic system?

Often yes, but test it first. Water with alkalinity above 75 ppm pushes your solution pH up whatever you set it to. The fixes are an acidic fertiliser, a measured acid addition or reverse osmosis. Sodium above 50 ppm is the other figure worth checking.

Which hydroponic system is best for beginners?

Deep water culture. University extension guidance calls it the simplest method to use at home and the most common among small-scale growers. It is also the least expensive and easiest to expand. One Root Spa bucket is a single plant over 5 gallons.