This hydroponic seed starting system is a very affordable, easy to make, alternative to the air stone (DWC – Deep Water Culture) type AeroGardens.
I made this using a 5 gallon Commander XXL tote from Lowes, some 1-inch net cups, air pump, air stones, and a grow light. It was very quick and easy to put together and can be reused for many other projects. I set this up for 18 grow sites, but I could have gotten more if I wanted.
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Parts showed (or equivalent) in the video:
Commander XL 5 gallon tote – https://go.magik.ly/ml/lbrk/
Air pump – https://amzn.to/2XNpXpB
Air stones – https://amzn.to/2TtfFfG
Sansi 30 watt grow light – https://amzn.to/2XPc8H7
Dyna-Gro 7-9-5 – https://amzn.to/2XOKz0T
Air tubing – https://amzn.to/2NV3LFI
1-inch net cups – https://amzn.to/2NV06r7
AeroGarden sponges – https://amzn.to/2TqEn0m
or
Rapid Rooter (cut these in quarters the long way) – https://amzn.to/2XOKzxV
1-inch bit – https://amzn.to/2NT804t
1-inch PVC pipe – get at Lowes
1-inch PVC tee – get at Lowes
Video Rating: / 5
We did our final weigh in on our lettuce. Here we show both under LED lighting and without LED lighting. We are very happy with the results! The lights that we did this trial with were from LED SOLUTIONS. They don’t have a website up as of yet, but you can contact them Directly through email or phone which I will leave here at the bottom of the description. The lights through LED SOLUTIONS covered a larger area per light (10′ x 10′) than the others through AMAZON which covered approx.( 3′ x 3′), Here is the contact information:
LED SOLUTIONS
DAVE MURDOCH
(cell) 705-358-9925
(email) murdoch.dave@yahoo.ca
links to AMAZON lights as follows:
Had a question about this method Peter. What about temperature control when doing this? Don’t you still want to be @ a higher temp?
Hi Peter, can you please tell me your timer schedule for air pump and light operation? Thanks.
Hi Peter , once the shoots are growing, do you modify the % of 7-9-5 ? or do you mix something else in the water ?
Awesome Peter!
Love this system Peter. I really like the tip about cutting out the bottom. I was thinking during the video it would be hard to get the plants out for transplant. Thank you for sharing this project.
That's a slick system, Peter! I love your DIY projects. Always well thought out as well as cost effective.
Nicely done Peter
Dont use foil! Mylar or other similar material is much better.
also, I 2nd what BD suggested. If you cut the bottoms off the cups you might not need to cut the AG sponges. Worth a try anyway.
Dumping the cups had me loling. Nice tutorial.
Great tutorial, pace, and details, this DIY seems like a great way to get seeds started for spring time. Nice to see both lessons on what and what not to do. In the off-season, this would make a nice herb garden too.
Thanks for the video! I'm looking forward to watching these grow and the re-planting process to another bucket. I've got a ton of different pepper seeds and I think I've gotten in over my head as far as once they start maturing, I'm curious to see how you keep them and manage space indoors.
Are those stink bugs around 9:25 there to help with the plants or just bugs in the basement?
Awesome, need that here in Saskatchewan minutes to giv e them a fair start
Heck yea! DIY for the win. Always though about doing this exact thing, except with container thats little bit shorter so it can be moved around easier. other wise your version would be perfect.
Great idea Peter
I've got everything thing but the tote
Lowe's tomorrow
Thank you for sharing this. Good video.
Nice setup!
Nice DYI Project Peter!
Awesome video, trying out dyna gro 7-9-5 this year. Hopeful it's a one stop shop.
Great Video Peter !
What is the EC and Ph of your nutrient solution?
1.2 or exactly 120% more
Question:
My calculations according to your results were:
Harvesting 40 trays per week
5 weeks = 200 trays
LED cost – 15 $ per week
Yield x 1.2
75 $ per cycle
200 trays x 1.2 pounds = 240 pounds per cycle
240 x 10$ = 2400$ per cycle
2400 – 75 = 2325$ additional income
Energy cost is 3.12%
from the income
How about testing double and triple light PAR?
I believe this trial must be done next winter, don't you agree with me?
Nice job….!!!
One questions, plz answer me…
"" How much Litter water soluble nutrients for growing one lettuce…..???
results look great but what is the cost of running these lights. might grow them faster and bigger but if the cost of running the lights are to much it could make you loose money.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PDy7ITUnwc
Wayne & Patti.. Have you ever investigated structured water.. It is simply water that passes through a magnetic field.. Scientific studies claim that plants will increase growth and production by 25 %. People have used it for years to alter the molecular structure of water as a replacement for a salt conditioner. Very simply done with several bovine magnets taped around your water pipe.
I really enjoy tyour hydroponic videos.. very professional and interesting. I would like more information on the ingredients you use for your lettuce. I have little knowledge about the dry. Don't care to pay the cost of liquids.
I'm supposed to be watching for the info on hydroponics but I just love you both! <3 Thanks so much for the footage.
can i have a whatsapp number for you guys? i love your farm and i need advice am from Guyana South America and i been doing hydroponics 4yrs now and never had my garden looking like yours. you can email me on adharmic17@gmail.com thanks
The value of higher power LED depends on the cost per kWh but you could greatly increase your production from where you are..
Legenda for brazilian
What are the round lights you are using , is it a certain series.From Led Solutions .
Hello im from holland and iv got a question where do you get the white plates where you put the plants in the plant holders ? Whats the name for it and where do you get it
I have learned more about NFT in real practice than anywhere on the net. Thanks for your hard work. LED are amazing and lettuce reacts so well to blue light.
Thumbs UP! https://youtu.be/TAMY2oEfl3Y
Awesome. Greetings and have a blessed Sunday – Jesenice and the crew
Thanks for your videos. Helps a bunch.
You should definately try out 6500k led shoplights from the hardware store. In Germany they are just like 7 Bucks for 20W covering 120*30 (guess that is 4 by 1 foot?) and our lettuce totally loves it.
greetings from Germany
Great test and results. Thanks for taking the time to bring us along. Blessings.