| How to Make a Universal
Hydroponic Unit
In this installment of Ed's Grow Tips, Ed briefly explains how
to make a hydroponic unit that works with both active and passive
systems.
It is easy to make a unit that can be used for both passive and
active systems.
Take a two to five gallon plastic container and cut a
hole near the bottom large enough to snugly hold a plastic tube
with a minimum inner diameter of 3/8 of an inch. Cut the tube
three inches taller than the container. Push 1 1/2 inches of the
tube through the hole from the outside and affix the end to the
inside bottom using a silicone-based or other type of glue, or PVC
tape. Caulk the seal with plastic glue or caulk.
Making a tight, leak-proof seal can be difficult if the plastics
are incompatible. Roughing out both surfaces sometimes helps.
Another way of attaching the tube is to use a piece of threaded
plastic pipe, two washers, and nuts on either side of the
container wall.
It is advisable to use clear plastic tubing so that you can see
the water level and drainage action. If you are using a
two-container system, such as the wick or reservoir system, it is
still easier to use an outer container with a tube, which
facilitates draining. (Some commercial units have no drainage,
which makes it difficult to change the nutrient/water solution.)
| 
