Aall0ns hydroponic system construction principles

Hydroponic systems offer an efficient and sustainable method for growing quality cannabis. To create a successful system, certain design principles must be considered. These principles are divided into three main categories: root health, practical ergonomics, and sustainability.

Root Health Principles​

Healthy roots are essential for successful cannabis growth. Ensure that your hydroponic system adheres to the following principles:

1. Adequate Nutrient Solution Flow-Rates​

Circulation is crucial for providing your plant roots with the necessary dissolved oxygen and nutrients. Ideally, maintain a flow-rate of 2 litres per minute per root-zone/gully for optimal results in NFT systems. This also prevents the growth of opportunistic fungi in stagnant water.

2. Optimum Nutrient Solution Temperatures​

Maintain a nutrient solution temperature between 20-24°C (68-75°F). Higher temperatures reduce the water's oxygen-holding capacity, negatively affecting root health.

3. Vigorous Aeration of Nutrient Solution​

Ensure that dissolved oxygen levels in the nutrient solution are between 4-10 mg/l. Oxygen is vital for root respiration and overall health, promoting faster root initiation and growth.

4. Raised Drain in the Root Zone​

Create a small solution reserve by raising the drain in the root zone. This can be especially useful in systems with little to no growing medium.

5. Non-Toxic Materials​

Use food-grade materials such as PE-plastic, PE-HD, PET, PEX, and PP plastics in your hydroponic system. Non-toxic materials prevent nutrient-lockups and accumulation of harmful substances, ensuring the safety of both plants and growers.

Practical Ergonomics Principles​

Efficient everyday maintenance of your hydroponic system is essential. Keep the following principles in mind:

6. Fail-Safe Design​

Create a secure, simple, and fail-safe system. Protect against potential issues like pump failure, channel flooding, and drain clogging. Nutrient solution leakage can cause plant death, material damage, or even risk of electrocution.

7. Easy Assembly, Access, and Maintenance​

Plan your system for easy assembly, access, maintenance, cleaning, and disassembly. Simplicity is key – remove unnecessary parts and optimize the remaining components.

8. Plant Support and Trellising​

Incorporate plant support or trellising netting into your system. Adequate support prevents plant damage during the blooming phase.

9. Light Protection for Root Zone and Nutrient Solution​

Shield the root zone and nutrient solution from light exposure to prevent algae growth, which can clog feeding lines and growing mediums.

Sustainability Principle​

A sustainable hydroponic system is essential for long-term success:

10. Efficient, Reusable, Durable, and Recyclable​

Minimize material and energy usage during construction and maintenance. Choose durable materials and design for easy recycling or repurposing after the system's lifecycle.

By following these design principles, you can create an efficient and functioning hydroponic system for growing quality cannabis.