A
annac
Guest
Hello Everyone. Thanks for stopping in. This topic will deal with the different types of Hydroponic systems.
There are many different types of Hydro systems. You have the following types available.
The Wick System
Ebb & Flow
Drip Systems
Water Culture sometimes referred to as DWC.
N.F.T. (Nutrient Film Technology)
Aeroponics & Aero Cloners
Fog Technology.
Wick Systems.
Wick systems can be anything from home made devices to elaborate wick setups and everything in between. They are usually passive systems, which means there are no moving parts. The nutrient solution is drawn into the growing medium from the reservoir with a wick.
The wick system can use a variety of growing mediums including, Perlite, Vermiculite, Pro-Mix and coco just to name a few. They do have their limitations in the medicinal world and the biggest draw back of this system is that the bigger the plant, the more h2o and nutrients will be used and the plants uptake may become more than the wicks can provide. On the other side of the realm they are great for med patients who would like to do a small cabinet grow without all the pumps running. They are also great for Apartments with thin walls and nosy neighbors with big ears or the College student who may be taking a few botany classes and need to do a few reel time botany experiments in their grow cabs. For the best results from any wick system it’s always best to take the time to research each system and see which fits your application/environment best.
Ebb & Flow Systems.
E&F in simple terms is nothing more than the water & nutrients rising up to the contained medium area and then draining back into the reservoir. These systems are usually Active systems and some kits come fully loaded with pump, medium, medium tray, containers/pots, reservoir container and all the proper attachments to get yourself up and running in no time at all and if the vendors are real nice then there will be a timer in the package deal to set the flooding intervals. There are many E&F systems out on the market and there is most likely one that will fit your needs for just about any application.
The drawbacks to E&F systems are power outages, timer failures & pump failures. E&F systems can be extremely forgiving and they can also turn on you if you loose a timer or a pump and are not on top of your game. An E&F system with a medium using grow rocks can be disastrous because hydroton does not retain the water like coco and other mediums do which is why it’s always best to be on top of the game to begin with. The good side of E&F is that it is automated. The pumps do all the work and flood the trays at certain intervals all in which depends on the medium used.
Drip Systems.
Drip systems work by applying water slowly & directly into the medium. The efficiency of drip systems results from two major factors. The first is that the water soaks into the soil before it can evaporate or run off. The second is that the water is only applied where it is needed at the plant's roots.
Drip systems are fairly simple in design and installation and most of the drip kits come with all the attachments necessary to get you up and running in no time at all, just be sure to read the instructions,;-)
There are a few different types of Drip Systems. One type of system uses a submerged pump and timer, which feeds the nutrients onto the base of the plant by a drip line at certain timed intervals.
Water pump driven Drip Systems.
The second type of Drip System uses an air pump to force the water & nutrients into the emitters/drip rings. A good example of this type of system would be the popular GH Waterfarm.
Drip Systems can hold several types of mediums including Hydroton grow rocks, Rock Wool, Silicone Stones and I have even gotten away with using coco/perlite mixes but I don’t recommend it for the new grower just starting out.
Water Culture.
Sometimes referred to as DWC or “Bubble Buckets”. The water culture system is one of the simplest of all active hydroponic systems. A platform holds the plants, which lies directly on the nutrient solution. An air pump supplies air to the air stone that bubbles the nutrient solution and supplies oxygen to the roots of the plants.
Deep Water culture is the system of choice for many DIY growers. An inexpensive system can be made out of a most any watertight container. I have seen everything from Tupperware crates to the standard 5 gallon buckets with a lid, air pump & air stone attached. If you are the adventurous type and love to build your own systems and want to save some $$$ along the way then DWC is the way to go. I have read where people say that DWC has it’s limitations when it comes to big plants but that rumor needs to be squashed because I have seen some wonderful grows using DWC systems and it all boils down to perfecting your talents and researching all the tried and proven techniques that are now available via the internet.
NTF. Nutrient Film Technique.
N.F.T. systems use a constant flow of nutrient solution and usually a submersible water pump. The nutrient solution is pumped into the growing tray and flows over the roots of the plants then drains back into the reservoir. The pump runs 24-7.
There is usually very little growing medium used with NTF, which saves the expense of replacing the growing mediums. Normally the plant is supported in a small plastic basket with the roots dangling into the nutrient solution with just enough medium to hold the plant in place. This can be a draw back for the heavier plants and some people use netting to hold their beauties in place, others simply time them down at the base. The bad side to NTF is that the pumps do run 24-7 and a power outage can be critical because the roots can dry out in a matter of hours.
Some NTF growers like to use fixed timers for their systems and others let them run 24-7. Find what suits your application and Environment best. There are a couple of NTF timers to choose from. The NFT-1e timer is pre-set to turn ON for 1 minute and OFF for 4 minutes. The NFT-2e timer is preset at 3 minutes ON and 5 minutes OFF. These 2 NFT timers are rated for 15 amps @ 120 volts.
Aeroponics. & Aero Cloners
Aeroponics is the process of growing using a combination of a water/nutrient mist & air, which is sprayed in an enclosed environment with the use of very little medium.
Like the N.F.T. system the growing medium is primarily air. The roots hang in the air and are misted with nutrient solution. The misting is usually done every few minutes. Because the roots are exposed to the air like the N.F.T. system, the roots will dry out rapidly if the misting cycles are interrupted. A timer controls the nutrient pump much like other types of hydroponic systems, except the aeroponic system needs a short cycle timer that runs the pump for a few seconds every couple of minutes for 24-7. These timers can be costly and some aero growers simply let their pumps run 24-7. If you decide to go with aeroponics then you will have to decide which is more beneficial for you and your environment. One draw back to letting your pump run 24-7 is that the submerged pump can eventually heat the water and aeroponics simply will not tolerate warm water. Your plants will become stagnate in growth. There are ways around this and one is the timer, the second method would be to add a chiller which can be even more expensive than the timer.
Aero Cloners work off the same principle except they are designed for propagating cuttings/clones.
Fog Technology.
Fogponics is the next generation in propagation utilizing the latest innovations in aeroponic nutrient delivery technologies developed through NASA research. Currently there is only one FT system on the market that I know about. I am sure more will follow suit. Fog Technology eliminates all water borne pathogens and pests, reduces algae growth by utilizing a unique ultrasonic, “dry fog” nutrient delivery system, proven in both the laboratory and the field to produce the healthiest, largest root system in the absolute shortest amount of time of any hydro growing method. Initial root growth from clones/cuttings is possible within 2 days and can reach transplant root mass in as little as 7 days. This goal is achieved while maintaining the lowest amount of energy consumption and the lowest noise level available for an automated system. The FTS offers the same technology with the same results as other multiple component systems, in a single enclosed unit with a single cord. The current FTS is sold standard as a propagation unit with two 40 site plant decks designed for cloning and seedling purposes. The plant sites will accommodate both 2” neoprene collars (included) and/or 2” root baskets (available separately). The FTS system utilizes a custom 10 gallon nutrient reservoir saving you between 30 and 70 percent in nutrient costs over other systems growing the same number of plants. This system requires little to no growing medium.
That pretty much raps up the different types of hydro systems available to you. Now you have the hard part of deciding which hydroponic application fits your needs and environment and your resources are only limited to the imagination of your mental search engines.
Love to all.
annaC
There are many different types of Hydro systems. You have the following types available.
The Wick System
Ebb & Flow
Drip Systems
Water Culture sometimes referred to as DWC.
N.F.T. (Nutrient Film Technology)
Aeroponics & Aero Cloners
Fog Technology.
Wick Systems.
Wick systems can be anything from home made devices to elaborate wick setups and everything in between. They are usually passive systems, which means there are no moving parts. The nutrient solution is drawn into the growing medium from the reservoir with a wick.
The wick system can use a variety of growing mediums including, Perlite, Vermiculite, Pro-Mix and coco just to name a few. They do have their limitations in the medicinal world and the biggest draw back of this system is that the bigger the plant, the more h2o and nutrients will be used and the plants uptake may become more than the wicks can provide. On the other side of the realm they are great for med patients who would like to do a small cabinet grow without all the pumps running. They are also great for Apartments with thin walls and nosy neighbors with big ears or the College student who may be taking a few botany classes and need to do a few reel time botany experiments in their grow cabs. For the best results from any wick system it’s always best to take the time to research each system and see which fits your application/environment best.
Ebb & Flow Systems.
E&F in simple terms is nothing more than the water & nutrients rising up to the contained medium area and then draining back into the reservoir. These systems are usually Active systems and some kits come fully loaded with pump, medium, medium tray, containers/pots, reservoir container and all the proper attachments to get yourself up and running in no time at all and if the vendors are real nice then there will be a timer in the package deal to set the flooding intervals. There are many E&F systems out on the market and there is most likely one that will fit your needs for just about any application.
The drawbacks to E&F systems are power outages, timer failures & pump failures. E&F systems can be extremely forgiving and they can also turn on you if you loose a timer or a pump and are not on top of your game. An E&F system with a medium using grow rocks can be disastrous because hydroton does not retain the water like coco and other mediums do which is why it’s always best to be on top of the game to begin with. The good side of E&F is that it is automated. The pumps do all the work and flood the trays at certain intervals all in which depends on the medium used.
Drip Systems.
Drip systems work by applying water slowly & directly into the medium. The efficiency of drip systems results from two major factors. The first is that the water soaks into the soil before it can evaporate or run off. The second is that the water is only applied where it is needed at the plant's roots.
Drip systems are fairly simple in design and installation and most of the drip kits come with all the attachments necessary to get you up and running in no time at all, just be sure to read the instructions,;-)
There are a few different types of Drip Systems. One type of system uses a submerged pump and timer, which feeds the nutrients onto the base of the plant by a drip line at certain timed intervals.
Water pump driven Drip Systems.
The second type of Drip System uses an air pump to force the water & nutrients into the emitters/drip rings. A good example of this type of system would be the popular GH Waterfarm.
Drip Systems can hold several types of mediums including Hydroton grow rocks, Rock Wool, Silicone Stones and I have even gotten away with using coco/perlite mixes but I don’t recommend it for the new grower just starting out.
Water Culture.
Sometimes referred to as DWC or “Bubble Buckets”. The water culture system is one of the simplest of all active hydroponic systems. A platform holds the plants, which lies directly on the nutrient solution. An air pump supplies air to the air stone that bubbles the nutrient solution and supplies oxygen to the roots of the plants.
Deep Water culture is the system of choice for many DIY growers. An inexpensive system can be made out of a most any watertight container. I have seen everything from Tupperware crates to the standard 5 gallon buckets with a lid, air pump & air stone attached. If you are the adventurous type and love to build your own systems and want to save some $$$ along the way then DWC is the way to go. I have read where people say that DWC has it’s limitations when it comes to big plants but that rumor needs to be squashed because I have seen some wonderful grows using DWC systems and it all boils down to perfecting your talents and researching all the tried and proven techniques that are now available via the internet.
NTF. Nutrient Film Technique.
N.F.T. systems use a constant flow of nutrient solution and usually a submersible water pump. The nutrient solution is pumped into the growing tray and flows over the roots of the plants then drains back into the reservoir. The pump runs 24-7.
There is usually very little growing medium used with NTF, which saves the expense of replacing the growing mediums. Normally the plant is supported in a small plastic basket with the roots dangling into the nutrient solution with just enough medium to hold the plant in place. This can be a draw back for the heavier plants and some people use netting to hold their beauties in place, others simply time them down at the base. The bad side to NTF is that the pumps do run 24-7 and a power outage can be critical because the roots can dry out in a matter of hours.
Some NTF growers like to use fixed timers for their systems and others let them run 24-7. Find what suits your application and Environment best. There are a couple of NTF timers to choose from. The NFT-1e timer is pre-set to turn ON for 1 minute and OFF for 4 minutes. The NFT-2e timer is preset at 3 minutes ON and 5 minutes OFF. These 2 NFT timers are rated for 15 amps @ 120 volts.
Aeroponics. & Aero Cloners
Aeroponics is the process of growing using a combination of a water/nutrient mist & air, which is sprayed in an enclosed environment with the use of very little medium.
Like the N.F.T. system the growing medium is primarily air. The roots hang in the air and are misted with nutrient solution. The misting is usually done every few minutes. Because the roots are exposed to the air like the N.F.T. system, the roots will dry out rapidly if the misting cycles are interrupted. A timer controls the nutrient pump much like other types of hydroponic systems, except the aeroponic system needs a short cycle timer that runs the pump for a few seconds every couple of minutes for 24-7. These timers can be costly and some aero growers simply let their pumps run 24-7. If you decide to go with aeroponics then you will have to decide which is more beneficial for you and your environment. One draw back to letting your pump run 24-7 is that the submerged pump can eventually heat the water and aeroponics simply will not tolerate warm water. Your plants will become stagnate in growth. There are ways around this and one is the timer, the second method would be to add a chiller which can be even more expensive than the timer.
Aero Cloners work off the same principle except they are designed for propagating cuttings/clones.
Fog Technology.
Fogponics is the next generation in propagation utilizing the latest innovations in aeroponic nutrient delivery technologies developed through NASA research. Currently there is only one FT system on the market that I know about. I am sure more will follow suit. Fog Technology eliminates all water borne pathogens and pests, reduces algae growth by utilizing a unique ultrasonic, “dry fog” nutrient delivery system, proven in both the laboratory and the field to produce the healthiest, largest root system in the absolute shortest amount of time of any hydro growing method. Initial root growth from clones/cuttings is possible within 2 days and can reach transplant root mass in as little as 7 days. This goal is achieved while maintaining the lowest amount of energy consumption and the lowest noise level available for an automated system. The FTS offers the same technology with the same results as other multiple component systems, in a single enclosed unit with a single cord. The current FTS is sold standard as a propagation unit with two 40 site plant decks designed for cloning and seedling purposes. The plant sites will accommodate both 2” neoprene collars (included) and/or 2” root baskets (available separately). The FTS system utilizes a custom 10 gallon nutrient reservoir saving you between 30 and 70 percent in nutrient costs over other systems growing the same number of plants. This system requires little to no growing medium.
That pretty much raps up the different types of hydro systems available to you. Now you have the hard part of deciding which hydroponic application fits your needs and environment and your resources are only limited to the imagination of your mental search engines.
Love to all.
annaC
