Bubbleponics is a type of hydroponic system that involves delivering nutrient-rich water directly to the plant roots while providing oxygen through air bubbles. Here’s a guide to help you build your own bubbleponics system:
How Long It Takes:
- About 2-3 Hours
Materials Needed:
- Container: A reservoir to hold the nutrient solution.
- Net Pots: Containers to hold the plants and allow roots to grow through.
- Air Pump: To provide oxygen to the nutrient solution.
- Air Stones or Air Diffusers: These create bubbles in the nutrient solution.
- Water Pump: To deliver a constant drip of hydroponic solution to the netpots.
- Tubing: To connect the air pump to the air stones and the water pump(s) to the drip manifold.
- Grow Medium: Such as expanded clay pellets (LECA/Hydroton) or rockwool cubes.
- Nutrient Solution: Specifically formulated for hydroponic systems.
- pH Testing Kit: To monitor and adjust the pH of the nutrient solution.
- Plants: Choose the plants you want to grow.
- Power Drill: For cutting and drilling holes.
- Drill bits for small holes used for tubing.
- Hole saws that match the size of your net pots.
Steps to Build Your Bubbleponics System:
1. Prepare the Container:
- Choose a container that’s large enough to hold an adequate amount of nutrient solution for your plants.
- Clean the container thoroughly to ensure no contaminants are introduced to the system.
2. Install Net Pots:
- Depending on the size of your container, determine how many net pots you’ll need for your plants.
- Use hole saws and a power drill to cut holes in the lid of your container. Make sure to fit the net pots snugly. Make sure the net pots are large enough for the roots to establish themselves.
- Measure twice, cut once. Mark where you want the holes to line up using pencil and a tapemeasure. Plot the center of your holes and you will have an easy time.
How to plot holes
Measure surface distance and write it down.
1. Divide the distance in inches or centimeters by the number of holes plus one.
2. For example: if you want 2 holes, you will divide your area by 3 to get the plot points for the centers.
If you had a 24 inch surface and wanted 2 holes you would divide 24 by 3 and get 8 inches. You will place the center of your holes 8 inches from the edges and 8 inches from each other. Follow the process horizontally and vertically to get symmetrical plot points.
3. Set Up the Air Pump and Air Stones:
- Connect the tubing to the air pump outlet. Dont connect air stone yet. You will connect this after you run the tubing down through the hole in the lid. A good spot for this hole is on the edge of the lid.
- After putting tubing through the hole you drilled in the lid, place the air stone or air diffuser on the hose and then place it at the bottom of the container next to where you will place the water pump in the next step.
4. Install the Water Pump and Drip System:
- Follow the instructions provided with the manifold and connect tubing to the drip manifold outlets you wish you use, plugging the ones you don’t.
- Connect water pump to the drip manifold using threaded plastic pipe.
- Place your water pump into the nutrient reservoir, making sure the drip manifold will remain above the surface of the solution.
- Run hoses from the bottom of the container to the individual net pots and stake them into the growth medium.
- Don’t plug in the pump yet. Never run it dry or you will need a new one.
- Drill holes for tubing to go from inside reservoir out of the lid to the plants. Typically these are drilled next to the large hole where the net pot sits. Make one for the air stone if you haven’t already.
5. Fill the Container with Nutrient Solution:
- Mix the nutrient solution according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Fill the container with the nutrient solution, leaving enough space for the drip manifold to sit above the water line. If you drown the manifold you will have problems with the drip system.
- Plug in your pumps.
5. Plant Your Seedlings:
- Place your plants in the net pots, ensuring that the roots are being supplied with the nutrient solution by the drip.
- Fill the net pots with your chosen grow medium to support the plants.
6. Monitor pH and Nutrient Levels:
- Use a pH testing kit to monitor the pH level of the nutrient solution. Adjust as needed to maintain the optimal pH for your plants.
- Regularly check the nutrient levels in the solution and top up or replace as necessary to ensure your plants are receiving adequate nutrients. This can be done using a PPM gauge.
- Take measurement of the water without nutrients then again when solution first added. Note the difference. Then check it daily to see how much of the nutrients are being used.
- You can use these measurements to gauge how much solution to add every few days or so. (Check out our advanced guide on hydroponics for more -> Advanced Hydroponics)
- If the PPM in your water is not dropping, you have nutrient lockout and need to immediately dilute your solution. You will also probably be experiencing problems like nutrient burn on the leaves if this is happening.
7. Maintain the System:
- Keep the air pump running continuously to ensure proper oxygenation of the nutrient solution.
- Monitor the health of your plants regularly, checking for signs of nutrient deficiencies or pests.
- Clean the system by draining periodically to prevent algae growth and the buildup of salts and other debris like clay and dirt.
By following these steps, you can build and maintain your own bubbleponics system to grow healthy and thriving plants hydroponically.