# How To Set Up Your Own Hydroponics System - Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/01/how-to-set-up-your-own-hydroponics-system/ - Published: 2021-01-07T22:57:49-05:00 - Author: greenlivingguy Hydroponics lets you grow plants all-year round even indoors even without soil or too much space to spare. Combine water, nutrient solution, and a growing medium. Don’t forget to add your plant of choice. You can regularly enjoy growing and harvesting herbs, leafy greens, flowers, and other plants. If you’re dreaming of [growing house plants](https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/hydroponic-gardening-how-to-easily-grow-plants-in-water-236892), this guide can help make it a reality. Are you planning to create your own indoor urban [garden](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/05/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-garden-space/)? If so, check out this guide to make it a reality. ### A DIY Guide in Setting Up Your Own Hydroponics System These easy to make hydroponic techniques are most suitable for home use. Take note that some are easier to set-up than others. You can buy materials and finished kits at specialty stores like [Acorn Horticulture](https://acornhorticulture.com/). ## Building Your Own Hydroponic Wick System 1. Take a bucket, turn it upside down, and drill a hole in the center of the bottom part. 2. Fill your reservoir with enough nutrient solution. Reserve one jug of your solution for later. 3. Insert the wick through the hole. Make sure it is long enough to reach the bottom of the reservoir. 4. Fill the bucket with your growing medium up to two-thirds full. 5. Place your plant in the bucket. Fill the remaining third of the pot with more growing medium like coconut coir. 6. Place your growing bucket inside your reservoir. To prevent algae growth, do not allow light to access the nutrient solution. 7. Add water around your plant using the solution from your jug. This will prevent the growing medium from absorbing moisture from your plant roots. 8. To accommodate more oxygen to your water, use an air pump. Make a small hole in the top edge of your reservoir and feed in the pipes. ![](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/img_4188.jpg? resize=780%2C520&quality=52&ssl=1 "A woman grows plants. Home hydroponics - The Green Living Guy") Source Adobe stock # Building Your Own Hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) System If you’re a novice hydroponics practitioner, it’s best to buy a full kit from your favorite store. Constructing this system can be quite laborious. You’ll need pipes, a drill, some lumber, a reservoir tank, plant hangers, some screws, drill bits.   In general, here’s what you should do:   Place your submersible water pump inside the filter bag to reduce the risk of debris clogging the pump. From the pump, connect one end of your black tubing, which then goes up to the hole in the end cap and feeds. ## Building Your Own Hydroponic Deep-Water Culture In this system, the plant roots will be suspended from the net pots, and these roots are immersed in the nutrient solution. You need to have materials such as water and nutrient reservoirs, net pots for holding your plants, [hydroponics nutrients](https://astralgrow.com/collections/nutrients-medium) and pH adjusters, as well as an air pump and air stones for tank oxygenation. Use the [Grow Fruit and Veg](https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/competitions/oxypot-xl-and-wilma-xl) kit to make sure your plants are able to absorb water and nutrients properly. Below are the steps in setting up the system: 1. Connect the pump to the tubing 2. Connect the tubing to the air stone then position the air stone in the bucket. 3. Fill up the bucket with water, check the pH level, add the nutrient solution, and grow your seeds.  It’s that easy.  # Building Your Own Hydroponic Flood and Drain System Flood trays are a vital part of this method, with the depth of the trays as the main consideration. In addition, the water level needs to rise enough to submerge the roots of your plants and your flood trays need to accommodate all of it plus more, to prevent spillage. You need to buy black flood trays, a submersible water pump, an analogue timer, a black tubing, overflow and inlet fittings, and a reservoir tank. Ready to make one? Do the following: ![Indoor gardening](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/ 01/img_4189.jpg?resize=780%2C585&quality=52&ssl=1 "kid harvesting from indoor hydroponic garden - The Green Living Guy") Source Adobe Stock 1. Drill holes on the flood tray, including a few on the ends of the tray. Screw and place a rubber seal on the inside of the flood trays. 2. Insert up to three flood and drain flow extensions into one of the pieces you fastened to the trays’ bottom part. 3. Place one of the screen fitting on top to finish your tray overflow. 4. Place one screen fitting onto the remaining piece that sits in the bottom of the flood tray. This will serve as your water inlet which is fed from your submersible pump. 5. Position that flood tray so the fittings hang above the hydroponic reservoir. 6. Connect the tube to the water pump feed it through the lid. Connect it to the inlet fitting. 7. Attach a shorter length of the tube onto your overflow, so it sits inside the lid but clears the top of the water. This will help with oxygenation as excess circulates back into your tank. 8. Fill your tank with water and run the system. Check there are no leaks from either the inlet or the overflow. 9. You can then install your timer, and add the pots. If you’re completely new to hydroponics, don’t worry, you can choose from among the cloud-based [automation hydroponics system](https://greenlivingguy.com/?s=hydroponics&submit=Search) to assist you in managing your plants’ needs, and to show the best hydroponic farming practices, ensuring your success. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/df91669667126e1290c21ee0342c386e2da19d588d4d9ca6560bd82ed59a9641? s=300&d=monsterid&r=g) greenlivingguy The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author, Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke # Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow. [See Full Bio](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/) [ ](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/)