Supplies for my New Hydroponic Garden

by Rory
(Alabama)

After a failed attempt at a "pepper" garden this summer, nutso weather, high heat and lazy watering skills, I've decided I want to grow a hydroponics garden. I will be sealing...ie NO light transmission- off part of my carport. Flat level ground. I will be building your "most successful system" ever, and I have a few questions. Where can I get the supplies? There isn't a hydro store around here. And I'm kind of "iffy" about online retailers. Do you recommend a certain retailer and brand of testing equipment I would need? I'm fairly handy and what not but growing isn't my strong point. I have an inherited black thumb. You should have seen my tomatoes...well, lack of them this year.
Oh and by far your site has been the most informative and easy to understand of the ones I have looked at. I really appreciate your time and learning you've put into this informative site.

Thank you, Rory

Answer: Most of the supplies for this hydroponic system can be picked up locally at shops. The PVC pipes, elbows, glue, and cleaner can all be purchased from Home Depot or Lowes. The 32 gallon plastic storage tote (used for the reservoir) can be purchased from Kmart or Wal-Mart. The air pumps, air stones, and water pump can all be purchased at a pet supply store like PetCo, or can possibly be found at Wal-Mart. Water pumps can also be found in the "water garden" section at Lowes/Home Depot. Cheap 16 ounce disposable "party" cups can be bought at Kmart or Wal-Mart.

Other items will be needed to control the growing environment. A good squirrel cage exhaust fan can be purchased from Lowes or Home Depot (I don't think they sell centrifugal fans, which are more efficient and a little quieter). 4 inch air ducting and 6 inch air ducting can both be purchased at Lowes or Home Depot (you will need an air inlet and air outlet for the garden area). A 12 oscillating fan is sufficient for the 4'x 8' garden, and can be purchased at any of the stores I've mentioned (a floor-type with a 3' or 4' tall stand works very well). Also, a digital timer to control the lights can be purchased at any of the stores above....one of the less expensive ones I've found was at Lowes.

A couple of items will have to be purchased from a professional garden store, such as your grow lights. For this system, I recommend two 600 watt HPS lights with vented reflectors and digital ballasts. 6 inch vents are more beneficial than 4 inch vents. Digital ballasts will save you money on electricity, run quieter, and add less heat to the garden area. To maintain the nutrient reservoir properly, you will need a pH test kit and an EC meter or TDS meter.

The pH test kits are very cheap and easy to use, but can only be found at a professional garden store or through mail order from a hydroponic gardening catalog. Or you could buy a pH meter, but you will spend about $130 instead of $4 for a pH test kit. The TDS meter (or EC meter) will be crucial to your success and you must have one. I use a Milwaukee TDS meter (one of the higher quality meters in my opinion), which cost about $130. There are other types, some cheaper, some more expensive. Also, the expanded clay pellets for the system. For these kind of "one-time" purchase items, you may want to locate the nearest hydroponic gardening store to you and make a road trip. While you are there, you may also want to pick up a cheap indoor-outdoor digital thermometer....they come in handy (get one that also measures humidity).

If you are unable to make a "road trip", or if there really is no hydroponic gardening store anywhere close to you, you may be stuck ordering some of these items from a mail order catalog. Mail order can be convenient, especially for items you need to purchase again and again (like your nutrients). At least with mail order your personal information won't be sitting on a computer at your internet service provider for the next 30 years (as required by Patriot Act provisions).

For hydroponic gardening stores near you, search the internet for hydroponic stores + your state. Or, get a copy of the magazine "Maximum Yield", which is a hydroponic gardening industry magazine- it lists the stores in every state. For mail order, pick up an AGS catalog (Alternative Garden Supply) or a Discount Hydroponics catalog- both companies have been around for more than 10 years and both are very reliable/professional.

Well, that should be enough to give you a very solid start to your project. If you have any questions further on down the line, feel free to write me again. Until than, Happy Growing!