Maintaining Your 3D Printed Hydroponic Tower

Modular Hydroponic Tower Files: www.printables.com/model/7200...
Complete list of parts and 3d models used to create your own Hydroponic Tower: kit.co/AllYourTech/3d-printed...
Welcome to our video on 3D Printed Hydroponic Tower Maintenance After A Full Growing Season! In this video, we'll be showing you how to properly maintain your 3D printed hydroponic tower after it has completed a full growing season. We'll go over cleaning the tower, replacing any worn parts, and prepping it for the next season. This is a crucial step in ensuring the long-term success and health of your tower and the plants it grows. We'll also be sharing some helpful tips and tricks along the way. So if you're looking to get the most out of your 3D printed hydroponic tower, be sure to give this video a watch!
Hydroponics tower 3d printer files: www.printables.com/model/7200...
5 Gallon bucket adapter files: www.thingiverse.com/thing:458...
The lid uses 18 M3x6 bolts and nuts to fasten everything together.
General Hydroponics Maxigro and Maxibloom Fertilizer: geni.us/BI1hrD
VIVOSUN pH and TDS Meter Combo: geni.us/ZB8V
General Hydroponics pH Control Kit: geni.us/0N8XhRP
Rockwool Grow Cubes: geni.us/bKYaVm
3000 Pre-Fed Live Ladybugs: geni.us/8u8z
Infinite repeat cycle timer plug: geni.us/oAtH
VIVOSUN 800GPH Submersible Pump: geni.us/y8krA
3/8" ID 1/2" OD Clear Vinyl Tubing-25 Ft: geni.us/VgmElP
5 gallon bucket: geni.us/UIAAhJl
OVERTURE PETG Filament: geni.us/g1sC
Zen Planter from CB2: sovrn.co/1kdogvj
🖨️ My 3D Printing Gear: kit.co/AllYourTech/my-3d-prin...

[@TerraMagnus]

Hoping you find the time to return. We know life happens. But you’re bringing something special to KZbin here.

[@reidmoto]

I watched all three of these in the series and they are awesome! I'm thinking of getting into 3D printing and was doing some product research, and that's how I found you. Keep up the great work!

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

Thank you so much! Super kind of you

[@natesroomrule]

Love to see your update 3 months later!! i love all three of these videos detailing your experience with these.

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

Thank you so much!

[@brianfuller7241]

Thanks for this series!

[@SteveWilsonNinja]

Your new space looks great!

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

Thanks Steve! Excited to ramp things up this year

[@tinsStar184]

Plumbers tape between the joins, that could stop the leakage. Great video btw!

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

That’s a great idea, thank you

[@cathrynmartin4395]

Looking at the white on your used pieces, it actually looks like the hard water scale that builds up on faucets if you happen to have hard water in your area. I believe Colorado does have hard water - Texas where I am, has such sandy soils that the water tends to be naturally soft (water absorbs more minerals from clay that sand). I could, of course, be wrong, but I recall my 6 years in Arvada, Colorado and my toilet bowls stained quickly between cleaning and the faucets did have white crusty build up around the nozzle.

[@brseguin01]

Nice build, I think I will try it this spring. On a side note, if you are intending on using something like this inside, please be safe and make sure that the pump is plugged into a GFCI protected outlet. A simple seal failure on the pump could create an electrocution hazard.

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

Great tip Brian.

[@darrennew8211]

You should do that outside too, but at least in the USA GFCIs are pretty much required outdoors.

[@LindaMcEnernybeth]

Just a quick suggestion on reusing the printed plant cups - you can remove the broken lower basket (fragile) section and drop in a net cup. The upper structure holds the cup perfectly - not quite as deep as the original, but seems to be adequate. No need to keep printing new plant holders 😊

[@bilo1897]

Great content on this channel thank you for this!!

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@bilo1897]

@@ALLYOURTECH3DP I have been interested in getting a 3D printer to build my own hydroponics tower. Do you have any recommendations?

[@Preneur3D]

Hey, I did notice that there was some deformation of the bucket lid...I haven't scrolled through all your replies so this may have been brought up before. Anyhow, in case not pointed out, i wondered if you had addressed this at all? Im going to print this setup and am excited to see how this all goes. I'm an avid 3D printer guy and have 3 printers, so they will most definitely be all running a print. Youre a great presenter and keep your mellow explanations the way you do continue.. Could watch you for hours on your down to earth explanations.. Thanks for the videos and have subscribed!

[@thebhn]

It should be rinsed with a bleach water solution in between plantings to prevent algae and other unsavories. :) You should be able to cut the roots off around the outside of the net cup then pull the plant out of the top, should give you another growing or two out of it. I routinely save the cheap flimsy ones from the biggest root systems this way. Just have a good pair of heavy duty scissors. :) You'll still get sediment on the outside because the solution will always drip everywhere. I try to wipe it down every week or two around the plants, whether you see anything or not. Keeps it looking better longer.

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

Great tips! I have been using a power washer to clean the unit which seems to work well after allowing it to dry out fully.

[@OsvaldIvarsson]

Really cool build! I'm gonna try it out as well I think. What type of grow lights do you use indoors for the tower during winter btw?

[@jeremyjohnson287]

great video, thanks for sharing. I had two thoughts for improvements and wonder if you had thought about them. First, could you coat the tower pieces with an epoxy resin or polyurethane (there are food-safe types I assume) as that would waterproof it and prevent stuff from leaching through as much. Hopefully would make cleaning easier as well. Also, I wonder about using a misting top as opposed to the diffuser as they are supposedly more efficient, but I've never seen many people use them... anyways just some thoughts.

[@Gathaeryx]

Your guides have convinced me to start trying this out! Just wondering though, how do you start out with the plants? You cant plant the seeds in the cups

[@Timanator]

awesome channel! show us how you do nutrients for this setup please!

[@rexagar3362]

Just started printing the tower

[@FULLxMETALxALEX]

What Filiment are you using ?

[@FULLxMETALxALEX]

Also temps?

[@rexagar3362]

@@FULLxMETALxALEX petg from inland 235 and 60 bed. I could probably turn the bed down. I turned down the fans to 50%. I’m also printing a raft with these because the first print got past 25% and came off the bed.

[@Hitmandan]

I'm sure you've gotten plenty of good comments already on options but you could coat the inside with food grade epoxy, I think that would be a great idea. Thank you for these videos!

[@darrennew8211]

Shellac also works great to waterproof as well as make it food safe in general. Very easy.

[@JeromeBrule]

Hey. Great work on the tower. Im almost done printing it. I was wondering if you had a model for a cap / lid if I dont have anything to put in one of the pod ? Thanks :)

[@STxFisherman]

Great videos, thanks. My 3D printer is capable of 256x256x256 mm sized prints. Will I be able to print this tower with my printer? Also, I wonder about the taste of the hydroponic tomatoes. Do they taste any different as if they were grown in dirt?

[@shanekarl7325]

I was wondering if you would share the config for the print, specifically using the OVERTURE PETG what temp, fill, etc did you use? I have used PLA a lot but have tons of issues with PETG and would love to try to print this with petg on my ender 3 v2 Neo, thanks for your time pointers.

[@MrTimmmers]

I would line the sections with sticky backed plastic then trim the pocket holes .

[@andylimb]

I literally finished printing the last piece for my first tower yesterday. I’m planning on growing lettuce until it gets too hot then switching to strawberries under some shade. I printed in PLA so I’ll have to give you and update at the end of the Texas summer on how much melting has occurred.

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

My PLA prints only last a few hours in the sun, but hopefully the water flowing through helps. Keep us updated!!!

[@andylimb]

@@ALLYOURTECH3DP oh wow. I was thinking a season long droop not an instant melting snowman scenario. Maybe I’ll keep this one Indoor in summer and start a PETG one for outdoors. Thanks for the update.

[@b3owu1f]

You'll want PETG not only for temperature reasons.. but it's more food safe than PLA.. though I think you can find some food safe PLA.. not for sure on that. I posted above which may work for PLA as well.. that Art Resin sells FDA approved epoxy that works on plastics.. going to give that a try to see how it works out. Figure the goal is using these for many years to come.. may as well make it more safe and stronger at the same time.

[@Ibuse123]

I wonder if a UV spray paint over the outside would make PLA last

[@Heiserton]

@@Ibuse123 not likely, it’s not so much the UV, but the IR generated heat that causes PLA to warp/droop/fail.

[@ykoehler]

You should split the part about the basket where the root grows separate from the rest, should lower the amount of material required

[@Gabuhmi]

a litte fan inside the sections for cooling hot days

[@mooctopia123]

What do you think about printing these modular with a small internal 1 inch reservoir for each of the plants to always have water. It would do two things: keep the plant always hydrated & maybe you won't have to run the pump as often as you do now. maybe you can run the pump once every hour? Each time the pump comes on it will refresh the standing internal reservoir by displacement of water.

[@schiavonir]

Hey Brian (as always) - your videos inspired me to give this a go, so thanks for that! My tower is built and I'm just printing a few last modules. Plants purchased, and I'll get started planting tomorrow. I bought the timer you recommended and set it up on the 5 ON / 20 OFF schedule, but I have one question - do you run that schedule 24x7- or do you just run it during daylight hours?

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

Haha, hey Roger, that's awesome that you are nearly done! I run mine 24/7 with that schedule. You could definitely change to a more spread out schedule at night, but the power consumption is low enough that I didn't find it necessary.

[@schiavonir]

@@ALLYOURTECH3DP Thanks for the quick response! Another question - do you have to tie up your bigger plants like tomatoes and peppers so they don't droop, or can they support themselves? I have a couple of tallish pepper seedlings that needed to be tied up to the little cleat that's on the modules (so THAT's what those are for!) but maybe they get stronger as they grow?

[@andreabozzi6197]

hey thanks for your videos I have started to print my tower as well.Only one questions that came up from a friend is if PETG is BPA free and food grade? I have written to esun the filament manufacturer and they sid they don't have the food crade certification on this. So this makes me question if I should even use this now..don't want bpa to leech into water it can be toxic. What was your experience?

[@sttal]

To clean the parts you can submerge the parts it in diluted bleach for a couple of hours and then rinse it or powerwash it. In order to avoid algae a container that protects water from the outside light/heat and as an additional solution you could get a cheap aquarium UV light.

[@TerraMagnus]

A couple random thoughts… it looks like the PETG is holding up really well. But I’m wondering if ASA was considered as it’s designed for outdoors & UV exposure. Also any thoughts about remixing plant holders for holding net pots there’s a bit less plastic waste?

[@snapcrackelandshock6222]

Correct settings in cura will make it waterproof

[@EckersellFamilyLife]

Thanks for the information. I’m excited to try it out! I was wondering what you use for lights when growing indoors. Is it an attachment you connect to the tower?

[@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403]

I’ve seen a few where they print light holders both into the cap and the cover for the water reservoir and hold it that way. And they use the tall lights, maybe 36” tall?

[@EckersellFamilyLife]

@@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403 okay. Thank you 😊

[@AM-jw1lo]

I know you are showing mainly 3d printing. But if your going to keep posting videos on hydroponics. How about showing some of your past growing when the plants are mature. I see only one frame where the tomato is larger enough to produce (and the green tomato is tiny). We didn't even see your peppers, Its just there is so much hype out there about how great this or that.. Without results all you are doing is putting out interesting ideas.

[@Anonymike365]

What was the pot that the 5 gallon bucket was in on the original video? The buckets looked like they were set down in a planter of some sorts.

[@aprildemartino1020]

What type of growing pods fit in that and do you have to sprout the plants first or can you put seed right into it? Do you use any special liquid formula to help keep the water clean and the plants to get nutrients?

[@hanjajsok2872]

where can we get the print files for the one you showed at the end with the spacers? PS the link for the files in the discription is not viable atm, pls help... Ty

[@darrennew8211]

If you want to coat it with something, just use a food-safe coating. A spray coat of shellac inside is probably a good bet.

[@fabianluethi03]

Thanks for the Update 🤘did u find the link to the planter? 8:22

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

Thanks for the reminder! Here it is: sovrn.co/1kdogvj

[@apr194828]

What is a good printer to print your design

[@jamessmallwood7448]

What’s the best fertilizer for tomato plants

[@billjonesnation]

I printed the same tower. I have used mine for a few years and it's a pain to clean. Mine leaks around each section that screws together. I have been contemplating designing a new/similar modular system with a TPU gasket in between the sections..

[@b3owu1f]

So.. I did some digging on ways to coat the inside to seal it. Turns out there isn't a lot of options. I did however read that Art Resin is an FDA approved food grade safe resin that works well on various materials including plastics. So I ordered some.. it's not super cheap.. but I assume with it applied the tower will last even longer, and should prevent water from going through, and potentially be stronger as well. I am also toying with the idea of using XTC 3d on the outside.. which will smooth out prints and make them stronger. Not sure.. however if that will in any way affect the water inside the unit.. so not sure yet if I'll use that. Given that the goal with these towers is years of use.. I think the $40 to $100+ for the Art Resin may be worth it. I am not sure if it makes it more food safe than PETG alone.

[@MrTimmmers]

There's a simple way, line it with self adhesive plastic sheets, then cut out the pocket holes. Or find a thin plastic sheet, or even kitchen foil, and glue it inside.

[@donalddrain3634]

Just use plumbers putty. Your wayyyy overthinking it

[@joel3190]

I do not see the blank segments in the collection. Were those custom made?

[@michelluccote]

I make a tower with this design. I found that it was a bit unstable when you made it taller. Mine was about 5 feet tall and all printed in white. What did you print on the bottom to hold the base down firmly? I also had problem with the water going green because too much light got in through the white filament. I had to add something to manage that algae growth. For the reusable cup I had a design that allows me to keep the top that you screw on the tower and only print the bottom part that has the roots. Saved on time and filament.

[@michelluccote]

Sorry I just re-watched the video and saw the bucket lid. I didn't try that since that uses significant filament and needs nuts and bolts.

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

It REALLY helps with the stability. Highly suggest it for a taller tower. For algae, if you increase the number of outer walls (perimeters) in your slicer, you can block out more light. I did end up printing a 3rd tower with green filament which also helped.

[@eduardobarros2958]

Hi, can you share your design that you mentioned? I think to make some kind of adapter to use commercial net pots, as those are cheaper...

[@bigpup37]

Its given me a complete headache but if you print it out of polypropylene your leakage will stop, you kind of need a printer set up to print polypropylene, tried with the Bambu after four tower parts and tons of failure i called it quits

[@UmbraAtrox_]

What of you dont connect them 4:45 at the bottom but keep the shape. you should be able to pull the roots off without stressing the plastic, on the other hand so would the water

[@johnswank8657]

I just finished my 2nd tower PETG at .6 layer we'll see what the Texas sun does to PETG

[@allyourtechcrypto]

You should be ok! It was 100+ almost every day here in Colorado last summer and mine all held up.

[@johnswank8657]

FYI .... I highly recommend switching to a .8mm nozzle and printing at .6mm layer height my cheap anet and anycubic print the 4 way at around 7.5 hours

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

Completely agree! A 0.4 nozzle takes way too long to print these. Great tip!

[@StumpyTales]

Curious about how much filament is used in total for the system, as well as print settings you used. I'm thinking of making one, though I think I'd look toward using a more basic net cup, especially after hearing they get destroyed in each grow anyway.

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

It uses about 3 dollars worth of filament for a tall riser, and 5 dollars worth of filament for a 3 to 4 plant section. The net pots would be a great idea to save additional annual costs.

[@LindaMcEnernybeth]

My son printed this tower for me for Christmas 🎄🎁. I did discover that the printed pots are much better used by eliminating the bottom mesh and inserting small net cups into the nice screw in pot "holder" which can be reused indefinitely. The netcups fit nicely and are just deep enough to reach the nutrient flow. He actually had a number of "failed" cup tops that I could use as netcups holders . Love the design and am happy to have a little garden that my 80 year-old body can easily use

[@LindaMcEnernybeth]

** my son mounted the tower on the top of a 50 gal blue drum -

[@LindaMcEnernybeth]

So I was able to load 25 gal of filtered water with appropriate Kratky nutrients - very stable!! Also wrapped the drum in reflective insulation to eliminate algae and keep water cool in summer

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

@@LindaMcEnernybeth That's smart! One of the big challenges during the summer is just ensuring there is enough water to combat evaporation.

[@user-vk5cj6nc5o]

can build a syphon reservoir

[@aaront3749]

Do you use grow lights for indoors? I was wanting to do it inside my apartment, but I would need to figure out how to use grow lights.

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

I’m going to design a module that sits in between the sections and holds grow lights. I’ll share that with the community once it is done. For now I just have mine near a window

[@aaront3749]

@@ALLYOURTECH3DP cool. Thank you!!

[@fonzing]

​@@ALLYOURTECH3DP any update on the grow light module?

[@aaront3749]

I second the update on the grow light piece. I am waiting to print till I have a way to mount grow lights.

[@sethurlp]

Sadly the Thingiverse link is dead

[@thelogan4641]

I have heard that PP(polypropylene) should print watertight, also PP is generally considered food safe, it's the most inert of all the plastics, waterbottles, food containers etc is often made from it, for that reason.

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

That’s what PETG is made out of. I would definitely only use that as a material for these towers.

[@thelogan4641]

@@ALLYOURTECH3DP you mean you would not use pp, any specific reason? :)

[@greendsnow]

how about misting? wouldn't that be more cost effective?

[@PawPawsWorkShop]

So is this filament considered food safe?

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

PETG can be food safe depending on the color and manufacturer. You can typically find that info in the description or product info for a given filament.

[@damithasap]

what about a Pineapple Hydroponic Tower

[@venson555]

Do you have one for sale? Thanks Lary

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

Hey lary, I haven't gone down the route of making and selling these yet, although it's tempting. I may iterate on the design and see what happens there.

[@venson555]

@@ALLYOURTECH3DP Thanks for your reply also if i may ask do you know about a company Nano Teck Stock symbol nndm? Thanks lary

[@ElToxic0]

​@@ALLYOURTECH3DP I'd definitely buy a green printed set from you that I could assemble at home since I don't have a 3D printer yet. Love your videos BTW. Thanks for the great content

[@maf2018]

PTEG food safe?

[@thebigdoss3410]

Have you done any sealing to your tower?

[@partsdave8943]

Surprised that you printed the bucket lid. Lids at the big box stores cost less than all the filament used…..

[@ALLYOURTECH3DP]

Most of the store bought kits are fairly thin, so depending on the weights of the tower and the plants, they may have issues. The printed lid also has a nice ring lock built in that the tower segments tighten up against. That has been my experience at least.