DIY Plastic Tote Hydroponic System For Under $60 (Step-by-Step Guide!)

[@exploringgames948]

Fantastic video, great step by step information for first time growers. Love that you go into so much detail for the newbies out there who might want to give this a shot but may think it's harder than it really is! This is also a lot cheaper than the "pre built" bucket systems on amazon or online that are severely overpriced... Thank you for another great video, you look phenomenal as always momma 😍

[@BrightLaneGardens]

Thank you! This was a fun one to make :) so much cheaper than buying the kits!!

[@knightshining]

Very concise. Many KZbinrs use too many words. Also, very easy to watch such a beautiful lady.

[@BrightLaneGardens]

Thank you so much!

[@heathersummer]

Thank you for such a thorough walkthrough! I’m just getting ready to try hydroponic gardening and this is one of the best videos I’ve seen yet!

[@BrightLaneGardens]

Thank you so much for your kind words!! I love doing this!

[@herbertd.fischer2789]

Very nice and Well narrated I've been interested in trying aquaponics for a a little over a year now. I'll have to sayYour set up a little different then the first one I've seen & wanted to try . THANK YOU again.

[@BrightLaneGardens]

No problem! I hope it turns out well, so cool to be able to grow plants like this!

[@jnelson9642]

Excellent video! I also watched the starting seedlings and the bucket system. I am curious, with this particular system do I put transplant the starts the same as you did in the bucket video? - ie using the clay pebbles in the the basket making sure the water touches the rockwool? Again - great videos and channel! Thank you

[@BrightLaneGardens]

I typically transplant the starts using that method unless it's a plant that has a really strong root system right off the bat (like a green bean plant). If I can, I'll separate these out from the rock wool and just put them right in the clay pebbles. The rockwool is fantastic for seed starting, but I do run into algae issues when it's left in the system. It's a manageable issue, but if I can get the rockwool out ahead of time it just saves me the hassle down the road.

[@jnelson9642]

Thank you!

[@ActuallySettle]

Thank u hydro Angel

[@BrightLaneGardens]

Thank you for watching!

[@JoeDavidson-gc7zo]

Hello. Joe from Springfield Missouri. The Sam’s Club I shop at had 27 gallon totes for sale. At 8.98 each. After a few stops at the store I have 9 totes as of now. I need a few more for storage. But I like to get some more to use as Hydroponics System. But I may use them outside. Joe

[@BrightLaneGardens]

Dang that’s a great deal, scoop ‘em up!

[@AnathemaKacey]

..very informative, thank you. should i use black air tubing as well to stunt algae growth, or does that not matter?

[@BrightLaneGardens]

Thank you!! So the color of the tubing shouldn't affect algae growth since only air is traveling through the tube, no water or nutrients. The clear tubing does tend to take on some discoloration just from the nutrient solution over time, so the black tubing does look nicer. But I usually just use what's available :)

[@KB1285]

I would add check valves to the tubing so the water won’t flow back to the pump and leak out on the floor

[@BrightLaneGardens]

I have definitely read other growers adding the check valves, but for some reason I've never had an issue with water flowing back into the pump with any of my setups! It might be the positioning of my pump? But good to know about the valves in case it ever does become an issue, thank you!

[@TheLghayward]

Just getting started and ordered supplies as you suggest. Just wondering if water has to be changed periodically? If so, how often and do I completely empty tote and start with fresh water, nutrients and minerals ?

[@BrightLaneGardens]

Yes! So with the larger totes I only change out the water every 6 weeks or so. Usually I can tell when it's starting to get a little funky, the nutrients will thicken the water overtime and if I see slimy or smelly residue sticking to the side of my tote that's when I empty. This timeframe will vary depending on the type of nutrients you use, where your plant is at in the growth cycle, and how large your plants are. For plants that grow relatively quickly, then end after harvest (like tomatoes) I don't usually replace the water unless I notice an actual issue. I just replenish withe fresh, clean water and more nutrients as the plant drinks it down, and I'll wipe down any residue I notice sticking to the walls of the tote to help keep it clean. If I do notice an issue (smell and feel will be the easiest way to detect this) the I drain all the water and thoroughly wash out the tote. Plan to disinfect with hydrogen peroxide (or similar) if you suspect any root rot at all. The tote is HEAVY when it's full, so I ended up adding a small spout to the bottom side of my tote so I can drain out most of the water into a 5 gallon bucket, then the remaining water is easier to dump in the sink. **Check your plants daily if you can. You can learn so much just by inspecting the leaves and roots, and testing the EC and pH of your water. If you notice an issue that can't be corrected by more/less nutrients or raising/lowering the pH, then it might be best to dump your tote and start fresh!

[@markf539]

Is there a total list of everything a person would need to order like lights, stones, pumps,etc?

[@BrightLaneGardens]

If you look at the top of the description (below the video) you'll see my product list there. I think the only thing missing that you're looking for would be my light panels - I use these LED light panels (amzn.to/3ZQxyWQ) along with some basic halogen bulbs from home depot. Keep in mind my setup benefits from a LOT of natural, external light as well. When in doubt, buy more lights. The LED panels use very little electricity and more light is almost always the right answer when it comes to indoor gardening in general :)

[@northwestsidequests]

Can you show us how it turned out and how they're growing? Thanks!

[@BrightLaneGardens]

I transplanted most of these into soil right at the start of summer (to put in my outdoor garden!), but my strawberries I tend to cut runners off from in late summer to add back to my hydro system again. I'll post an update on those soon, in the meantime here's the video on transplanting my hydro plants into soil! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y36ylnSZYsaLaNEsi=GStAnyqs0OXzCD7z

[@TheLghayward]

Great video. Do you have a video showing transplanting to this system. I.E. how high should water be from the lid?

[@BrightLaneGardens]

I don't have a video for the transplanting process unfortunately, but I had my water filled to just below the bottom of my net pots. When first transplanting, you'll need to plan to water your plants from the top using a light stream of water to ensure the rockwool cube (or whatever medium you used) stays moist while the roots grow out. once the roots grow out past the bottom of the net pot, they'll be able to suck up water from the tote!

[@TheLghayward]

Thank you very much. Do helpful.

[@martylynchian8628]

What type of fertilizer do you use for hydroponics? Not miracle grow, right?

[@BrightLaneGardens]

I am partial to the Fox Farm brand, typically I use their “grow big” nutrients for most of my veggie plants. I avoid miracle grow for both my indoor hydro setup and my outdoor soil plants!

[@erinwallace4530]

Thank you. What is the minimum depth for a hydroponic system. Want to get the proper size for tote

[@BrightLaneGardens]

It depends on what you’re trying to grow! Small plants like lettuce and strawberries have shallow root systems and don’t need much more that 12-18” depth. Large plants like tomatoes will need the depth of a 5 gallon bucket once they hit maturity.

[@tradermitch6328]

Hello! are those totes food safe?

[@BrightLaneGardens]

Yes and no - food safe is actually a pretty broad term and it really depends on what you're using them for. Is this plastic technically graded as 'food safe'? Yes - but they usually mean for food storage, not necessarily what we're doing here. I've drilled into this plastic (creating microplastics) and we have a chemical/nutrient water bath sitting inside the plastic and they haven't graded it for this exact situation. I am pretty cautious when it comes to plastics but I also really enjoy growing food in hydro setups so I consider this system safe for what I'm using it for. Definitely do your own product checks and just make sure that your setup checks all the 'food safe' boxes for your own lifestyle :)

[@paulriley5940]

So how much of the netting pods do you want in the water?

[@BrightLaneGardens]

Typcally I don't have any of my netting in the actual water. The goal is to convince the roots to reach down past the net pots in search of the water. I use a small measuring cup to water my rockwool cubes until the roots are long enough to reach down to the water level.

[@johnrussell3169]

Make shure the pump is above the water level so it won't drain back when power off

[@BrightLaneGardens]

Yes good tip! I should have included it in my video but I have a rubber mat that I mount my pumps to above my hydro setups and it really helps dampen the vibration noise from the pumps as well.

[@Liftingup]

Airlock in the tube also helps

[@heathersummer]

Do you have a link for the net pots?

[@BrightLaneGardens]

Yes! Here are the net pots shown in this video, they come with covers as well which is great for preventing algae! amzn.to/3Onzjo0

[@farmboy_tv9292]

how about kratky method?

[@BrightLaneGardens]

You can use this tote model for the Kratky method, and it would require fewer steps and fewer supplies! I recommend choosing your tote based on the plants you are trying to grow. If you're growing leafy greens, for example, their root systems typically don't grow as long so you'd want a more shallow tote to ensure they are getting enough water throughout their growth cycle. If you're growing a very thirsty plant (like tomatoes) then I typically recommend trying out the DWC method instead as you'll likely have to replenish the water a few times. Let me know how it goes!

[@josephryan3867]

Im thinking they are not food grade plastic bins ... troubling.

[@BrightLaneGardens]

The black base is made with recycled Polypropylene and the yellow lid is virgin Polypropylene. Polypropylene resin is used in various food container and food storage. It's definitely important to look into the materials that are being used for anything related to growing food, and use your personal discretion when choosing the best materials for your own setup. Thanks for watching!