How to Build a Floating Raft Hydroponic System

Hoocho shows us how to build a Floating Raft Hydroponic System
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Happy Hydroponicing!

[@nodwas11]

as my own Hoocho experiment summer has gone on, i have discovered that crowding out these systems is SUPER gratifying in appearance. It tickles the back of the brain in the happy spots but isn't necessarily the optimum experience for the plants. Having great success with passive systems....less success with active systems but overall am super grateful for the content to provide such engaging road maps to success. Cheers

[@curioponics]

Really nice touch whistling the melody prior to the timelapse! Proper storytelling. Great system too!

[@CatHamster-wf5xs]

Nice 1 Mr Hoocho. Excellent system ideal for the off grid community and low maintenance too. Keep up the good work.

[@ismailkmpaleri2228]

I needed nutrens mix

[@brian420pm]

Hoocho this is a top shelf production, keep shining! 🙏

[@steve-adams]

This is so cool. I can see friends of mine actually giving this a shot!

[@driverguy7]

Excellent idea!! Please keep.making videos! Thank you!

[@bethd9093]

A raft system was my first diy system but on a mini scale. I used a uv stable plastic cement mixing tub. I only have 12 net cups in but will be expanding next year. It's amazing! But let me add most of what I have learned has been from your channel.

[@marionmefford158]

Great video. I have started hydroponic gardening this year for the first time with Dutch bucket tomato, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers with amazing results. You have inspired me to start hydroponic gardening and I will be building my own hydroponic rafts. Thank you and keep up the great work.

[@agess658]

amazing video was starting to worry about u went almost 2 weeks no video... you teach us so much

[@Hoocho]

Holiday 😅

[@agess658]

@@Hoocho well deserved

[@dennisshoemaker2789]

Excellent! I like it. I like it a lot. Thank you for doing this system for us. Great job.

[@CRNSDav]

Awesome Hoocho! This will win over my mother who loves her salad greens.

[@davebullard]

Beautiful. I've been considering something like this lately, but wasn't sure what would happen with the air roots. It looks like that wasn't an issue with the peat pellets. Thank you.

[@snuffoutrouge5109]

I see this being good for aquaponics as one pool could hold live fish and another pool could hold the raft system

[@evanfield6720]

Seems digging a trench and using a pond liner with this system would be a very cheap method of propagating on a larger scale, add in a solar panel and an air stone to increase yields by aerating the water during the hotter parts of the day to increase/conserve dissolved oxygen. Love the channel my man!

[@jeffersonpenaloga771]

Nice one Mr. Hoocho, I've seen your leafy greens are very big and green, without intervienal chlorosis. Also, your Red Leafy vegetables are quite big in size.😮

[@BlackDogCannabis]

Greetings from Washington state, BRAVO for your creative, low tech, no tech methods, perfect for small spaces or scalable; limited only by imagination! As a licensed organic cultivator, curious what work arounds have you discovered so that all plant touching material, including PVC, other plastics & water delivery methods are Food Grade & Food Safe?

[@Roo0ooD]

thanks for the video man

[@teresaholland4790]

Super cool idea ❤

[@skritzo]

Great ideas. I wonder if I could achieve something similar using a lightweight wooden sheet for the raft, and possibly pool noodles to keep it afloat 🧠. To the drawing board thanks Hooch

[@skritzo]

Also I'm getting into building cheap wooden troughs and lining them with pond liner for shallow hydroponics and bottom watering. I shall try building a version of that instead of using a plastic kiddie pool. Worried about UV damage out here but once again thanks for the inspiration

[@ima5ami416]

Looking forward to seeing this

[@bigonprivacy2708]

Now you've done it. You've made it so easy I HAVE to do it now. How dare you! LOL

[@JenHowkAK]

Ahhh very timely! I've been looking into this very recently as well. Do you have any issues about various toxins in the foam board? I know in the US some are treated with creepy stuff to deter pests as insulation, etc., which has put me off a bit but I can't find any other great options.

[@user-qx7ly6uh9i]

선생님 멋져요~ 잘 봤습니다.~

[@debiesubaugher]

Many uses for that algae. Use it for mulch. Spread it out and dry it. Can eat it, feed it to chickens, fish, etc.

[@33vegastar]

this raft system would be amazing to grow sweet potato also and it would make it easy to control the water level for an outside system

[@adamyoung7938]

Hey Hoocho, thanks for all the great vids. I am going to try this kiddy pool idea. I’ve got everything except for the floating boards. I’m not exactly sure what to get. There are some things at my local Home Depot that I know would float… But I’m concerned about chemicals they might give off. What are you using for those flat floating sheets of foam? Please and thank you. All the best!

[@user-sy7ck3ln6o]

Nice Job!

[@belleomalley1022]

Get yourself friends that look at you the same way Hooch does when things work out well

[@jeremiahbullfrog9288]

Get yourself friends that look at you the way I look at my screen when there's a new hoocho video out

[@echandler673]

Cool video! I definitely want to try this especially since it is passive and not a traditional motorized aquaponic system. A general question about your netted grow house. What type of netting do you use on the walls?

[@kalaoaflowerpower]

hoocho was the original member of the american tv show the Ateam

[@lindacouture3915]

I thought that kind of system would necessite an air pump ? that's pretty cool !

[@rw-xf4cb]

Be interesting to see how that goes during the hotter months, probably need air though the lettuces may bolt either way?

[@downunderfulla6001]

That worked really well 🍺🍺

[@Hoocho]

🍻

[@jeremiahbullfrog9288]

Why does the kratky require an air space for the roots, but these don't drown sitting directly in the water for the duration?

[@helent.8703]

At least from my understanding, the air space or gap you see between the water and the surface your plant is being held with (styrofoam), is for oxygen needed by your plant. The reason they don’t drown is because of this gap, as the plant is still a baby it’s roots shouldn’t touch the water yet because as the plant grows it will create this fuzzy looking white roots that absorb the oxygen in the surrounding gap whilst trying to reach the nutrient filled water. As the plant grows and uses the water, the water level decreases and you will see more fuzzy oxygen roots. You never want to refill the water as it will surround the oxygen roots and essentially suffocate (drown) the plant and if you do need to add more water for whatever reason just do it up until a pint there is still a small gap between the oxygen roots and the water surface.

[@gwenlippitt8534]

I think it’s because plants only develop the air roots above the water level. So, if your kratchy system’s water level goes down, then you refill it, you’ll water log those air roots. I think in this system, you won’t get as many air roots and the raft will keep them above the water level.

[@LuckyNala]

Mr Hoocho. You are a bad, bad, bad influence. 😂😂😂 I want one, even though I know damn well that I don't have the space for it. 😂😂😂😂

[@JasonWilliams-nb3re]

Could you please send a Link where to buy the nutrients please.awsome job brother

[@hanstakani]

Thanks for this experience !!! What is the purple salade name ?

[@ElectrikNYCfunK]

"the reasoning I got the square kiddie pool is because the paneling I got is square".... oh okay then lol

[@mexarrinha]

Nice forest!! Is extruded foam safe to be in water all the time?

[@a1n1g1u1s]

Nice!!!

[@KYMarty]

Those round plastic wading pools you can find in front of every Dollar Store here in the USA work fine for that too. I'm sure they sell those round plastic wading pools just about everywhere for about $10.00 each. They eventually will get hard and crack so then you can just fill them with soil to make a raised bed.

[@skritzo]

You could cut a circular piece of plywood slightly wider than the kiddie pool (with occasional vertical bricks or 2x4 as legs for support). Drill holes for the net cups/jiffy pellets. With this you could preserve the kiddie pool from UV damage, evaporation and algae, and you'd basically have a jumbo Kratky pond grow (the platform doesn't descend with the water level like this video). I think I might just go test this one out since I have a few pools laying around. Might even try wicking up into fabric pots too from the pool below to test the viability.

[@snuffoutrouge5109]

in Australia the hardware store sells solid plastic wading pools that might be usable or the solid plastic square plastic pond

[@WhoisMichelleCollie]

I know this is late, but I love the idea of using those grow pellets, I am so tired of rocks getting everywhere. Is it still working good for you or did you change anything?

[@semosesam]

Really great video, I love the idea of a passive system! Just curious about "4L of water per head of lettuce" rule though. You divided the total litres of the pool by 4 to get the number of plants you put in the system, but near the end you said only about 1/4 of the water was used. Is having so much water left over intended? Or is there something different about this system vs. Kratky that allows for less water usage? Knowing what you know now, what ratio of water:lettuce would you recommend for a raft system if someone wanted to build one as small as possible?

[@atomizer2665]

To get the full picture you`d need to know what the EC was at the end. The water used over the growing period represents the transpiration and evaporative losses. If you provided 25% of the water at the same nutrient strength (EC1) you`d only have 25% of the total nutrient that was available in the 365L of solution

[@juliemcgugan1244]

Do you think cabbage would do well on this system? They get rather weighty, so I would probably succession plant and just plant less overall.

[@Fabian3331234333]

Great Setup :) But who is gonna eat all that salad? lol

[@WHAT-GRINDS-MY-GEARS]

awesome

[@The_LaughingHyena]

I wonder if you split the bed with a solid board, maybe you could get a kratky esque row for tomatoes or peppers!

[@zoixdark]

What was the ending EC? I'm always curious about how much gets used. You said 1/4 of the water, but how much nutrient?

[@EternalJourneys]

Banger

[@msemisch]

So I might have missed something, but what makes this not Kratky? Asking as someone pretty new to hydroponics. Thank you!

[@tateseacrest4609]

I was Ganna add if u add air stones good idea to have 5.5 pH due to air stones dissolving CO2 in water raising pH

[@erenyeager8583]

Is there any advantage in using a circulating system than a floating raft system?

[@sirrodneyffing1]

That pool is PVC by the look mate: "DuraPlus is 15% more tear resistant, 33% more stretch resistant and 83% more puncture resistant than standard PVC"

[@user-sy7ck3ln6o]

Would throwing an air stone is make much difference in the overal growth: time/size? I know we're talking about passive systme,, which I love, but while I have electricity.. would there be much advantage with an air stone. Thanks hoocho for all your great vids/ learned a lot.

[@user-sy7ck3ln6o]

Oh too funny, I made my post half way through vid.. and you answered my question abou air stone/productivity at the end Thank you

[@TS-kb6lv]

So, what do you all think of KG&LW new album? You need to do a crazy time-lapse video with 'Motor Spririt' Hoocho :) Amazing grow by the way.

[@jayham26]

I'm from the states and have a question on how to control mosquitoes in kratky setups like this? I have 3 barrels of cucumbers and 1 of banana peppers and no matter what I do, far as netting or air tight lids I seem to be growing my own private army of mosquitoes. I haven't seen you talk about this before and was just wondering.

[@nickl5658]

You could use abet... to kill the mosquito larvae. I use 2 layers of mesh 60 and create a walk in tent.

[@not-one-not-two]

Hey bro, I heard PVC leaches chemicals into the water? So many micro plastics around now, what plastic would be best to use for hydro? Thanks

[@SkyeShaddix]

im over the ditch in NZ and finding it hard to find the right float platform, do you have a bunnings link as i can likely source that here?

[@liquidito8456]

supercool

[@huwmorgan74]

9:21 - when little spoon comes into it's own.

[@user-sy7ck3ln6o]

Humm... so the floating raft system sort puts to bed the need to have the plant in a fixed position and the air gap theory right?

[@CreatureCribs]

Hey bud, what nutrient brand are you using?

[@roxanacorado9971]

where did you buy the plant food

[@HalAPena]

is it possible to use some spare EPS insulation foam board with a reflective/silver plastic film on it, or would that create burn issues with the plant/chemical issues with whatever is used to hold the reflective film on?

[@skritzo]

I could see that reflecting light and drying out the underside leaves. Shade cloth could solve that though

[@chrish162]

This wasn't oxygenated? And the roots didn't rot?

[@amphion_au]

The big green shop of shed stuff doesn't seem to carry those specific panels anymore..

[@Hoocho]

Yeah I couldn’t find them when I was searching to link. A search of “bastion xps” should give you a local supplier though, or something analogous.

[@Dominucastro47]

Nice , manifest

[@dressydressy6246]

Question: why doesnt the raft system drown the plants?

[@superkillr]

Do the roots need oxygen or not? Because that is why Kratky uses an air layer and the plant creates air roots. Certainly the roots of the peat media are not air roots??

[@darkpaxgaming]

Same question

[@ElectrikNYCfunK]

could put some 1x4's or some kind of wooden board under each side of the rafts for more stability when taking them out for harvest, also wonder what Fishes would do in the water, could be good for Vegan's or whoever likes the more natural growing, get some Plecko's fishy's for the algae

[@timboyer1978]

Don't quite understand why this is not kratky? Because the float raft stays at the water level and there aren't air roots?

[@barcaisbest10]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@sherieryan6176]

Hello Hoocho, I am looking for a way to grow cabbage, its a heavy head and as you said this would not work (sadly I had just decided to do it this way and thankfully due to this won't waste time) But what would be best? I love lettuce but I adore cabbage! Thanks for your help. By the way, first time grower all thanks to your videos!

[@Hoocho]

Cabbage will probably work if you do less of them. The panels are more buoyant than I expected

[@sherieryan6176]

@@Hoocho Thanks and are cabbage at half or full strength nutrients. I am using the special T stuff you use. Also, I am on the gold coast, in summer the plant will get half sun half shade , will they do alright?

[@Hoocho]

@@sherieryan6176 I’d go full, they’re hungry

[@sherieryan6176]

@@Hoocho You're amazing. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and for all your videos, they keep me endlessly amused.

[@atomizer2665]

Screw 2 or more thinner boards together with stainless screws to increase the thickness.Make larger holes in the upper board(s) so the jiffy is still held at the correct depth

[@georgkettele6911]

Is this plastic safe to use?

[@linc3185]

Surely as the water goes down so will the floats. This way there will be no air roots develop.... how can this work?

[@atomizer2665]

Wait until the roots have grown down 3" and then add some strips of XPS underneath the main boards. This will create an air gap as thick as the spacer strips

[@bmxrider8188]

you dont feel the need to have a pump to circulate the solution?

[@Kaybee-vo6zt]

I have a large earth pond in which I had fish. I am not rearing the fish anymore and would like to use the pond for something like this. Would it be possible?

[@darkpaxgaming]

I’m sure it’s based on how deep it is so I would say it’s basically easy

[@shirleyduvall4865]

What is the stone you mentioned and where do you get that and is it expensive thanks for answering

[@SuperPussyFinger]

He’s talking about a fish tank aeration stone, which requires an inexpensive air pump. Essentially, an aquarium bubbler.

[@darkpaxgaming]

It’s a stone for aquarium to pump air through, it’s need a pump with electric

[@atmm89]

mate, I am still waiting for the Elfsys equipment I purchased about 10 days ago, after you showed it to us, can you please, help in finding out what's happening with the delivery, thanks mate, good way to grow your vegies

[@Hoocho]

I have no affiliation with the business except doing a review for them. You’ll need to contact that business.

[@jqc5]

A jet bubbler to keep water moving..........

[@user-si7nc2tw1r]

Don't you need to aerate the water? What do you use as I do not see one?

[@freighter1097]

There was no aerator.

[@mattm5696]

WHAT WAS YOUR LIGHT SOURCE? hYDROPONIC LIGHT OR THE SUN?

[@mathiascosta930]

How the roots are aerated, since the water level is always high?

[@brett8667]

Minimal aeration only what the grow media can provide I assume it would slow the growth rate drastically doing it this way

[@asifidtell5648]

where do you buy the Extruded Foam (in AUS) please. I did not see a link in your description.

[@asifidtell5648]

Also - great video, Thank you ❤

[@Hoocho]

I bought it from bunnings a few months ago, looks like they are out though.

[@pinballwizard6906]

✌️😎

[@josipzuvela3098]

Why dont you use Yara fertiliser?

[@Hoocho]

Haven’t run out of diamond t yet

[@Duvallatreillejc]

where do you get the foam the shop name please

[@Hoocho]

Bunnings

[@miggy2628]

@@HoochoI can’t find anything like them panels anywhere. Could you post a link please. Love your work❤

[@Hoocho]

@@miggy2628 search bastion xps panel

[@13panda13]

To not fibreglass over the foam was lazy.

[@VanillaAttila]

Are you concerned about microplastics?

[@roidroid]

7:00 i need 90 jiffy peat pellets...that's 9 x 5. 🤔is it tho Hoocho, 🤔is it tho lol you're as dumb as me. i love it & will watch forever.

[@Hoocho]

9x5 per sheet…. So it should’ve been 90… Though if you count the holes… man I was way off hahahah There’s more like 35 per side once I shifted the rows.

[@roidroid]

@@Hoocho oooh of course, "per sheet" is basically nuff said 👍🏻

[@rjaquaponics9266]

Why doesn this work. Aren't all kiddy pools have antibacterial plastic?

[@brett8667]

Where is the paneling from. ?

[@Hoocho]

Bunnings

[@drb4074]

You can find it in any hardware/home improvement store. Foam Board Insulation. Usually about 6-7 bucks per 2'x2' board here in The U.S.

[@Roo0ooD]

air stones man 1 per bucket

[@drb4074]

Did you miss the part where he said he wanted to setup a system that requires no electricity? Some people use systems like this in areas where they don't have electricity such as a backyard etc. Or they simply don't want the added cost of running air pumps.

[@ChatGPT-5.0]

Please don't use the word brother for Hindu people. Brother means equality but both urine and milk are different commodities. They cannot be compared or equated. Muslims believes that milk 😋 is good for health, while Hindusium believes that urine 🤮 is good for health.

[@user-us2xt4sg8k]

Cant find a similar Foam panel on Bunnings site under, foam panel, foam board, extruded foam, polystyrene

[@miggy2628]

Bastion XPS panel. No longer available at Bunnings. Google search finds it in W.A. Very expensive to ship to other states. Let us know if you can find an alternative, I haven’t yet.

[@zoemeow7677]

Is the grow I need because my family eats two or three bags of lettuce a week is the produce we eat the most aha is important to have a lot of fresh lettuce 🥬 blessed ✨🥗✨✨