How To Build A Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Hydroponic System

Green Our Planet Farmer & Master Gardener Joe Zitello shows us how to build an Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic system.
SKIP TO WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
I. Introduction
0:42
II. Material List
1:18
III. Cutting Pipes
2:09
IV. Drilling holes in pipes
3:30
V. Cutting holes in lid
5:26
VI. Assembling pipes
6:35
VII. Drilling hole for tubing and pump
7:30
VIII. Inserting pump and tubing
9:13
IX. Adding spacers
11:08
X. Adding net cups
12:21
XI. Adding water/Tips
13:40
About our Hydroponics Program:
In 2017, Green Our Planet launched a hydroponics program in partnership with the nonprofit, Los Vaqueros, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Schools use the hydroponics systems to learn more about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) as well as about nutrition and alternative growing methods.
Visit greenourplanet.org for more information.
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[@gauseb]

Easily the best explanation video I've yet to come across. Thank you for the crystal clear walkthrough!!

[@Pittsburgh-412]

I recommend adding air stones in the beginning of each tube

[@yaboii299]

Super underrated video

[@beenheredoneit.4381]

I had a unit similar to this but a little better design. To get the water to the roots I used 1/4" pipe running under the net pots through the 2" pipe. A tiny hole Drilled in 1/4" pipe pointed up at the bottom of net pots spraying water at each plant. This helps with oxygen and insures each plant gets equal water. I wouldn't run it 24 hrs or you will get root rot. Should give roots time to dry out to get more oxygen. I pumped water every 4 hours for 2 mins of spaying in flowering and seedlings was 3 hours on for 2 min. Ofcourse you need to adjust the time on and off to how much root mass each plant has. Each root will hold water the thicker the roots are. My roots were so long they grew threw the 4" pipe all the way to the reservoir following the water. My setup used 4" pvc, 1/4" pipe thru center of each net pot spraying each plant. The down side was I couldn't take out the net pots but made it the net pots stronger with larger plants. If you attempt this make sure you test the water spray hole to pump flow ratio before dedicating to a design. One problem I ran into was, I grabbed whatever drill bit I found first in bag. That looked small enough to make sprayer holes to spray bottom of net pots. My pump wasn't big enough to put an equal amount through entire 1/4" pipe. I had water a beginning of pipe going 10' feet high and the last hole spraying out 1" inch high. So your pump and drill bit size need to match. Basically a needle size drill bit worked (1/64th I think). Also how mine was supported was 5 gallon bucket on one side and pvc legs on other. 2-4" pipes ran next to each other at 10" apart. 8 holes in each with total of 16 sites. I think I used 2.5" to 3" net pots. I used the text writing on pvc pipe to drill the holes for net pot. Made straight line much easier. Everything in video is almost same set up but mine was just bigger. I think my setup was considered aeroponics possibly. Because the spraying of the water made the oxygen. That was some of the best quality I ever grew with that setup. It was so good, once I stopped using it for season. My buddy begged to borrow it because of how good it turned out. I folded and lend him it. Ofcourse I didn't get it back how I lend it out. Got back the reservoir and nothing else. Never again will I lend that type of stuff out. I'm gong to build it again 5 years later. Should of made him one and charged $150. I think I ended up only getting $50 from him. Don't remember but I wasn't happy.

[@Surprise-MF.]

Nice clean walkthrough. Thanks guys

[@growindoors365]

That's wonderful! Great tutorial, I will be building one in the next few weeks!

[@selfreliantpatriot1776]

Hello, thank you for your video. Very cool design. I was wondering, you see an air pump used in other designs of the NFT systems to oxygenate the nutrient water. How come one wasn't needed with this design?

[@victorbautista4750]

How many inch the hole of a cup

[@randomguider6555]

does it use a mechanical filter aswell? or just have the pump do its job?

[@bobmireau3143]

What size pump?

[@InappropriateShorts]

I feel like a saw would be easier than the pipe cutter and It’s one less specialized tool to buy

[@assog5737]

Interesting LMAO 🤣 I've never seen anything like that before.

[@marcotorres132]

The pipe cutters need to be turned as you’re ratcheting it to slice through the pipe makes it a lot more efficient

[@assog5737]

Yes he needed to turn it over. I've never seen anybody do that way.

[@F4Insight-uq6nt]

This is overly complicated and can be done a lot easier. You don't even need the pvc pipes at all. Grow in rockwool and sit the plants on spreader mat on top of the yellow tray / lid. Pump at the slightly raised end and run off back into the res below. go have a look how an NFT Growtank System works. That's what I'm talking about.