Why this Hydroponic System is better than NFT or Kratky

I’m a fan of both Kratky and NFT, but I think I’ve found a method that is better than both. Why? Because it uses some of the best parts of both methods. In this video I do a deep dive to explain how it all works.
FREE step-by-step guide to build this hydroponic system:
www.simplegreenshydroponics.com

[@Mesa369]

BTW, I purchased the course. I started my system on 11/30, and I’m a week or two away from my first harvest. When I build my next system, I’m going to use 2” bulkheads to increase the flow from rail to rail and to prevent the roots from stopping the flow and causing the rails to overflow. I had a small leak because the roots clogged the 4” risers. This caused the water level in the first rail to rise and overflow through the plant sites. Also, I think I had the pump turned up too much. I’ve since dialed the pump back. Anyway, it’s a great system.

[@H2ObarryField]

Had the same issue happen with this system. To fix it, I just stopped putting a plant in the hole closest to the exit bulkhead. Also, my pump isn't very powerful, but I do get enough flow. Been doing it for a year now. Works very well. Just curious, what do use for your nutrients?

[@snowpaw360]

I made this by accident when i made my first NFT system, worked really well for collard greens.

[@MrNoclutch]

Built the same. Adjustable depth controlled and Timer runs pump 15 min every 12 hours. Modular build to make it expandable and interchangeable and very easy to take apart and clean. I grow 10 different types of Lettuce and dozens of different vegetables and some fruit. Depending on the maturity of the plant the system will sustain them for 3 days or longer. 3x4 downspouts. Good video and share.

[@elliot4307]

Can you explain more how you built it with adjustable depth and expandable? Also want to know how to build to take it apart and make it easy to clean.

[@MrNoclutch]

@@elliot4307 The explanation will be very wordy. I was going to create a short on how I do it but cold set in and have to wait for spring.

[@MrNoclutch]

I use a 3x4 vinyl downspout and Vaseline (petroleum jelly) on the PVC pipe connections as my system does not have a high enough pressure to bypass the press-fit fittings and Vaseline. The 3/4 PVC pass through pipe through the end caps at 1/4" from bottom of downspout I can slip on a press-fit elbow on the inside discharge pipe and turn it up from sideways to 90 degrees up for 2" of remaining fluid in that run and if I want just 1" I can turn it up a little until it reaches that depth or whatever I need. My runs are pitched slightly to make sure fluid moves towards discharge. Only the end caps are glued to the Downspouts. All the other fittings are press fit with Vaseline. Every run is the same, every connection is the same so I can remove one 5 foot connection and put in a different one that is cleaned and clean the one I took out and move on to the next.

[@MrNoclutch]

My outside systems are 10ft long with the same pass through positions. I can substitute the 10 ft with two 5ft. The take apart is very easy. I also can put pipe caps on one I am cleaning and fill them with citric acid solution to breakdown all the mineral build up then after soaking I pull one pipe cap off and let it drain into a bucket for the next run to be cleaned. I can use the downspout's for Kratky also. I use PVC pipe caps on the through pipe and one end a elbow and up pipe cut or turned to the depth I want to protect the air roots. I add solution through that and then stop when it overflows and the rest will drain out to keep from drowning my plants. 3x4 downspouts work great. My discharge elbows have fine screen glued on them to limit root access.

[@BlueSkyPlantation]

Awesome video! Hydroponics explained so clearly, and the visuals are amazing

[@moqo]

If you want something that is more hands off then NFT or your Deep Water technique try the rain gutter grow system which works via gravity feeding and the capillary action of a wick/coco coir. This method can also grow from start to finish - recommend checking out Hoocho and his wick wedge 3D prints.

[@9jatechie]

Starting up will require a larger volume of nutrient solution than NFT. Great job!

[@LynnDunning]

I like that you called it nutrient “river” technique.

[@gachpagla5341]

I thought this is called DFT (Deep Flow Technique)

[@moqo]

Yes this is what I know this type of system as also

[@Eduard482]

Yep

[@Sang_Akrobatis]

Welp, yeah it's definitely DFT.. when he said the combined benefits of both systems, I thought it would be improvement of Kratky Method using media that could sustain many plants without using electricity and not this DFT. I am looking for methods that require only small space and don't require electricity..

[@Amandahugginkizz]

Whats wrong with jst kratky.​@Sang_Akrobatis

[@LucianoAntila]

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[@N1ghtR1der666]

I like Hoochos flood fill gutter grow systems, its essentially like what you have but has no need for pumps as its gravity fed , I am using it currently to good success, just need to rework the float connection a bit to make it a bit easier to clean out

[@truthbetold2611]

Beautiful indoor garden!

[@mrsrabbit2712]

I designed one like your NRT, but it uses spray nozzles for water/nutrient flow. This way it gets maximum air and nutrient coverage, but if the power goes out you have time to get a generator on or wait for it to turn back on.

[@katelink5136]

New subscriber and excited to use your plans. Can you do a Nutrients 101 video?

[@DS-su7vj]

Great video! Where do you get your food grade PVC trays/pipes?

[@SiXiam]

Wonder why one couldn't use one of those valves that stays open as long as it is getting power, then in the event of a power outage it would close so the water wouldn't drain.

[@Gino_567]

thanks for explaining this but this isnt new man. Hoocho has been doing this for ages.

[@shoeoffhead3692]

Just subscribed. I like your system but my main fear is things like algae and root rot. I have no problem adjusting pH and EC. Do you have a video that shows the cleaning process you use, how often you do it. Temperatures in your grow room, water temperatures, etc.

[@valeriesanchez3074]

I like to add 2.5 ml- 3 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide to each gallon of water prior to adding nutrients. So this way can add the formula in kratky to the root zone. As plants take up the water, they receive the oxygen as nutrient levels decrease.

[@Mesa369]

Well done!

[@goldensadventures1229]

I would think if you put a check valve on the inlet side that if power goes out the water would hold it’s depth because the water would not drain out the inlet

[@paulcarrier2424]

I built a very similar system...I am now worried about the food safety of vinyl fence post and am looking to upgrade to food safe options. Thoughts?

[@ubuson3304]

I like the rail idea for lettuce and pak choy etc. Rails could be made for 4 seedlings and four heads for example. When the seedlings get larger and are moved down the rail start 4 more seeds. Each unit you'd have would be producing constantly. Plus fully customizable as to portability or length and spacing. Keep up the good work buddy! Happy growin'!

[@nmc052able]

I think a floating raft system is the easiest system regarding work/material to reward. Except maybe for large plants like tomatoes it got the same advantage seed->harvest, no power as ur river system but cheaper.

[@crashgtr]

Thx for the video, having grown kratky method, I am wondering about the use of progressively sized net cups in the river system. Do you use standard cups when seedlings then remove them from the smaller net cups and put them in larger net cups or are you jus5 spacing them out further but using the small net cups. I ask because growing decent size stalks of celery seems to be difficult because once the roots are well established in the root cut it seems destructive to try and move them to a bigger bet cut without hurting the root system

[@megaflux7144]

nothing new going on here, but.. if you had some sort of channel that could allow a slider be inserted between the net cups along the length of the gutter that would i think be something new. that way instead of removing and repositioning the plants you could just slide them further down (or up) the channel as they grow and add new ones. when the plant reaches the end of the channel its time to pull it out and do whatever you do (clones maybe?). bonus points if you can figure out a way to make it "telescoping" so lets say it starts as a 2 inch spacer (when they are just sprouts) and then it becomes 4 inches apart mid way through, and then 6 inches apart when its an adult. i guess it doesnt "have" to be a slider, it could be a series of plastic inserts that you remove, slide the cup, and replace.

[@LucianoAntila]

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[@ismailsorba]

Lights??

[@soleiltournesol9960]

super vidéo !Je vais essayer

[@reinux]

Isn't this just the "wrong" way to do NFT? I can see that it's safer from pump/power failures, but I'm skeptical that it's more productive or less susceptible to rot.

[@bryanthomas7461]

Without power your grow lights go dark. The process requires air, water. Nutrients, and light. Power outages can last days.

[@jamess1787]

Days won't hurt your edible food plants. Sure, might get a bit of stretching or a minor change in colour. This is a good idea, anaerobic conditions wont take over because of th design

[@littlevee5514]

Use sun light

[@bryanthomas7461]

@ It’s in his basement or an area with no natural light, which is why he’s using grow lights.

[@H2ObarryField]

If your power goes out often and for long periods of time, it would make sense to have a back up generator anyway. I'd be more concerned about my fridge/freezer contents, than plants that I can toss and then regrow new ones.

[@timothykramer1856]

4th requirement is light

[@mle7231]

what about a kratky system with an air stone?

[@megaflux7144]

thats dwc

[@YoungGirlz8463]

Neat!

[@SomeOneHigh]

TOO MUCH EXPLANATION ABOUT WATER + NUTRIENTS + OXYGEN AND NONE ABOUT WHAT NUTRIENTS ARE IN THE NUTRIENT SOLUTION 👍

[@Tinfoiledhat]

Easiest hydro method = HEMPY BUCKET WITH COCO

[@megaflux7144]

thats "half assed hydro" not real hydro

[@Tinfoiledhat]

@megaflux7144 lmao it's real hydro doofus...how is it half assed? Let's see your plants, bet my hempies look better lol

[@megaflux7144]

@@Tinfoiledhat so im guessing im dealing with a 14 year old here, because no adult who ever lived would say anything as profoundly stupid as you just have. first off i grow outdoors in the summer, so good luck getting a 12+ foot tall plant out of your sad little bucket.. in the winter months i breed using DWC (real hydro). there is no scenario where your little SIP (which is all a hempy bucket is) is even in the same area code as me. if hempy buckets are hydro so are earth boxes.. and they arent. by the same token if earth boxes are hydro so is my garden.. and if reality has broken down on that level then gobots are transformers, star trek and star wars are the same thing, and harry potter and lord of the rings happen in the same universe. now have fun googling "sip" because i intentionally didnt tell you what it means because its important that children learn from their mistakes and how to educate themselves.