Been building outdoor Hydro Tables.. Take a peek.
 

Hi all I just thought I'd share my recent passion.. well past year or two now..

So here where I live in Florida I was having terrible issues with root nematodes, having had some experience in the past with indoor hydroponics I figured I'd try my hand at building some outdoors.. Lil different approach but basically the same technique.

My first try.. built this one with two concrete mixing tubs..

[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.php?albumid=461&pictureid=2818[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.php?albumid=461&pictureid=2808[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.php?albumid=461&pictureid=2810[/IMG]

This next one was my first trial with shower pan liner.. It Worked!
Got way more room for root growth and now I can make them whatever size I'd like!

[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.php?albumid=461&pictureid=2819[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.php?albumid=461&pictureid=2820[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.php?albumid=461&pictureid=2824[/IMG]

And the third is just a much better made version of the tub liner table. I stained this one as I was making it for a neighbor who loved the idea and just had to have one.. Materials were about $225 in total and about a day and a half of work.. (Think stain dry time.. )

[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.php?albumid=461&pictureid=2821[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.php?albumid=461&pictureid=2822[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.php?albumid=461&pictureid=2823[/IMG]

Anyway, I just wanted to share.. They are all basically ebb and flow tables on timers flooding the units for 15-20 mins every 3 hrs.. I have also added bell siphons just to make sure nothing is wet for too long.

The first one with the concrete tubs just floods for 15mins then drains normally.

-Mus

They look good!

Very nice looking setup.
Did you consider burying your water reservoir to keep the solution cool?
I had quite a few Eggplant Plants droop when it got above 90°F for a few days.

Here's my old setup

[IMG]https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1637/26478225576_77d65e4b13_c.jpg[/IMG]

Very attractive design. Pond liner is versatile stuff.

I'd guess you would want to put a mosquito dunk (or other BT) in your reservoir every so often, so you didn't get nematodes.

I actually bury the reservoir about halfway to keep it cool.. on really bad days I'll drop a frozen 2ltr of water into em..

I haven't had any issues with mosquitoes, not really sure why? Might be the tadpoles/frogs.. there everywhere and I just let em have at it :)

Hey SQWIBB, That would be considered a dutch bucket setup yes? I've been thinking of setting a small (5-6 Buckets) unit up myself..

-Mus

[QUOTE=Muslickz;685816]I actually bury the reservoir about halfway to keep it cool.. on really bad days I'll drop a frozen 2ltr of water into em..

I haven't had any issues with mosquitoes, not really sure why? Might be the tadpoles/frogs.. there everywhere and I just let em have at it :)

Hey SQWIBB, That would be considered a dutch bucket setup yes? I've been thinking of setting a small (5-6 Buckets) unit up myself..

-Mus[/QUOTE]


I tried running a 50' hose buried in a shaded area of the yard in the ground, the theory was sound but too much back pressure.

URDWC
Undercurrent Recirculating Deep Water Culture
Don't have many pics but here's a vid on it

[URL]https://youtu.be/XtRB91kM9oI[/URL]

Very cool! Now of course I want to build.. lol

-Mus

It's not mosquitos that are the problem; there are lots of other larvae-stage insects that eat roots. Sometimes you can see them when you pull up a plant. They look like little black slugs. I get them on any outdoor hydro plant if I don't use the dunks. Maybe you have different bugs than me, though, I'm far away.

The synthetic boards they make for decking and siding look very promising for hydro use. I am hoping to use siding trim boards for my next flood table.