DIY Aeroponics 6-Plant Tub With Built-in Reservoir

With this aeroponics tub I can grow 6 kale or swiss chard plants in a really small space without having to water them daily. It takes no soil either. I just fill the bottom tub (the built-in reservoir) with about 5 gallons of water and the appropriate nutrients and let it do its thing. I change the water once a week. The roots are sprayed at intervals. Each growing environment is different. The need for experimenting is crucial in receiving a good harvest. Take your time, set your timer 1 minute on and 1 minute off. If no sign of wilting, increase off time for a minute. Continue until desired setting is reached. I like to be 1 minute on and 2 minutes off, for the first 2-4 weeks of vegetative stage. Then move to a 1 minute on and 8 minutes off setting.

UPDATE: After building several of these, I found that using only two 360 degree spray heads in this type of system was enough to keep the root zone moist. As a result of using less spray heads, I was able to use a smaller pump. I also did not need to glue the PVC pieces together.

SUPPLIES:

1 - 10 Gal. Roughneck Storage Tote in Green

1 - 18 Gal. 15-9/10 in. x 16½ in. x 23-9/10 in. Storage Tote in Green

3 pounds - Hydroton Clay Pebbles

6 - 3" Net Pots

1 - Pump

1 - Short Cycle Timer

plumbing:

1 - ½" x 520" Thread Seal Tape

6 - ½" x 10" PVC Risers

6 - ½" Pattern Plastic Shrub with Plastic Nozzles (Spray Heads)

6 - 1" x ½" PVC 90-Degree Reducing Elbow Fitting

2 - 1" PVC Tee Fitting

1 - 1" PVC Cross Fitting

1 - 1" x 1" x 3/4" PVC Reducing Tee Fitting

1 - 1" PVC Pipe

1 - ½" PVC Barb x MPT Insert Male Adapter

2 - ½" PVC Poly Insert 90 Degree Barb x Barb Elbow

1' - ½" Black Tubing

TOOLS:

Measuring Tape

PVC Ratchet Cutter or Dremel with cut-off-wheel

Flexible Tube Cutter

Drill

2½" Hole Saw

1½" Hole Saw

Step 1: Connect the Plumbing

NOTE: Wrap all threaded ends with the ½" x 520" Thread Seal Tape to secure it from leaks.

Connect one end of the ½" x 10" PVC Risers to the ½" Pattern Plastic Shrub with Plastic Nozzles.
Connect the other end of the PVC Risers to the threaded side of the 1" x ½" PVC 90-Degree Reducing Elbow Fittings.
Cut 6 small pieces of the 1" PVC Pipe (about 2½-3 inches each) with a PVC Ratchet Cutter or a Dremel with a cut-off wheel and connect one end to the other end of the 1" x ½" PVC 90-Degree Reducing Elbow Fittings.
Connect the other end of the 1" PVC Pipe pieces to the 1" PVC Tee Fittings and the 1" PVC Cross Fitting.
Cut 2 more small pieces of the 1" PVC Pipe (about 2½-3 inches each) and connect them to each non-threaded side of the 1" x 1" x ½" PVC Reducing Tee Fitting. Then connect that piece to one of the 1" PVC Tee Fittings and one end of the 1" PVC Cross Fitting.
Connect the ½" PVC Barb x MPT Insert Male Adapter to the threaded end of the 1" x 1" x ½" PVC Reducing Tee Fitting.
Cut 1 last piece of the 1" PVC Pipe (about 4 inches) and connect it to the 1" PVC Cross Fitting and the remaining 1" PVC Tee Fitting.
Cut a piece of the ½" Black Tubing (about 5 inches) with a Flexible Tube Cutter and connect a ½" PVC Poly Insert 90 Degree Barb x Barb Elbow Fitting to each side.
Cut 2 more small pieces of the ½" Black Tubing (about 4 inches) and connect them to the other end of the ½" PVC Poly Insert 90 Degree Barb x Barb Elbow Fittings.
Connect one of the 4 inch ½" Black Tubing pieces to the pump and the other one to the other end of the ½" PVC Barb x MPT Insert Male Adapter.