Hydroponic systems 101: 4 common types and how to set them up

Hydroponic gardening is a fun hobby to take up if you want to grow your own plants at home but don't necessarily have the yard space to do it. But even if it has many advantages, some people could feel intimidated by setting up the systems needed to get it started.

Luckily, there are beginner-friendly hydroponic systems you can explore as you commit to the hobby. And if you're feeling more experimental, you may even want to give a couple of advanced systems a try. Read on below to find out more!

Beginner hydroponic systems

Wick System

The Wick system is the simplest type of hydroponic garden and is perfect for beginners. Its main parts are a growing tray for the plants and a reservoir for the nutrient-enriched water that’s placed under it.

This system doesn’t use any electrical components or moving parts, so it only needs minimal maintenance. This method is best for microgreens like broccoli, mustard, kale, and peas, as well as beans, herbs, and peppers. 

What you’ll need:

• Wicking material (wool, cotton, or nylon rope or strips of fabric 0.6cm in diameter will suffice)

• Container to serve as a reservoir

• Styrofoam, wood, or plastic tray

• Net pots or seedling trays

• Seedlings

• Growing medium (coconut fiber, vermiculite, perlite, hydroton, or any combination of these)

• Cutting tools (craft knife or drill with a hole saw)

• Marker

• Ruler or tape measure

• Drill or screwdriver

• Water and nutrient solution

• Light fixture (optional)

How to set up the Wick system

Step 1. Prepare the water reservoir

Mix distilled water and the hydroponic nutrient solution in your container. You may need to fill the container almost to the brim, but follow the appropriate ratios the manufacturer prescribes. Set the container aside in an area away from direct sunlight; cover the container with a lid if it has one.  

Step 2. Prepare the tray

Place a piece of wood, plastic, or styrofoam over the reservoir, ensuring it has a good fit. Measure the tray to have an evenly-spaced grid of seedlings that are all an inch apart from each other. 

Depending on the size of your tray, you can place 4 to 8 net pots or seedling trays. Avoid putting too many pots or trays; the 1-inch distance is necessary to ensure every seed or seedling gets enough nutrients to grow.

Use a marker to mark the spots for the net pots or trays. Drill or cut out holes for each of them, and make sure they fit well. 

Step 3. Place the seedlings

Fill each net pot or seedling tray with your chosen growing medium. Place a single seedling in each tray or pot.

Connect the wicks to each net pot or seedling tray. Ensure that the pots or trays dangle just above the water and the wicks are long enough to dip into the solution. Make sure the wicks also make contact with the growing medium for each seedling. The wicks should feed each net pot or seedling tray with the nutrient-rich solution through capillary action. 

Step 4. Add a light fixture

You can skip adding a light fixture if your hydroponic garden has access to natural light. If it’s in a dark area with no windows, set up an LED or fluorescent lamp above the tray at 6 to 12 inches.  

Step 5. Maintain the system 

Change the nutrient solution every week until your plants are ready to harvest. You may have to do this more frequently in some cases, but that depends if your plants are more water- and nutrient-hungry. You should have your first harvest in about 30 days depending on what you planted.

Deep Water Culture

Another simple hydroponic system is known as Deep Water Culture. Owing to its simplicity and effectiveness in growing lettuce, this method is also known as the Lettuce Raft System. 

What you’ll need:

• Large opaque plastic container

• Styrofoam, wood, or plastic tray

• Seedling trays or net pots

• Growing medium (coconut fiber, vermiculite, perlite, hydroton, or any combination of these)

• Cutting tools (craft knife or drill with hole saw)

• Marker

• Ruler or tape measure

• Drill or screwdriver

• Water and nutrient solution

• LED lighting (optional)

How to set up the Deep Water Culture system

Step 1. Prepare the water reservoir

Mix distilled water and the hydroponic nutrient solution in your container. As the growing medium must make contact with the water, you may need to fill the container almost to the brim.

Make sure to mix the water and hydroponic nutrients in the right amounts. Set the container aside in an area away from direct sunlight and cover the container.  

Step 2. Prepare the tray and net pots

Place a piece of wood, plastic, or styrofoam over the reservoir, ensuring it fits well. If you’re using a plastic container, use the lid for a perfect fit. 

Measure the tray to have an evenly-spaced grid of plants that are 1 inch apart from each other. Never place several net pots that make it impossible for the 1-inch spacing; having too many plants too close to each other can make it difficult for them to get enough nutrients.

Use a marker to mark the spots for the net pots. Drill or cut out holes for each net pot, ensuring a good fit. 

Step 3. Place the air stone

In this system, the net pots and seedlings make contact with the water in the reservoir. The water must stay aerated to avoid drowning and killing the seedlings.

To do this, place an air stone connected to an air pump. You can buy these items at most aquarium supplies or pet stores. Ensure that the air pump always has enough power; the pump may have to run constantly to provide an optimum oxygen supply for the seedlings’ growth and survival. 

Step 4. Place the seedlings

Now that the reservoir is filled and the water is aerated, prepare the seedlings. Fill each net pot with your chosen growing medium and a single seedling. Place the tray over the reservoir, but make sure that the net pots are in contact with (but not submerged in) the water.

Step 5. Maintain the system

Maintain this hydroponic system by changing the water every week. Check that the air pump is working and trim any dead leaves when necessary. 

Step 6. Use lighting

Install a light fixture only if your hydroponic garden doesn’t get enough sunlight. You can use LED lighting or fluorescent bulbs. If using LED lighting, position them at a distance of 6 inches from your plants; for fluorescent bulbs, make the distance 12 inches. 

More advanced hydroponic systems

If you want to try a hydroponic system that’s a bit more versatile, you can try either of the below types. Each system has its pros and cons, so consider the materials and maintenance required. 

Ebb and flow system

Also known as the Flood and Drain system, this is a slightly more sophisticated, closed hydroponic system. The system mimics the ebb and flow of the tide, flooding the growing medium with a water-nutrient solution, then draining and recycling it within the system. 

What you’ll need:

• 1 large container, such as a basin or large plastic container for a water reservoir 

• 1 large container, similarly shaped as the water reservoir to serve as a flood tray

• 2 long pieces of wood or metal for support

• Fill tube

• Drain tube

• Submersible pump with timer

• Drill with hole saw attachments

• Hydroponic solution

• Distilled water

• Net pots 

• Seedlings

• Growing medium

How to set up the Ebb and Flow system

Step 1. Set up the reservoir and flood tray

First, get a large plastic bin that has a capacity of anywhere between 16 to 20 gallons. This will serve as your water reservoir. For the flood tray, use a large enough container to cover the reservoir but not as deep. A bin or basin with a 7.4-gallon capacity should suffice. 

Step 2. Prepare the flood tray 

Using a drill with a hole saw attachment, cut two holes on the flood tray for the drain tube and the fill tube of your submersible pump. Be sure to use hole saws of the appropriate diameters to give a good fit for the tubes. Place at least two pieces of wood or metal on top of the water reservoir to support the flood tray.

Step 3. Insert the pump

Fit the drain tube and fill tube to the flood tray, attach them to your submersible pump, then link it to a timer. Depending on how much watering the seedlings need, you can set the timer to flood and drain at 10 or 15-minute intervals. Connect the pump and timer to a nearby power source. 

Step 4. Fill the reservoir and flood tray

Fill the reservoir with about two-thirds of its total capacity with water and the hydroponic solution. On the flood tray above it, fill it with your growing medium—you can fill the entire 7.4 gallons. The growing medium must have a sufficient amount such that the top is dry to the touch. 

Plant your seedlings in the growing medium, but space them about 6 inches apart to ensure they get enough nutrients. Activate the pump. 

Step 5. Maintain the system

Depending on your plants, you’ll have to change the water and nutrient solution each week until harvest. Monitor the plants for dried leaves and trim them as necessary.

Check that the water has the right pH levels, the ambient temperature and humidity are conducive for growth, and the plants get enough sunlight or light from other sources like LED growing lamps.

Nutrient film technique

The Nutrient Film Technique in hydroponics is similar to the Ebb and Flow system but is unique in that it doesn’t need a growing medium.

In this hydroponic system, the nutrient-water solution is aerated and is pumped continuously to course through and nourish plant roots that remain suspended in the flow tray. This works best with water-hungry, fast-growing, shallow-rooted plants like spinach, lettuce, herbs, and radishes. 

What you’ll need:

• Large container for water reservoir

• Large basin for flow tray

• Water and nutrient solution

• Drill with hole saw attachments

• Wood or metal supports

• PVC pipe (about 1.3 inches in diameter)

• Net pots

• Seedlings

• Submersible pump

• Air stone and air pump

How to set up the Nutrient Film Technique

Step 1. Set up the reservoir 

Prepare a large container to serve as your reservoir. A plastic bin with a 16 to 20-gallon capacity should suffice. Mix the water and hydroponic solution in the appropriate amounts and set it aside in an area away from sunlight. 

Step 2. Set up the aeration system

Your nutrient solution will need a constant supply of oxygen. Place the air stone in the solution and the air pump close to the reservoir. Ensure that the aeration equipment and your submersible pump get enough power to run around the clock. 

Step 3. Prepare the flow tray 

Get a tray that’s large enough to cover the reservoir. Use your drill with hole saw attachments to make two holes on opposite sides of the flow tray. Make sure each hole fits the drain tube and the fill tube of your submersible pump. 

Place supports under the flow tray such that they sit at a slight angle on top of the reservoir. This way, gravity helps channel the nutrient solution towards the drain tube. Attach the fill tube to the hole on the raised section of the flow tray and the drain tube to the opposite hole to create a closed, continuously-flowing system. 

Step 4. Assemble the grow tubes

Place 3 standard PVC pipes measuring 1.3 inches in diameter in the flow tray. Cut 3 to 4 holes into each PVC pipe and place a net pot with a seedling in each hole. 

Step 5. Activate the pump 

Once the nutrient solution, air stone, air pump, and flow tray are ready, and the seedlings are in place, turn on the pump. Set the flow rate to about 0.2 gallons per minute to ensure sufficient flow.

You can increase the flow rate as the plants grow bigger in the following weeks. Don’t forget to change the nutrient solution once a week until harvest time. 

Get familiar with hydroponic systems

While it could feel intimidating in the beginning, the majority of hydroponic systems run under the same principles. But in case you need help, you can always ask for help from the Airtasker platform. Simply post a task and get hydroponic gardeners to help you build your system at home. Have fun!