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Living in my house I have a few very curious kids that love to learn and help me out with my projects around the house. They aren’t always so reliable, but they try nonetheless! But what better project that we can assemble, learn from, watch grow, and even use the fresh ingredients while we cook? So my Hydroponic Plants Project was researched and became a reality.
Advantages of Growing Hydroponic Plants
- Uses Less Water
Make It Maintenance Free
By balancing out the waste from the fish with the filtering of the plants, you create your own eco cycle. The fish give off nitrates and nitrites that the plants thrive off of. And in return, the plants filter the water, returning freshwater the fish can be happy in.
For you folks reading, just go buy a fish of your choice, drop it in your jar of choice, feed it twice a day, and be finished. Of course, I’m looking to be a little more complicated than that. I don’t have the ability to feed my fish every day. And as much as I want to trust my kids to feed them when I’m not home, well… we all know what I’m going to come home to one day!
My ecosystem needs to be mostly self-sustained. Not completely, because I know that is going to be hard to do, but I’m fairly certain I can come close. It might take me a few tries. But I have 4 mason jars ready to be set up and see what we can do. For the purpose of this, I’m going to set them up in 4 different ways and try a few different fish or shrimp setups and see how this works.
Before we begin, please choose your fish wisely. I’m not a fish advocate directly, but do not pick large fish and cram them into something too small for them to be happy. What I am going to list here, I’m fairly certain is adequate, but also I’m sure is going to upset a few people that insist a single shrimp needs a 10-gallon tank to roam around in to be happy.
Supplies Needed (Click Names to See More on Amazon)
- Mason Jar with Lid
- Net Cups that Fit the Mason Jar
- Clay Pebbles (Rinsed Well!)
- Water Prep for Fish
- Spring Water
- Thrive S or Shirmp Safe
- Fish (Do not Buy Yet, See Below)
- 10 watt Air Pump
- 1/4 inch Air Tubing
- Valves or Splitters
- Bubble Stone
- Bottom Pebbles
- Live Sand or Dirt
- Plants or Herbs for Ontop
- Plants for inside the Jar
Mason Jar Selection and Prep
Drill Holes
Not a requirement, but I tend to have a little OCD. Laying around in the garage I have glass drill bits, so I decided that I did not want my air hose to go into the plant. By drilling a hole, I was able to feet my air hose into the jar without upsetting the plant, or myself! And since I was still in the mood to drill a hole, I drilled a second one to feed my fish through, if I ever needed to. Both of these holes saved me the trouble of needing to remove my lid and plant to service the water. Realistically, I can perform water changes by siphoning through these holes.
Clean
Do not use any harsh chemicals. A few simple drops of warm dish soap should do the trick. Make sure you get any glass leftovers out and be careful not to cut yourself on anything.
Lid and Net Cup Prep
Initially, my net cups did not fit. Having all of my supplies in front of me, I needed to come up with a solution. After all, mine was too big. Not too small. After cutting the net cups and removing some of the upper circular ring, I was able to fit everything just as I wanted to.
If you are not using a mason jar and you have a solid lid, you can always cut the middle out carefully. Using a metal file, smooth out the edges to where your net cup can now fit. I like my net cups to fit between the glass lip and metal lid.
Dry Fit Your Mason Jar
Now would be the perfect time to see how everything fits together. Load up your net cup with clay pebbles and place it inside the mason jar. Hopefully, the lid you have will now go over the net cup edge and hold secure everything we are about to accomplish in the following steps.
Nnot required, but on the back of your Mason Jar, you can make a small line with a marker to mark where your water line should be. This will be your fill line when you add hydroponic water to your plants. Always make sure you do not pour in more as this will force the roots to drown, creating root rot.
Hyrdoponic Water Prep
The water for your entire setup can all be made now to be used later. Use spring water or use the fish tap water prep as directed. If possible, allow to set out over night before you pour the water into your mason jar. This will allow any chlorine to evaporate before you add the water into the jar. Also, add your Thine S, once again, as directed.
Setup Air Pump and Air Hoses
Choose a nice place in your place to set these up. Depending on the plants you have chosen, you do not need direct sunlight, but pick an area in your home that gets some indirect sunlight.
Plan and Connect Your Plumbing
Plan where all your air hoses are going to be. Plugin your air pump and ensure all of your measurements are correct, or at least close enough. Starting at your air pump, layout and connect all of your air hoses, valves, and check valves up to your mason jar. Feed in your air hoses into the mason jar and connect your air bubbler. Give enough air hose to where your air stone is near the very bottom of your jar.
Add Your Soil, Pebbles, and Water
Add one inch of soil into your jar. Add one inch of pebbles to your jar. Using a spool or something else that can divert the water from disturbing your base, pour your treated water into the jar. Only fill to the line we created back a few steps. When all is said and done, you want to leave an air gap betwen your net pot and water level.
Let the Setup Take Hold
You should wait two weeks for your new jar setups to stabilize and begin creating alge.
Fish and Plants Selection
Mason Jar 1
Plants that compliment
Fish that compliment
Mason Jar 2
Plants that compliment
Fish that compliment
Mason Jar 3
Plants that compliment
Fish that compliment
Mason Jar 4
Plants that compliment
Fish that compliment
Other Options
Other plant options
Other fish options.
Add Your Fish
Conclusion
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Pros
Cons
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