How to Ebb & Tide in Hydroponics

System Construction

• 1

  Drill a hole in each end of the opaque, plastic storage bin a few inches below the upper rim. Drill a hole in one end of the plastic sweater box, approximately one inch above the bottom. Drill a hole in the opposite end of the plastic sweater box, approximately three inches above the bottom. Set the sweater box on top of the closed storage bin.

• 2

  Run a length of tubing from each end of the sweater box to the ends of the storage bin. Leave just enough slack between the two to allow you to easily pick up the sweater box and set it on the ground beside the storage bin. Allow the tubing to extend a few inches into the sweater box and storage bin. Identify the end of the storage bin that matches the lower hole in the sweater box and allow the tubing on that end to extend all the way to the bottom of the bin.

• 3

  Apply a coat of silicone sealant around the tubing on the inside and outside of the sweater box and storage bin to secure the tubing in place. Trim the tubing so that only a 1-inch segment extends into the sweater box on each end. Do not trim the tubing inside the storage bin.

System Setup

• 4

  Fill the storage bin at least half full of water, add hydroponic nutrients according to the manufacturer's recommendations and mix thoroughly. Attach the aquarium pump to the long end of the tubing inside the storage bin and plug it into the timer. You may need to cut a notch in the edge of the bin for the pump cord, so that the lid can close evenly.

• 5

  Place the sweater box on top of the storage bin, and fill it with approximately two inches of hydroton clay pebbles. Fill plant pots with perlite potting medium and transplant plants to these pots. Rinse any soil from the roots before transplanting. Place the plant pots into the sweater box, nestling them deep in the hydroton pebbles so that they rest approximately one inch above the bottom of the box. Remove excess hydroton if necessary.

• 6

  Set the timer to run for approximately thirty minutes, four times a day at even intervals. Monitor the setup during the first run to check for proper filling and leaks. The pump will fill the sweater box with nutrient-rich solution, and any excess will return to the bin through the overflow drain on the other end of the box. When the pump turns off, the solution will slowly drain back through the fill tube into the bin.