| MadSci Network: Botany |
To use a 10 to 20 gallon aqauarium for hydroponics: 1. Cover the sides of the aquarium with aluminum foil or other opaque material to exclude light. Excluding light prevents growth of algae. 2. Use an aquarium air pump and tubing to provide sufficient aeration for roots or keep the solution level low enough that the top third of the root systems are exposed to air. 3. Find an opaque plastic cover for the aquarium to support the plants. Cut holes in the cover to support the plants. Greenhouse growers use 1020 plastic flats that are sturdy but made of thin plastic that is easily cut. They are 10 inches wide by 20 inches long. You could also try floating a styrofoam slab on the water surface and supporting plants that way. There are directions for making a Hoagland nutrient solution in the first reference below. Your school chemistry teacher might have most of the chemicals required for a nutrient solution. You can buy premixed chemicals for hydroponic solutions from many internet sites. There are many different brand names for these premixed hydroponic chemicals, such as Hydro Gro, Dyna Gro and DNF. Search for hydroponics on google.com and you will find dozens of hydroponic suppliers. There are many answers to hydroponics questions in our archives that you might wish to check. References Hoagland Solution Recipe Re: How to do a hydroponics project? Hydro Gro Hydroponic Fertilizer Dyna-Grow Hydroponic Fertilizer
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