Virtually all Hydroponic systems will need an air pump of some kind. The nutrient reservoir has to be oxygenated to maintain maximum efficiency. If you do not want perfect plants what do you do here? Do not worry; you will have your hydroponic system setup very soon.
- Figure out the Duration of air tubing you will need for the air stones to sit down in the reservoir in which you want them. Leave a little additional tubing- you do not want too much since air loses power over space.
- Put a hole through The side of your reservoir if you would like your lid to seal. Set the hole near the surface where water will not spill out. The hole is where the atmosphere tube goes through.
- Put your tubing Through the hole you left prior to connecting the pump or air stone.
- Connect any T Connectors you intend on using. T connectors connect two air lines with each other to aerate two different stones. One large pump could aerate many air stones in one reservoir or provide all of the oxygen to a lot of reservoirs. I use little pumps for each reservoir so all of my eggs are not in one basket.
- Cut your air line Before it meets each air stone to place in check valves. Check valves guarantee you air conditioner does not siphon water in case of power loss. Siphoning water in your pump could break it.
- Connect your best air pump for hydroponics to your stones and put them where you need them. I like heavier stones which remain in place at the base of the reservoir. For those who have several air stones, then spread them out so your whole reservoir is oxygenated.
- Now is great time to Hang your air conditioner if you intend to do so. Pumps can be noisy and occasionally give off a loud vibration which gets really annoying. A hanging air pump should be a silent air pump.
- Connect the other End of your air tube to the tiny connector coming from the air pump.
- Plug in you pump and oxygenate that reservoir! Your hydroponics system is nearly ready!