Bucket Hydroponics

I recently made an new hydroponic system in a 5 gallon bucket. It has a special net pot that fits on top of the bucket like a lid. I bought it at my local hydroponic store for about $4.50. They also sell them online but I was surprised as to how expensive they were. It also has an aquarium air pump and for lighting I am trying a LED grow light that seems like it is working pretty good so far. I am growing a cherry tomato plant in it.


This is how it looks with the grow light on. It looks kind of unhealthy.

But with the grow light off it looks perfectly healthy. 

This is the type of air pump I am using. I bought it at Walmart and I bought the one with two outlets because I am using the other outlet for another system I am working on.

This is what the net pot I am using looks like.

 This is the grow light I am using I bought it on eBay for $27.50

I am just using a clamp to hang up the grow light.

This type of hydroponics system is really easy to make and I recommend it to anybody. Here is what you need.



 1. A 5 gallon Bucket

2. A five gallon bucket net pot

3. An aquarium air pump along with airline tubing and an air stone.

4. A grow light. This link goes to the same one I bought, but you can get anyone you want. There are cheaper ones.

5. Hydroton or LECA clay pellets

6. Seeds for whatever plant you are going to grow.

7. Nutrient Solution. I use Maxigrow from General Hydroponics.

Then all you have to do it run the air line tubing through a hole in the net pot and put the air stone on the other side. Next you fill the bucket with water and nutrients. Then you fill the pot with hydroton and plant your seed. Finally you set the pot on the bucket and set up your light. My nutrients are at about 1200 ppm. For a great list of plant ppm and ph levels click this link.