Mini Hydroponic System v2

Hydroponics simulation model with Fischertechnik TXT Controller

The hydroponic system I use is based on the Kratky method which allows any vegetable to grow in the system without the need for pumps that re-circulate the water or oxygenate it since the plant begins to absorb the nutrients from the water, consuming the level of it thus achieving a space that allows it to absorb oxygen from the environment.

For simulation and practical purpose I created this prototype including a re-circulating pump and sensors to study various hydroponic techniques more closely.

The prototype allows to automate the start and end of the re-circulation of the water to distribute the nutrients and allow all the plants to absorb them equally by means of a 5v submersible pump. It also has a lamp with 15 LEDs (10 red 5 blue).

To obtain information on water quality, I measure its parameters (PH, TDS and OD) with analog sensors connected to the inputs of the TXT Controller. The water temperature is measure with a waterproof NTC Termo-resistor

Full Link

Project Elements

hidro_code_example.zip (ZIP)

Python code example

Discussion (2 comments)

blafusel 3 years ago

The costs of your parts are not the "problem" - that's a hobby. But the link published on you webpage is about 4500 for the tubes as a starter kit

isiccardi 3 years ago

You are confuse, I'm from Rosario, Argentina. The hydroponics starter kit price is $3876 (ARS, Pesos Argentinos)= $20(USD)

1 Comment(s)

blafusel 3 years ago

So much money for some tubes you can buy in any home improvement store?
And $170 for some fruit seeds?

WOW

this is a money printing idea.

But respect for your ft-model and your work

isiccardi 3 years ago

Hi @blafusel! How are you? Thanks for your comment!
As I said in the article, "For simulation and practical purpose" is only a ft-simulation model. Clearly, it is very expensive for 6 small plants and there are thousands of cheaper solutions for this type of scale, but I repeat, it is not the end of this model and in my small department it allowed me to learn a lot about hydroponics.
PD: $4500 ??? Very exaggerated, txt controller costs $ 250 and the 4 sensors $ 250, led strips $ 10 and pump 6v $ 5. Total approx. $ 600 with tubes and nutrients solutions.

Regards!