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Vertical Hydroponic Tower System – Technical Overview

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System Summary

This indoor vertical hydroponic setup is designed for compact, efficient, soil-free year round indoor plant cultivation. It utilizes two vertical PVC towers for growing, with a recirculating nutrient delivery system and full-spectrum LED lighting to support plant growth year-round.

Components & Materials

Towers

  • Material: PVC
  • Modifications: Custom-cut and shaped openings using a heat gun and beer bottle mold for net cup slots
  • Quantity: 2 vertical towers mounted on a wooden frame
  • Capacity: Each tower contains multiple plant sites for leafy greens and fruiting plants

Tower Top Caps

Each tower features a custom 3D printed, three-piece top cap system designed for secure mounting and efficient water distribution:

  1. Base Collar:
  • Snaps or fits securely onto the top of the PVC tower
  • Provides a mounting surface for the central water distributor
  1. Water Inlet & Distributor Layer:
  • Allows a pipe to connect from below into its center
  • Water flows upward through this pipe and exits into a perforated plate
  • The holes disperse the water outward, creating a gentle "shower" effect inside the tower for even distribution across plant roots
  1. Top Cap:
  • A screw-on lid that seals the top of the tower
  • Prevents light infiltration, contamination, and evaporation
  • Easily removable for maintenance or inspection

This design improves internal water coverage and allows easy disassembly for maintenance.

Frame

  • Material: Painted wood
  • Function: Supports towers, lighting structure, and houses the nutrient reservoir

Lighting

  • Type: Full-spectrum LED strips
  • Positioning: Currently mounted vertically; additional LED strips and 3D printed light rails/shades are planned for better light distribution
  • Schedule: 16 hours on / 8 hours off daily, controlled by wall timer

Pump System

  • Pump: Submersible with 6m head, 5000 L/h flow rate
  • Flow Control: Adjustable shut-off valves restrict flow per tower
  • Schedule: Runs 20 minutes every 40 minutes between 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM, using a mechanical timer

Nutrient Reservoir

  • Capacity: 70 liters
  • Nutrient Mix: Masterblend 4-18-38 (balanced for fruiting and leafy vegetables)
  • Circulation: Water pumped from the base reservoir to the top of each tower, flows downward by gravity, recirculated continuously

Plants Grown

  • Current Test Plants:
  • Basil
  • Strawberries
  • Tomato

Planned Improvements

  • Install 3D-printed light rails and shades to enhance LED directionality
  • Design an elegant and integrated wiring and timer control system for the lights and pump
  • Add two additional LED strips on the wall side for balanced illumination
  • Add 50mm collars to each hole to reduce any dripping - currently 3d printed collars are used

Notes

This system is suitable for growing a variety of herbs, leafy greens, and compact fruiting plants indoors. Its modular design allows for future expansion and integration of smart automation.