How to Build a NFT Hydroponic System with Trays/Channels
We cheat a little by purchasing prefabricated trays from the manufacture for the easiest NFT set up here. When compared to the Nutrient Film Technique Build with PVC pipe it’s actually about the same cost overall but the channels are already made for you so you’ll save big on the labor! In the image, we show a table we purchased to use for our setup. You can easily do the same or you can follow our guide on how to make one very easily out of a few concrete blocks and some wood planks.
Take a step back and learn more about the system or check out some other NFT designs before you jump in to start your build.
Materials
Table structure options
Option 1
- Provide your own table of approximately 18-24” x 8-10’
Option 2
- Purchase a plastic shelf system and use part of it now with the option of using the rest of the pieces to expand vertically later.
- Home Depot- Gray 5-Tier Plastic Garage Storage Shelving Unit (36 in. W x 72 in. H x 18 in. D)
Option 3
- Build your own (you will need the following list of materials)
- (6) 10’ sections of 2” PVC pipe
- (8) 2” T PVC fittings
- (8) 2″ Schedule 40 PVC Side Outlet Elbow
Reservoirs
- (2) 17-25 gallon Containers with lids
NFT trays/channels
- (4) 10’ sections of NFT channel
- (4) NFT channel dead end caps
- (4) NFT channel 1” pipe end caps
General plumbing
- Return line
- (1) 10’ section of 2” PVC pipe
- (1) 2” PVC end cap
- (1) 2” 90 degree PVC fittings
- Supply line
- (1) water pump with standard hose fitting on the outlet
- (1) water pump filter
- (1) 2’ section of garden hose (not clear hose)
- (2) 10’ sections of 1” PVC pipe
- (1) 1” PVC end cap
- (3) 1” 90 degree PVC fittings
- (4) 1” T PVC fittings
- (4) 1” valves
- (5) 1” nipple fittings (glue in type)
- (4) 16” sections of black ¼” hose
Tools
- Circular saw, preferably a power miter saw (with a plastic or plywood blade)
- Drill or Cordless Drill
- Razer knife
- 2-1/8” hole saw
- 1” drill bit or hole saw
- ¼” drill bit
Instructions
If you plan to make your own Table structure
- Cut the following sections of 2” PVC pipe
- (6) 30” sections
- (6) 18” sections
- (4) 10’ sections (check that they are actually full length from the store)
- (4) 36” sections
- (4) 24” sections
- Glue 2” T PVC fittings as follows
- Diagram here
- Glue 2″ Schedule 40 PVC Side Outlet Elbow as follows
- Diagram here
Reservoirs
- Clean and Place 17-25 gallon Containers with lids
- Drill holes in the lid as follows
- (1) 2-1/8” hole (for nutrient solution return pipe)
- (1) 1” hole (for nutrient solution supply hose)
- (1) 1/4” hole (for air hose)
NFT trays/channels
- Place 10’ sections of NFT channel as follows
- Glue NFT channel dead end caps
- Glue NFT channel 1” pipe end caps
General plumbing
- Return line
- CUT the following sections of 2” PVC pipe
- (1) 18” section
- (1) 24” section
- Drill the following holes in one 18” section of 2” PVC pipe
- (4) 2-1/8” holes
- Glue 2” PVC end cap
- Glue 2” 90 degree PVC fitting
- CUT the following sections of 2” PVC pipe
- Supply line
- Place water pump with standard hose fitting on the outlet in the active reservoir
- Attach water pump filter
- Attach 2’ section of garden hose to pump outlet
- Cut the following sections of 1” PVC pipe
- (1) 10’ section
- (1) 18” section
- (1) 12” section
- (1) 6” section
- Glue 1” PVC end cap
- Glue 1” 90 degree PVC fittings
- Glue 1” T PVC fittings
- Glue 1” valves
- Glue 1” nipple fittings (glue in type)
- Attach 16” sections of black ¼” hose
Nutrient Film Technique Designs
Build this system
How to Build a NFT Hydroponic System with PVC pipe
If you have done any research online you have seen deviations of this design everywhere on the internet! It’s no wonder it’s so popular, this system is one of the easiest to get parts, set up, and maintain.
In this section, we show you how to build a NFT hydroponic system with PVC pipe right down to the last detail. You can easily run to your local home improvement store with our list of materials and walk out with a complete NFT PVC system.
Materials
Table structure options
Option 1
- Provide your own table of approximately 18-24” x 8-10’
Option 2
- Purchase a plastic shelf system and use part of it now with the option of using the rest of the pieces to expand vertically later.
- Home Depot- Gray 5-Tier Plastic Garage Storage Shelving Unit (36 in. W x 72 in. H x 18 in. D)
Option 3
- Build your own (you will need the following list of materials)
- (6) 10’ sections of 2” PVC pipe
- (8) 2” T PVC fittings
- (8) 2″ Sch 40 PVC Side Outlet Elbow
Reservoirs
- (2) 17-25 gallon Containers with lids
NFT pipes
- (4) 10’ sections of 3” PVC pipe
- (8) 3” PVC end caps
- (4) 1” 90 degree PVC fittings ( street elbow type)
General plumbing
- (2) 10’ sections of 2” PVC pipe
- (2) 2” PVC end caps
- (4) 2” 90 degree PVC fittings
- (1) water pump
- (1) 2’ garden hose section (not clear hose)
- (1) water pump
- (1) water pump filter
- (5) nipple fittings
- (4) valves
- (4) 16” sections of black ¼” hose
Tools
- Circular saw, preferably a power miter saw (with a plastic or plywood blade)
- Drill or Cordless Drill
- Razer knife
- 2-1/8” hole saw
- 1” drill bit or hole saw
- ¼” drill bit
Instructions
If you plan to make your own Table structure
- Cut the following sections of 2” PVC pipe
- (6) 30” sections
- (6) 18” sections
- (4) 10’ sections (check that they are actually full length from the store)
- (4) 36” sections
- (4) 24” sections
- Glue 2” T PVC fittings as follows
- Diagram here
- Glue 2″ Sch 40 PVC Side Outlet Elbow as follows
- Diagram here
Reservoirs
- Clean and Place 17-25 gallon Containers with lids
- Drill holes in the lid as follows
- (1) 2-1/8” hole (for nutrient solution return pipe)
- (1) 1” hole (for nutrient solution supply hose)
- (1) 1/4” hole (for air hose)
NFT trays/channels
- Place 10’ sections of NFT channel as follows
- Glue NFT channel dead end caps
- Glue NFT channel 1” pipe end caps
General plumbing
- Return line
- CUT the following sections of 2” PVC pipe
- (1) 18” section
- (1) 24” section
- Drill the following holes in one 18” section of 2” PVC pipe
- (4) 2-1/8” holes
- Glue 2” PVC end cap
- Glue 2” 90 degree PVC fitting
- CUT the following sections of 2” PVC pipe
- Supply line
- Place water pump with standard hose fitting on the outlet in the active reservoir
- Attach water pump filter
- Attach 2’ section of garden hose to pump outlet
- Cut the following sections of 1” PVC pipe
- (1) 10’ section
- (1) 18” section
- (1) 12” section
- (1) 6” section
- Glue 1” PVC end cap
- Glue 1” 90 degree PVC fittings
- Glue 1” T PVC fittings
- Glue 1” valves
- Glue 1” nipple fittings (glue in type)
- Attach 16” sections of black ¼” hose
Nutrient Film Technique Designs
Build this system
