How to: Three-Plant Air Lift Window Farm
These Window Farm instructions show how to make a ‘mini’
1 hour build- The easiest, cheapest, smallest windowfarm. Gets you started on hydroponics ASAP! This version is designed to be easy to assemble for folks who want to try out a windowfarm but are not quite ready to build the structure needed for larger windowfarms. This system grows three plants and costs less than $30. The basic configuration includes three bottles that act as plant holders, a bottom reservoir to capture/hold water, and tubing to move water through the system. It also utilizes a small air pump that uses water displacement to elevate the water up to the top of the system, where it can then trickle down through each plant.
Download the PDF and give it a try! Check the comments below for updates and to read about other folks’ experiences before you build (remember this is an ongoing R&D process so don’t think of it as a product!!)
Please note that we ask anyone who downloads the how-to to register on the site and to come back and post as you build, not just when you’re finished. You give back to the project by participating on the site. Bring questions, ideas, results of your testing various processes. This is a mass collaboration on the R&D of these systems.
UPDATES!!!!!!!!!!
New how-to coming later today (Jan 20th, but if you must download now, include these updates!
Pump-
Get the PETCO Air Pump 2-Way For 13-106 gallon Aquariums Model 9903 http://www.petco.com/product/109838/PETCO-Air-Pump.aspx
Tubing-
Get it at Canal Rubber.
x1 3/8″ OUTSIDE DIAMETER 1/4″ Inside Diameter Reinforced Kuritec Tubing at 4′6″ long
X2 1/4″ O.D. 1/8″ I.D. Vinyl tubing at 2′6″ long
x1 3/8″ O.D. 1/4″ ID Vinyl tubing at 6′ long
One-way air valves-
You need these. Trust me. If you get the Petco pump, these come with it for free! Otherwise, you need to go to an aquarium store and tell them you want one way check valves for an air pump. They will cost about $3 each. You need to insert these in the line between the pump and your windowfarm. Be sure they are facing the right way (blow thru them to test) and turn on the pump with your valves inserted before you insert the tubing in water. Otherwise, your air tubes might fill with water and your system will not pump as high.
Bottom reservoir- You want your airlift tube submerged under the tallest possible column of water. That’s just how to physics work. So, if you use the 1 Gallon Poland Springs bottle, fill it up as high as possible. If you use something else, make sure you have picked a container that is going to create a tall column. By the same token, if your tube is curling so that it is effectively not submerged under a tall column, zip tie it to something rigid to straighten it out and create the max submersion height.
Cut your water intake tube (the Reinforced 3/8″ OUTSIDE DIAMETER 1/4″ Inside Diameter) at an angle at the bottom so that it does not just suck on the bottom of your reservoir.
PS- This update was actually made Jan 19, 2010. So all the comments below actually preceded it. This is the LATEST fix for the problems below.
I am beyond thrilled to see your version of the airlift! It’s gorgeous. Well done to Windowfarms and to windowfarmers everywhere.
-Jackson
[...] 2 downloadable pdfs for windowfarms you can build on your own. The easier of the two projects is Britta and Rebecca’s own version of the Jackpot! They use a one gallon jug for the main bucket, which makes for a lighter and easier to use system. [...]
is there a way to do it without an electric air pump?
I am interested in incorperating this into my aquaponic system.
I am also interested in incorperating this in our new home we will be building in Ga….
thanks
Jan
D.gruen-the airpump is what circulates the nutrient water constantly through the plants. Without the pump you will need to find another way to move the water up to the top. You can water them by hand of course but with hydroponics the plants need constant watering so you would need to water them every couple hours.
[...] four artists. After a quick Google of window farms, I found this, which lead me to a handy How-To guide to building your own hydroponic window farm! It has room for three plants, and it basically waters [...]
[...] for one of your windows and all the specs for your components. I will also have a demo model of the three tier system with me. Lots of other fantastic urban ag specialists will be around. Come hang out! Tags: events, [...]
[...] when I gave a demo at Eyebeam to the Windowfarmers group! Britta and Rebecca then came out with their own amazing version of the Jackpot! Once again the idea improves and can be built [...]
punctilious post. due one detail where I bicker with it. I am emailing you in detail.
Now I can’t find the PDFs. Where did they go?
http://our.windowfarms.org/category/how-tos/
Your blog is so informative ?keep up the good work!!!!
I don’t usually reply to posts but I will in this case. WoW
Sure. That’s what it’s here for. Please just include a link back to the site so that your readers can find out more. B
Inflation needles! Such a simple solution… Here I am trying to get standard air line T fittings to work well for this application and getting functional, but poor results. This I must try!
[...] are looking to test the final wattage draw of the latest airlift vs. waterpump systems. Anyone got a Kill-a-watt to lend? We can send someone around to collect it [...]
I have some trouble with my airlift system.
It has not got enough strength to push the water up to the top.
I have used a simple air pump that is normally used for fish tanks but it seems that it either looses too much air through the system or the pump is not strong enough..
i tried using a smaller air tube but didn’t seem to solve the problem.
any ideas?
Hi! Thanks a lot for the instructions..they helped a lot..
one question: i m using a small air pump (one of those used in aquariums) like you say in the instructions but its not strong enough to displace the water to the height of the three bottles..
any ideas what i could be doing wrong?
Can you recommend good things to grow in this mini setup?? Thanks!
just got all the items together to build this. i couldn’t find poland springs water so i’m trying evian 1.5 ltrs. i also didn’t want to spend $10 on clay pellets, so i’m gonna try some regular cleaned gravel. anyone know any reason why this is a bad idea?
post results soon.
Weemis- Gravel is not a good idea. The reason for using a hydroponic medium like clay pellets is that it retains a certain amount of moisture in the little pockets within the clay pellets. With gravel, you have no water retention so your plants are kinda doomed. I highly recommend the clay pellets just because the hydroponic growers of the world have already figured out how to make them so they just plain work. When you are building a totally new system, I recommend limiting the number of new things you are trying until you start to get your plants going strong or discover a problem. However, clay pellets are not without their own problems. I have not had a problem with them, but Joanna found they were drying out too fast in her system.
First of all I just wanna say, this rules!
I read about this online about a week ago, and the next day I went out and bought everything I needed and came home and built it. I have it up and running and I just planted the seeds. I’m just waiting for a few weeks to see some action.
I have just a few questions though…
1.) If only the bottom of the bottles are covered and sun light still comes in through the top, how is photosynthesis prevented?
2.) Do I need just a few drops of water coming down constantly, or should it be at a higher pressure?
3.) (I’m new at gardening in general, so this might seem like an obvious question..) I might have put more seeds then necessary in the tree bark starter cubes…could this prevent the plant from growing, or should it be okay?
And last, 4.) Would using a homemade liquid compost (like blending egg shells, coffee grinds, and fruit and vegetable scraps with water) be just as efficient, or should I stick with a store brand nutrient base…?
Thank for the instructions on building this, it is a really cool idea and it is awesome to teach people how to be able to do urban and indoor gardening!
Man, I was really excited to get this going in our home, but WOW….what a hassle of a project so far. Anyone have any ideas why the pump would not push the water up the system. I can’t seem to get the water higher than just over a foot above it’s intake. I’ve already invested 10x the amount of time driving around returning the 3w pump, the 4w pump…trying other different materials that would allow me to see the whole process….it’s just not moving the water. Any thoughts?? My wife is going to leave me if she hears any more of this EZ “readymade” project. HELP
This is such a crucial resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I enjoy seeing websites that realise the value of providing a supreme resource for free. I truly enjoyed reading your post. Thanks!
So I’m ready to give this a go- but I’m thinking that maybe I can try altering/simplify the system so that I don’t need to use a pump-airlift…Just an extra bottle at the top to feed the nutrient water? how much water should go through this system in a 12 or 24 hour time frame? Anyone have any suggestions
to the admin’s of the site – seems like a wonderful idea, thank you. i’m excited to start, but it seems like a lot of users are having problems with the pumps. for those having problems, has a solution been found? it would be useful to have actual part numbers as well (primarily for the pump).
thanks so much.
I started off wanting to build the more complicated Window Farm but it was becoming too expensive and bulky – so I’ve decided to work with the airlift system so I could learn and later expand. I am currently stuck on the air pump – I’m not getting enough power either. I am currently working with the Elite 801 air pump. This pump has only one air outlet so I have just one tube and air needle going into the air lift tube and it’s just not doing the trick. Do I need to try a different air pump or is there a way to work with the one I have?
Hey Britta – I just tried to download the updated PDF (twice), but the resulting download is six blank pages… not sure if it is a problem with the PDF you’re hosting or a version issue on my end, but FYI.
Hey Britta,
I am waiting for the new upload. You said it was suppose to be yesterday, but the file doesn’t seem to be updated. Do you know when it will be?