Intro
This is a modified version of boundarycondition's Modular Hydroponic Tower Garden and some features of ghoofman's Smart IoT Modular Hydroponic Tower Garden.
I finally decided to upload my remix of boundarycondition's Modular Hydroponic Tower Garden. I initially just planned to do a make, but soon I decided to invest some time and modify the project to suit my needs and capabilities.
What I intended was:
I wanted to utilize the space as much as possible and this meant that I needed a tower at least 6 feet tall. Thus, the base of the tower had to be extra stable to support the weight of the tower. I might have overengineered the base to make it extra stiff, but it worked!
I have a Prusa MINI+, which has a fairly small bed (180mmx180mm). This somewhat complicated things.
Due to the weather I live in, I needed to place the tower indoors. This required the use of grow lights. I couldn't find a grow light holder that fit my print bed and could, in the future, be extended further outward as the plants grow.
- Finally, the project had to be modular and easily upgradeable.
Thankfully, I have decent experience with Solidworks. Thus, I downloaded the STEP files from the two aforementioned projects and modified a few parts. The pot lid and the LED supports were entirely my creation.
I'll provide a link to the STEP files in case someone wants to keep modifying the project.
The tower has been up and running for a week now. It has 8 4-way planting modules and 3 spacers. It is surprisingly stable and I plan to add at least a couple more modules once the plants grow a bit more. The pump I'm using is more than capable of pumping enough water all the way to the top. Right now, I'm using only 3 42W 4ft LED grow lights, but I add 3 more for a total of 6 if needed. The grow lights are pretty well secured from the bottom with the arms I designed.
I'm also gonna provide a parts list in case anyone doesn't want to do all the research looking for the specific pump or lights needed.
Hope this helps!
Printing Recommendations
These are the print setting I used. Feel free to modify them if you see fit:
- Printer: Prusa MINI+
- Filament: PETG
- Layer Height: 0.25mm
- Infill: 20% (except the lid and the LED arms, which are 50% for extra strength)
- Print Speed: > 40mm/s
- Supports: Not needed (except for the LED arm tip, which has to be printed vertically)
- Print bed: 18'mmx180mm (if your print bed is larger, you can print a 3-way planting module.
- Brims: Yes
- Perimeters: 3 (makes it watertight and adds extra strength)
Recommended Parts
I will share a link to an Amazon shopping list with all the parts and supplies required. The most important elements are:
IKEA 9 1/2" MUSLOT pot: I usually fill it with 2.5-3 gallons of water.
EcoPlus 290 GPH (1098 LPH, 17W) Submersible Water Pump: The current tower is about 5 feet tall and the pump could go up to 6 feet whilñe still delivering enough flow
4ft Barrina T8 LED grow light 42W: These are not the best grow lights, but I'm just getting started and I wanted to get some affordable lights to get started. You can install up to 6 grow lights.
- Kasa smart Plug: I use these smart plugs to control the scheduling of the lights and pump according to the plants I'm growing and their growth stage.
In addition, the following screws are needed:
9x #8-32 x 1-1/2 in. machine screws & nuts (for the LED arms)
- 24x #10-32 x 1 in. machine screws & nuts (for the lid)
Obviously, you can find alternatives and/or better components. This is just a guide.
STEP files
The STEP files for this project can be found here.
Minimum Build
At the very least, you need the following parts:
- 1x 4-Way_Planting_Module_Hollow_Twist.STL
- 1x Dispenser_Module_Internal.STL
- 1x Filling_Cap.STL
- 1x Filling_Cap_Symbol.STL
- 3x IKEA_Muskot_24cm_Petal.STL
- 1x IKEA_Muskot_24cm_Petal_Plain.STL
- 2x IKEA_Muskot_24cm_Petal_w_Hole.STL
- 3x LED_Holder_Arm.STL
- 3x LED_Holder_Attachment.STL
- 3x LED_Holder_Tip.STL
- 1x Lid_Without_Holes.STL
- 1x Module_Spacer_40mm.STL (it goes at the bottom of the tower to provide enough clearance to open the watering and pump caps).
- 1x Pump_Cap.STL
- 1x Pump_Cap_Symbol.STL
- 4x Standard_Pot_02_For_4-5-Way_Planting_Module.STL
Modular Hydroponics Tower w/ Grow Lights
by Proton Fabric · original on Printables ↗
Household / Outdoor & Garden
♥ 572⬇ 3.3k🖨 9 prints
Print profiles
Filtration_Mesh_Holder_02.stlDEFAULT
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Lid_Without_Holes.stl
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Pump_Cap_Symbol.stl
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IKEA_Muskot_24cm_Petal_Plain.stl
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LED_Holder_Tip.stl
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IKEA_Muskot_24cm_Petal.stl
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Filling_Cap.stl
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Filtration_Mesh_Holder_01.stl
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LED_Holder_Arm.stl
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IKEA_Muskot_24cm_Petal_w_Hole.stl
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Pump_Cap.stl
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Stream_Breaker.stl
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Standard_Pot_02_For_4-5-Way_Planting_Module.stl
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Filling_Cap_Symbol.stl
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Module_Spacer_40mm.stl
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4-Way_Planting_Module_Hollow_Twist.stl
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LED_Holder_Attachment.stl
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Dispenser_Module_Internal.stl
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