Pumps & Irrigation Supplies

Pumps and Irrigation Supplies for Your Hydroponic System

Hydroponic systems need an efficient way to move water. Pumps and irrigation systems function to achieve this goal and consist of many parts. Growers need to understand the different components in order to get the system that best meets their needs. What should one be looking for when purchasing a system of this type? Which manufacturers provide products for this purpose?

Pumps

Every hydroponic system needs a pump to move water from the reservoir throughout the system. This water contains the nutrients needed by the plants to grow and thrive. The pump serves to oxygenate the water while also hindering algae growth within the reservoir. 

Anyone who has owned an aquarium will be familiar with how this component works as the pump serves the same function in a hydroponic system. The water must circulate to make certain it remains clean and fresh for use by the plants and animals in the system. 

One concern with any pump is a blockage. Any blockage will have a negative impact on the plants and the entire system. For this reason, the pump must be routinely inspected and repaired or replaced when needed. 

Additional Components

Additional components are needed to ensure the irrigation system remains up and running at all times. For example, tubing helps to move the water from the reservoir throughout the system with the aid of the pump. High-quality tubing is needed to ensure problems don’t arise that could negatively impact the system and lead to problems. However, this is only one of many components found in a hydroponic irrigation system.

Every system will need either a sprayer, emitter, or dripper, as this is what delivers the food from the tubing to the plants. Home growers typically choose a recirculating drip system, as it reuses or cycles the nutrient solution back to the reservoir once it has been delivered to the plants. The used nutrient solution is recovered to be recirculated once again. 

In contrast, commercial growers typically rely on non-recirculating or non-recovery drip systems. With the help of a cycle timer, the grower adjusts the water time as needed with the goal being to provide just enough water to wet the plants. This minimizes runoff and reduces the need for maintenance of the system. 

Stoppers, fittings, and connectors work to bring all tubing and hoses together into one cohesive unit while preventing water from reaching those areas where it is not needed. Regulators and valves also work to ensure water reaches the correct places. In the event a section of the system no longer requires watering, the grower can then shut off a valve and continue watering other parts of the system. 

One problem a grower may encounter in his or her hydroponic system is impurities in the water. Fortunately, seals, screens, and grommets designed for hydroponic systems eliminate this concern. They work to filter out the impurities while also preventing leaks. This ensures a tight system that operates as intended. 

Dosatron

Dosatron remains an industry leader thanks to its low-maintenance, easy-to-use, and durable products. Chemical applications for customers are managed through repeatability with no concern about fluctuations in the flow or pressure. In the event help is needed, clients know they can count on the customer service team to assist them in resolving the issue as quickly as possible. 

The company originally invented the water-powered dosing pump and has been sharing this technology with consumers since 1974. Today, chemical injectors made by this manufacturer are sold in more than 100 countries across the globe. 

Leader

DAB Pumps produces the Leader brand of hydroponic supplies. Among the largest manufacturers of water pump brands across the globe, DAB Pump was founded in Padova, Italy in 1975. Today, the company is recognized the world over as one of the leaders of the industry. Research and developmental activity continue to take place in Bientina, Italy to ensure the company continues to provide consumers with the best solutions in the constantly changing market. 

DAB Pumps

In addition to Leader pumps, DAB produces a number of brands suitable for hydroponic use. In the United States, the company’s subsidiary has been in operation for more than 12 years and continues to maintain its headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina. The company provides clients with well-known brands such as DAB, Tesla, and Leader, among others. 

Professional pump distributors, as well as OEM distributors, turn to DAB Pumps for assistance, thanks to the company’s local and international experience. All pump needs are handled with ease, and customers know they are getting high-quality, reliable products. 

The company has been serving clients in the water technology sectors for more than four decades and is known the world over as an industry leader. In 2009, the company opted to form the DAB Water Technology Group. Today, the company produces more than two million motor-driven water pumps yearly to ensure clients have the products they require for a variety of applications. 

Hydro Flow

Based in Redmond, Washington, HydroFlow USA remains the sole distributor of the HydroFlow water conditioners powered by the company’s Hydropath technology. These products have been offered for more than two decades and officially became available in the United States in 2010. 

This company is known for inventing a process that treats fluids in a unique way. Using a +/- 150kHz signal, this process prevents biofilm and scale from accumulating while gradually removing any deposits that are present. The technology minimizes water, chemical, energy, and maintenance costs. Furthermore, it extends the lifespan of the pipes and equipment. 

Agron offers a wide range of products suitable for use in hydroponic systems. Be sure to browse the site to see the many products that may be of assistance to you. Whether you are in need of a pump or irrigation supplies, chillers, heaters, or purification systems, we have the product you require. The same is true for those looking to buy water treatment or aeration products. We are here to answer any questions you may have so don’t hesitate to ask. We want you to have all you need to make your hydroponic system a success. 

Irrigation Tools and Equipment: Vital Components in the Gardening Process

Hydroponics is among the fastest-growing fields of agriculture at present. Growers across the globe are adopting this technique and incorporating it into at least a portion of their operations. Some only use the process for herbs and leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach whereas others grow a full range of crops via hydroponics.

Exploring the Scope of the Hydroponics Arena

As the world’s demand for produce continues to surge and the availability of farmland declines in proportion, experts predict soilless growing to continue along its current upward trend. In fact, the global hydroponics market is forecast to top $27 billion during the coming year. This practice is also expected to be a key player in helping to eliminate pending food shortages.

At Agron, we’re committed to helping growers reap optimum benefits from hydroponic gardening. We carry all the equipment and supplies needed to set up and maintain soilless growing facilities. As such, growers of every experience level are able to come to us with all their hydroponics needs.

A Brief Overview of the Advantages of Hydroponics

Ample benefits can come from using hydroponics to grow fruits, vegetables, flowers and other types of plants. Since no soil is needed, plants can be grown virtually anywhere. Growers have greater control over every aspect of the process than with traditional farming, so they’re able to deliver more precise amounts of nutrients to their crops. This often leads to healthier plants, higher yields and a wide range of other advantages.

Since hydroponic gardening is typically conducted indoors, pest infestations and soil-based pathogens are less of a threat than in outdoor gardens. Crops can also be grown all year long because heat, light and other factors are provided through artificial means. When compared to conventional farming, up to ten times less water is needed for healthy plant growth and maximum yields as well.

Factoring Irrigation into the Equation

While hydroponics requires a great deal less water than traditional growing methods, irrigation is still a major component. Nutrients are delivered through water rather than soil, and irrigation must be done in a manner that allows roots to receive adequate amounts of oxygen. 

Several types of hydroponics systems are currently in use. Each one uses different techniques to supply roots with just the right blend of water, nutrients and oxygen.

• Raft: As the name indicates, this type of system entails placing plants in a floating platform. Their roots are allowed to hang into nutrient-rich water fed in by irrigation equipment. Oxygen is provided using a pump.
  
  
• Air Gap: With air-gap irrigation, roots are partially submerged in a mixture of water and nutrients. They glean oxygen from a pocket of air above the water level.
  
  
• Wick: In the wick technique, plants are placed in a growing medium equipped with an absorbent wick. This wick leads to an irrigation trough and draws water and nutrients up to the plants’ roots. Oxygen is taken in as it circulates through the growth medium.
  
  
• Top Feeder: As is the case with a wick system, top feeding entails placing plants in a container filled with growing medium. Irrigation equipment pumps water and nutrients through the medium. From there, the solution drains back into a holding tank beneath the container holding the plants.
  
  
• Ebb and Flow: Plants rest in a growth medium when using the ebb-and-flow irrigation technique as well. Containers holding the plants and growth medium are positioned above water reservoirs. The water level in the reservoirs is periodically forced to rise to the level of the plants’ roots. Then, it’s lowered so excess moisture can drain away from the roots.
  
  
• Nutrient Film: In this type of hydroponics system, plants are suspended on a slightly tilted surface above troughs filled with water and nutrients. Upper portions of the plants’ roots are exposed to oxygen while nutrient-infused water is pumped through the lower portions of the roots. This solution drains back into the troughs from the lower ends of the plants’ platforms.
  
  
• Aeroponics: Plants’ roots are suspended in air when using this type of growing system. They draw in oxygen as needed, and nutrient-rich water is either pumped through or misted onto the roots on a regular basis. 

With all these hydroponics systems, excess water and nutrients not absorbed through plants’ roots are returned to reservoirs for future use. Plants receive the water, vitamins and minerals they need, but since these resources are reused instead of filtering through soil and flowing away, less water is needed to achieve desired results.