While im on a roll in that last rant I don't think I sung the praises of this system quite enough.i was put on to this by a friend who swears by it and ive seen his results...
It is easily set up with everyday items and is completely reusable. 8 15L buckets, 1 45L tub, retic hose fittings, an aquarium water pump and air pump with airstones.
Simply drill out the bottom of 4 buckets so that water will drain freely and roots will not excessively block them up, in the other 4 buckets fit 19mm retic fittings at the lowest possible point so as no water collects in the pot with rubber grommets or silicone (my grommets always leak!). This will be your drain to feed back to the reservoir.
Now sit the buckets with all the holes in it in the other, attach 19mm retic hose to the fitting in the bottom run that to your 45L reservoir.
Take your aquarium water pump attach 12mm retic hose to that, split it to your separate pots then feed 12mm hose in a circle and insert retic spikes (take time to get this right an even water distribution is the key to this system).
I cut the lids out of the buckets to cover my medium and trickle lines to minimise evaporation, discourage mould and fungi and to encourage root growth in the dark conditions.
Fill top pots with hydroton (expanded clay), fill reservoir with nutrient solution and away you GO!
The hydroton can even be reused on consecutive grows simply soak in peroxide or enzymes!