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This post is for newbies. All experts, feel free to set the record straight for their (an my) benefit. I started with a couple Aerogardens where I learned a few basics - and then a ton of youtube videos before starting out. Still consider myself a novice, but a fellow redditor asked that I share my basic set up, so here goes.

I have a couple steel shelving racks 18 inches deep by 36 inches wide. Two bins fit each shelf with little wasted light. Three grow shelves and a top shelf for the airpump and power supply (where they'll never get wet). My grow area is in the basement where it is about 68 to 70 degrees. This is my first winter with this set up, so I'll be watching what happens in Jan-Feb (here in PA).

Each shelf has 2 20 by 15 by 7 inch restaurant dish bins as pictured. They hold 5 gallons of nutrient/water to start so the water just touches the bottom of the 2 inch net cups when putting in seedlings. Each bin has 12 grow holes and one smaller hole for the water indicator (a piece of styrofoam with a red line on it). The mark is to keep them topped up at about 4 gallons. I travel quite a bit so I needed something so simple a total novice could add premixed nutrient solution while I am gone. I use EcoPlus 8 port air pumps with 2 inch airstone, one in each bin. Bins with matching lids are from the Webstaurant store. Each dish unit costs about $25 including bin, air pump, airstone, tubing, net cups and of course the all important pool noodle slice. Not including the shelving. I found a complete mini unit (2.5 gallons and 11 tiny holes) on the web for about the same price which I am testing. That comes with an airpump, netcups, airstones and grow sponges so I will probably be recommending it to people who want to dip their toes into hydroponics and don't have/want-to use power tools.

The lights are self-made so that may not be much help. We use LED light strips https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FDF5ZHD?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share, 16 strips, on an aluminum sheet (glued to paneling for stability) with a 12-volt power supply. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LATMSGS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share. The light boards are approximately 17 inches by 35 inches so they fit snugly into the crevice on the underside of the upper shelf. My sweetheart wanted to learn/practice his electrical skills, so that's what we're doing for now. The lights cost $81 for now with the LED strips being the most expensive part. We use some bungie cords to move the lights up and down in the shelf so I can start with about 3 inch clearance for seedlings up to a total grow height of 14 inches. Since the lights take a lot of work to build, I am studying other off-the-shelf alternatives. Totally a complete novice here.

On these shelves I grow arugula, brocculi raab, parsely, basil, spinach, kale, pak choy, chard, tatsoi and have just started attempts at red-veined sorrel and chicory. Some get too crowded at full growth, so not all 12 holes amy be in use at all times. I cover the holes when not in use so no algae grows and no plant bits fall into the bin.

I use General Hydroponics Flora series at the "mild vegetation" strength (1 tsp each of Floragrow, florabloom, floramicro per gallon). Of course, tiny seedlings are at half-strength till they have about 6 leaves. I use tap water (municipal). So far, only change the water and scrub/sanitize the bins between crops. About every 2 months.

I have started another shelf unit for cucumbers and peppers, but I am not far along in results enough that is worth sharing. That shelf has a 34-inch grow height and 2 Home Depot 12-gallon totes. Testing an Aputure Amaran AL-528W Daylight LED Flood Light , expensive but I can't expand until my sweetheart wants to devote the time to make more LED strip lights.

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Hope this helps.

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