Did you know you can make a DIY air diffuser for your hydroponic tank with a garden soaker hose?

If you’re the type of person that likes to do things yourself rather than spend extra money on pre-made products, you’ve come to the right place.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the steps and materials needed to help you make your own air diffuser and get your hydroponic tank’s water up to speed so your plants can thrive.

If you want to jump right to the instructions and get started, click here.

Why Air is Important in a Hydroponic Tank?

Most people know that plants need sunlight and water to grow, but many don’t realize that air is also an essential component of healthy plants.

Just as our own bodies need oxygen to function, so do plants. Air diffusers help to ensure that oxygen is evenly distributed throughout a hydroponic tank, which is essential for preventing stagnant water and promoting healthy plant growth.

In addition, air diffusers can also help to circulate nutrients and prevent the build-up of algae. As a result, they play a vital role in keeping a hydroponic healthy and thriving.

Oxygenated water is an essential component of a healthy hydroponic garden, and a good air diffuser will play a vital role in the health of the plants and animals that rely on them.

Can You Diffuse Air in Water with a Submerged Soaker Hose?

One type of hydroponic aeration diffuses air through a porous membrane. This is accomplished with an air pump, which forces air through a hose with a porous membrane, which then diffuses the air into the water into which it’s submerged.

That’s where the soaker hose comes in!

So, Yes. The pores in the membrane of a soaker hose allow for a much higher rate of air diffusion than would be possible with just air bubbles alone.

What Kind of Soaker Hose Works Best for Aeration?

This may be the most important part of the project because the type of soaker hose you purchase matters.

There are essentially two varieties of soaker hoses. There are those with fittings that are made of thin rubber that are flat when empty.

And there are soaker hoses that have thicker walls that maintain their tubular structure when empty. This is the kind you want for hydroponic aeration.

A Step By Step Guide to Make an Air Diffuser With a Soaker Hose

A soaker hose air diffuser is a great way to aerate your hydroponic tank and keep the water fresh and oxygenated.

Material List for Soaker Hose Air Diffuser

Here’s what you’ll need for the project with links included.

1. 1//4″ Soaker hose
2. Air pump
3. 3/8″ X 1.5″ Flat Washers
4. 1/4″ polyethylene drip tubing
5. 1/4″ drip irrigation barbed T’s

Optional:

• 5/16″ lock washers – for additional weight and to keep the larger washers in place
• Additional drip irrigation couplings (straight, square, x-shape) to create the shape you need in your hydroponic system. Here’s a variety pack that could be useful.

Now Let’s Get Started!

• Step 1: Assemble your air pump
• Step 2: Connect your 1/4″ polyethylene drip tubing to one of the 4 air outlets of the pump
• Step 3: Determine what kind of configuration you’d like your soaker hose tubing to take based on the shape of your tank. Cut the tubing as needed
• Step 4: Thread your soaker hose through several washers so that the washers are spaced about 1 foot apart. This should adequately weigh the tubing down so it rests at the bottom of your tank. Add additional washers if needed.
• Step 5: Use your drip couplings, to connect your soaker hose tubing to your drip irrigation tubing. Also, use the drip couplings to make the desired shape you want your soaker hose to maintain.
• Step 6: Submerge your soaker hose in your tank. Make sure it is fully submerged as sir will leak from it if not. The drip tubing should be the only tubing exposed to air.
• Step 7: Turn on your air pump and observe

That should dot it! You now know how to make a hydroponic tank air diffuser with a soaker hose. You should see tiny bubbles rising up from your soaker hose at the bottom of your pond after turning the air pump on.

If your soaker hose starts to float, you can disassemble and add more washers. If one section of your soaker hose is rising and not the other, try adding some lock washers to keep the larger washers in place.

A Useful Video on Turning a Soaker Hose into an Air Diffuser

Conclusion

A soaker hose air diffuser is a great way to aerate your hydroponic tank and keep the water fresh and oxygenated. It is also an inexpensive and relatively easy project to complete. With just a few supplies, you can make your own soaker hose air diffuser.

This project is easy enough for anyone to do, and it’s a great way to maintain healthy water in your hydroponic tank that your plants can thrive in. So why not give it a try? You may be surprised at how easy it is, and how much you enjoy it.