Adaptable hydroponic irrigation system

A hydroponic irrigation system for use providing a nutrient solution to at least one fluid-tight growing bed containing a growing medium, the irrigation system comprising:

• a nutrient tank for containing the nutrient solution;
• a liquid transport unit for each of the at least one growing beds, said liquid transport unit having,
• a liquid tube terminating at a tube first end and a tube second end,
• a pump located in said nutrient tank and attached to said tube first end, said pump acting to supply nutrient solution through said tube in a supply direction from said tube first end to said tube second end when energized in a supply mode of operation, and allowing return of nutrient solution in a return direction from said tube second end to said tube first end when operating in a return mode,
• wherein said pump is a bi-directional pump that can be selectively energized in either the supply mode of operation or in the return mode of operation, and wherein said pump acts to pump nutrient solution in the return direction when energized in the return mode,
• a high-level sensor positioned in the growing bed and configured to generate a high-level signal to said controller when the nutrient solution level in the growing bed reaches a predetermined height, and
• a liquid port attached to said tube second end, said liquid port being configured to be anchored in the growing medium against a bottom of the growing bed;
• and
• a controller for controlling operation of said pump so as to selectively operate said pump in the supply mode to supply nutrient solution from said nutrient tank through said liquid tube into the growing bed until the growing bed is saturated to a desired depth, and thereafter operating said pump in the return mode to drain the nutrient solution from the growing bed back into said nutrient tank,
• said controller acting to switch operation of said pump from the supply mode to the return mode when the high-level signal is received.

A hydroponic irrigation system for use providing a nutrient solution to at least one fluid-tight growing bed containing a growing medium, the irrigation system comprising:

• a nutrient tank for containing the nutrient solution;
• a liquid transport unit for each of the at least one growing beds, said liquid transport unit having,
• a liquid tube terminating at a tube first end and a tube second end,
• a pump attached to said tube and acting to supply nutrient solution through said tube in a supply direction from said tube first end to said tube second end when energized in a supply mode of operation, and allowing return of nutrient solution in a return direction from said tube second end to said tube first end when operating in a return mode,
• wherein said pump is a bi-directional pump that can be selectively energized in either the supply mode of operation or in the return mode of operation, and wherein said pump acts to pump nutrient solution in the return direction when energized in the return mode,
• a high-level sensor positioned in the growing bed and configured to generate a high-level signal to said controller when the nutrient solution level in the growing bed reaches a predetermined height, and
• a liquid port attached to said tube second end, said liquid port being configured to be anchored in the growing medium against a bottom of the growing bed;
• and
• a controller for controlling operation of said pump so as to selectively operate said pump in the supply mode to supply nutrient solution from said nutrient tank through said liquid tube into the growing bed until the growing bed is saturated to a desired depth, and thereafter operating said pump in the return mode to drain the nutrient solution from the growing bed back into said nutrient tank,
• said controller acting to switch operation of said pump from the supply mode to the return mode when the high-level signal is received.