A hydroponic system is rarely a single appliance. It’s a frame or a grow tent, a reservoir, pumps, trays and lights, and almost all of the weight is in the water rather than the hardware. Drained and taken apart, even a large setup moves easily. Full and assembled, it doesn’t move safely at all.
Drain everything
Switch the pumps off first, so they aren’t running dry while the water goes.
Empty the reservoir and the trays. A reservoir of a few dozen gallons weighs hundreds of pounds full. Pump or siphon it into a drain, a little at a time.
Flush the lines. Pumps, tubing and drip lines hold water long after the reservoir is empty. Lift the tubing to let it run back, and leave everything to dry for a day.
Nutrient solution can stain carpet and wood. Put an old towel or a plastic sheet under the reservoir before you start draining, and keep a bucket within reach.
Take it apart
Break the setup down into the parts it was built from:
- Plants and growing media out and bagged.
- Lights and ballasts unplugged and taken down off their hangers.
- Pumps, timers and tubing gathered into one box.
- Trays and the reservoir stacked.
- The frame or tent taken apart and its poles bundled.
Every appliance needs to be disconnected before pickup, including electrical, gas, and plumbing connections. For a grow setup that means everything unplugged and nothing still connected to a water supply or a drain.
Tell the booking how big it is
A countertop herb garden and a tent with four lights and a 50 gallon reservoir are very different pickups. Mention the size, the number of lights and where it’s set up, especially a basement, a garage or an upstairs room, so the pickup is planned for all of it.
Hydroponic checklist
- Pumps switched off
- Reservoir and trays drained
- Lines flushed and left to dry
- Plants and media bagged
- Lights, pumps and timers unplugged and boxed
- Frame or tent taken apart
- Size and location noted when booking
A hydroponic system starts at $90 on its own, or adds $35 to a pickup that’s already happening.
