DIY Aquaponics planters of plastic bottle

 In this video, I show how to make planters for different plants to use in plastic bottle aquariums - aquaponics systems.

 In all examples, I use the same size plastic bottles (2 liter) as for all aquariums.
 Remove all stickers from the bottle if it's necessary.

Look on the bottom of the bottle. 

There are 5 mounds. 

I want to make a hole at the top of each mound. Plastic is very thick on the bottom - it is hard to cut with a knife. 

I found it easier to use a saw. 

Saw off about a couple millimeters of the tip of each mound, making a hole, about 15 millimeters in diameter. 

Use a knife and sandpaper to smooth the edges of the holes. 

Cut off the bottom part of the bottle to a desirable size - I cut off about half of the bottle. 

Use scissors to trim off the edge. 

We have made a planter.

I use this planter in aquaponics. Here is one example of it. The holes on the bottom of the planter allow the roots to grow through and water to go both in and out of the planter. 

This planter can be used as a regular planter placed on a tray - a bottom of a bottle cut without holes. 

Let's make another planter. Remove all stickers from the bottle if it's necessary. 

Use a hot soldering iron to cut a hole in the middle of the bottom part of the bottle.

Make the hole about 2 - 3 cm in diameter.

 Smooth the edge of the hole.

Cut off the bottom part of the bottle to a desirable size.

Use scissors to trim off the edge. 

We have made a planter. 

Roots of some plants may overgrow the hole in the planter, making it difficult to remove the plant from the planter. 

Let's make one more planter.

Cut off the bottom part of the bottle to a desirable size. 

Use scissors to trim off the edge.

Cut one side length-wise from the edge to the bottom of the planter. 

Use a hot soldering iron to cut a hole in the middle of the bottom part of the bottle.

Connect the hole to the cut on the side. 

We have made another planter. 

The cut on the side of the planter allows us to remove a plant with any size roots from the planter.

It is advisable to plan in advance which planter to use with your plant depending on the root system of the plant, your needs, and the decor of the aquarium. 
Have fun and happy aquaponics :)