I have a few friends in Mpls that have worked on similar projects, but they're horizontal. I like the tube design--hand-bent using a heat gun? How to you keep the water under control?

Hey Zakqwy! Yes, hand bent using a heat gun and an old rolling pin. Very stinky. I'll post some pics of the process when I get a chance. 

I have a 5 gallon bucket which I'm going to use as the reservoir and a base for the upright pipe. I've also got a small pump that should circulate the water up to 6ft at slightly more than the desired flow rate, I need to work out a slight regulator. Not sorted that part out yet, but my seeds have started to germinate, so I'll work on it one night this week. Stay tuned.

Hi Jasmine,

I have an idea for your regulator (which i used in an automated irrigation project of mine). Essentially, you would split your water output from the pump. One split goes to your plants, and the other goes through a hose and valve, than back into your water container. This allows you to redirect a certain amount of the output water (by opening/closing the valve), which will affect your other output's flow to the plants. This allows your pump to run at it's rated speed, which is sometimes better than trying to modulate the motor. It's also a much simpler and safer approach than building a motor controller.