aero setup qustions

[guentheratl]

Hi, everyone I'm making the jump from hydro over to aero I have a few simple questions I want to ask people who have knowledgable in aero. I have a flood tray I want to convert to a aero system. Its a 4x4 table and only 7 inches high. I'm thinking of putting a lid on it and drill some holes for net pots to do sog. My question is, should I position the sprayers to spray from the top downwards? I was thinking maybe roots will get caught in the sprayers or something if I sprayed upwards. This way it will never get clogged with roots. However, I dont think it will disperse the nutrient solution as good as it will if I sprayed the solution upwards. What do you guys think? Also, what are good sprayers that are really reliable when it comes to not clogging? Any help appreciated. Thanks.

 

[jamesvagabond]

I would definitely build the lid to be at leave 2 feet higher than the bottom of the reservoir and use a root trellis, otherwise the roots would easily block the sprayers, leaving dead zones. If you are doing a true atomization of the nutes then it will saturate the chamber with a lingering mist. 40-80microns seems to be the standard for droplet size, too little or too big and the roots will not effectively get the nutrients. Fog is too dry, 100 micron plus is too wet, leading to nutrients collecting and dripping off the roots, potentiating root rot and wasted nutrients. I hope that helps.

How many sprayers are you planning on using, what kind, etc? If you are using more than one (not necessary for hp air-assisted aero, or hp hydraulic) and its more of a low-pressure system, than I would recommend evenly spacing them on the sides, opposite each other, same thing with more sprayers, just different faces of the chamber. But with high pressure, the whole chamber will fill up with mist, I would position it the furthest possible distance from the roots so it spreads, and go with a wide angle round sprayer.

 

[jamesvagabond]

check out aero-junkie's page on hpaaa... some crazy abbreviation. He breaks down the main setup requirements and has a beautiful setup. Also Trichybastard and any info from Atomizer, Petflora, Aerowizard, etc. It really is a wonderful thing that these forums exist. There's an inherent risk in them, but damn it's worth it with the amount of knowledge generously shared.

 

[pmedicate]

I would definitely build the lid to be at leave 2 feet higher than the bottom of the reservoir and use a root trellis, otherwise the roots would easily block the sprayers, leaving dead zones. If you are doing a true atomization of the nutes then it will saturate the chamber with a lingering mist. 40-80microns seems to be the standard for droplet size, too little or too big and the roots will not effectively get the nutrients. Fog is too dry, 100 micron plus is too wet, leading to nutrients collecting and dripping off the roots, potentiating root rot and wasted nutrients. I hope that helps.

How many sprayers are you planning on using, what kind, etc? If you are using more than one (not necessary for hp air-assisted aero, or hp hydraulic) and its more of a low-pressure system, than I would recommend evenly spacing them on the sides, opposite each other, same thing with more sprayers, just different faces of the chamber. But with high pressure, the whole chamber will fill up with mist, I would position it the furthest possible distance from the roots so it spreads, and go with a wide angle round sprayer.

Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking of using 16 sprayers for a 4x4 area. My setup would be considered a low pressure aero. The height is already set at 7" because of height issues. However theres 2 levels, a table that holds the plants and a res sitting under it. It will spray and drain back into the res. Do you know what sprayers are good? I want ones with big orfices or something which are harder to clog, at least what I've came up with while researching suggested that. As long as I clean them between grows I should be fine. Right now my 2 main concerns are what sprayers/nozzles to use that are hard to clog and if I should have the sprayers spraying upwards to the roots or downwards to the roots.

 

[jamesvagabond]

I am not sure about LP, I think Atomizer and Petflora are your guys for that one. But if you are looking for something simple check out biocontrols sprayers. They are plastic and come 2 for 10 bucks. Can always have spares in case anything clogs or fails. The orifice size will play into the droplet size. What size droplet are you going for? I can't recite verbatum all the stuff the aero greats have documented but after a certain size droplet range say over 150u, you start to see counterproductive effects like drenching and root rot.

Check out biocontrols and make a best friend out of there sales reps, ask every question possible. They have been around for a while and if you are okay with plastic it is a reliable cheap nozzle from what I have read. I have no experience with them whatsoever and personally wouldn't use plastic, or LP but different strokes. I definitely respect plastic and lp's costs! In the end, good results are good results, and medicine is medicine, anything else is frills and vanity.

 

[pmedicate]

I would definitely build the lid to be at leave 2 feet higher than the bottom of the reservoir and use a root trellis, otherwise the roots would easily block the sprayers, leaving dead zones. If you are doing a true atomization of the nutes then it will saturate the chamber with a lingering mist. 40-80microns seems to be the standard for droplet size, too little or too big and the roots will not effectively get the nutrients. Fog is too dry, 100 micron plus is too wet, leading to nutrients collecting and dripping off the roots, potentiating root rot and wasted nutrients. I hope that helps.

How many sprayers are you planning on using, what kind, etc? If you are using more than one (not necessary for hp air-assisted aero, or hp hydraulic) and its more of a low-pressure system, than I would recommend evenly spacing them on the sides, opposite each other, same thing with more sprayers, just different faces of the chamber. But with high pressure, the whole chamber will fill up with mist, I would position it the furthest possible distance from the roots so it spreads, and go with a wide angle round sprayer.

I am not sure about LP, I think Atomizer and Petflora are your guys for that one. But if you are looking for something simple check out biocontrols sprayers. They are plastic and come 2 for 10 bucks. Can always have spares in case anything clogs or fails. The orifice size will play into the droplet size. What size droplet are you going for? I can't recite verbatum all the stuff the aero greats have documented but after a certain size droplet range say over 150u, you start to see counterproductive effects like drenching and root rot.

Check out biocontrols and make a best friend out of there sales reps, ask every question possible. They have been around for a while and if you are okay with plastic it is a reliable cheap nozzle from what I have read. I have no experience with them whatsoever and personally wouldn't use plastic, or LP but different strokes. I definitely respect plastic and lp's costs! In the end, good results are good results, and medicine is medicine, anything else is frills and vanity.

Thank you very much for your time! I'm not sure what droplet size I want, but around 50 to 80 microns is what people recommend? I'm not exactly sure yet. Its only for flower, what micron nozzles should I get? I'm going with plastic ones because they are cheap to replace and reliable as well. I will be looking into biocontrols for sure. 2 for 10 bucks is decent as long as they don't clog easily its worth it.

 

[pmedicate]

What do you think about drilling holes in the pvc manifold instead of using nozzles? That would make it hydroponics but it will never clog now.

 

[jamesvagabond]

What do you think about drilling holes in the pvc manifold instead of using nozzles? That would make it hydroponics but it will never clog now.

I think you will still find clogging, especially if you think it is impossible ha. Also it would be like aiming a bunch of squirt guns at the roots.

Agrihouse is a company run by Richard Stoner, father of aero. May find what you need there. It'll involve more control equipment to get the droplet size you want. This is why aero is bittersweet, half-assed then it may as well be dwc, full on, likely going to run into some diagnostic issues. BUT eventually if attention is paid (along with a few grand) and trial and error works for you, you'll have an epic system.

Could check out the stink bud system if you are looking for simple and effective.

 

[oxanaca]

i take it your not looking to spend 300+hours researching and 700 dollars on equipment right. your just looking for simple pond pump aeroponic acttion, unlike me and mr jamesvagabond right?
if thats the case just get some of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-EZ-CLONE-SPRAYERS-360-DEGREE-MISTER-AEROPONIC-NOZZLE-HYDROPONIC-CLONING-/130802848329?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e74751249
and a pond pump something like this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1000-GPH-Submersible-Water-Pump-Aquarium-KOI-Pond-Fountain-Sump-Water-Fall-NEW-/290701884619?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43af2ebccb
and just build a manifold out of 1/2 inch pvc, biocontol nozzles are 5 dollars a piece and have a tini tiny little orfice 0.016 or 0.025 inches across. and require >or= 80psi
the particle size of lp aero is irrelevant as you are saturating your roots

Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking of using 16 sprayers for a 4x4 area. My setup would be considered a low pressure aero. The height is already set at 7" because of height issues. However theres 2 levels, a table that holds the plants and a res sitting under it. It will spray and drain back into the res. Do you know what sprayers are good? I want ones with big orfices or something which are harder to clog, at least what I've came up with while researching suggested that. As long as I clean them between grows I should be fine. Right now my 2 main concerns are what sprayers/nozzles to use that are hard to clog and if I should have the sprayers spraying upwards to the roots or downwards to the roots.

 

[guentheratl]

i take it your not looking to spend 300+hours researching and 700 dollars on equipment right. your just looking for simple pond pump aeroponic acttion, unlike me and mr jamesvagabond right?
if thats the case just get some of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-EZ-CLONE-SPRAYERS-360-DEGREE-MISTER-AEROPONIC-NOZZLE-HYDROPONIC-CLONING-/130802848329?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e74751249
and a pond pump something like this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1000-GPH-Submersible-Water-Pump-Aquarium-KOI-Pond-Fountain-Sump-Water-Fall-NEW-/290701884619?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43af2ebccb
and just build a manifold out of 1/2 inch pvc, biocontol nozzles are 5 dollars a piece and have a tini tiny little orfice 0.016 or 0.025 inches across. and require >or= 80psi
the particle size of lp aero is irrelevant as you are saturating your roots

I have no idea what you and your buddy mr jamesvagabond are doing but I dont need to spend 300+ hours of reading, it took me all of 10 minutes to figure out that high pressure aero is not for me for obvious reasons like noise! 700 is nothing I spend that on nutes alone. To me high pressure aero isn't that much better or rewarding. I'm looking for easy, low maintenance system. I'd rather saturate my roots, less maintenance, less noise, almost same results, good enough for me. I was just wondering if the sprayers would be better if sprayed from above or from under and was worried about sprayers clogging from salt buildup. I have since decided not to run aero and am going back to rdwc. Uses a lot more nutrients but all I need is a water pump.