It looks like you are finishing the plants off in 4" drainpipe. So the bulk of the plant growth is from a variation of NFT. Is that right ?
If I read you right the big advantage of true aeroponics is in propagation.

Hey StinkBud.

I built a double bucket design like the one you have.

Here is a pix of it.


I put the spray jets in the top.





Let's see some root porn inside your top tub.
like this.


After you get roots this big
you get tops like this.


96 grams from these two plants, after surviving spider mites.

Your bud shots show a job very well done

.

__________________
hempy bucket grow
Aero Space Shuttle

Earl, how long are those roots ?

The roots filled the 18gl tub
and grew through the drain.

__________________
hempy bucket grow
Aero Space Shuttle

This is actually a 3 week system. 14 plants come from veg to fill two tubes or one set of containers. So the schedule goes like this. 3 weeks propagation, 3 weeks veg, 9 weeks flower. The longer flowering time allows me to run different strains with plenty of time to finish them. I can also clip the top buds first and leave the smaller buds to finish off.

Both earl and stink nice setups, I envy you both. Earl: the roots look like they busted the net pot open lol I can't really tell what's going on in that pic besides a massive root ball.

How long do you veg your plants?

The word mites sends shivers up my spine! Once you're into bud your F**ked. I've had to completely shut down for a month to get rid of them. Lost some good strains too. My last nightmare was with gnats believe it our not. I haven't had any pest since I went to hydro...

Gnats like hydro too.

I use sticky traps to fend them off.

__________________
hempy bucket grow
Aero Space Shuttle

I usually veg around 6 weeks.

It depends on the strain.

What I like to do
is get to the 13th node,
before inducing flower,
but sometimes you need to start at 11
because they grow to tall.

I never top a plant, only train it.

.

__________________
hempy bucket grow
Aero Space Shuttle

The reason the plants are falling through the top,
is they were started in another smaller tub,
and when I transferred them to this new tub,
they had pretty big roots,
that I had to keep from getting broken.

So did a butcher job on the lid,
to get them started in the new tub.

Once the roots filled the bottom of the new tub,
they didn't really need the top anymore,
and would support themselves.

.

__________________
hempy bucket grow
Aero Space Shuttle