Best way to drain an Aero setup??

Hi y'all!!

Hope all is good.

I REALLY want to start my grow using aeroponics, BUT..........

How the heck would you;

Change and clean the res?, Check pH? and the list goes on.

This is the only thing keeping me from switching to aero!!!!

Can some of you show me how??

Can I just install something an inch or two from the bottom of the reservoir that can let me drain the water??

Or mabye, Can i just house my reservoir somewhere else??


Please help me guys.

This is my first grow and I use Aeroponics. I have a Aerogarden and the Microgarden, the aerogarden is simple to change the water its only a 1gallon reservoir. But the Microgarden holds about 10 gallons,this is the method that i use. It takes 2 people but it gets the job done with a speedy time limit. One person lifts the top, where the pots and plants are held. The other pulls the reservoir from under the bottom, quickly replacing the space with 2 five gallon buckets. Place 1 five gallon bucket on one side and one on the other. You should be able to clean the pump and hoeses with very little problem at all. I hope this helps...

If you look at the images you can see the different hose adapters I use.

Just attach a garden hose to the unit and run the other end to your bathtub. Turn on the pump and drain the reservoir. After your done attach the hose to your sink adapter and fill the res back up.

To check PPM and PH you just stick the meter in the reservoir. With the containers I open the valve while the pump is running and fill a small glass. Then I use that water to test. I need a remote meter system!

Use the lucas formula wich requires you to use a ph and ppm meter and hid lighting, there are no water changes, just keep the res topped up and at 1300 @7 with ro water and the res stays around 5.2 to 5.8 ph and the plants grow great. It is the easiest thing, easier than soil imo. I just left mine for 10 days and came back to everything perfect. Switch, you will love yourself for it...

StinkBud said:

If you look at the images you can see the different hose adapters I use.

Just attach a garden hose to the unit and run the other end to your bathtub. Turn on the pump and drain the reservoir. After your done attach the hose to your sink adapter and fill the res back up.

To check PPM and PH you just stick the meter in the reservoir. With the containers I open the valve while the pump is running and fill a small glass. Then I use that water to test. I need a remote meter system!

Click to expand...

You know using advanced nutrients line i wasnt able to use my tap water.. i tested it and it only read 235ppm ... BUt it made my plants go purple.. or was that me adding nutes to the babies?... man there is so much to learn in this...

I will be doing the 6 inch pvc aeroponics deal very similar to your setup next... and the hose attachment would seems the best. I have a hose atachment on the bottom of my rez and it works ok...

check this out blood, get urself a mag drive pump that you can use inline and sum length of hose, and a 5gal bucket... to empty it, stick the induction line into the rez and pump all the water out in like ten seconds. to fill it, put the induction line into the bucket and the output line into the rez, you could pump five gallons in notime...

You could also pop out to the local Walmart or Target or something and pick up a waterbed pump. It'll drain and fill any hydro equipment for cheap. Only drawback is it uses water to pump the water.

Simple, no moving parts, nothing to break down.

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I am also using a 10 gallon aeroponic setup. Will post pictures later. I purchased a small battery operated submersible pump to drain it quickly.

Liquid Transfer Pump

To clean I will flush with fresh water a couple times and pump it out. This will prep for the next round of nutes...

-hexzero

earl couldn't have said it any better

Okay... so I have the mini closet solution. Earl does have a beautiful build. The inline setup is definitely going to work better.