What Ever Happened to Fogponics

[Foxworth]

Hi. I've been lurking on this board for a few months and finally decided to post. I'm just about done killing of my second batch of plants I'm grateful for the experience and have learned a lot.... Most of my problems have stemmed from oscillating on grow systems. Thus far bubbleponics has worked the best (and loudest) but I have also tried fogponics. I would like try is again but there seems to be a lack of info out there.
Can anyone point me in the right directions or should I just scrap the whole fog thing and do Bubble or Aero.

 

[atlantadirect]

My understanding of fogponics is that it is just a form of aeroponics. Instead of using spray nozzles hooked up to water pump, like in aeroponics, fogponics uses a fogger device to make the water/nute solution airborn. NUTRAMIST Single Head Fog Module @ FUTUREGARDEN.COM , this is some information I found googling "aeroponic fogger". I'm still learning about this stuff myself, so take anything I've said with a grain of salt.

 

[purplehaze2]

I have a aeroponics in my resevor,it just squirts a fog and nutrients on the root of your plants.and I put a 6inch air stone on the bottom too keep oxegen in the water.I lift my resevor lid and fog comes out like dry ice. my roots are going off.

 

[Blinkstoomuch]

Wow, I've been looking for a thread about ultrasonic foggers all evening. I can't believe more folks don't know about this. I have been using the 6 head nutramist fogger for about 8 months now in conjunction with a homemade aero system. It has small ultrasonic transducers (they're actually tiny metal speakers that vibrate at somewhere in the range of 20Mhz) in the top of the unit that sits in the resivoir and not only mixes the nutrients, but creates the fog. This system is superior to even the best aero misters in my opinion. It allows you to cut back on the amount of not only your nutrients in solution, but the actual amount of water usage is almost halved. The only drawback is you have to be careful to use the correct nutrient solution. One that dissolves fully into the water and leaves no particles more than 2-3 microns in size as to not gum up the transducers. They won't "clog" or stop working, but will not be as effective if not cleaned between grows. Altogether because of the fog being the nutrient carrier the root system grows small single celled hair structures which effectively multiplies the root surface area 10X. they are designed to be run just like an aero system 1-2 mins on, and 4-5 mins off for root dryout and oxygen uptake.

 

[Foxworth]

I was hoping you could describe the aero set-up you use and how you start your plants. I have tried fog a couple of times unsuccessfully and always had problems with leakage. How do you overcome this? Any info is appreciated.
Foxworth

 

[mobby420]

so if i understand correctly you cant aim the fog? it comes out of the side... would 1 of those units cover a 4x4 table full of clones? or would the roots clog around the fogger not letting fog get to the rest of the table?

 

[Al B. Fuct]

I've tried some piezoelectric foggers in an aero setup. Found that the piezo diaphragms tend to crust up with nute salts after a few weeks. I cleaned them with a toothbrush from time to time, but nute salts and the acidity of nute solutions were their eventual undoing. I went back to creating my aero mist with bubble curtains driven by air pumps.

 

[Blinkstoomuch]

Foxworth, first off I start my cuttings in an american agritech 70 site power cloner. I usually end up with at least 80% quality germ. My setup consists of six 6" pvc tubes in a flat plane with a 1/4" drop on one side for drainage. The 3" net pots are suspended in holes cut into the tube about 10" apart on center. Inside the 6" tubes I placed a smaller 1 1/2" pvc pipe in which I drilled very small 3/32" holes that are spaced in between the net pots. When the pump in the resivoir turns on the nutrient mix just sprays upward and is deflected in every direction by the top of the inside of the pvc tube. This allows the system to not rely solely on the fogger, which is not reccomended for a complete grow(especially when flowering starts and you use a more concentrated solution). In my fogger I run a solution that is only about half as strong as in the pump resivoir. It is mainly used to deliver oxygen and micronutrients. The Fog Tube is connected at the higher end of the 6" pvc as to not allow drainage into the fogger basin. My tube system is about 6 1/2' long and it takes about 1 1/2 minutes for the 6 head fogger to fully envelop all six tubes. So the fogger runs like 2 mins on and 5 mins off. At every third interval the nutrient pump turns on for about 1 minute. As for the leakage problem I don't really know what to tell you. I dont want to be an ass, but that sounds like a plumbing problem. I guess make sure all of your connections are air tight, because the internal tube pressure is what will push all the fog out instead of allowing it to reach your ladies root zones.
Mobby420, Just in case I havent allready answered your ?'s Here is the link to the manufacturer (Nutramist Fogger for Hydroponics and Aeroponics by FUTUREGARDEN)
I am positive that the 6 head version would more than cover your needs for a 4x4 table setup. Like I told Foxworth just make sure there is no leakage in the table. As for the roots clogging my fogger it is connected to the high side of my grow tubes. The flow of the nutrient drainage back into its resivoir directs the roots away from where the fog enters the system. I hope I've answered atleast some of ya'lls ?'s. I am waiting for my current crop to finish and the I am going to start a Journal with pics and stuff.

 

[Earl]

I would really like to see some pictures
from you guys that are growing with the fogger.

I tried it, spent quite a sum of $ on it,
and found multiple problems with it.

Here is an account from a grower who really gave it a valiant effort.
Nutramist: why not to buy one for growing. - Cannabis Culture Forums

I have never seen a completed grow using this method,
I would love to see a grower show his finished budz.
I do not believe any exist.

You might be able to grow lettuce with this method,
but it would still be low yield system.

 

[Earl]

P.S.
I grow aero, and this is what I get.

 

[Blinkstoomuch]

Nice Bud Earl! I currently have a fogger incorperated into my aero system. I am planning a Journal complete with photo gallery on my next grow. I will be sure to keep ya'll up to date.

 

[Earl]

Cool Blinks..

I hope you can show some pictures of how you incorporate the fog.

My system was originally designed for the ceramic misters,
but I could not get it to work.

I hope you can show me how.
Be sure and pm me a link when you get it going.

.

 

[Earl]

Here is one of the problems.

The 6 inch tubes get so full of roots
that the fog cannot move through the tube
to the roots further on down the tube.

I would have to have foggers on both ends
and inject it somehow in the middle,
and then have airflow out,
so the fog would move in.

Some guys have tried the $15 ea. misters,
which requires a high pressure pump,
and stronger plumbing.

They grow some very pretty roots,
but their budz are not any bigger than mine.
In fact I have never seen a finished grow.

I have seen pictures of roots,
but not budz.

Somehow, they always have a problem,
and then disappear.

I like my 55¢ spray jets,
and my $80 mag drive pump.

Here is my result.

.

 

[forgewithinfire]

The point of using the ultrasonic is to create a root system that is MUCH smaller than traditional aeroponics. Your system uses misters to spray oxygenated water onto the cups and roots. The fogger, due to the incredible nutrient uptake, would make a much smaller root mass with only some longer roots reaching for water. It is still worth the experiment as a result.

One other issue is uniform distribution of the mist itself. In a tube system there will always be a discrepancy in which plants receive what level of mist. This isn't water we are talking about, piping it to each plant evenly is almost impossible due to the fluid-dynamics of the fog itself. That is why the NutraMist Gardens are modified ebb and flow tables. Instead of relying on a steady stream of fog to hit each plant in a row, they simply saturate the entire flood table with a dense "cloud" of it. That seems to work the best and give the most uniform results...

I only speak with any authority because I have been researching this for months now, I'm still a newbie when it comes to aeroponic experience, although I do know my more traditional pretty well. Just FYI.

 

[Earl]

I can't wait to see it.

.

 

[Blinkstoomuch]

Earl I will definetly keep ya'll up to date. Im gonna finish what I got going now in a few more weeks. Then I will clean my system and make sure to give some really good photos inside and out. They will be incorporated in the journal thread. I'm kinda new to forums, but this one seems to be full of really insightful people who are happy to share info. I hope to get much more involved in the near future. I appreciate your encouragement

 

[oscarmiya]

Maybe this is what you guys are talking about.. Couldn't you achieve the same thing by using an Ultrasonic Humidifier? Like $30 bucks at Wal-Mart. I was wondering if that would help, mixing a good Nutrient solution in your Humidifier and cranking it up in there... It sounds like you guys are wanting to Mist the roots though, could run PVC from the Humidifier to the grow tub or bucket and aim it right at roots. I am sure it has been done, seems like everything has, but has anyone tried it?

 

[forgewithinfire]

The issue with traditional ultrasonic humidifiers is that the pizzo-electric disk has no coating. As a result you get buildup over time and have to replace the disks frequently. The ones you can get from futuregarden.com are teflon coated to prevent crusty buildup and are the same used in the Nutramist systems... plus the company has great customer service and is always willing to answer questions.

 

[forgewithinfire]

Ok guys, doesn't look like this thread is too active but I thought I would post some of what I have found on the subject... the Garden's Cure site has a pretty good attempt at an ultrasonic grow posted by arnold layne. Can't get a good direct link but if your a member you can look it up. He basically used 4" PVC fence posts connected by PVC tubing with two or three ultrasonic humidifiers attached. I attached the pics.

Despite how nice the system looked, it never functioned well and there was only stunted growth at best... but I think that was due to there being no water source. The FutureGarden systems are modified flood and drain with ultrasonic attached. The longer roots form a matt at the bottom of the flood table to soak up water... I guess it's called a "dry fog" for a reason. That means that without a source of liquid water for the longer roots to feed off of, there can be no explosive aeroponic growth.

I just ordered the Green-Machine channels from Futurgarden along with a 3-headed ultrasonic fogger. It will essentially be an NFT system (for the liquid water source) with the ultrasonic attached to a small res that is fed by the same water flow. I will start a grow journal the moment I start building...

 

[gvega187]

I noticed you dont bother to use hydroton or the coco 3" nets by GH. Is there a reason for this? or does it just kinda work either way so I shouldnt waste my money on dumb coco shreds.

GENERAL HYDROPONICS