Aeroponics: Reservoir Size, Space Per Plant, and Plumbing Question?

To anyone willing to help, I am in the process of researching and designing an aeroponic SoG setup. My growing space is rather limited so I have spent a lot of time trying to design the setup to be as space efficient as possible. One of the things that is giving me a bit of a headache is the size of the reservoirs as well as their location. It is my intention to grow a total of 16 plants (4 groups) in a modular two tiered (largest plants on the outside) setup using a 600 watt hps. I have two initial questions. One, how much space does each plant's roots need to grow in an aeroponic setup. I have been looking into using 6" pvc tubes placed vertically with a screen (prevent roots from clogging drain) and conical drain in the bottom. However, I am not sure of the length of the tube or if it's even enough space in the first place. Two, would anyone around here have the foggiest idea as to how large my reservoirs would need to be to support 4 plants a piece? Also, since this is a purely aeroponic setup (i.e. not dwc), I am curious as to whether the reservoirs must be placed below the plants or if the pumps will draw the water from the connected plumbing. I have never owned a fish or anything so I am a little ignorant of how the various pumps work.

MrKingBud said:

To anyone willing to help, I am in the process of researching and designing an aeroponic SoG setup. My growing space is rather limited so I have spent a lot of time trying to design the setup to be as space efficient as possible. One of the things that is giving me a bit of a headache is the size of the reservoirs as well as their location. It is my intention to grow a total of 16 plants (4 groups) in a modular two tiered (largest plants on the outside) setup using a 600 watt hps. I have two initial questions. One, how much space does each plant's roots need to grow in an aeroponic setup. I have been looking into using 6" pvc tubes placed vertically with a screen (prevent roots from clogging drain) and conical drain in the bottom. However, I am not sure of the length of the tube or if it's even enough space in the first place. Two, would anyone around here have the foggiest idea as to how large my reservoirs would need to be to support 4 plants a piece? Also, since this is a purely aeroponic setup (i.e. not dwc), I am curious as to whether the reservoirs must be placed below the plants or if the pumps will draw the water from the connected plumbing. I have never owned a fish or anything so I am a little ignorant of how the various pumps work.

Click to expand...

How are you misting your roots? ie.. pump/nozzles type

I use 3"net pots 8in apart

Res always under so chamber drains back to res but you are going to want to get a watter chiller too. (read below)


I posted this on another thread, it might help.


If you can not answer the following questions with a yes then there is no point/benefit of growing Aeroponicly.

#1. Do you have HID lighting?
If you are not running HPS or MH at the very least 400w or higher (in a small area), then there is no point.

#2. Are you willing to use an advanced 3 part nutrient system and take the time to constantly monitor ph/ppm?
In order for the plant to thrive, it will eat a lot of food.

#3 Can you maintain your nutrient solution at a constant 60-65 degrees?
This one is super important. The entire purpose of aeroponics is to get more o2 to the roots. Cold water is dense and packed with o2. 75 degree hold 100x less o2 than 60 degree water.

The bottom line, if you cant provide these three things, go hydro.

There are three main types of indoor aeroponics.

Beat it into submission
High PSI Pumps
or
Pressurized system

Most people think about different types of nozzles. The pump defines the nozzle, your wallet and space defines the pump.

Beat it into submission.
Mini sprinkler heads, spinning disks, and tubes with pin holes.
Technically this is not really Aeroponics. It's still effective, but it is hydroponics. The water droplets they produce are quite large in comparison to other methods. These types of systems are usually in small containers or PVC fence posts. This is a bad thing because the purpose of aeroponics is to suspend the roots. a puddle forms when the roots hit bottom and it becomes more of a deep water culture. They use a pump you can buy at wal-mart for under $50. Again not really aeroponics.
http://www.hydroponic-aeroponic.com/...sprinkler1.jpg

High PSI pumps like this one
Ecoplus 250 Pump by Horizen Hydroponics
allow you to use mist nozzles like these
DIG CORP: Series EXL 500 low flow fogger

This is aeroponics, the droplets are very fine. If your roots hang, you will be very happy.

And then there is pressurized systems that have pre pressurized tanks that put out very high PSI. Ultra small droplets, but very costly.

The blue bins are a great idea because they allow roots to dry off in minutes, then they are sprayed again (requires special timer for the last 2 systems)

Cloud, I am going to use 360 or 320 misters (2 per plant). The original idea was to do a 16 plant SoG where the entire setup was modular. Since I was going to have plants at 4 different stages of flowering, I wanted to be able to raise and lower the plants. So, I came up with this goofy design where I would use 6 in" pvc tubes cut to about 1' to 2' hung vertically in a holder thing. The top of the tube would be capped. It would then support a 3.5" net pot and two water lines for sprayers. The bottom of the tube would be a cap that would shrink the pipping to 3" or 4" (something more manageable). Above the drain in the tube, I was going to put a metal screen to prevent roots from clogging the hole. All in all, it was actually a good design allowing plenty or room for root growth, and the ability to adjust the level that the tube hung so that my 600 watt hps light could be hung equidistant from every plant except the newest batch.

Unfortunately, I went to price out my current design, and I was waaaaaaaay over budget. Modular design = too many parts = too much money. I'm going back to a design using 6" pvc tubes placed horizontally. And through reading (apparently it's fundamental), I figured out that I'm a dumbass for asking where the rez needed to be.

BUT, I still need to know how much water my rez tank needs to hold to support 8 plants. What is the average amount of water my rez must hold per plant? How does the GPH rating of my pump relate to the amount of water in my rez?

MrKingBud said:

Cloud, I am going to use 360 or 320 misters (2 per plant). The original idea was to do a 16 plant SoG where the entire setup was modular. Since I was going to have plants at 4 different stages of flowering, I wanted to be able to raise and lower the plants. So, I came up with this goofy design where I would use 6 in" pvc tubes cut to about 1' to 2' hung vertically in a holder thing. The top of the tube would be capped. It would then support a 3.5" net pot and two water lines for sprayers. The bottom of the tube would be a cap that would shrink the pipping to 3" or 4" (something more manageable). Above the drain in the tube, I was going to put a metal screen to prevent roots from clogging the hole. All in all, it was actually a good design allowing plenty or room for root growth, and the ability to adjust the level that the tube hung so that my 600 watt hps light could be hung equidistant from every plant except the newest batch.

Unfortunately, I went to price out my current design, and I was waaaaaaaay over budget. Modular design = too many parts = too much money. I'm going back to a design using 6" pvc tubes placed horizontally. And through reading (apparently it's fundamental), I figured out that I'm a dumbass for asking where the rez needed to be.

BUT, I still need to know how much water my rez tank needs to hold to support 8 plants. What is the average amount of water my rez must hold per plant? How does the GPH rating of my pump relate to the amount of water in my rez?

Click to expand...

The main problem you are going to face is your pump. An actual "mist nozzle" has to have presurre behind it and normal sump pumps wont cut it (above)

If you use a wal-mart bin and the little sprinkler heads, you can use that pump. Pic below

MrKingBud said:

Since I was going to have plants at 4 different stages of flowering, I wanted to be able to raise and lower the plants.

Unfortunately, I went to price out my current design, and I was waaaaaaaay over budget. Modular design = too many parts = too much money. I'm going back to a design using 6" pvc tubes placed horizontally.

BUT, I still need to know how much water my rez tank needs to hold to support 8 plants. What is the average amount of water my rez must hold per plant? How does the GPH rating of my pump relate to the amount of water in my rez?

Click to expand...

One thing to keep in mind with multiple stages of flowering is that you will be increasing and decreasing the nutrients at different times during the flower stage. This means 4 reservoirs for plants in 4 different stages of flowering, if you want to do it right. It could be rigged up to be 2 or 3, but separate reservoirs for each group would be most beneficial.

6" PVC is spendy... especially the joints! It's definitely the most space efficient, though I agree with both of you that horizontal doesn't leave as much room for roots as I would prefer in an aeroponic system. Rubbermaid tubs will be cheaper and leave more room for roots. It won't take too much more space, though you'll lose the height adjustability of each individual plant.

With 8 plants, I'd use a 30-gallon res, filled to about 20 gallons. Two gallons per plant is a good baseline. The more water you use, the less often you'll need to make adjustments... you'll use a little bit more nutrients, though. Anywhere in the 10-30 gallon range is good.

Good luck, and happy gardening!