Converted flood tables to Aeroponics

So I wanted to try converting my flood tables to an Aeroponic setup. Here is what I came up with. I picked up a "Barracuda 1/2 HP Thermoplastic Utility Pump" at Menards for $80. It runs two 4x6 tables with 24 misters each EXTREMELY well. I ran a 1" PVC pipe off the pump and split it to two 1/2" PVC lines. I could probably double the number of misters with how well it's covering. Maybe Ill just add some more tables. The whole conversion cost about $160 at Menards including the pump and PVC parts.

high zee,

Do you plan to have some sort of cover over your table? If you run the pump 24/7 better keep a closse watch on nute temp.


Here's a similar method I use for aero clonning.


A~~~

How is it going to drain back to the rez? I've been trying to figure out a cumbersome way of not having to keep the rez under the table but still having the feed water drain back into the rez.

I have a cover. It’s leaning against the wall in the first picture. I picked up a 4x8 sheet of 10mm corrugated plastic from a local sign shop and cut 16 holes in it. I may add more later. Right now each plant has about 1 sq foot of growing space. So far there are no leaks, the weight alone seems to be sealing it. If I see any Ill just add some weather stripping around the top of the tray and hopefully that will be enough.

I was planning on running it for a minute or two on then 5 minutes off at first and see how that works. So far my rez stays right about 68 degrees sitting on the cool basement floor. If the temp raises much I will compensate for that. My next upgrade will be to my rez.

I figured the drain out this morning. I’m using a 1 ¼” RV drain tube at the end next to the rez and its just gravity draining back in. So far it’s working just fine. I did have to raise the tables up higher to get an elbow in there and have it drain back in to the top of the res. All I did was stack two bucks inside each other rather than have it sitting on one and that gave it a about a 3-4” raise. Kinda hard to tell in the pics but the tables are just sitting on e 5 gallon buckets.

I have an identical table next to this one and then Im converting my 2x3 veg tray to the same with a 633 GPH pump. I will update with pictures as I complete this all.

Yeah, I figured that's what you did. I was hoping for something more cumbersome so I could keep the rez outside of the room, but I wouldn't want all off those tubes and/or pipes shooting through the room like that. I'd have to step over them and such. But since you keep the rez in the room, it works out fine for you.

I'm looking to do something similar for a HPA 4' x 8' grow but all I have so far is the tent. I've seen everyone using these PVC fence posts but I want to do something like what you have. Where can I buy a 4'x8' container with a lid?

Moving thread to aero section

Imaulle said:

Where can I buy a 4'x8' container with a lid?

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Using the 4X8 flood and drain trays only gives you about 7" to work with as far as depth. You'll want at least 12"' for the root mass to develop properly in Aero. Our first test was a flood and drain tray and the root mass went straight to the bottom and bunched up. The plants grew fine, but there was no advantage over just using flood and drain.

Nobody makes a 4X8X1 tray with a lid. We looked. The problem is the 4X8 flood and drain trays that most Hydroponic companies make are actually 4X4 trays that are plastic welded together. Most of these trays are made through a manufacturing process known as Thermoforming. A sheet of ABS plastic is heated up and then vaccum formed over a mold. The reason larger trays are not made this way is because they would be flimsy and would crack easily.

The only way to make a 4X8 tray large enough for Aero is through rotational molding which costs a bit more to tool up for and manufacture. However, with rotational molding, you can make the trays out of HDPE, which is non-stick and FDA approved. ABS plastic is not FDA approved, it leeches and will form build up that is difficult to clean.

I invested money into having tooling made to create large 4X8 trays for Aeroponics. We haven't started manufacturing them for sale yet, but will in the near future. If there was enough interest for a group buy, I could do a run for folks.

ahhhhhhhhhh that looks amazing!! I really wanna do aeroponics, but to stay legal I can only do 8 plants and I don't think it's possible to grow them big with aero

That looks great. I thought about putting the two trays stacked together to make a clam shell with them but the top side would not be very flat.

So far in just the past week i have been running this the roots have exploded with new white growth so is definitely working better than the old setup.

Flood and drain trays are way more rigid than you need for aero. The money is better spent on rigid insulation and a good quality butyl pond liner, preferably box-welded so there`s no folds. Root temps are much easier to maintain with a well insulated chamber.

Here is more pictures of the room as I completed the conversion.

This is the 4x8 veg area.


This is the full 8x8 flowering area.

Here's the final design on the 4X8 tray. Comes with an optional treated aluminum frame divided into 4 sections you can drop foam board into.

PetFlora said:

If you want to soldier on, Lowes/HD has insulated foam boards that they will even cut to size for you to make your own chamber/lid

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I tried those on my attempt at turning my flood table into a DWC ala the folks at STG --- the light comes through those boards and I wound up putting black/white film over it.

From the pics I see I would seriously be worried about green algae forming in the root zone --- too much light, me tinks....

....as the man says, good luck.

cottonfarmer said:

I tried those on my attempt at turning my flood table into a DWC ala the folks at STG --- the light comes through those boards and I wound up putting black/white film over it.

From the pics I see I would seriously be worried about green algae forming in the root zone --- too much light, me tinks....

....as the man says, good luck.

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It comes in different thicknesses, some ~ 2.5" thick. The one I am talking about has reflectex type material on one side, so I would not expect light leaks. I'm going to build a cooler out of it so that I am not constantly replacing ice jugs in my rez

I have zero algae issues. I am using 10mm thick sheets of corrugated plastic picked up from a local sign shop.

The OG Kush below is at 42 days and looking really good. Best upgrade I have made to date. I also switched from GH Flora series to GH FloraNova nutrients and the results are huge.

zeerocool said:

I have zero algae issues. I am using 10mm thick sheets of corrugated plastic picked up from a local sign shop.

The OG Kush below is at 42 days and looking really good. Best upgrade I have made to date. I also switched from GH Flora series to GH FloraNova nutrients and the results are huge.

View attachment 2703413View attachment 2703415

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Delicious, but your leafs are cupping

Yes, I had been running Lucas formula with RO water and so wasnt using Cal-mag. When I switching over to the FLora nova advanced feeding schedule I never added the cal-mag back in to the schedule. Im pretty sure this is why that happend. But its been adjusted for now.