Low Pressure Aero Pump Noise...

I need some advice. I have built my low pressure aeroponics setup, and everything seems to work alright...except the fountain pump makes a hell of a noise.

The system is basically two containers stacked. Pump is in the bottom with pvc pipe running vertically up. There is an off-take to the side for draining with a valve, and the main line continues to run past that to the top container where it splits into horizontal pvc with low pressure sprayers. Only the off-take and valve are glued, the rest of the fittings are firmly pushed together only. When turned on, the pump sometimes sounds nice and soft and I only really hear the sprayers, other times it sounds like rocks are going through it... I though it was blocked at first, but as soon as i take off the horizontal pvc with sprayers, the sound disappears.

So is the sound just due to the pressure of the pvc all attached? Is it vibrating pvc? Is it bad for the pump? I was thinking of drilling a small hole in the pvc to release some of the pressure, but this could also stop the sprayers from working so not sure what to do. Any advice welcome!

Just your pump overcoming the head pressure to get the water up to the sprayers. When its just air in the line, it causes the pumps impeller to shake.
No need to worry.

picture please, but if you do not have sufficient water above the pump inlet, you will suck air which can cause chatter or noise

Hi, thanks for the replies.

I have attached some photos.

One is of the pump placement.
There is about as much water above the pump as there is space to the first T-piece. Is this enough?

The other image show the PVC horizontal attachment with sprayers. When I turn the pump on it makes a noise.

Final image shows with the horizontal attachment removed and water spouting out the top. The pump sounds fine when it's like this.

drrobodog said:

Hi, thanks for the replies.

I have attached some photos.

One is of the pump placement.
There is about as much water above the pump as there is space to the first T-piece. Is this enough?

The other image show the PVC horizontal attachment with sprayers. When I turn the pump on it makes a noise.

Final image shows with the horizontal attachment removed and water spouting out the top. The pump sounds fine when it's like this.

Click to expand...

I thought I already explained this to you

You did and I was going to leave it at that, but the other guy asked for pics.

Since you've replied, i take it the water level is fine, and so I am back to being relieved again!
Thanks

Hopefully, I can head off a probable root rot issue that I had using a similar set up. Check the spray before putting plants in it, unless you are using clones. Spray that hits the underside of the lid can overly wet the medium. This can be prevented with either short spray cycles with sufficiently long intervals between on cycles, and/or making sure there is ample room above the spray heads: also pump GPH can address some of this

Note the spray is too strong for the depth of the tote

If you look closely, you can see some root discoloration, which was the beginning of root rot

F & D can eliminate this as well as make it easy to check pH, PPM/EC, water temps, and water level inside the rez (I now use a cooler)

hth