Aeroponics - Who's using it now?

[Farmer Rich]

Hey All,

Been a while since I started a thread so here goes..

I switched to aeroponics earlier in the year and finally feel like I'm getting it dialed in on a more consistent basis. I'd like to get a thread going to talk about what has been working and what didn't. From an experience level, I'm into cultivation for about 2.5 years now and relatively anal about doing things accurately when it comes to mixing nutrients and water.

My approach to aero is fairly simple; I used the HT article and grow on another board claiming to produce 1 pound every 3 weeks for the basis of my design.. Where I take exception is the dude who wrote the HT article (same guy on the thread too, I believe) claimed he was hitting the plants at 3000 ppm!! Totally unnecessary and a waste of nutrients.

Process is basic: Mom -> Cuts -> Clone Bucket -> 3" Net Pot (or to a new mom in dirt) -> Veg System -> Flower System -> Harvest. Repeat Often.

Regenerate your mothers when needed.

Keep some plants in dirt/soilless mix until you get really good at growing using areoponics, because when something goes south, it can happen fast.

Nutes - I like them on the weaker side and generally use the following:

Clone Bucket - 400 ppm bloom, ph 6.0 - 6.3, keep water at 75 deg. spray 24x7, will get me great roots in 2 weeks.

Veg Sys: 500 - 700 ppm, ph 5.5 - 5.8
Flower Sys: 600 - 900 ppm, ph 5.5 - 5.8

I swap reservoirs every 4-6 days.

I know a lot of people out there like to "super crop" and do a shit load of plants, flowering them quickly. Not my thing. I like vegging for 3-5 weeks dependent on how healthy the roots on the cuts are. This has changed my schedule a bit, where I try to do a harvest monthly, either 1 or 2 systems (each having 6 plants).. Believe me, when it's working right with no issues this will produce quite a bit.

Here's a few pics.. The bud shot is from a plant in soilless mix that kept me in bud after loosing a system to root rot during hot weather.

[DreadedHermie]

I'm in. :thumbsup:

Always wanted to try this.

[martyrprojekt]

I just want to be honest...Aeroponics intimidates me! Maybe this is my outdoor guerilla grower in me that wants to hold onto using some kind of grow medium. But, is the yield really worth all of the trouble?

I see their being tons of problems with root rot...bugs...plant rot, etc? It seems like over-complicating a process which should be clean, concise and simple.

Just like the guy from HT using 3000ppm for his grow. Simply overcomplicating the entire grow process. And, it seems like Aero guys are always dialing in their systems.

I would love to try a 5 gallon bucket DWC. But, I need to do tons more research. Any suggestions or directions for a DWC anyone wants to share? :thumbsup:

[Farmer Rich]

As far as dialing in systems.. I\'ve simplified it. When I first started I was measuring/tweaking the ph of the reservoir daily and being generally nervous like a noob just starting our and loving their plants way too much and screwing with them constantly. Now, I simply prepare a new reservoir, move it into the system and leave it alone 4-6 days.

One of the major factors in aeroponics is the temperature of your reservoir, once it starts to climb above 68 degrees, you\'ve created the perfect environment for pythium (aka root rot). With cooler weather here, this is not a problem now. Once summer returns, I\'m hoping to have incorporated a 1/10 hp reservoir chiller on each system. A bit expensive at $350 or so a piece, but effective.

I\'ve been doing some side-by-side yield comparison between aeroponics and plants in soilless mix. Nothing super scientific but in my situation, I get similar amounts, typically a solid 2 oz per plant dried. So on a 6 plant system, 12 oz plus enough trash for about 1/2 oz of great bubble hash. Keep in mind, this is with NO CO2.. This big difference is the buds coming from the aeroponic systems are always much more dense than those not.

Peace,

Farmer Rich

[Prodaytrader]

I'm concerned my res is too hot. How in the world do you get temps below 68 degrees without adding in a bunch of high tech water chillers. I do have an old radiator from a water cooled pc that might work for me. Think that would work?

[Farmer Rich]

Hey PDT,

So how would you plumb in this radiator you have and pump water through it? You\\\'d also likely have to move air over the radiator to make it work too.

A high maintenance approach would be to maybe use 1 qt plastic freezer jars filled with water and frozen. They\\\'re fairly inexpensive, I considered adding about 4-6 to a single reservoir but never really tested it.

Also, what\\\'s the high temperature in your room with the lights on? Mine is currently in the mid 70s with AC. In the worst of summer, it stays in the upper 70\\\'s to low 80\\\'s, which is where the problems begin to occur.

The chiller units I\\\'m looking at are from echo and can handle up to 100 gallons, and would cost around $400 per system. In addition to the cooler, you have to buy an additional submersible pump for each reservoir. I figure with 10-12 gallons of liquid, they should be efficient. You should also consider each chiller would generate a bit of heat on its own. I\\\'m think I\\\'m going to prototype a new system that provides a platform on wheels under the entire system that would hold the reservoir and chiller. This would also allow me to start plants in veg and then move the entire unit to the flower room; this would eliminate the step of moving the rooted plants between systems.

Peace,

Farmer rich

[oldmac]

Hello Farmer Rich,

As I said before, somewhere else, this is a very nice build. Nice set up, very simple which almost makes it elegent.:thumbsup:

I'm currently setting up a aero/fog grow tray, and have been foolin around with aero for the past 18 months. I would like to point out that even tho my system is probably more complicated, it does do away with most of the problems that have been raised here.

1) root rot; by using ultrasonic fog I have eliminated all pathogens and nasties from the root zone. Ultrasonic fog is not just sterile, it will sterilize the root zone for you. No green alge, no brown slime... no nothing. (root rot can only survive in a 1/4" zone around the stem and neoprene collar)

2) resivior temps; I do aero/fog to waste, there is no temp build up since nutrients/water are in 5 gal jugs and the temp is whatever the jug is. Plus without recirculating anything you eliminate changes in Ph and PPM and if you do have unwanted crap start to grow it won't be spread thru the rez.

Many advatages to going aero, at least that's the way I see it.:D

[Farmer Rich]

Hey Oldmac,

Thanks for the props! I like what you\\\'re doing too, and I hope you won\\\'t be posting the results but a description might be ok. The one thing I\\\'ve been wondering about on a fog system is how do chem salts affect it? 5 microns is tiny. What\'s also very cool in your system is the small containers that feed it, quick easy changes are nice, also flexible. How often do you expect to have to change a 5 gallon container?

Peace,

Farmer Rich

[Prodaytrader]

that is the thing about foggers, the salts try and build up. I also found that hydroton clay likes to build up on the disks as well. With the fogger that I have you just wipe the disks off with your finger at least once a week. Other then that they keep pretty clean most of the time. The other trick is to use low salt nutrients that are 100% water soluble. The salts don't tend to build as badly.

I finally added in my radiator. It lowered temps a few degrees but nothing fantastic. I'll have to take a picture of it as this was one of the few implementations that actually worked like I imagined. I am semi-actively cooling the radiator but I could do better. For now I am hoping the temps wont be an issue. They get to about 80 in the res but I know at the misters they have to be much cooler.

[oldmac]

Hey Oldmac,

Thanks for the props! I like what you\\\'re doing too, and I hope you won\\\'t be posting the results but a description might be ok. The one thing I\\\'ve been wondering about on a fog system is how do chem salts affect it? 5 microns is tiny. What\'s also very cool in your system is the small containers that feed it, quick easy changes are nice, also flexible. How often do you expect to have to change a 5 gallon container?

Peace,

Farmer Rich

A 5 gallon jug lasts 4 days, the bulk of which is used by the aero side. The fogger uses 1/2 liter per 1 hour run time. Since the fogger runs 10 mins per 1/2 hour, it does not use very much.

Ultrasonic foggers are sensitive to the salts in nutrients and do crude up. But some nutrients seem to run cleaner then others. Plus I have a built in cleaning cycle for the fogger, it is on a 24hr cycle but during the dark period it switches over from running off the nutrient jug to a direct RO water feed thru the use of a couple of soleniod valves.

[GetThisOrDie]

Whats up guys... I am very interested in trying Aero. I am still learning though and want to get a few more hydro grows in before I drop all the time/effort/cash on an aero setup.

Farmer Rich: I am looking at that same HT mag lol. He actually says he uses 1700-2000ppm but he notes that some strains CAN handle over 3000ppm.

His finished product looks pretty good and dense but he also uses CO2. I dont think I could ever use a CO2 system. Kind of freaks me out... Your setup looks awesome though! Did you use his blueprints from the magazine? I was hoping I could build it from them and not have a problem...

I am also worried about the whole having to chill the res... $400 for a chiller you said? Ouch!

[Farmer Rich]

Hey GetThisOneOrDie,

I used the basic idea and materials shown in the HT article, though I sized mine based on what lights I had available.

In my veg system, I have an 8 tube, 4\' T-5 HO fixture. So I have 2 rows of 6 plants on 7\" centers. On this system, there are 8 sprayers per side, also on 7\" centers, which puts them on either side of each plant site.

On the flower systems, I have about a 4\' x 9\' useable light footprint. For the flower systems, I put the plant sites on 15\" centers to allow plenty of room for stetch.

The channels are built with 5\" vinyl fence posts, and the plumbing for the sprayers is 1/2\". All systems use a 396 gph submersible pump and ez clone 360 sprayers. All in all, pretty simple..

With the chiller, you should be able to build 1 system for less than a $100..

Good luck!

Peace,

Farmer Rich

[Farmer Rich]

For those of you who are interested in aero growing..

These are some progress pictures from both the veg and flower side so you can see what to expect. The veg pics are around 2.5 weeks. The first 2 systems in flower are week 3, and the one in the back is week 6.

Peace, Farmer Rich

[Farmer Rich]

Forgot to say, the plants in week 3 flower are the same ones from the veg pictures.

Peace,

Farmer Rich

[Prodaytrader]

I'm struggling again myself. Over the past two weeks my leaves started to wilt. My bigger plants are starting to lose leaves which has never happened to me before. Growth is slow and all of this aero stuff is really got me in the bumps right now. My friend is doing soil and we are probably 2 weeks apart on start dates and as I speak he is sharpening his scissors. Knowing what I do now, I wish I started in soil first. lol You wont catch me telling him that though.

[Daddynobucks]

hey PDT
are the leaves limp, or are they droopng but still stiff?if they are stiff, try shortening your on time and lengthening the off time.
and if they are limp lengthen the on time and shorten off time

Depending upon root mass size,I have to change feed the schedule,to deal with usually "droop" . as the roots get larger they hold more water longer.
so they need longer off times

stay with it though,once you get things dialed in,you'll never go back to soil

I am no expert by any stretch,but have been using aero for almost 3 years in one system or another, started with 3"ABS pipes and wound up with 5 gal grow buckets on a central 40 gal rez

one thing for sure every strain I have grown liked something just a little different than all the others,which doesn't help when your trying to fine tune your system.

hope some of this babble helps
Daddy

[FatBudsXXX]

Hi... I think your aeroponics is great... I would like to know what are those pipes doing above the plants? Why did you put these pipes so hi...? in the sky...?
thx...

[Farmer Rich]

The pipes you are referring to are part of the frame and are intended to provide plant support if needed. There is no water/nutes flowing through those pipes.

Peace,

Farmer Rich

[switchback]

Hi Guys,
i,m a newbe and running a aero 60 ive pick up everything i know about it from this board thank god for so many nolag out there lol.I am in my 1st weeks of veg. im useing my most favorite 3 part nuts well 3 or 5 part cutting edge everything so far seems to be going well rapid root growing seems to be showing very awsome all 50 plants are very healthy so far.My ppm is about 1000-1200 my ph is ate 5.8 to 6.0 im keeping the res ate 65 to 70 all these setting is what i have read hear so if there is something not right let me know ,is why im posting in hope of any tips .I been growing since i was 6 lol but all soil old school and ive decited to try what everyone is asking me to grow lol.One thing is im not to sure of is the veg time,Ive allways been a long veg time 6 to 8 weeks depending on how big i wish the plants to be ,but these i need to grow alot smaller one resone is they are very close and because im sure they are not ment to me huge plants.I have read most only veg for like 1 week but im not to sure.. check out my pics hopefully im getting good info lol it seems to be pretty awsome so far...
Last pic is my soil room thought id share :P:rasta:

[ElvisG]

This is my first attempt at aeroponics. It's a Clone and Grow 16. I have eight plants started from seed on 1/9 and I just switched to the flowering cycle. All plants are full and lush between 7 and 12 inches. I worked through my stem issue and all are now strong and healthy. My system is a root mister cycled for 60 secs on and approx. 10 minutes off.

Other vitals inside grow tent (4X4): 400 W HPS (400 W MH During veg cycle), exhaust fan with carbon filter, 6" circulating fan, 5 gallon reservoir with fishtank aereator. Current temp inside tent is 76 degrees and humidity is 31%, reservoir temp is 68 degrees and ph is 5.6 and nutrient ppm is measuring 1445.

I'm a real novice (newbie), third grow, first aero (other grows were hydro) and what I know I've learned here or other reading. Do the above "vitals" look OK?

My current problem is the roots. In one of my tubes (4" diameter X 34" long) roots have managed to grow into and thru my drain tube into the reservoir and are now in the nute solution. Any advice on what to do about this?

[itiswhatitis]

Hey all, i just joined this board a little while ago and am pretty excited, everyone seems pretty cool and laid back. My system is all running at 100 psi, drops down to 80 and kicks back on. They are grown in hydroton and 3" net cups, the roots have room to hang down 24", inside the root box is six atomizing water jets. I looked everywhere to find these things and if any one wants to know what they are just let me know, they produce only a tiny fog inside. If i open the lid it looks like steam coming out, way cool. The root growth is insane, interested in pics let me know. I have some pics posted, i want to continue to put updated pics of my grow because this is the first grow in this new system. Its all a suprise to me i will post some pics as of now and you will see the huge difference in one week alone.

I have pics in my post Aeroponic grow pics check them out

[Brainy]

Vitals look good except the time sequence. In the stinkbud article the time is 1 minute on and 5 off. And if u c the article u will c the roots hanging into the reservoir. I actually push them back up into the tube being careful not 2 break them. I love my aero and so do my patients!

[metalarclemon]

yeah, roots in the res are standard with these tube set ups, mine grow completely into the res to the point they're floating in the water. usually about 30 inches from the last plant in. No problem as long as the drains are still clear to drain.

[personified]

I have no experience at this time either. However I always wondered why you would buy an expensive chiller when a radiator or transmission cooler would do the trick with a fan behind it. It is all about getting the heat to dissipate.

If a radiator can keep your car from boiling over a few degrees of heat should not be an issue.

[420session]

This thread is a good read, good info being passed around from all this brain picking. I am within the next couple weeks going to start a grow of 24 plants through a fogged system. Im gathering a enormous amount of Information and can't wait to get started, but one favor to ask from fellow passionate growers. I have the opportunity to have a grow to yield 5lbs every 2 months, following the laws and getting more licenses involved through patients, is it feasable? I know strands and patience is a must as things can change daily. Any must knows on a aeroponics/fogger system that is made to grow those high yields? I've grown before, but not these high yields, it's kinda intimidating(but that won't faze me, TOO DOWN). Hehe...thanks keep this thread going!!

[Brainy]

Hi Guys,
i,m a newbe and running a aero 60 ive pick up everything i know about it from this board thank god for so many nolag out there lol.I am in my 1st weeks of veg. im useing my most favorite 3 part nuts well 3 or 5 part cutting edge everything so far seems to be going well rapid root growing seems to be showing very awsome all 50 plants are very healthy so far.My ppm is about 1000-1200 my ph is ate 5.8 to 6.0 im keeping the res ate 65 to 70 all these setting is what i have read hear so if there is something not right let me know ,is why im posting in hope of any tips .I been growing since i was 6 lol but all soil old school and ive decited to try what everyone is asking me to grow lol.One thing is im not to sure of is the veg time,Ive allways been a long veg time 6 to 8 weeks depending on how big i wish the plants to be ,but these i need to grow alot smaller one resone is they are very close and because im sure they are not ment to me huge plants.I have read most only veg for like 1 week but im not to sure.. check out my pics hopefully im getting good info lol it seems to be pretty awsome so far...
Last pic is my soil room thought id share :P:rasta:
Clones, seeds? Clones can b flowered as soon as they root but seeds should be veged till they show sex, I think. Had some Blueberry hermie because I was impatient. The white widow cross all flowered for me though. Strain dependant I guess. You might think about using neoprene collars instead of hydroton. I find it is easier and cleaner.

[Brainy]

This thread is a good read, good info being passed around from all this brain picking. I am within the next couple weeks going to start a grow of 24 plants through a fogged system. Im gathering a enormous amount of Information and can't wait to get started, but one favor to ask from fellow passionate growers. I have the opportunity to have a grow to yield 5lbs every 2 months, following the laws and getting more licenses involved through patients, is it feasable? I know strands and patience is a must as things can change daily. Any must knows on a aeroponics/fogger system that is made to grow those high yields? I've grown before, but not these high yields, it's kinda intimidating(but that won't faze me, TOO DOWN). Hehe...thanks keep this thread going!!
Personally, I think if u combine both the aero and perpetual harvesting of StinkBuddies.com (http://www.stinkbuddies.com) and the environment from Urban Grower | Advanced Nutrients Medical | Medicinal Marijuana Cultivation Information (http://www.urbangrower.com) with the right nutes you will be more than amazed. I like Fox Farms nutes, but there are many "high" quality plant specific nutes that will grow you great meds. Hope it helps.

[pHATNUGGz]

The problem with aero, as a subject, is that most people are not aware of what TRUE AERO is. Itiswhatitis has it going on- hp/accumulator/low gph mist heads/root chamber deep enugh to accomodate massive root structures. That said, his grow would benefit from some tweaking. I asked him (in another thread) to post root pics.

Can you grow in a lesser aero system? Hell yes, BUT...

As Below- So Above

The healthier the roots, the healthier the plant. So keep your eyes focused on how the roots are responding, and the plant will take care of itself.

Learning what to look for root-wise, and how to achieve it, is a simple science. The ideal Aero Root Systems (ARS) comes from knowing how to tweak the TAE- True Aero Environment.

First, you need to understand how the roots feed, well actually, the bacteria on the roots. Feed them big macs instead of sliders combined with too much food at any given meal, do this too often, and your roots will suffer just as we would from eating too much, too often. In aero feeding problems present themselves sooner, rather than later.

In order to achieve TAE you need a root chamber big enough (and deep enough) to provide ample space around each root mass. Without this the roots will never reach their full potential to feed and process the nutrients.

Atomized nutrients are in a size range of 20-80 microns. In order to achieve this you need a combination of high pressure (>50 psi) combined with low flow misting heads (< 1gph). FYI One mist head is all you need per 3-4cft of chamber volume. Feed time is one second or less every 9-10 minutes!

There is a lot more to it, but this should at least give those interested a place to start, and a goal to reach.