Building a Aeroponic Prototype -- Need Help!

[elskeetro]

Is a bubble air stone in my rez. necessary for an Aeroponics setup?

No, but it ain't gonna hurt!

[WeedTree's]

UPDATE!

I've got most of the parts for the Aeroponic bucket setup. I'm still waiting on my Net pots in the mail. I'm going out tomorrow to pickup the now 12 pack of180 Degree misters, vinyl tubing, as well as the other 2, 5 Gallon buckets w/ 1extra lid.

I've been searching around the Internet looking for a manifold that will spread the mister lines to each bucket. The pump will have a line that feeds to a backflow preventer, and then up out the top of the lid to where it will be spread to the different grow buckets misters via nutrient line. I looked and found a Dripper manifold with 8 seperate 1/4" connections that can be adjusted seperately from 0-30 PSI. The bottom connects via 1/2" Male connection I believe..

It is called the "Raindrip 13800B 8 Outlet Adjustable Manifold"

http://images.lowes.com/product/conv...71138002md.jpg

Is this suitable to deliver nutrient from my res. pump to the other grow buckets? It is a 520 GPH pump that is flow adjustable, so I will need to do some adjusting as not to let too much water through at a time.

I feel if all else fails, and the Aeroponic misting system doesn't work, I can switch to a top feed drip system instead and salvage many if not all the parts.

Instead of having a whole seperate misting unit inside each bucket grow chamber, I'm going to place 2, 180 Degree misters in each bucket. One on each side of the lid across from each other so they cover both sides of the net pots below. They will hang about 2.5-4" below the top of the lid, as to make contact with the growing roots below instead of just soaking the Hydroton. I'm going to buy rubber gromets that will fit in the wholes in the lid, then slide the tubing through with the misters connected at the other end for a light tight, snug fit.


Comments/criticism greatly appreciated! I'm going to start a new build thread as soon as all the parts are in hand --

[Daddynobucks]

this is what I have been useing

6 buckets with 4 spray heads fed with a 633gph pump
1/2" feed lines 3/4 drain to a repump bucket,that has a float switch on at 3" off at 1" maintaining a low water level

feed schedule 1-3min on 30-60min off

also a 6"airstone in res.

[elskeetro]

this is what I have been useing

That's awesome! I wish i saw this earlier. I just bought stuff to do a 3' x 5' Aero SOG. I was doing DWC buckets before. This would have been a nice move.

Skeet.

[WeedTree's]

this is what I have been useing

6 buckets with 4 spray heads fed with a 633gph pump
1/2" feed lines 3/4 drain to a repump bucket,that has a float switch on at 3" off at 1" maintaining a low water level

feed schedule 1-3min on 30-60min off

also a 6"airstone in res.

That looks great!

Where did you get that tubing that is fitted with an outlet to house your misters? Did it come in a pre-formed ring like that?

[Daddynobucks]

No its 1/2 poly from Lowes, its raindrip tubing,stuck on a T fitting held in place with GOOP brand plumbers sealant.
the lids are 6' net pot lids with the pot cut off so a seperate 6' netpot can be set in it,easy replant on a continous harvest system.

[WeedTree's]

No its 1/2 poly from Lowes, its raindrip tubing,stuck on a T fitting held in place with GOOP brand plumbers sealant.
the lids are 6' net pot lids with the pot cut off so a seperate 6' netpot can be set in it,easy replant on a continous harvest system.

Great, Thanks!

Sorry for the flurry of questions!

How does your drain lines function? How is the remaning nutrient in the bottom of the buckets drained from them and into the other, semi-holding bucket? And where does it go from there -- back into the res?

[Daddynobucks]

there is 1.5 " tall stands the grow buckets sit on,the drains are all interconnected with one line going into the repump bucket on the floor,it pumps back to the res. in another room.there are two 6 bucket systems returning to the repump and res.
the pump is submerged and the output line rises to about 16", with the inlet to the buckets at 10". this riser is to prevent the res. from siphoning over when the pump turns off.I figured this out the hard way but really quick.
the repump is a condensate pump with float switch(little giant)
picture is the repump bucket
I can send more detailed pics if needed

[WeedTree's]

More pictures would be amazing!

I just noticed the buckets sit on stands like that -- That is what I was most confused about. Getting the small amount of nutrient at the bottom out of the bucket but I see now it will drain from the middle using gravity. I will have to make some sort of stand to incorperate sitting the buckets on, and keeping them in place.

Could you explain this a little more..

"the pump is submerged and the output line rises to about 16", with the inlet to the buckets at 10". this riser is to prevent the res. from siphoning over when the pump turns off."

I googled the Little Giant switches, they seem pretty large, where is yours in your re-pump res? Could I somehow pump the nutrients back into my main res, instead of having another seperate one..i'm tight on space as of now!

[Daddynobucks]

the res. is a 20 or 40 gal. depending on number of plants,6 or 12, there is a 633GPH pump submerged in the res for each group of 6 buckets.first photo shows the 3/4 hose in the center rising 16"befor it goes thru the wall,other hose is 1/2" return from repump,others are air,heater
there is a 5 gal. bucket that the plants drain back into,the bucket in the corner with the fan on it.see the small 1/2" hose coming from the top,it is the outlet hose from the condensate pump in that bucket Wholesale Pumps - Fountain, Pond, & Waterfall pumps at wholesale prices! model #1-ABS.
dead batteries in cameria tomorrow on the pics.