You could run a sump with its own dedicated powerful waterpump, turn this into a venturi and invert it so it fires back into the container. This will create a turbulent environment with high dissolved oxygen levels. you may be able to filter most of your unwanted matter through mechanical means not unlike a venturi protein skimmer. This allows a volumous, controlled, and efficient means by which to mix gases into your solution to manage pathogens, particulates, and anything else that is disrupting things. High oxygen levels help if enough of the water is cool and circulated well and thats what this does. If you got the right venturi design and powerful enough water flow, you can just about do anything.


You can use the airline as a vacuum, and suck up debris around the area and process it in the sump just like a wet-vac but attached to your system. If you design your sump correctly it will actually reduce on your maintenance because most debris around these sites are either medium or organic matter.

You can run a siphon and use your sump to siphon out debris from beds buckets etc. This is an easy way to clean particles out of your system while the plants are in position, just thumb the hose inbetween beds so you don't have to recreate the siphon each time. I run a dedicated siphon tube out of my sump for this purpose.

You can use the venturi vacuum effect to atomize water and air together if you are hitting near mach speeds with your rate of flow. If you go over mach speeds you can increase your mix rates again.

You can mix ozone directly into your water through the venturi intake with an ozone generator, or just as well use my favorite "hydroxyl radicals".

If your pump is strong enough you can induce cavitation through your venturi or water pump for catalyzed chemical processes ie oxidization.

The low cost of a venturi and added benefit of extra water circulation from the pump make it a good investment for large scale crops. Check out applications for venturis in wastewater management, septic, or pond/lake aeration.

Hope it helps...