New to Aero - Bifarm Aerokit

[innerG]

So, I’m a long-time soil grower but I wanted to go automated with an app, so I’m getting one of these. It’s one of those ‘whole aeroponics system all-in-one-box’ deals.

What are good resources for cannabis-specific aeroponics info like spray intervals, temperatures, nutrients, etc. ?

Thanks

 

[Atomizer]

Looks like its heavy on tech but light on aeroponics For freshly rooted clones,1-2 seconds every 3-5 minutes would be safe. The issues i see are limited root space and the reservoir being in the root chamber. Ultimately, the roots will be sitting in the reservoir and it`ll be more hydro than aero. A single hp aero root ball would have no problem filling the entire chamber. If the vid is close to the real performance, there`s no even coverage

i guess a tech grew these hpa roots (1 minute in) cos they are terrible

 

[innerG]

Looks like its heavy on tech but light on aeroponics For freshly rooted clones,1-2 seconds every 3-5 minutes would be safe. The issues i see are limited root space and the reservoir being in the root chamber. Ultimately, the roots will be sitting in the reservoir and it`ll be more hydro than aero. A single hp aero root ball would have no problem filling the entire chamber. If the vid is close to the real performance, there`s no even coverage

i guess a tech grew these hpa roots (1 minute in) cos they are terrible

Do you know anything about nutrients for aeroponic grows or spray intervals?

 

[Atomizer]

I`d expect it to come with a comprehensive operating manual for $800 but as said, 1-2 seconds of mist every 3-5 minutes would be fine. As for nutrients, anything formulated for a recirculating reservoir (ie; most hydro nutes) will work. Make sure the nutes are 100% soluble with no fillers or organics. Keep the nutes as clean and debris free as possible which wont be easy with the reservoir inside the root chamber. Check the nozzle filters regularly and be sure you have spare nozzles on hand as they are one of the worst types for clogging. Aim for chamber temperature of 70-72F lights on, 65-68F lights off and avoid going above 75F for any length of time as it will lead to problems.

 

[innerG]

I`d expect it to come with a comprehensive operating manual for $800 but as said, 1-2 seconds of mist every 3-5 minutes would be fine. As for nutrients, anything formulated for a recirculating reservoir (ie; most hydro nutes) will work. Make sure the nutes are 100% soluble with no fillers or organics. Keep the nutes as clean and debris free as possible which wont be easy with the reservoir inside the root chamber. Check the nozzle filters regularly and be sure you have spare nozzles on hand as they are one of the worst types for clogging. Aim for chamber temperature of 70-72F lights on, 65-68F lights off and avoid going above 75F for any length of time as it will lead to problems.

Thanks - I actually won it from a giveaway on Instagram, it still being shipped here so I don’t have the manual yet. I’m a hydro/aero noob but I’m pretty stoked to get it

I figured the nutes need to be really soluble, would liquids be better than powders since you want to avoid fine grains and particles?

If I use RO water and like an A + B basic nute system, will I need to add in micronutrients that are stripped from the RO?

Thank you for the timing and temp info, I think I can set those all up manually once I have it up and going

One last thing - is there some kind of cleaner or something that is good to run through an aero system between rounds to break down the stuff and keep the sprayers from clogging? Thanks for the time and replies

 

[PetFlora]

So, I’m a long-time soil grower but I wanted to go automated with an app, so I’m getting one of these. It’s one of those ‘whole aeroponics system all-in-one-box’ deals.

What are good resources for cannabis-specific aeroponics info like spray intervals, temperatures, nutrients, etc. ?

Thanks

Lucky you. You are in great hands with Atomizer

I use RO whether i'm mixing liquid nutes (Emerald Harvest) or dry powders (Hydroponic Research Veg + Bloom, or NPK Raw). You can mix the dry powders in a quantity of warm water to help dissolve then add to the RO

 

[Atomizer]

You cant moan if it was free, gift horse and all that I run to waste and use homebrew nutes/RO which isnt much help to you. Something along the lines of canna aqua vega/flores or any decent brand (non organic) hydro nute should be ok. I would suggest running the smallest practical amount of nutes in the reservoir and changing it out frequently. The chamber volume looks to be around 22 gallons.. not a lot for hpa. The maximum reservoir fill (according to the quick start guide) is 8.5gal which would consume more than a third of the available space in the chamber creating more of a aero/dwc hybrid. The temperature control may be peltier based, if thats the case it simply alters the temperature of the nutes in the reservoir. It also dictates the minimum depth of nutes you can use. You can tell this was designed by someone who is ultra keen on tech with little to no experience of growing plants. I couldnt find anything related to changing the nutes out but with the techy bias i guess it will probably involve the system pump. I wouldn`t dream of running spent, crap laden nutes backwards through my plumbing. I`m sure you`ll have success with it as long as you ignore any and all advice about growing plants from their tech support dept

 

[innerG]

You cant moan if it was free, gift horse and all that I run to waste and use homebrew nutes/RO which isnt much help to you. Something along the lines of canna aqua vega/flores or any decent brand (non organic) hydro nute should be ok. I would suggest running the smallest practical amount of nutes in the reservoir and changing it out frequently. The chamber volume looks to be around 22 gallons.. not a lot for hpa. The maximum reservoir fill (according to the quick start guide) is 8.5gal which would consume more than a third of the available space in the chamber creating more of a aero/dwc hybrid. The temperature control may be peltier based, if thats the case it simply alters the temperature of the nutes in the reservoir. It also dictates the minimum depth of nutes you can use. You can tell this was designed by someone who is ultra keen on tech with little to no experience of growing plants. I couldnt find anything related to changing the nutes out but with the techy bias i guess it will probably involve the system pump. I wouldn`t dream of running spent, crap laden nutes backwards through my plumbing. I`m sure you`ll have success with it as long as you ignore any and all advice about growing plants from their tech support dept

I plan on just using an aquarium pump to drain it out what do you think of FloraDuo + CaliMagic (I’m under Led so they like extra cal mag)

 

[Atomizer]

You`d have to ask someone who has used them A good test is to mix some up with RO in a clean glass. Let them sit for a while and then check for cloudiness / suspended particals.

 

[Atomizer]

I came across this root pic from an aerokit. Check out the lower roots to see why putting the res in the chamber is a bad idea. The upper roots are ok but not great for $1000 system equipped with an accumulator. I`d say they are pretty close to what Petflora got with just a pump

 

[PetFlora]

I came across this root pic from an aerokit. Check out the lower roots to see why putting the res in the chamber is a bad idea. The upper roots are ok but not great for $1000 system equipped with an accumulator. I`d say they are pretty close to what Petflora got with just a pump
View attachment 4102203

agreed

 

[Wesohoodrich]

Why is having the roots touch water bad?

 

[PetFlora]

I came across this root pic from an aerokit. Check out the lower roots to see why putting the res in the chamber is a bad idea. The upper roots are ok but not great for $1000 system equipped with an accumulator. I`d say they are pretty close to what Petflora got with just a pump
View attachment 4102203

and low pressure at that. When I was doing hpa, and all the environmental factors were within tolerance, I did have massive cotton candy roots

 

[Wesohoodrich]

I came across this root pic from an aerokit. Check out the lower roots to see why putting the res in the chamber is a bad idea. The upper roots are ok but not great for $1000 system equipped with an accumulator. I`d say they are pretty close to what Petflora got with just a pump
View attachment 4102203

Can adding a screen improve this system? I have about a half inch of water that accumulates since the bulkhead drain is raised. I didn't know submerged roots hurt the plant

 

[Atomizer]

There`s not really enough chamber depth for the roots even without a screen. Imho, the designer traded a big chunk of aeroponic performance to incorporate the peltier chiller which simply cools the internal reservoir and by extension the root chamber. I dont use chillers or internal reservoirs, just free draining, breathable chambers that run drain to waste.

 

[Wesohoodrich]

My chambers dont breathe, but thanks to the screen I added the plants look happier. The lower drooping leaves all picked up. Thanks atomizer

 

[Atomizer]

in my experience screens located next to a humid air space (bottom of a sealed chamber) are only a minor inconvenience to roots as they can push through the smallest of gaps. The roots dont stop growing when they reach the screen, they go looking for a way around it The sprawling roots will eventually pile up and create a dense mat on top of the screen..
A breathable chamber is surrounded by an active deterent, the room air Any root tips that venture too close to the walls or floor are air pruned. This stops the root dead in its tracks and forces it to branch back along its length.

 

[PetFlora]

in my experience screens located next to a humid air space (bottom of a sealed chamber) are only a minor inconvenience to roots as they can push through the smallest of gaps. The roots dont stop growing when they reach the screen, they go looking for a way around it The sprawling roots will eventually pile up and create a dense mat on top of the screen..
A breathable chamber is surrounded by an active deterent, the room air Any root tips that venture too close to the walls or floor are air pruned. This stops the root dead in its tracks and forces it to branch back along its length.

I played around with Aero Pots for a good while, but I was using them filled with polished ornamental stones, top feeding using Hydro Halo drip rings, which clogged a lot, even after I drilled out the holes. If not for that I might still be top feeding, it best simulates a running stream. I might have a pic of that grow. Wow, way back in 2014, light is a BML SPYDR 600 led

 

[Michael Huntherz]

Did someone say roots?
Not mine, another RIU member, any guesses?
Homemade rdwc seems to work OK

 

[PetFlora]

Did someone say roots?
Not mine, another RIU member, any guesses?
Homemade rdwc seems to work OK

View attachment 4121136

No plant pic?