Aero vs RDWC, lets talk about it

[diggs99]

Im planning my next grow, want to try my hand at something different, see what i like. Was heading in the RDWC direction but then seen @Airwalker16 build the aero setup. I already built an aero cloner and love it. So now im debating which route to go.

Anyone with expierence in one or both want to chime in?

Pros and cons of going Aero for a full grow? level of difficulty in comparison to RDWC?

fill me in and help me make a choice.
@Renfro Always want your opinion bro


Thanks growers!!

 

[Airwalker16]

Aero isn't setup to work with huge root masses. Rdwc is submerging your root mass so it's always being covered.

 

[diggs99]

Aero isn't setup to work with huge root masses. Rdwc is submerging your root mass so it's always being covered.

Ive seen/read a couple full grows now with aero, the growers were really happy. I might say fuck it and try it out for a run or two.


how does yours work? do you have separate timers for filling for your totes and for turning on sprayers? or is it all in one? I would set it up like yours, with a control res....do i have it right that your totes drain back into your res after they are sprayed?

 

[Airwalker16]

Ive seen/read a couple full grows now with aero, the growers were really happy. I might say fuck it and try it out for a run or two.


how does yours work? do you have separate timers for filling for your totes and for turning on sprayers? or is it all in one? I would set it up like yours, with a control res....do i have it right that your totes drain back into your res after they are sprayed?

Yes. 1 minute on every 29 minutes. It's plumbed with gravity in mind. The tubing diameter has to go up to 1" after the third and last tote's drain though, otherwise the flow will struggle and Suck air every other second to make room for the extra water. By the time its passing the last drain, there's already 2 totes drains coming through. I just cut one of the ends off of a 1" tee, I think the ones you find at the hardware store for U.S. sch 40 white PVC and pipe glued in one of the ends of the 3/4" tee into it.
They also start up close to the drain and get lower so as to be sure the tubing is always angling down so it's draining.

 

[Airwalker16]

Ive seen/read a couple full grows now with aero, the growers were really happy. I might say fuck it and try it out for a run or two.


how does yours work? do you have separate timers for filling for your totes and for turning on sprayers? or is it all in one? I would set it up like yours, with a control res....do i have it right that your totes drain back into your res after they are sprayed?

You'll likely have a lot more success with Rdwc especially since its cold right now and you don't plan on using a chiller. I wouldn't run an RDWC without one.

 

[thenasty1]

low pressure aero is totally viable full cycle. its much more forgiving than rdwc ime, and i like the option to forego using a medium aside from neoprene discs. rdwc is hard to beat in terms of efficiency, growth rate, and potential for automation, but it takes a few cycles to really dial it in. it did for me, at least. its also more costly to build, and has more potential points of failure. i run both currently- my main setup is rdwc, and i use lpa totes for cloning and vegging (i have flowered in lpa systems in the past though). imo, if you want to keep it simple and effective, go aero. if you want to go higher risk-higher reward, go rdwc.

 

[diggs99]

low pressure aero is totally viable full cycle. its much more forgiving than rdwc ime, and i like the option to forego using a medium aside from neoprene discs. rdwc is hard to beat in terms of efficiency, growth rate, and potential for automation, but it takes a few cycles to really dial it in. it did for me, at least. its also more costly to build, and has more potential points of failure. i run both currently- my main setup is rdwc, and i use lpa totes for cloning and vegging (i have flowered in lpa systems in the past though). imo, if you want to keep it simple and effective, go aero. if you want to go higher risk-higher reward, go rdwc.

Nice, thanks for chiming in bud, good to hear from someone that's done or doing both.

I like the idea of full cycle aero. I already have an aerocloner built( that I love) I figure I could make a 4 site tote to veg in fairly easy and then move each plant to the flower room and into he bigger setup to flower.

I'd like to run the big system with a 20-30g res/control . Did you run yours similar or was each aero site it's own res?

 

[diggs99]

low pressure aero is totally viable full cycle. its much more forgiving than rdwc ime, and i like the option to forego using a medium aside from neoprene discs. rdwc is hard to beat in terms of efficiency, growth rate, and potential for automation, but it takes a few cycles to really dial it in. it did for me, at least. its also more costly to build, and has more potential points of failure. i run both currently- my main setup is rdwc, and i use lpa totes for cloning and vegging (i have flowered in lpa systems in the past though). imo, if you want to keep it simple and effective, go aero. if you want to go higher risk-higher reward, go rdwc.

Do you have any pics of your aero setup posted anywhere?

Did you use a chiller?
I've seen one or two not use a chiller and claim water temps weren't an issue because of all the oxygen the plants would be constantly getting? I dunno I'm still trying to learn about this stuff lol

 

[myke]

I’m the other way. That aero looks time consuming lots of potential problems. Rdwc not the crazy undercurrent ones just normal rdwc. Simple ,no work to maintain.
With winter it’s even easier. But I could see the areo working in a warm climate.

 

[redi jedi]

I dont know how anyone could think RDWC is more complicated than aero? I also believe low pressure aero, is not aeroponics. Having said that aero is IMO the most technically complicated way to grow anything.

 

[rkymtnman]

I also believe low pressure aero, is not aeroponics.

i thought i read that somewhere too. the micron size of the droplets have to be less than a certain size to be considered true aeroponics.

 

[rkymtnman]

Nice, thanks for chiming in bud, good to hear from someone that's done or doing both.

I like the idea of full cycle aero. I already have an aerocloner built( that I love) I figure I could make a 4 site tote to veg in fairly easy and then move each plant to the flower room and into he bigger setup to flower.

I'd like to run the big system with a 20-30g res/control . Did you run yours similar or was each aero site it's own res?

contact this guy and see how he does it for bloom. the veg growth is amazing.

 

[redi jedi]

i thought i read that somewhere too. the micron size of the droplets have to be less than a certain size to be considered true aeroponics.

Aero is all about creating a fine mist, just cant be done without high pressure. LPA is basically DWC without the roots being submerged.

 

[diggs99]

Aero is all about creating a fine mist, just cant be done without high pressure. LPA is basically DWC without the roots being submerged.

I just finished reading a pretty good article on exactly what your saying. HPA is true aero, but lpa works fine too.

This dude used tefen misters with these cool nozzles to achieve perfect mist.

 

[thenasty1]

Do you have any pics of your aero setup posted anywhere?

Did you use a chiller?
I've seen one or two not use a chiller and claim water temps weren't an issue because of all the oxygen the plants would be constantly getting? I dunno I'm still trying to learn about this stuff lol

i can grab a couple pics in a bit. when i flowered in this kind of setup, i used rails mostly. if i were to flower in totes, i would probably keep it to 1 or 2 plants per tote (unless i wanted to just go rooted clone straight to flower)
i do run chillers in my rdwc, but i run a live res at around 72 degrees (higher res temp=faster plant metabolism up to a certain point). ive seen that you are running led, you might be able to get away without chillers as well. it might be worth setting up a test tote or two with a pump running 24/7 to get an idea of what your temps would be like if you have the space. had i built my systems with waterfalls instead of airstones, i could probably get away with no chillers due to my a/c setup. airstones arent all bad though, they provide a sort of failsafe if your recirc pump dies on you. im happy to answer what i can if you have more questions, @ttystikk has posted a lot of good info on the subject as well

I dont know how anyone could think RDWC is more complicated than aero? I also believe low pressure aero, is not aeroponics. Having said that aero is IMO the most technically complicated way to grow anything.

i call it more complicated because it has more things that can go wrong, and drives pretty differently than most other forms of hydro that i have worked with. and i agree with you, "low pressure aero" is not actually aeroponic. i use this terminology because i dont know what else to call it and most people know what im saying when i use it. true aero is definitely the most complex form of hydro there is. @dstroy did a journal or two a while back with actual aero. impressive design and results

i thought i read that somewhere too. the micron size of the droplets have to be less than a certain size to be considered true aeroponics.

was about to post this

 

[redi jedi]

I just finished reading a pretty good article on exactly what your saying. HPA is true aero, but lpa works fine too.

This dude used tefen misters with these cool nozzles to achieve perfect mist.

Yes, LPA does work I just dont see the point when you just go rdwc and save a bunch of unnessecary plumbing and nozzles that will eventually clog.

 

[thenasty1]

Yes, LPA does work I just dont see the point when you just go rdwc and save a bunch of unnessecary plumbing and nozzles that will eventually clog.

forgot about that bit
clogging can be avoided with the right design, but it is definitely a concern. i have a few ideas that would involve way less plumbing than rdwc though (one good size control res, one good sized pump feeding into a manifold that goes into the plant totes, drains in the bottom of the plant totes that fall directly into the control via soft hose)

 

[redi jedi]

i can grab a couple pics in a bit. when i flowered in this kind of setup, i used rails mostly. if i were to flower in totes, i would probably keep it to 1 or 2 plants per tote (unless i wanted to just go rooted clone straight to flower)
i do run chillers in my rdwc, but i run a live res at around 72 degrees (higher res temp=faster plant metabolism up to a certain point). ive seen that you are running led, you might be able to get away without chillers as well. it might be worth setting up a test tote or two with a pump running 24/7 to get an idea of what your temps would be like if you have the space. had i built my systems with waterfalls instead of airstones, i could probably get away with no chillers due to my a/c setup. airstones arent all bad though, they provide a sort of failsafe if your recirc pump dies on you. im happy to answer what i can if you have more questions, @ttystikk has posted a lot of good info on the subject as well


i call it more complicated because it has more things that can go wrong, and drives pretty differently than most other forms of hydro that i have worked with. and i agree with you, "low pressure aero" is not actually aeroponic. i use this terminology because i dont know what else to call it and most people know what im saying when i use it. true aero is definitely the most complex form of hydro there is. @dstroy did a journal or two a while back with actual aero. impressive design and results

was about to post this

Well thats just it, the equipment needed for lpa is virtually the same as rdwc minus the spray nozzle. So how is there more things to go wrong? The point is mute as far as Im concerned...

 

[redi jedi]

forgot about that bit
clogging can be avoided with the right design, but it is definitely a concern. i have a few ideas that would involve way less plumbing than rdwc though (one good size control res, one good sized pump feeding into a manifold that goes into the plant totes, drains in the bottom of the plant totes that fall directly into the control via soft hose)

The unnessecary plumbing Im referring too would be the spray header/manifold used in lpa

 

[redi jedi]

But then again if you choose to aerate by waterfalls, you need the manifold so 6 of one, half dozen of the other...