PUMP sizing in AERO

gvega187

gvega187

Well-Known Member
hey,

I am making a DIY system and was wondering what GPh would be required. The pump plumbing will have a max height of 2 ft.

The sprayer tubes are 1/2" and will fill 3 6' tubes.

Using American Ag. green 360 degree sprayers.

Would a 700 gph mag drive pump be ok?

Is it posssible to have excessive power? I was thinking about just getting a 900 just to be sure.
 
gvega187

gvega187

Well-Known Member
so i realize this may sound confusing.

it is a DIY about 30 sites. The pump will sit about 2 ft lower than the spray tubes.

Will I need a pump over 700 Gph?
 
mardavarot

mardavarot

Well-Known Member
Hi man. To be honest, it is not AERO . You can call this advance NTF. The best man who can give you advice on this is EARL. But if you really want to go for AERO just PM me , I give you link (proper) and you will understand what is Aero.
Regards
 
gvega187

gvega187

Well-Known Member
I am not exactly asking for a aeroponic system design critique. I know the system I am making is aeroponic just like the aeroflo that I am running...so yes I do know what AERO is.

I was asking about pumps sizing mainly and I welcome any advice on that subject.
 
mardavarot

mardavarot

Well-Known Member
ok, np.
And what so difficult in this mater???
Get amount of water pushit through the mister multiply by quantity of misters you want to use. it gives you a size of the pump + (20-50G) on the top of this size.
Lets say your mister pushes 8GPH, you need 20 misters. 8x20=160+(20-50G) i take 30, so 160+30=190GPH pump will be 200GPH
 
DaBombSquad

DaBombSquad

Well-Known Member
You should check out a wick system. They are way cheaper to make. The plants use the water as they need it. I recoment an Emily's Garden Hydroponic System. It comes with everything. Only thinking you need to add is water.
 
gvega187

gvega187

Well-Known Member
i trust that wick systems are indeed easy to maintain.

for easy of use i would actually go with ebb & flo

For better results try aeroponics...

no offense guys but I already mentioned that this thread is about pump sizing and not about my DIY plans. Thanks marda
 
gvega187

gvega187

Well-Known Member
marda, how do I know what gph my sprayers are capable of.

I am using the normal green American agritech sprayers.
 
gvega187

gvega187

Well-Known Member
anyone else got an idea? I need to get a more powerful pump quick, but I don't want to get another that will provide not enough poowwahh! Thanks and sorry I am in a rush about it!

bump
 
J

Jim Dunlop

Active Member
I have 24 sprayers, 1.5 ft head and 3/4" PVC for the spray manifold and I use a 420 gph pump and it works fine. A 700 will raise res temps too much. I need to exhaust the res even with my 420 gph pump because I have a small res.

 
gvega187

gvega187

Well-Known Member
very nice dunlop and welcome to the forums. lol I noticed yo also use foil tape for unused 2" inserts.

I am using 1.5ft head with only 1/2" plumbing. I still think a 700 might be necessary though.

Are those 5' long 6"diameter tubes you are using? I am getting some later to begin copying modifying one of stinkbud's Aero systems.

I have noticed that EARL (aero master around here) uses a 1200 Gph pump for one 10' tube with 4 friggin plants. This makes me feel especially lacking with even a 700 gph pump on a 30 site...
 
J

Jim Dunlop

Active Member
It's 4" tubing, only about 3.5 feet long. It will be upgraded to 5 feet at some point.

Smaller diameter spray pipe means less power needed to push water through, you could probably get away with a 300. 700 is not necessary.

Earl helped me with this system, I've been picking his brain for a year. He has a chiller so he can afford to use a 1200 and he does all sorts of stuff with it. I think he needs that 1200 because he needs the water to travel 10+ feet to the end of the PVC. You won't need anything like that, right? If you use a 700 you'll probably need a chiller.

I have 21 slots cut at the moment in mine, 24 sprayers.
 
gvega187

gvega187

Well-Known Member
cool I think your right about the 10 feet. I will be looking at much more than 10 feet altogether though. My 1/2" plumbing will go inside grow chambers extending almost full length. This means if each tube is 5 feet there will be 15 feet of 1/2" tube not counting the head height.

Can you explain to me the advantage of using the external sprayers? Can you dismount them for cleaning easier?

If so, please provide me a link to where earl shows how to DIY this unit. It has been a while since I have studied the great teachings of the almighty earl. Thanks again man
 
J

Jim Dunlop

Active Member
He didn't really post any pictures. I can show you some of my pics... The system is very similar to earls.

With the sprayers on the outside yes they're easy to check and clean and I dont have to worry about roots growing over them. It also gives the roots more space to grow in an already small environment.

Unlike what Stinkbud seems to believe, the sprayers work fine upside down, and he claims you need a huge pump to do this, but I have proven a 420 gph works.

I can take some pics tonight of how to put together the spray manifold and all that if that's what you mean.

What Earl does is make the manifold at the pump in the res and runs spaghetti tubing from there, although his 4" system uses a good amount of 3/4" or 1" pvc from the pump.
 
gvega187

gvega187

Well-Known Member
ok i follow you. I remember the space shuttle uses that 4 way splitter thing from the res. yeah. I like your method better with the plumbing running parallel to the grow chambers. I hope these parts can be purchased at local hardware stores. I have the sprayers and pvc etc. I just need to know how you constructed the manifold as u say. Is it necessary to run 2 sprayers on each side of a plant site like you and earl do?

pics would be greatly appreciated
 
J

Jim Dunlop

Active Member
Yea I recommend a sprayer on each side for maximum coverage. With this system I get extreme explosive root growth. You need a male branch T, it is the key to the system. I had to order mine online. You might be able to find them at a plumbing supply store.

The one in the link, you just need to drill a 3/8" hole in the pvc and they thread right in and they have thread sealant already on them. They come in 11 and 14mm hex sizes, doesn't really matter which one you get. I bought extras in case I build another system.
 
gvega187

gvega187

Well-Known Member
ok its been a while, but i have been doing a little research.

The black tubes you use for spray lines are 1/4" OD correct?

I have found the same piece you bought on another site. http://www.mcmaster.com/#cad-2d/5779k174/=111h6z

$30 for 10 of these on here...ouch factor. I NEED what 60 of these to run 30 sites?

Does this look right?

Also, do the sprayers fit in the 1/8" holes or something?
 
gvega187

gvega187

Well-Known Member
oh nm about the sprayers in the hole thing i was confused for a sec.

Did you also have to order the grommets to insert the sprayers?
 
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