Soil Guy Switching to Aeroponics few questions. L.A. Woman, Raspberry Cough, Ice

Hey all you aero growers. This is my 4th grow and I'm looking to have a perpetual system very soon on a 2 week rotation.

This is my grow thread currently

https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/406649-l-woman-4th-grow-first.html


I've decided to build my own aeroponic system. I was thinking a simple design like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq1QSDLNKqE&NR=1

Do you think this will be sufficient? (Note: I will be doing more net pots in it)

Okay now more questions...

1.)I would like to use 18 Gallon containers for this. Is that a good size for a setup like the above link?

I want do as many plants in each container as possible(will be using more than one 18 Gal. Container.) I believe the guy in the video used 3" net pots and does 4 per row if he used all the space. so that would be 12 total. I will be doing a 0 veg period straight to flower with clones so....

2.) Could I use 2" net pots?

3.) How far do I space them?

4.) Also I do my clones in 1" rockwool cubes. What other medium should I use to surround the rockwool cube in the net pots? I was thinking Hydroton? What do you guys recommend.

I will be using either a 250GPH or 400GPH water pump.

5.) I noticed they used no air stone or anything. I guess this is not required because of the roots being suspended above the water and being misted?

I will be finishing my first round of L.A. Woman in soil. I have 5 fem Raspberry Cough and 5 fem Ice seeds coming and want to do these in the aero system.

6.) How do you guys start your seedlings for aeroponics?

I have not figured out how I'm going to do this. I've never even started seeds in rockwool cubes, only clones. Always germ them in a paper towel and then plant in soil with taproot pointing down.

Thanks for all replies in advance. I look forward to posting in this section of the forum.

Bump... ... ..

That system is a good idea, but those nozzles get clogged and need regularly cleaning/replacing. If you don't mind this, then go with the system in the video. You can make a similar setup without nozzles. Have the PVC pipe about 1/2 between the pots and just drill holes in them. This way you get a stream of water hitting them and no clogging. A simpler way would be straight DWC with a few airstones. That way you don't have to worry about a pump. You may want to add a drain to your container to change nutrients easily.

Don't know about the spacing. The closer they are, the taller they'll get (in general). Don't be afraid to experiment.

Thanks for the information. I will have to research DWC I'm not familiar with this style hydro.

Spacing should not be a big issue since I'm doing a 0 veg sea of green style grow.

I'm still curious how you guys germinate your seeds for use with aeroponics.

This is my first grow and I have an aerator. Its going pretty well. Germinate the same way. Put the germinated seed, root down about a half inch down. Put more rock on top. I ran with only ph'd water and did lights, T 5's, for a week. I empty weekly. 2nd week started 1/4 strength micro and grow nutes. I'm not 16 days from seed and have started my first official week of veg with 8 true leaves. Good luck!

Hey There,

You are exactly where i was almost 2 years ago. I built a Aeroponic system and switched from dirt a while ago. I think i can help you.

First off, my system has evolved . I have gotten rid of all pumps and sprayers. I have never had luck with them and they always gave me issues. You can run that same system with no pump just use bubbles and fill up 1 1/2 inches from bottom of net pot. The plants will get to the water quick!

I now have nothing to worry about besides the level of my res!

If you want to use this tho ill answer your questions. A zero veg grow is interesting!

1 - 18 gallon is ideal for this Get brand name

2- By all means use 2 inch net pots. Roots will all be in the res

3- space them as far as you can! do some math. Measure it, decide how many spots you want, do the math.

4- Hydroton is what you wanna use. Rinse it well before using. Itll brown your water.

5- You dont have to have it if your spraying. Plenty o' Oxygen being applied. If you can do it tho, i ALWAYS pump bubbles. Your res will stay cleaner.

6- I put my beans in a washcloth for 48 hours, Once they sprout i use tweezers to place in rockwool. Saturate rock wool then shake off water. You want air in the rockwool as well. I place them in the res from there and spray 2 times a day with water bottle ( i put a small dose of BC Nutes green foliar feed in my bottles)

Roots will be in your res in a week or so.

Awesome this sounds good. I will be using the 18 Gal. Rubbermaid Roughneck containers. So you put them in rockwool and then surround them with hydroton? Is that correct.

I think it will be cheaper and much easier to maintain in the long run for my perpetual system. Soil is not reusable like hydroton. You have to do something with the old soil. I feel I will be spending quite a bit more for nutrients. I will save this though buying soil over and over. I was thinking of starting the Advanced Nutrients Trio. Micro, Grow and Bloom.

I use FoxFarm for soil nutes and soil. I may even try the FoxFarm Hydro Nutes we'll see.

I'm still waiting on some lights for my mother/clone area. Still waiting on the RBC and Ice Seeds.

Will be getting the containers and water pump and a few misc. parts. Luckily I have a lot of PVC on hand.

Do you guys think I should use a 250 gph or 400gph pump. Also Should I use 1/2" or 3/4" pvc. I was thinking 3/4" that is what it looks like in you tube video to me.

Thanks for the responses guys keep it coming, I'm a newbie in this aspect. I'm confident it will be great though.

i used 3/4 inch.

250 should be fine in a tub.

I use bc nutes (hydro) and i like um!

Youll like the system over dirt i think.

2 inch net pots. I put a few hydroton in the bottom. Put rock wool on top then surround with more rockwool.

Have fun!

My Raspberry Cough and Ice seeds arrived today. Nirvana ships quickly.

I picked up 10' of 3/4" CPVC and 3/4" tee and 2 caps today so we will see what happens I still have some things to do in the mother/clone area before I start.

When using the net pots I just bring the water level up to where it is just kissing the bottom, and set the seed directly on the coco liner and put a single layer hydroton over the seed just to block light and it roots straight into the cup and in the aerated water, then slowly add hydroton as the seedling gets taller to support it. I dont use the rockwool in something like that because it can get full of algae and always stays moist and in contact with the stem and may cause stem rot, just something to consider. Botanicare nutes are sweet, just started using that line and they look lush and no burnt tips!

I have used Hydroton for years and ive never had algae in it and it doesnt stay wet. My water is an inch or so from the netpot and once the roots in water i back water off about 6 inches.

Once i clone, i put clones right into 2 inch net pots. I let the bottom hang out a half inch of the bottom of the net potthen surround with hydroton. NO MEDIUM!

I have 100 % success in breeding clones this way