oldbubbler
Member
Folks I've dropped in here occasionally over the years mainly looking for tips on Aeroponics as i've always been convinced as an old bubbler that air is the key.
Due to circumstance and preference i never did follow through with aeroponics mainly due to the labour intensity of maintenance and the like and it alweays bothered me the failure potential with a blown compressor etc that it's COMPLETE failure that you got about 15 mins to correct whereas with bubblers a failure on a bubbler you got about 3 days grace.
Anyway, I steered clear of aeroponics just for that reason but appreciated the tips during my research and thought I'd just drop in to return the favour for any bubblers looking for an edge.
And the edge as i always suspected (hence my attraction to aero) is AIR.
Fine bubble diffusers to be precise (or in my case medium pore diffusers).
Now these ones I've tried are medium pore diffusers that can be used with a STANDARD aerator
http://www.aquasonic.com.au/NewCatalogue/Aeration_p_30.pdf
They are re-usable countless times as they're much better quality to standard airstones at about 10 times the price (AU $3 v AU $30) - but I'll maintain given their longevity (even without counting the benefits) they are well worth the investment. Strandard stones for me generally crumble to dust after about 2-3 cycles and don't take to kindly to cleaning with OXYPLUS or similar, these medium pore diffusers, just soak them in OXYPLUS overnight and they're good as new with NIL breakdown. I reckon there's yeeeeeeeears worth in them
And the benefits! First thing you'll notice is your water - the bubbles "suspend" (for want of a better term) much, more longer in the water before they float to the top and disipate and your water becomes absolutely saturated with oxygen without turning your bucket into a washing machine (which you'd have to do to get the same effect with standard stones).
For reference note standard stones produce bubbles (as per their own blurb) of 3mm+, medium pore diffusers 1-3mm. Doesn't sound much on paper but the difference to the eye is astounding. We're talking a bucket diffused full of soft bubbles rather than a bucket with a stream of hard bubbles (best way I can describe it)
Yield now confirmed over 3 cycles including running a standard and medium pore diffuser side by side in same cycle is around about 15%-18%+ (nearly a 5th). Additionally the health of the plants is much much improved, colour is vibrant and these things literally strain at the leash - as erect as a honeymooners.... you know what... from day 1 to harvest day. And the system is much cleaner too, seems to prevent buildups much better.
Now if you follow the link and peruse more of the site you'll find there's even FINER bubble diffusers which I'm thinking hard about giving a go too - these babies measure bubbles not in millimetres but in the microns (whatever they are) BUT they need a compressor to run. If I give them a go I'll let you's know.
But in the meantime bubblers - think about your stones, look for finer bubble diffusers - IT'S ALL IN THE AIR!
Due to circumstance and preference i never did follow through with aeroponics mainly due to the labour intensity of maintenance and the like and it alweays bothered me the failure potential with a blown compressor etc that it's COMPLETE failure that you got about 15 mins to correct whereas with bubblers a failure on a bubbler you got about 3 days grace.
Anyway, I steered clear of aeroponics just for that reason but appreciated the tips during my research and thought I'd just drop in to return the favour for any bubblers looking for an edge.
And the edge as i always suspected (hence my attraction to aero) is AIR.
Fine bubble diffusers to be precise (or in my case medium pore diffusers).
Now these ones I've tried are medium pore diffusers that can be used with a STANDARD aerator
http://www.aquasonic.com.au/NewCatalogue/Aeration_p_30.pdf
They are re-usable countless times as they're much better quality to standard airstones at about 10 times the price (AU $3 v AU $30) - but I'll maintain given their longevity (even without counting the benefits) they are well worth the investment. Strandard stones for me generally crumble to dust after about 2-3 cycles and don't take to kindly to cleaning with OXYPLUS or similar, these medium pore diffusers, just soak them in OXYPLUS overnight and they're good as new with NIL breakdown. I reckon there's yeeeeeeeears worth in them
And the benefits! First thing you'll notice is your water - the bubbles "suspend" (for want of a better term) much, more longer in the water before they float to the top and disipate and your water becomes absolutely saturated with oxygen without turning your bucket into a washing machine (which you'd have to do to get the same effect with standard stones).
For reference note standard stones produce bubbles (as per their own blurb) of 3mm+, medium pore diffusers 1-3mm. Doesn't sound much on paper but the difference to the eye is astounding. We're talking a bucket diffused full of soft bubbles rather than a bucket with a stream of hard bubbles (best way I can describe it)
Yield now confirmed over 3 cycles including running a standard and medium pore diffuser side by side in same cycle is around about 15%-18%+ (nearly a 5th). Additionally the health of the plants is much much improved, colour is vibrant and these things literally strain at the leash - as erect as a honeymooners.... you know what... from day 1 to harvest day. And the system is much cleaner too, seems to prevent buildups much better.
Now if you follow the link and peruse more of the site you'll find there's even FINER bubble diffusers which I'm thinking hard about giving a go too - these babies measure bubbles not in millimetres but in the microns (whatever they are) BUT they need a compressor to run. If I give them a go I'll let you's know.
But in the meantime bubblers - think about your stones, look for finer bubble diffusers - IT'S ALL IN THE AIR!