small aeroponic res question...

[DIYer]

I've grown in hydro a few times now, all DWC though and i now want to try aero. I know with DWC the smaller the res the more the pH can swing and i was wondering if the same held true for aeroponics systems?

I thought it wold be cool to have a few single plant buckets or tubs, real movable and arrangeable. All with there own mini fountain pump and sprayer inside. Something real simple like maybe say just a 3 gallon bucket with around 1 gallon of water in it. And probably one tub or bucket that held a few clones,.. but im worried about the small amount of water in each. Would this be a problem and if so how would you tackle it?

 

[ItsAllOver]

It's true that pH fluctuates more readily in a smaller res, and it doesn't matter what system you're running. I'd imagine it might be a bit less of an issue due to the typically higher nutrient uptake in aero systems. This would help balance out the issue at hand, but it'll still happen. Pretty sure what I'm saying is true.

 

[bluebublelove]

yeah man. I've thought about this before. I have a buddy whos theory is that if you oxygenate the res with a fat stone and also keep a fine mist blasting into the water that the water will create more of a mist allowing no settling of heavy sediments that can concentrate and potentially throw off the ph, however I have no understanding as to why the ph might shift more drastically in a small hydro container compared to larger.

 

[geopolitical]

A smaller hydro container will buffer an equal # of plants for less time than a larger one. As plants uptake nutrients such as phosphorous or potassium the corresponding shift in the chemistry of the solution will change pH. Most hydroponic solutions end up as "buffered" solutions when mixed properly. They will resist pH swings quite a bit.

 

[DIYer]

Most hydroponic solutions end up as "buffered" solutions when mixed properly. They will resist pH swings quite a bit.

Could you explain that line a little more? I've always had pH swing with my hydro so im curious as to anything that will resist pH swings.

 

[DIYer]

I'm thinking a better way to go (since i have a lot of vertical room) is to do a decent size res below the aero jets. Bow if a small res is always going to have pH swing issues (please correct me if im wrong there but ive found nothing in my searches to prove otherwise) then how big should i go with the res to keep pH swings from being an issue?

Thanks

 

[ItsAllOver]

I use the black container/yellow lid heavy duty storage bins. I fit 20 gal in mine easily. That seems a good amount for me. I think that bucket would be ideal for an enclosed aero setup. I have seen it done before, too. (but if you did use it as the aero chamber, you'd lose a lot of potential res volume... Those buckets are strong as any purpose made hydro res out there, I'd say. (without doing stress tests to prove it. lol)

Peace