Me and my buddy just made one last night out of 4" sewer tubes. To get right to the question. My buddy took an end cap, cut in in half to create a little bit of a dam on the end where in drains back into the resivor. I'm just worried, since when the pump (560 gph) is running, the level of water in the pipes is about halfway. Would'nt that be taking a chance of drowning the roots? Should the water be at a lower level and just basically run a constant flow at the bottom of the tube instead of being half filled with water all the time? Hopefully u can get a idea of what I'm saying without a pic.
diy aero systym made with sewer tubes question
- Thread starter brutus3
- Start date
Well, it eventually drains, no? If I understand your system correctly, which seems to be NFT (right?), you're not going to drown the roots as long as the nutrient flow eventually drains from the pipe. You should also be running the pump on a timer, so you if you have an adjustable timer, you can set your pump on for seconds instead of a minute (or whatever).
It would be helpful since you have a high-pressure pump, which will wet the roots very quickly.
It would be helpful since you have a high-pressure pump, which will wet the roots very quickly.
If you are intending to grow aeroponics, the lower the water level the better as long as the roots are established. The more roots exposed to water, the more NFT the grow becomes. Either will be ok provided your is exchanging water/nutes rapidly.
To stay on the aero side of the grow, upgrade that pump to 1200gph and run lots of misters on a timer, keep the water level zero in the tubes if you can..
To stay on the aero side of the grow, upgrade that pump to 1200gph and run lots of misters on a timer, keep the water level zero in the tubes if you can..
I'm still new to the aeroponics and still do the majority in soil. Nft refers to the sprayers??
Yes, that's ok, with that setup, you want water to stand in the tubes but it has to flow rapidly, looks like you have that covered.
If you want that to work a little better, throw an air pump at the res.....
runningriot
Member
use a net bro
woodman420
New member
You can also but a value on the the exit part of the drain, so that you can regulate the amount of water flow in the tube. When the plants are young and the roots dont reach close the drain partly, then as they grow open the value more. Also have the exit drain large than the intake drain,this will let the water to flow out faster.
If the air tube inside the pipe it will work for some time, but once the roots start going nuts they will wrap around the air pipe. Can add extra air stones in the res, enough that it looks as if the water is boiling in the res.
If the air tube inside the pipe it will work for some time, but once the roots start going nuts they will wrap around the air pipe. Can add extra air stones in the res, enough that it looks as if the water is boiling in the res.
Yeah, that was kinda the idea at first. Iv'e been an old school soil guy! The only thing u could never get me to switch is my homemade power cloner! 100% always roots in no more than 2 weeks.
My buddy swears by water. My flowering aero setup was the rough draft we whipped up the other night and went with. I'm just thinking, I already know cleaning the res and stuff will be a chore. Had a bunch of root pieces I had to skim out! Anyways, I'm thinking about changing the res water next week and clean that up. Now I'm kinda wondering if, (before the roots start getting too crazy!) I can dismantle the sewer tubes real quick, and add more holes to the srayer tube which right now has a few holes spraying around each plant. The tubes are 4ft long,3 plants in each. I can adjust how quick it drains by inclining the front . I'm thinking about spacing out 24 holes (1 every 2 inches) in each tube, so roughly 8, 1/32 holes shooting out around each plant, or, just 24 for 3, however u look at it, lol! U guys think that would be better?Any thought on my last post about drilling more holes?? Tomarrow will be a week. They're looking good. Roots are establishing well and are nice silky white in color. I did raise the back end (towards res) to allow a little more water to stand for the roots. All seems well. I'm always open for any suggestions or comments to make things better though.
woodman420
New member
I got two 8'' pipes w 5 holes in each tube, they are bout 8 to 10" apart. I dont have the water pipe inside like your pic above. I have 1 intake 3/4'' pipe on top that sticks an inch or two into the pipe w a 22.5 angle then a reducer for some pressure to create air in the flow. Then flip the pipe over drill 2 1'' holes one at each end now connect the two holes on the outside. The end that has the intake on the top u want to stick a pipe inside for a overflow at the other end which is the exit the pipe will be flush. this will be where the value will go to regulate the amount of water in the pipe. once the roots are well growing the water just needs to run across them. I cant remeber the site i went to but its was a lettuce nft grow. I will try to get some pics of my pipes might be able to understand alittle better.
Wow! 8"! Where the heck u get those? LOL. Iv'e already decided if this goes good, I'm goin with 6" next round! This one is a trial I can afford to have F up, (thinking worst case of course!) I have faith though. So u think faster drainage is better when the roots start goin crazy? I would actually think the opposite. Thats why I raised up the back end of mine. I'm torn!! LOL. I geuss trial and error/environment is the best. I like results though! And knowledge equals good results! That's why I'm here to listen all! U can never know enough! Even this old dog can learn a few new tricks! LOL. Gotta excuse me. I just riiped on some shishkaberry. Very nice! Stoney,laughy buzz with a little kick to get ya motivated. I recommend it! Not dro yet. grown in soil, along with my fav food in back.
BC ice in water is next up. Will post pics! 
Anything??? Come on guys. 6", 8" pipes? More spray? Bigger pump? How do I maximize this? Who is the artist on this???? the bc ice is only averaging 1.25-1.5 now. My buddy tells me I should be getting 3-4 o's a piece in aero, (when done right!)woodman420
New member
Heres some pics of my 8" pipes, as you can tell I am trying to add to it over and over. At each planter I have added 2 misters(ez misters web site a little different then the spray misters) on each side. Now I have to see how much pressure is going to be needed to push 20 heads. I have hooked them up to my house water pressure and they work great, put to run them off just a pump from the res dont know yet. I have seen the booster pressure pumps but some call for atleast 40psi to gat to 160psi. I think its just a learning curve. Cant figure out how to add the pics help
woodman, to add pics click the go advanced tab. That will bring up the attachment feature that looks like a little paper clip. U add pics through there. I'd love to see your setup. I know I'm gonna need some bigger tubes next round for sure. The roots are going crazy already! Not even 2 weeks into flower yet.
