New grower wants to build aeroponic dwc bin

C

CmoKush

Member
Hey what's up all.

I see this is a pretty big forum so I decided to join the family. :)

Anyhow I'm looking into building one of those aeroponic spraying / dwc combo rubbermaid bins or totes whatever you want to call it. I didn't see any stickys of one so I'm just gonna post to ask and also introduce myself, 2 birds with 1 stone. Not sure if post belongs here because it's aero and dwc hybrid.

I don't know how big but probably only 18 gallon because it will be in a stealth cabinet. So here's what I figured so far;
18 gallon bin
dual outlet air pump (ecoplus brand seems fine)
water pump 264gph (again ecoplus, don't know if 265 is over kill for a 18g)
2 x air stones (prob the 8" ecoplus)
koralia nano water circulator powerhead
4 x 3 or 4in net pots
PVC for tubing
360' sprayers

That's it I guess, I'll explain my other plans.
Cabinet with flowering area, veg/mother area, carbon scrubber inline fan and supplies area. Flowering lit by 120w LED light from eBay, veg/mom by CFL tubes maybe T5. Probably the simple GH nutrients and I'll expand from there when I get more experience. I also plan to make a small cloner when I establish some moms with 2" neoprenes, an air stone and ultrasonic fogger in a small container.

As for me, I live in Miami. Haven't done any grow yet but I'm eager to start, I'm just looking for the right cabinet to get started. Let me know what you guys think, thanks!
 
Polecat

Polecat

Active Member
i bought one just like you are talking about. Great idea but just didn't cut it. roots would grow on sprayers and the sprayers clogged. best thing i have used for clones. For me a dwc with a big enough air pump to create a mist was much less troublesome. Good luck and buy the best sparyers you can get.
 
C

CmoKush

Member
Hmm I've never heard anyone having that problem before. I hope it was just a design flaw. How's everything else sound as far as parts and cabinet?

Anyone got a bookmarked link to a step by step aeroponic build?
 
kermitfrog3303

kermitfrog3303

Well-Known Member
I just built one out of an 18 gal bin but im using 1/2 in drip irrigation lines with micro sprayers but everything has been working fine for the first week so far. My pump is 135 gph but i think im gonna upgrade to a larger one soon cause the pressure seems a little low so I think your pump will work great.
 
C

CmoKush

Member
kermitfrog3303 said:
I just built one out of an 18 gal bin but im using 1/2 in drip irrigation lines with micro sprayers but everything has been working fine for the first week so far. My pump is 135 gph but i think im gonna upgrade to a larger one soon cause the pressure seems a little low so I think your pump will work great.
Click to expand...
Cool thanks for input. So you did sprayers and direct drip lines? How many spray/drip sites do you have though. Also is your PVC 1 pipe along middle or 2 parallel?
 
kermitfrog3303

kermitfrog3303

Well-Known Member
well actually I have 1/2 in black poly hose for drip irrigation coming up from the pump and then it splits with a tee and goes around like a square inside with 1/4 riser lines going up with 4 half micro sprayers. Ill try to take a picture tomorrow morning with the lights on.
 
dbkick

dbkick

Well-Known Member
Good luck with the totes lid not leaking. I just built a 37 gallon roughtote aerospring unit( true aeroponics requires a 5 micron spray and you won't get that with a regular water pump and sprayers from home depot) . I made it a three site unit not thinking actually wtf I was doing trying to fit 3 plants in that area. so after about two weeks of veg I was out buying thing to make bubble buckets. Turns out the tote I used even though it was huge wouldn't even do two plants thru 30 days of veg(my clones went from 2 inches to like 55 inches in 45 days or so although they were and have been stressed bad due to I'm a noob. I did have trouble with sprayers clogging too but also had in place an air pump and stones in the rez so it wasn't a huge issue.
My issues have been more with being a dumbass and over ferting(sensi bloom, odd, I thought that 200 dollar ph/ec/tds meter would be handy)
S0 anyway, if you don't throw the cash (about 350) for a true aeroponic mister then its really not true aeroponics but works well, I'd probably agree with the guy up above that mentioned dwc and a air pump/oxygenator would be more feasible.
Although I retired my bigass aerospring unit after one grow (veg only) , I'm gonna attempt another design with this new type of tote I saw at home depot, it has a hinged lid at the front and it looks pretty promising for a single site unit.
This is a link to my first grow(poor plants) . https://www.rollitup.org/members/dbkick-248527/albums/first-grow-12724/
see you later
 
C

CmoKush

Member
dbkick said:
Good luck with the totes lid not leaking. I just built a 37 gallon roughtote aerospring unit( true aeroponics requires a 5 micron spray and you won't get that with a regular water pump and sprayers from home depot) . I made it a three site unit not thinking actually wtf I was doing trying to fit 3 plants in that area. so after about two weeks of veg I was out buying thing to make bubble buckets. Turns out the tote I used even though it was huge wouldn't even do two plants thru 30 days of veg(my clones went from 2 inches to like 55 inches in 45 days or so although they were and have been stressed bad due to I'm a noob. I did have trouble with sprayers clogging too but also had in place an air pump and stones in the rez so it wasn't a huge issue.
My issues have been more with being a dumbass and over ferting(sensi bloom, odd, I thought that 200 dollar ph/ec/tds meter would be handy)
S0 anyway, if you don't throw the cash (about 350) for a true aeroponic mister then its really not true aeroponics but works well, I'd probably agree with the guy up above that mentioned dwc and a air pump/oxygenator would be more feasible.
Although I retired my bigass aerospring unit after one grow (veg only) , I'm gonna attempt another design with this new type of tote I saw at home depot, it has a hinged lid at the front and it looks pretty promising for a single site unit.
This is a link to my first grow(poor plants) . https://www.rollitup.org/members/dbkick-248527/albums/first-grow-12724/
see you later
Click to expand...
Yea ive heard you have to get the Roughneck model it's the strongest.
5 micron sprayer? How many micron are the EZ clone ones? Sounds like a mister at that point not a sprayer.

I'm relying by phone so I can't quote other guy but inside pics would be awesome.
 
C

CmoKush

Member
That's.... different from what I've seen lol.

Just had to let close friend borrow $300, aero on time out for a month when he pays me back, SUCKS
 
pwizzle

pwizzle

Well-Known Member
Top feed with water until you see some slight lightening of the leaves. Then feed 1/8th strength of nutes once a week.
After you see roots poking out you can stop hand watering and it's pretty much on autopilot :D
Just keep your PH in check and watch them grow like weeds!
 
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