Ive done all that. Did dirt for years. I'm doing DWC now. I've done ebb and flow and drip. I have experience with my co-op partner (in his setup) doing low pressure aero. Now I am doing this. I am going to keep it as simple as possible, but thanks for the warnings
After this crop I will decide where I am going to go with it. Right now I'm keeping it as simple as possible. My tubs were warm inside because I painted the tops black, so I put some silver insulation on the lids, cooled them way down. They must be in the low 70s now. Were at least 85 degrees in the root zone before that. I will try to leap each hurdle as I come to it. Just want to survive this one.
What specific problems did you have that turned you off with High Pressure Aero? How important is it to run it 'flawlessly'? If I have a system that is pushing out the droplets the right size and the temps, ph, ppm and timing is right, do I really need perfection? I really want to keep this as simple as possible. If I can get it down to something that is relatively simple that works, I will be happy.
Yeah, I read that some people end up with dwarf plants. Im more interested in the high levels of oxygenation. I'm with you on drenching them.
These HP pumps are not made for continous duty and would burn out, not to mention the noise, electrical waste and heat they would make. You cannot run without an accumulator and get any better results than normal hydro, sorry...
I love you Hammer, but I fully disagree. The plants do not starve, they flourish and become very efficient eaters. But you have to do it right in the first place, with an accumulator, and the correct mist nozzles...
That's a huge rez, my 8 site chamber only used 5-10 gallons per week.
When you drench, you are covering the roots in liquid, which somwhat starves them for oxygen and is about the same as hydroponics. HP aero is an all or nothing thing, and it seems you are not interested in doing it. The reason people have trouble is because they try to shortcut or simplify, so Then the aeroflo or stinkbud system is probably better for you... You really need to read and research before wasting money... HP aero done properly with an accumulator is foolproof in terms of reliability, even in a power outage the tank keeps the nutes spraying for possibly days without the need to recharge- you only need a 12v marine battery to keep the solenoid and timers going... There is a bit or work in building a system, but after that, it is very simple to run- almost fully automated other than reading your plants and adjusting the mist and ppm according to stages of growth and ambient conditions...
The aquatec 6800 is a continuous duty pump according to the manufacturer. It is also uses very little power. This pump is dead silent. All I can hear when it runs are the misters spraying.
I don't think it has to be all or nothing. Especially when I am just beginning to get my feet wet. Perhaps in the future I will want to step it up a level, but for now I am going to keep it as safe and simple as possible and see what comes of it. Time will tell where I go with it. Simple is good for me at this time.
In my DWC tree system four plants drink 15-20 gallons a day in full bloom. That is the measure I go by. I also go on 2-3 day ski or sailing trips. I have someone babysit, but I like to be able to walk for a few days without them having to touch the system. I have had babysitters fuck my plants up in the past. Automation is a beautiful thing.
Feed the same as your DWC... You might not have aero roots and therefore won't need to change your regimen as it will be similar from the plant's perspective. You'll be tossing out alot of water and spending alot of extra time and trouble on a system that won't likely produce much better than your DWC- but perhaps you'll make it work, and if it doesn't make you happy you only have to add a little more to go all the way. You won't need a heater with the heat the pump likely creates running constantly.
I will keep it updated as this crop progresses, thanks again and I will probably be asking more questions down the road.Feed the same as your DWC... You might not have aero roots and therefore won't need to change your regimen as it will be similar from the plant's perspective. You'll be tossing out alot of water and spending alot of extra time and trouble on a system that won't likely produce much better than your DWC- but perhaps you'll make it work, and if it doesn't make you happy you only have to add a little more to go all the way. You won't need a heater with the heat the pump likely creates running constantly.
Give it a shot and we'll see how it works- and work on it if it needs any help
