4" PVC Single-Res Aero Shuttle (in progress)

I'm going to name this project the 4 inch Aeroshuttle because this design is basically a hybrid of Earl's space shuttle and his 4" aero/chiller. Basically all of the design here comes from Earls teaching and his journal.

I actually havent started this grow yet because I'm finishing up my last soil grow and then it's "goodbye dirt" forever!

However, I have started the basic construction of the unit and I'm finding that:

A) I'm no builder
&B) I sure as hell aint no Plumber

Therefore, I've decided to go ahead and start this journal now because without you guys I don't think that I can get it setup properly.

So I read Earls '6" Aero Space Shuttle' thread and like all of you I was blown away. I realized just how much time and effort I was wasting. (and just how little I knew)

I want to increase my yield and harvest rate, period.

So here we go:



This is the frame made from 1 1/2" pvc and the 4" tubes on top are sloped 1/2 inch lower on the res side so that after the sprayers shut off that the water will drain right back into the res.

I photoshopped what the 1/4" poly hose will look like when it's in place and those are 3" pots just to show placement. I'll be using the 2" pots with neoprene inserts just as Earl did in his 4" aero chiller thread. The system will have 9 plants which will have 12 inches in all directions to fill out. The unit is 42 inches wide and 60 inches long. So basically we're talking about a 4x5 unit when covered in insulation and Mylar. I want to cap the ends that drain and use a small flexible drain hose that will fall directly into the res.

I've ordered my equipment and I'm simply waiting on delivery of some stuff and for my current grow to finish then away we go.

Here's a picture of my Milwaukee PPM and TDS meters as well as my ECO 633 which will run my sprayers, along with the 330* sprayer heads. I also have a Danner 500GPH pump ordered to run my 1/10 HP chiller which is also ordered.





Where I need you guys is on my room/ro water/ res - setup... I know you mad scientists can help!

Ok look here:

To the right of my flower room is a bathroom which I use as a veg chamber for Mothers and clones:



Here's the other side of the wall which is my Flower room:






Now here's my hurdle; How do I setup the RO water system so that I can run lines to my Res in the flower room? Drill a hole through the wall? Does the RO system have a res of its own or does the water flow through the wall mounted system?

Also, how can I rig a hose to Drain my res back into that bathtub? Would it be possible to run a hose from the bottom of the res back to the bathtub thats powered by a pump? As you can see, the res will sit right by the wall anyway.

Obviously I cannot move full 45 gallon res...although I made sure this one has wheels incase of an emergency...lol . I'm tired of carrying soil and distilled water!!!!! Help me figure this out.

This project is a DEFINITE go and I'm looking from help from all of you aero and plumbing experts out there.


By the way, when this soil grow is done I'll be growing 9 plants in the system and journaling it from day 1. I'll harvest my soil grow on April 15th and totally clean up and reset my flower room. On April 16th I want to put cuttings into this system and go.


Earl, I can't thank you enough for your input thus far.

If you guys see things please point them out.

You are go for launch.

i modded a Brute 50 gallon trash can that has float valve installed from my RO system


i can post pics if you like

alrighty lookin great man ill be keepin an eye on this one

looks like a great design taking form. One thing I would of suggested for you or any other person trying to do a PVC pipe setup is to use Square fence post instead of the round 4" PVC. It is ALOT easier to work with and the baskets just sit and seal inside the square shape ALOT better. Just my 2cents.

hydrounlimited said:

looks like a great design taking form. One thing I would of suggested for you or any other person trying to do a PVC pipe setup is to use Square fence post instead of the round 4" PVC. It is ALOT easier to work with and the baskets just sit and seal inside the square shape ALOT better. Just my 2cents.

Click to expand...

I started to use those but I didnt see any vinyl caps for them...just the decorative brass. 4" is easy. Trust me I thought about it and thank you very much for the feedback. I hope to get feedback from all of you guys.

Does this make sense to you guys? Earl please feel free to weigh in on R/O res and system placement.

LoudBlunts said:

i modded a Brute 50 gallon trash can that has float valve installed from my RO system


i can post pics if you like

Click to expand...

Yes, I'd love to see your setup and discuss it with you. Thank you.

looks way cool, thats something i was kinda in the ball park for.

I'm going to get this setup ready to go (plumbing, res placement, etc) so when my last soil grow is harvested( April 15th) I can clean and reset my flower room with the aero shuttle in it,,,,,,go cut clones, and goooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

alloutindo said:

looks way cool, thats something i was kinda in the ball park for.

Click to expand...

Thank you. Earl should get all the credit for the design. Like Earl says, it's better to put out a little money and grow right.

I got my Milwaukee Monitors last week and for the first time was able to truly test our city water.... 250ppm , 7.2 ph .... UGH.

I had been using distilled water but I can't carry in the amount of water that will be needed for this .....lol . That's why I'm going RO as many have suggested. Our city water is garbage.

I havent totaled it but not including the lights( I have (2) 600 watt HPS units), I'm going to have probably close to 1000 in this build.

That includes the chiller, both pumps for my nute res and 1 pump for the drain line, the pvc to make the system, the sprayers, tubing, grommets, rubbermaid totes, drain, and all necessary miscellaneous parts needed.

I'll be using AN Sensi-grow and Conisseur Bloom. If anyone knows of any nutes that I should add to that list let me know.

Questions?

Here's a look at the RO system and chiller.... I'm not ordering these exact items but these are identical to what I've ordered.

http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUARIUM-REEF-RO-DI-REVERSE-OSMOSIS-WATER-FILTER-SYSTEM_W0QQitemZ350181290116QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item350181290116&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50


http://cgi.ebay.com/1-10-HP-Water-Chiller-13-105-gal-Aquarium-FREE-SHIPPING_W0QQitemZ260381341420QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item260381341420&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1205|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

as far as that chiller, i think you should shop around. im quick to spend money, but i wont be damn if dont bargain shop for at least a week before i buy

i think you can get a better deal on a chiller

far as my RO res setup, gimme a second

LoudBlunts said:

as far as that chiller, i think you should shop around. im quick to spend money, but i wont be damn if dont bargain shop for at least a week before i buy

i think you can get a better deal on a chiller

far as my RO res setup, gimme a second

Click to expand...

The chiller is already ordered. I'm not on a pinched budget so no worries.

The only thing that I havent ordered is the RO system. I'm shopping on Ebay as we speak. Looks like I'll have about 150 in the RO system.

I'm seeing 5 stage, 6 stage, and 7 stage.... Any suggestions?

how important is the chiller in this type of set up?is it a must

mrduke said:

how important is the chiller in this type of set up?is it a must

Click to expand...

all hydroponic res MUST be chilled or temps kept around 65F-68F

any higher you risk pythium and no DO levels in the water (dissolved oxygen)

mrduke said:

how important is the chiller in this type of set up?is it a must

Click to expand...

If you can keep the temp of your flower room at a steady 65* there is no need. In my flower room the (2) 600 watters keep it at 70 even with the room AC on.

From what I've read, if your res temps get up over 68 to 70, you'll have problems. The cooler the better. It's my understanding that the roots have maximum o2 intake when the water temp is 66 to 68 degrees.

Trust me, I didnt like dropping 400 on it but it is essential in my situation.

i connected it under my sink, ran some tubing to the grow op. the blue and white fitting i took a picture of is a John Guest Angle Adapter Quick Connect (push-in) valve

it just allows me to push in a 3/8 poly tubing to run to the input of my RO system (yes that is a vanity type sink or whatever you call it...its wood so i just drilled a small hole so I can run tubing

this is the same bathroom, just up under the bathtub... if you look, you will see some clear tubing running on the ground, that is the input from the water supply under my sink i just mentioned, that runs out of the wall and to my RO system

in this picture you will also see my Quick Connect Saddle drain valves. One is for my RO system's drain line and the other is for one of my Aero system's drain line (i just turn on pumps and it drains itself, really nice perk easy on the back too) And whatever doesnt drain, i just use a siphon battery operated pump (you know those ones you use for kerosene heaters)



inside the RO....i have 2 ario aerator version 4, a float valve, a pump that is hooked to the hose to push the water through, and last but not least...i have my UV sterilizer. I know it may be overkill, but i've had some yucky experiences with water mold and all kinda stuff...so i keep a tight watch on my water now (i normally dont use air pumps because of them introducing spores and fluctuating pH and EC, but this is only RO water and whatever the air pumps germinate, my UV sterilizer will take care of




the blue tubing is hooked up to that white thing. the white thing is a float valve

you can drill holes and use bar stool rubber feet. they have worked great. i just drill a hole in them and run the wiring through.


LAST BUT NOT LEAST, a pic of the whole RO res unit

sorry for the really big pics, its been a while (almost a year) since i've used RIU and forgot how to downsize pics