Are airstones the best way to aerate reservoirs?

PetFlora said:

Here's a couple pictures of my rez.

Inlet on the bottom, outlet on the lower side, alternate outlet on top has a riser, which when above the water line acts like a venturi pulling in air that mixes with the nute outflow creating bubbles to aerate the nutes, and move the water briskly. I am using a deep cycle timer @ ~ 4 minutes on, 15 minutes off in my 2 gallon of nutes

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I meant plants actually.

PetFlora said:

^ read up on how long DO (dissolved oxygen) stays in water at various temperatures

When your nutrient solution is cool DO stays longer than when warm > 75*s. So it depends on how well you maintain rez temps as to whether it is reaching your roots

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The important point that was made and I've seen it, is getting the oxygenated water to the centre mass of the roots expessially in DWC, and yup I've had great luck with chilling water .

That's why I said DWC LOL. And with my setup they do not like dry periods at all. The more I flood the happier they are. Actually if I run the pumps 24/7 they do great, kind of like RDWC but in a tray, and no airstones just water fall effect and a water fountain in my upper tray

Oxygen acts as a sterilizer the more you have the less likely you are of anything taking hold. Its becomes almost antiseptic when combined with a sterile res water conditioner.

I use Dutch Master zone water conditioner with a 65 lpm aerator with two 9 inch air stones and eight 4.5 inch stones in the reservoir and a 20 lpm pump with four stones in the 5 gal rdwc buckets. For a total 23 gallons in nutrients with 85 litres of air a minute.

I use to put a air stone that messures 1.5 inches in a 2 inch pipe. put holes in bottom and run it like a old school air pump powered fish filter I feel the rushing water with air bubbles helps as well.