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

So far here's what I have in the build:

Chiller - 400
Pumps - 150
PVC and misc - 90
Sprayers, grommets, hose, connectors, pots, inserts - 150
(2) 45 gallon res - 60
RO system - 150
AN nutes - 120
Miscellaneous yet to come - 100
Meters - 180

I'll have just right at 1400 in this project.

Like Earl asked.... "How fast can you afford to grow?"

hope that helps

LoudBlunts said:

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

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Loud...definite + rep for you. Thank you so much for sharing. Please check out my pics of the bathroom I'm using and give me your thoughts as to how you'd set up a res if it were your space. Obv I'll have the unit under the sink right?

What are my options for a res? If it's going to feed my other res it'll have to be by gravity right? So I'm thinking of placing a 30 gal res on the sinktop and have it feed my other res, then pump it back through to drain in the tub with a pump when it's time to change the res... or is there some other way to set it up? If I seem clueless it's because I am. Slowly though, I am learning. Thanks so much for your help.

(18 different) 1/4" hoses running out of the res to the pot sites. The sprayers will be positioned 2 1/2 inches on either side of the net pots. This gives you all an idea of how it will set up. It mimics Earls 4" design. The return from the chiller will act as a waterfall. I can't wait to get this soil grow over with so I can move on to this......

wbinwv said:

Loud...definite + rep for you. Thank you so much for sharing. Please check out my pics of the bathroom I'm using and give me your thoughts as to how you'd set up a res if it were your space. Obv I'll have the unit under the sink right?

What are my options for a res? If it's going to feed my other res it'll have to be by gravity right? So I'm thinking of placing a 30 gal res on the sinktop and have it feed my other res, then pump it back through to drain in the tub with a pump when it's time to change the res... or is there some other way to set it up? If I seem clueless it's because I am. Slowly though, I am learning. Thanks so much for your help.

Click to expand...

wait wait

its not that you sound clueless, its just i AM STONED

lol i've tried to read that 3 times and my stoned ass is having a hard time.

it sounds as so you are making it difficult for yourself....

why do you want to have the main res on a gravity feed?

i would think thas a bad idea incase it would leak or your plants drink too much and then the gravity feed/float valve kicks in and ruins your pH or ppms just because you had it interlinked

but i dont know, im kinda stoned, ill reread and get back to you.

tell me exactly what you wanna do and ill figure something out

sorry bro

What I meant was that the RO res will be in the bathroom and it will have to feed the nute res in the flower room. The RO res in the bathroom will be on top of the sink so it will be higher than the nute res in the flower room. The RO res will then feed the nute res through the wall via gravity through the float valve, correct? Told you guys I wasnt a damn plumber.....lol

Plus, I'm stoned too.

i would just put a pump (of course with a long poly tube) in the RO res and plug it in when you want to fill the main res

Why would I need a pump if it is located above the main res? Gravity should do the work shouldnt it?

Say goodbye to my last soil grow ever.....

I suggest you have two float valves

One for the RO rez.

And another float valve

for the nutrient rez.

Earl said:

I suggest you have two float valves

One for the RO rez.

And another float valve

for the nutrient rez.

Click to expand...

I agree Earl. There will be float valves in both res'.

Looks good.
how much longer til lift-off ?

Earl said:

Looks good.
how much longer til lift-off ?

Click to expand...

I'll harvest this last soil grow on April 15th, clean and reset my flower room, add an extra 20 amp breaker, position the grow unit, chiller, etc,,, cut clones, and lift off on April 16th or 17th at the latest.

I'll be doing some work tonight on the unit.

Tonight I will be cutting the holes for the chiller hoses, attaching the pipes, cutting the 2" holes for my pots, etc...

I have everything here except the 6mm rubber grommets. I'm placing a call to locate them today as they were ordered 2 weeks ago.

I'll have pictures up later.


I noticed that you had supports for the plants that you're growing in your 4 inch unit. Should I plan on having the same?

Hey everyone,


Sorry it's been a couple of days since the last update but there really isnt much to do except for waiting for my last soil grow to finish (April 15th).

Here's some pictures of the pipes after the 2" holes were drilled and the pots inserted. I also show one pic with the 2" neoprene insert in the pot.

I'll be able to go from clone to harvest in this system. There's also a pic of my 1/10 hp chiller.

OK guys, new update.....

After some figuring, I've modified the design from my original plan and I've ran the 4" pipes directly into the side of the res instead of having them sit on the PVC frame. Here are a dozen pic or so......

Here's a side view which shows the drain and the spray pump setup.



The holes beside the 4" pipe is where the 1/4 hoses will run out of the res. I'll ziptie them to the pipes and run them up the sides.



Much like Earl's setup. I drain out the bottom of my res and an inline pump will send the water back through the wall and into the tub for drainage. I left room for a pan if there's any leaks.... lol



Grommet, sprayer, and 1/4" hose assembly mimics Earls.



The float valve on the nute res.



Another shot of the spray pump and drain..



The 2x frame that will hold the back end of the 4" pipes. There's a 3/4" slope.



RO/DI water setup... installation coming soon...





My 30 gallon RO/DI res...I'm going to modify the outlet so I can run my 1/4" line straight to my nute res float valve so don't pay attention to the clusterf*ck that I have there now....




Of course I can't install anything until the 15th.....I'm counting the days. I'll be covering the unit in Mylar so it will be much more appealing to the eye when it's done.

The design comes from Earl. I've simply adapted as needed. Comments and questions are welcome.

Exciting.
Do you have a mother plant ?

Earl said:

Exciting.
Do you have a mother plant ?

Click to expand...

I sure do.

wbinwv said:

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.

Click to expand...

Looks good WV.....gooooooooooooooo

Any exp with ECOplus water coolers are they any good compared to the polarbear? ps. great post!!

Realclosetgreenz said:

Any exp with ECOplus water coolers are they any good compared to the polarbear? ps. great post!!

Click to expand...

I have no exp with that unit so I can't shed any light.......and Thank You.

This is my first go with aero/hydro. I've been growing in soil to this point.

Hi everyone,


Here's an update. I chopped my last soil grow 3 days early to get started on the setup. Here's some pics of the process. I fully expect to have clones bathing in this system within 2 weeks. The only reason that I've got to wait that long is because my mother isnt as big as I thought she'd be at this point. 2 more weeks and I'll be able to cut clones from her.

Later tonight I'm going to run the 1/4 vinyl hoses to the plant sites and actually run some water through the system. I'll provide sprayer in action pics when I do.























I've still got to add the mylar to the standing frame, etc. Plus, I'll also add pics of the r/o system and res later tonight or tomorrow.