Larger diameter PVC tubes better?

Singularity

Singularity

Active Member
Would there be any advantage to using an 8" or 12" diameter PVC tube instead of a 6" when making an aero system?

In another thread someone wrote that most of the roots are lying on the bottom of the tube in a slick of water and not getting oxygen - is this important?

thanks
 
jointmcfatty

jointmcfatty

Well-Known Member
And i dont use any air pumps or anything. The aero jets hit the water in the bottom of the tubes and put in o2 that way. The whole tube looks like a big bubble tube.
 
N

NorCalGrower

Active Member
StinkBud said:
Square is better.

I have both and will never use round pipe again. Why deal with the hassle when fence posts works so well.
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You dont have any trouble with roots clogging the pipe? I have 6in pvc and my roots fill up the pipe 4 weeks in, making it like a 30%DWC setup.
 
StinkBud

StinkBud

Well-Known Member
NorCalGrower said:
You dont have any trouble with roots clogging the pipe? I have 6in pvc and my roots fill up the pipe 4 weeks in, making it like a 30%DWC setup.
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The roots end up about 1/2" deep on the bottom of the tube. They run the whole length of the tube and come out the end into the res. I have to trim them a few times to keep them out of the pump.

The cycle timer is the key element. The timer is set to one minute on and 5 minutes off. This allows the pipe to fully drain and the roots are able to just sit there and suck up O2.

If you worry about power outages then buy a battery backup like you get at wally's in the computer section. It will keep your pumps running.
 
N

NorCalGrower

Active Member
StinkBud said:
The roots end up about 1/2" deep on the bottom of the tube. They run the whole length of the tube and come out the end into the res. I have to trim them a few times to keep them out of the pump.

The cycle timer is the key element. The timer is set to one minute on and 5 minutes off. This allows the pipe to fully drain and the roots are able to just sit there and suck up O2.

If you worry about power outages then buy a battery backup like you get at wally's in the computer section. It will keep your pumps running.
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Thanks for the tip on the backup... When i started my grow, i read a lot about your setup, and one thing i made sure to apply to my setup was the 1 on / 4 off schedule for my aero misters. I was given a bit of flack in another thread by some users who thought i should be running them 24/7, but conceptually, your system seems to click in my mind, and my plants love the extra O2 they take in, they really love it. Thanks for all the help.
 
jointmcfatty

jointmcfatty

Well-Known Member
FYI, with an aero system, u shouldnt have to worry about turning the pumps off for O2. Aero systems are designed so that the roots are ALWAYS getting O2. If they arent, then there is something seriously wrong with your aero, or it isnt even an aero at all!
 
N

NorCalGrower

Active Member
jointmcfatty said:
FYI, with an aero system, u shouldnt have to worry about turning the pumps off for O2. Aero systems are designed so that the roots are ALWAYS getting O2. If they arent, then there is something seriously wrong with your aero, or it isnt even an aero at all!
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You dont know what your talking about. A true aeroponic system would spray the roots with an oxygen rich "mist". As per 99% of aero systems, this is not the case. Rather, a fine nozzled sprayer is most often used. In this case, the spray is not overly O2 rich, and thus requires a stoppage of the pump in order to let those roots absorb some O2.

So if i am reading this correctly, there is something seriously wrong with the setup stinkbud uses? Would you advise him to run his pump 24hr a day?
 
NewGrowth

NewGrowth

Well-Known Member
Yah I like the fence post too. I like to use a cycle timer because running the pump all the time tends to heat the water in the rez more than I would like. The water is constantly circulated so it has plenty of O2.
 
jointmcfatty

jointmcfatty

Well-Known Member
I think u are reading incorrectly. I said with an aero system, there is no need to have an off period. I didn't say you couldn't have one. Read things more thoroughly before u rag on what people say.
NorCalGrower said:
You dont know what your talking about. A true aeroponic system would spray the roots with an oxygen rich "mist". As per 99% of aero systems, this is not the case. Rather, a fine nozzled sprayer is most often used. In this case, the spray is not overly O2 rich, and thus requires a stoppage of the pump in order to let those roots absorb some O2.

So if i am reading this correctly, there is something seriously wrong with the setup stinkbud uses? Would you advise him to run his pump 24hr a day?
Click to expand...
 
StinkBud

StinkBud

Well-Known Member
NewGrowth said:
Yah I like the fence post too. I like to use a cycle timer because running the pump all the time tends to heat the water in the rez more than I would like. The water is constantly circulated so it has plenty of O2.
Click to expand...
One of the more overlooked advantages to running a cycle timer is the cooler water temps.
 
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