Aeroponics Method Build: 1 Powerful Option

Aeroponics system

Aeroponics Method Build Intro

This Aeroponics Method Build is extremely similar to our Deep Water Culture(DWC) build, the only difference is the nutrient water delivery system. With the DWC system, the water stays in the reservoir and the roots grow down into it. With the Aeroponics Method Build the nutrient water is sprayed up onto the roots, then drips back down into the reservoir. 

Aeroponics Method Build in a storage container, We use a Totes or similar storage container with a lid.  Make sure the container is as tall as you can find for its overall dimensions. You don’t want the plant roots to reach the nutrient water solution until harvest time. 

 

Need more info or are not sure how to proceed? Take a step back and learn more about Aeroponics or check out some other Aeroponics designs before you jump in to start your build.

 

 

Aeroponics Method Build in a Storage Container

Aeroponics Method Build
Aeroponics Method Build

Materials

 

Tools

  • Power drill
  • PVC Pipe Cutter
  • Hole saw Match your net cup size selection. This may be more difficult than it seems as the exact hole saw size you need may not come in your hole saw kit. See more details in the instructions below.
  • 1/4″ Drill bit for wood or plastic. The size of this hole will depend upon the diameter of the air tubing you have purchased.
  • Razer or Exacto knife  to cut tubing

 

 

Instructions

Reservoir

  • Clean the selected reservoir. Be careful with your cleaning solution here. Don’t use anything you would not use to clean your own drinking glass. We like to use clean water with a little Hydrogen peroxide. It’s best to follow the manufactures instructions as each bottle is sold with different strength percentages.

 

Assemble 

  • Assemble the spray manifold according to this diagram.
  • These diagrams show directions for a 10 hole/net pot configuration.
  • If you use the 20 hole template (below) you will need 1 more center PVC pipe. 2 more PVC Tees and 2 additional 360-degree sprayers.
  • Spray nozzles point down.
  • Make the outer connections first and check for fit inside the reservoir, then add the inner pieces.
Aeroponics Manifold
Aeroponics Manifold

 

 

  • 1/2″ pipe length measurements will vary depending on the size of your reservoir.
  • Measure and cut to size or cut a little larger and trim as needed for a tight fit.
  • Make the outer side of the manifold large enough to fit snug against the inside of the reservoir about 2″ down from the top of the reservoir
  • Make sure the PVC pipe slides into the fittings most of the way to make a good seal after gluing. make a mark with a dry erase marker at every glue joint to indicate exactly how far each PVC pipe is inserted into each fitting. (The glue makes it easier for the pipes to slide in further than originally measured for and your manifold can get misshapen or off on size if you don’t do this) Make the entire manifold first before gluing together. Make sure you push the pipes into the fitting only up to your dry erase marker marks so the fit is the same. 
  • Make sure the PVC pipe slides into the fittings most of the way to make a good seal after gluing. make a mark with a dry erase marker at every glue joint to indicate exactly how far each PVC pipe is inserted into each fitting. (The glue makes it easier for the pipes to slide in further than originally measured for and your manifold can get misshapen or off on size if you don’t do this) Make the entire manifold first before gluing together. Make sure you push the pipes into the fitting only up to your dry erase marker marks so the fit is the same. 
Manifold-location
Manifold location
  • Lay the manifold over your lid and mark rough locations for the center of each of the holes to be drilled for the net cups.
  • Refine the locations with one of the templates in the next section

 

Cut

  • Layout and Mark net pot hole locations (Here are 2 layout options.) These layouts are set up for the Homz Tough Durabilt Tote Box, 27 Gallon, Stackable, 2 Pack, Black/Yellow. You may have to rescale and /or print multiple pages to get it to fit right for your selected reservoir) No need to engineer this or be super critical here. If you have space between each plant and the edges of your reservoir your plants will be fine.

27 gallon lid 10 hole template

27 gallon lid 20 hole template

 

  • Drill Holes in the lid with a hole saw. The size will depend on your net cup size selection. Remember, the drilled hole size needs to be the diameter of the net cup just before the lip (or flange) at the top. Don’t make it too big or the net cups will fall through the holes. (running the drill backward at a slow speed will make it easier and won’t destroy your delicate styrofoam. You can use a razor knife here as well, but be extremely careful!)
Measure the proper net cup hole size by location
Measure the proper net cup hole cutting size by location
  • Mark and Drill a 1/4″  Hole for the air hose in one of the corners.

Place 

  • Place the reservoir in its permanent location
  • Place your net cups into each drilled hole
  • Push the air hose through the 1/4″ hole

 

Fill

  • Fill the reservoir with filtered water (Make sure the water  level touches the bottom of the net cups when the styrofoam is placed on top of the reservoir)
  • Add nutrients as per manufacture instructions
  • Check pH
    • pH will rise or drop after adding the nutrients (usually drop)
    • Adjust the water pH with pH up or pH down to read about 5.8 to 6 

 

Connect

  • Cut a small 6″ or so length of hose and connect to the air pump
  • Connect the end of the air hose inside the container to the air stone
  • Connect the outside end of the air hose to the check valve. Look closely on the check valve to see an indicator on the side indicating the proper direction of the flow of air and position the direction of the check valve accordingly.  Note that the air flows from the air pump to the air stone inside the container. If you are uncertain, you can blow through the valve one side at a time. One side will be more restrictive. That is the side that will connect to the hose or tubing that goes to the airstone.
Air line check valve direction
Air line check valve direction
  • Connect the check valve to the small 6″ piece of hose already connected to the air pump.
How to connect your hydroponics aeration system
How to connect your hydroponics aeration system

 

Plant

Option 1 – Seedlings

  • Put your plants into each net cup

 

Option 2 – Starter plugs and seeds

 

 

 

 

Learn more

Aeroponics Designs

Buy this system

Build this system

 

 

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Bobby

Bobby

HI! I'm Bobby, an entrepreneur, inventor, green builder and urban farmer. I've been a custom home builder since a kid and an avid gardener. The critters, bugs and climate outside our new home forced me to check out some new ideas in gardening. I found out about Hydroponics and have spent years learning the best techniques to build the best, most efficient, home hydroponics systems. I built one of the first ever, small scale, mobile hydroponic systems. Would you like to know how I did it?